Ok, because Lebron James has not been given enough attention in the past couple of weeks, I want to dedicate this entire blog to the "King." Using my legal mind, I have examined this situation from numerous angles, basically attempting to make sense of the mess it has become. Our country is fighting a war where we are losing soldiers everyday and one of our nation's greatest ecosystems is being destroyed; yet, all eyes have been on the National Basketball Association and its MVP.
To say that last night's unprecedented spectacle left a bitter taste in the mouths of some Cleveland (and Chicago, New York, and basically half of the NBA) fans would be an understatement. Never have I ever seen images comparable to the ones that surfaced in the aftermath of the star's decision last night- except maybe in Knoxville the night Lane Kiffin made his infamous announcement. Fans across Cleveland burned their jerseys, had emotional fits, and came extremely close started all out riots. This reaction came as no surprise to Cleveland officials- they had their police force fully prepared to handle potential riots and chaos.
Did Lebron make the right decision? Does his decision merit the extensive news coverage it has received? Really, is it that serious? The American public proved the importance of professional athletics, and athletics in general, in the wake of the Lebron James Free Agency ordeal. Never has a national television network postponed prime time in order to feature one athlete making one decision. Thank goodness, one positive thing came out of this one-hour show- all of the money made through advertisements is being donated to the Boys and Girls Club.
If you ask Dan Gilbert if James made the right decision, there is no telling what kind of answer you will receive. Gilbert, the majority owner of the Cavaliers organization, voiced his opinion through a letter that is posted on the team's website. Quite frankly, Gilbert's letter bares strange parallels to a nasty break-up letter- plenty of name calling, finger pointing, and overall pouting. Honestly Mr. Gilbert, your maturity concerning the situation should help to reassure James that he made the right decision. You own one of the most highly respected organizations in the NBA- the integrity of the team should not be shot to hades because of the loss of one player. Gilbert makes it appear as though Lebron James has turned his back on his hometown and his home state. Just because he was born and raised in Ohio does not mean he should be required to pledge his undying allegiance to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Obviously, he realized his chances of winning a championship were greater in South Beach. With this decision, he broke the hearts of the Cleveland faithful. Don't worry Cavalier nation- Gilbert has assured everyone that the Cavs will bring home a championship before Lebron does. Yeah, right! If you can not win with the King, you sure won't be winning without him!
Lebron made the right decision in my opinion. He chose to take a chance- join a team with his friends, a team that has the potential to win a NBA Championship. He played in Cleveland for seven years. In those seven years, he gave the organization a recognizable face- the face of a hometown hero. He lifted the morale of the Cleveland family; yet, he never brought home the big prize. He may not make as much money in Miami. He may not call of all the shots in Miami. He will, however, be sharing the court with other "big names," increasing their likelihood of winning the NBA Championship. I would love to see the Heat become one of the most competitive teams in National Basketball, and I would love to see the "King" bring home a ring before Cleveland ever catches a glimpse of one.
America, the "King" has spoken. The decision is a done deal. Cleveland should probably focus their attention on how to rebuild their organization. Every news outlet in the Ohio area and basically across the country has turned all of their attention to Lebron James. We should probably go back to focusing on more important issues now, such as national security, the economy, and the looming environmental disaster. Thank you for providing a distraction, but it's now time for our country to return its focus to real issues, problems that matter.
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