By Jennie
I am by no means a professional basketball fan. I pay attention to the sport about once a year, during the playoffs, and that’s only if there’s a team to root for (or against). I would pay attention during the season if the local team (the Warriors) were ever in contention, but that hasn’t be an issue for a while now.
So I’ve been a bit bemused by the huge kerfluffle over LeBron James – specifically about who he was going to sign a contract with now that his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers was up. Would he stay in Cleveland, delighting the hometown fans and choosing loyalty over other considerations? Would he sign with the New York Knicks, thus taking the time-honored route of star athletes (in various sports) towards the biggest city and biggest stage of all? In the end, James did neither – nor did he go to the Boston Celtics or the Chicago Bulls or any of the other rumored possibilities. No, LeBron James signed a deal with the Miami Heat, forgoing the bigger money he could’ve gotten elsewhere in favor of a team with a real chance of winning a championship. Doing so apparently caused many kittens and puppies to die painful, lingering deaths. At least that’s what I can make out based on the outrage emanating from all corners of the internet. Coward! Traitor! Deserter! The epithets are varied and colorful.
I just don’t get it. Apparently James chose Miami because they have two other star players, Dwanye Wade and Chris Bosh (the latter of whom I’ve never even heard – I told you I wasn’t much of a basketball fan). After years of being the only star on the Cleveland roster, James decided he couldn’t or didn’t want to do it all by himself. This is apparently what is viewed as being cowardly.
Now, I think part of my lack of comprehension is due to the fact that I’m a baseball fan. Baseball’s a different sport, obviously, and their active player roster is more than twice the size of the roster of an NBA team. In baseball, it’s common wisdom that you really can’t win with one star player. You can get close. (Oh, 2002 World Series Giants…sigh. To be fair, they were more than just Bonds – there was Kent and Schmidt and Nen and the adorable J.T. Snow and Rich Aurilia and Kenny Lofton who we always called “Crazy Kenny Lofton” because he just had this look in his eye…and Livan Hernandez. Why, Livan? Why?!!!)
Um, where was I? Oh, yes – in baseball, you can get far with a superstar and a decent backup roster, but it’s pretty hard to win it all. Basketball, I guess, is different. Fewer players, fewer games – maybe it’s no big thing to send one great player and five schlubs out night after night? I just don’t understand the sport enough to say. But in the seven seasons James spent with the Cavaliers, though they got to the playoffs several times and to the championship once, they never actually won it all. So maybe he couldn’t do it all by himself.
Does that make LeBron James a bad person? A bad player? A coward? Not in my book, it doesn’t. People have every right to judge James for not being able to carry an entire team on his back – but the judgments should be fair, in my opinion. Calling him names and casting aspersions on his character is not fair.
That said, I will admit that a less spectacular announcement about coming to Miami probably would’ve been better for James. He chose to announce his decision in a televised special that was broadcast live in various venues where interest in James’ choice was high. Not only does this seem like a hotdog move, it feels disrespectful to the city and fans of Cleveland, and not exactly good PR for James with fans in New York, Boston and various other ports. Something a little more low-key may have been in better taste. But I can’t agree with all of the epithets being hurled at James. At the end of the day, basketball is a business, and James is an employee with a marketable skill who has to put his own best interests first. I don’t begrudge him his choice, and I wish him the best of luck in Miami.
What do you think?
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Comments
14 Responses to LeBron James: Worst Person in the History of the NBA?
I will have to comment on this a little later but I just saw this video and I am not really a fan of John Mayer but I though this was funny.
I am a huge NBA fan and I was also at first puzzled by the outpouring of anger over his move. But after reading post after post by Cleveland fans (not only Cavs fans but Indian and Brown fans) I have changed my tune. This is an athlete that was the self-proclaimed “King”. He is a local kid (from Akron) that always spoke of how lucky he was to be able to play in front of his home fans. He did give them 7 years and it is a business but he (no matter who his teammates were) was not able to bring Cleveland a championship and some though it was his fault this year that they did not win. Heavy favorites, bringing in Shaq to help, this team underachieved in the playoffs and there was some thought that La Bron did not give his all in the final series against Boston.
I find myself hoping Miami does not win next year. It looks and feels like a Yankee team ie, the best team money can buy. Go Cleveland!
I actually have less issue with Cleveland fans’ bitterness – it just seems *everyone* is angry at him and that I don’t get. Like, any city that thought they might get him, the fans there are pissed and judgmental. I read some piece by a Boston Herald columnist – it just felt really over the top.
If the Heat are the NBA equivalent of the Yankees, I will totally agree with you on not wanting them to win.
I can’t speak much about basketball because I am a “Playoff Fan “. I love competition at the highest level no matter the sport. I found myself pulling for James to go to the Knicks for a home town bias. The hype of James, much to his own creation was pathetic. The anger though was over the top but I understand it. True fans of a team or player pour their heart and soul into it, many because it is a distraction from every day life and do we need that lately. Cleveland fans were treated extremely poorly by James. They gave him their all and deserved a more graceful exit by him.
Jeff…don’t hate the Yankees because they are successful and want to win. Stienbrener isn’t even in the top ten of the wealthiest owners in baseball but yet he has strived to put the best product on the field at all times. I feel for ya cubbie fan.
Being that I live in Ohio, outside of Cleveland, it’s a bad situation. I know it’s his ego that has driven his move. His goal is to win a championship, he’s said it before. I guess he doesn’t mind sharing the spotlight, or does he? Time will tell. What bothers me was his media circus surrounding his move. For all the loyalty he proclaimed to have he could have given the city he grew up in a bit of respect (Akron is less than 30 minutes from Cleveland) . The other teams that courted him deserved respect also, he had them in out of out Cleveland for a week (another circus), big security nightmare for the city. I said he was going to Miami weeks ago….. who cares, go, but how he did it was wrong. He is entitled to take his talent anywhere he wishes. He’s doesn’t owe the city or Akron or Cleveland anything, but respect on the way out would have been nice. He is full of himself, always has been. I read an article this morning where it said “please give Cleveland back the 18 years of welfare?”. I found that comical – and in truth he did by bringing in dollars to down town. He was the pride of Akron, local boy does good kind of story, despite the way he grew up, he did manage to stay out of trouble by staying with non-family members (coaches) and used his ability and developed skill to make money. I doubt he will be welcome there anymore. I think some would have still felt betrayed by his leaving but if he would have done it with less ego indulgence it might have come off a bit better. A few weeks of courting, a decision and poof, local boy leaves town (literally) in less than 24 hours – does seem a cold.
Cute video Pam. Not a basketball fan, but I find all this very interesting. I know the passion that goes into sports but I hope this passes quickly.
I know it’s his ego that has driven his move.
I give him a pass on this to a degree because I think ego is a necessary ingredient for a lot of high-profile athletes. In the high-pressure situations that basketball and football players are often in (not as much in baseball, I don’t think, except maybe for closers), there is a certain level of confidence needed to perform.
I really do understand to a degree the feelings of the Cleveland fans. I have less sympathy for the hyperbole of the owner; don’t tell me that if it had been in his/the team’s best interest to trade James or cut him loose that he wouldn’t do it in a heartbeat. In some ways this is a basic labor/management story: the labor is castigated for a lack of loyalty that no one would dream of expecting of the management.
As a baseball fan, I’ve experienced many times the bittersweet feeling of losing a favorite player, to trade or due to a decision by the ownership or the player not to resign. It’s always hard. You get attached and to some degree your own ego and regard for your city and your team gets wrapped up in it. James will be fine, I predict, and so will the Cavaliers. I would hope that when he returns as a Miami player the fans can remember the good times, rather than the way he left, and treat him with some respect.
Jennie says…James will be fine, I predict, and so will the Cavaliers. I would hope that when he returns as a Miami player the fans can remember the good times, rather than the way he left, and treat him with some respect.
Hopefully, that will happen in time.
I agree with those who said he has handled this poorly (or been advised poorly might be more like it), but I do cut him somewhat of a break. Kat – I know I would feel more passionate if he was my hometown guy.
Personally, I will take Miami winning a championship over another one for the Lakers. Blech!
Oh and can we all agree that Jesse Jackson needs to stay out of this whole situation? I bet LeBron didn’t ask for nor does he want, Jackson’s assistance and his ridiculous and offensive comments.
This is a well written article that sheds light on the situation.
http://bleacherreport.com/tb/b4TpZ
LeBron is a great player, Cavs fans are some of the most loyal.
Sadly at the end of this day there was no hometown hero. Just a guy doing business.
Like Kat, I also live around Cleveland and it has been ridiculous around here for the past several weeks… by the time he announced the “decision” I was so sick of hearing about it I didn’t care if he stayed or went.
I’m not a big basketball fan either, but I have gone to several Cavs games a year and really enjoyed watching them play and win — I’m not a Cleveland native, but I do know that the Cavs were the one bright spot in an otherwise dismal sports town.
Objectively, I can understand why Lebron went to Miami but I don’t think most Clevelanders are thinking objectively. For a sports hero who has said over and over and over again how loyal he is and how great it was to be playing in his “hometown,” it does seem like a betrayal. What irritated me more, though, was the way he made and announced the “decision.” If he had held a small press conference (in Akron or anywhere) and thanked Cleveland but stated he was going elsewhere, I think a lot more people would have retained some respect for him. Instead, he drew out the attention and media hoopla until it spiraled completely out of control. The other thing that irritated me was that he did not call the Cavs personally to tell them of his decision — they had to find out by watching ESPN, just like everyone else.
Just my two cents — but like some others have said, I’ll be rooting AGAINST a Miami championship this year!
Thanks Molly , that was a well written article. I feel sad for the Cleveland fans. I am a big Packer fan and although not the same situation I will have to say that I was not happy with Favre for quite some time ( although I have forgiven him, LOL because you know he makes all of his decisions with my needs in mind.)
I think James needs to go where he needs to go and people will eventually move on. I also will not be rooting for Miami this year. Go Bucks!
Hey, quality write-up. So I’ve finally figured out this whole preposterous LBJ catastrophe. What a moron! 1st, he fakes his elbow injury and quits in the playoffs so that this would be an easy decision. Then these clowns make a total media circus out of it all and everyone gets sick of him before it even happens. Then this fool goes on national TV stabbing his hometown’s back for an hour, all while upsetting all other big cities except Miami, so that he can try to win on someone else’s team! Talk about horrible marketing! Anyhow, nice blog… I’m subscribed to your RSS feed now so I’ll check in more often!
“There’s no way, with hindsight, I would’ve ever called up Larry, called up Magic and said, ‘Hey, look, let’s get together and play on one team.’ ” – Michael Jordan
TNT analyst Charles Barkley said James’ decision may change his legacy.
“He’ll never be Jordan,” Barkley told 790 the Ticket in Miami earlier in the week. “This clearly takes him out of the conversation. He can win as much as he wants to.
“There would have been something honorable about staying in Cleveland and trying to win it as ‘The Man’ … LeBron, if he would’ve in Cleveland, and if he could’ve got a championship there, it would have been over the top for his legacy, just one in Cleveland. No matter how many he wins in Miami, it clearly is Dwyane Wade’s team.”
http://bleacherreport.com/tb/b4YYz
I love basketball, and LOVED watching this guy play. I’ll be watching him to see how it works for them. Lebron can be a showboat when J Z is in the NY audience. The big Dec 25 game against the Lakers he turned it up so much that they womped the Lakers and enraged the LA fans so bad they were throwing their foam #1 hands onto the court. Kobi was so frustrated he ran up and shoved Cavs player Mo Williams in the back knocking him down and neither were involved in the play. My point (by way of egypt) is, Lebron turns it on when he wants.
I want to see him get a ring too, but I wanted to see him stay in his hometown area and do it. He never once consulted me though. His biggest mistake IMO ! LOL
I have to say I agree with Charles Barkley. He will never be Jordan now. Although, I don’t know if anyone can ever be Jordan.