A Bone To Pick
I’ve said a thousand times here that I love the game of basketball. With that said, this has to be one of the saddest days of the game that I’ve ever witnessed. LeBron James, my favorite player, has dumped the Cleveland Cavaliers, my favorite team, to head for promises of championships rings and beach front property.
This doesn’t feel like it’s fair. Remember when Shaq left the Magic back in ’96? I have never liked the Orlando Magic, even when Shaq was breaking backboards and making everyone else look 2 feet tall. So when he left, so did I. And when Shaq left the Lakers in 2004, I followed him to Miami. And on to Phoenix. And finally, finally, he was on a team that I actually liked. The Cleveland Cavaliers. Shaq leaving the Magic didn’t feel like a betrayal by him for riches and the sun of Los Angeles (even though it was, in every way); LeBron leaving Cleveland feels like he sucker punched every fan that loves the Cavaliers squarely in the throat.
And when KG left Minnesota for Boston? I cheered for him, and so did the fans of Minnesota. You see, KG had given Minnesota everything he had. It was a fruitless effort, and his time had come to see if he could get a ring somewhere else. The fans, myself included, never blamed KG for his decision. Mostly because every night he left everything out on the floor. He brought it every game, and that could only result in unadulterated respect and admiration.
This thing with LeBron, though? In the playoffs of this past year, he gave up. I tried and tried to think of every other way to say it than that, but he did. His mind was made up when he didn’t see any chance of winning. That is the biggest bullshit move I’ve ever seen anyone pull. And this is coming from someone who lifted him higher than the other superstars who had a piece of jewelry that showed the world they were great.
I’m pissed off. My feelings are hurt. As of right now, I can’t understand why. Oh, it will wear off once football season starts and I can begin to focus my attention on Donovan McNabb and the Redskins; but now? Now it just smells like the biggest pile of shit ever. I love DWade, have even cheered for Miami (see Shaq). I will continue to cheer for them. I hope they are able to work this triumvirate into something magical.
I just won’t be rushing out to buy a James #6 Heat jersey.
Tags: Basketball, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Miami Heat, Shaquille O'Neal
I HEAR YOU!!!
I’ve never been a true fan of any team since we don’ have one. I just follow players. I’m one that thought there was way too much hype around him coming out of high school. Just wait until he plays other grown men I said. After all, he was a man playing among boys in high school. But after watching him play among men, I was WOWED. I became a Lebron fan.
Since I’ve never been a team fan, I’ve never cared which team he might pick. If you would have asked me pre-playoffs, I would have put money on him staying in Cleveland. Doubts came with his playoff performance, or lack there of. I was really shocked and disgusted by what I consider a punk move the way he finished (or didn’t) against Boston (and I was cheering for Boston!). That really made me think he doesn’t have what it takes to lead a team to a championship. He can’t handle the weight of a team being “his team.” Don’t get me wrong, I’m well aware that at least one other great player and a supporting cast are required to win the championship. If you think about it though, with the exception of the Big Three, that was Michael’s team, Shaq’s team, and Kobe’s team that won championships. Sure Michael wouldn’t have won without Scottie, Shaq without Kobe, and Kobe without Pau but the teams were theirs. To me the Big Three is an exception b/c none of them individually is on Michael, Shaq, Kobe, what I thought was Lebron’s level. Now I see Lebron’s not on Michael, Shaq, and Kobe’s level. He is on Paul Pierce’s level. Its not that it’s a bad level to be on by any means, Paul is a GREAT player, but I thought Lebron was on that other level. Guess not.
I didn’t really blame him for the media circus around his team pick initially because this is what the media does. But a 1 hour special to announce where you are going??!! Seriously??!! Combine his punk out, his teammate “allegedly: hookin’ up with Mama, and his own media greed, the writing was on the wall. I’ve had enough of Lebron James to last me quite a while. Not saying I won’t continue to be a fan or cheer for Miami (I’ve always like Wade and Bosh) but I’m so over him right now.
I agree with you 100%. Have you seen the letter the owner wrote? He went straight “Color Purple, Ms. Celie cursing Mister” on him. Now that is just too much…
I know right! LOL, I like the Color Purple metaphor. He handled it so unprofessionally!
Braden was even calling him immature…LOL a 9 year old called it!
LOL!