It’s finally over. The most over-hyped media circus in the history of sports is finally over. And as usual, it didn’t end well for Cleveland.
Being from Ohio and a Cavaliers fan, I definitely bring a biased opinion to the table, but from an unbiased standpoint, there are a few things that stand out to me regarding the LeBron James saga.
First of all, I think it’s important to point out that LeBron James had to make the decision that was best for LeBron James, and that he didn’t owe anything to the city of Cleveland. If the Miami Heat presented the best opportunity for LeBron, then so be it.
With that being said, I think the way James handled the situation was classless. The fact that he scheduled a one-hour special on ESPN to announce his decision was already enough to show his egotistical nature. But the fact that he would go on national television and stab a stake into the heart of his hometown, I mean, who does that?
The fact that he chose to leave Cleveland is not the problem, it’s the fact that he would put himself in that spotlight and then proceed to break the hearts of his most loyal fans.
Bill Simmons, a sports columnist for ESPN.com reiterated my point through a Twitter post, “Totally fine with LBJ switching teams. But doing that to Cleveland via a one-hour TV show was absolutely brutal. An unprecedented Eff You.”
A few comments made by LeBron during the special also stood out to me as a bit ungracious. LeBron used the word “humbling” to describe the recruiting process. Humbling? In what way?
LeBron may be a better basketball player, but I think I have a better grasp on the English language, especially on a word like “humbling.”
Last time I checked, teams and cities throwing money and praise at you, telling you you are the greatest basketball player on the planet isn’t the most humbling experience.
Another point that has often been brought up is if James leaving Cleveland could tarnish his legacy.
In my opinion, it could. Think of the all-time greats in basketball: Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, Kobe Bryant – they all did it with one team. Even in other sports today, the most respected players are the ones who have consistently won with one team: Derek Jeter, Payton Manning, Tom Brady, Tim Duncan. Even Dwayne Wade, who is widely considered second tier to James, was able to win a championship on his own.
LeBron said it himself, a championship is a championship, but there is no doubt there is a lot more respect for a guy who is able to win on his own, especially in a city that hasn’t won a major championship in 46 years.
But what if LeBron never wins a championship? I mean, outside the big three, the Heat don’t have much. As I write this, they don’t have enough players on their roster to count on two hands. Are James, Wade, Bosh and a few guys off the street enough to get it done?
If he can’t win with two of the top eight players in the league, then there is no doubt the legacy is tarnished.
One thing we can say in favor of LeBron is that he stepped away from conventional wisdom and didn’t follow the money. That’s one act most professional athletes cannot relate to.
Regardless of your feelings on LeBron, or the way the situation was handled, one thing we know for sure is that “The Decision” will go down with The Catch, Red Right 88, The Drive, The Shot, The Fumble and The '97 World Series as the most infamous moments in Cleveland sports history.
