I'm not a fan of LeBron James, but I have to side with him on his decision to choose the Miami Heat. He wants a championship. Why not go to a stacked deck?
Opinion pieces, commentators and even the Cavs owner have stuck it to him and like to tout loyalty and honor as things that have been tarnished... I think we forget that James is paid for what he does.
Find 12 NBA stars willing to play 5-7 years for free. That's loyalty and honor. This is pro sports in America. It's a business.
Having a championship win is still part of the business, but there is something else to it. It's knowing you won.
And who doesn't want to be on a winning team? See if you can remember back to playing basketball or football outside as a kid. I hated when it was time to pick teams because I was one of the ones usually picked last. The only redeeming quality of being picked last is to be on the winning team. There is also something else that happens from time to time.
The guys who usually win strategically place the others on one team. Jocks vs nerds, Skinny kids vs fat kids, shirts vs skins, winners vs losers. At that point, you either accept your fate and get destroyed or someone stands up and takes some leadership. As Magneto said to Pyro in X-Men, "You are god among ants." Make one basket and you're good. Make another and you're golden. More ball time, more scores... isn't that what you wanted? Well yeah, but I want to win, too.
You still usually lose, but when you make yourself standout like that, the winners sometimes take notice. And on the next game, you might be a middle person picked on the winning team.
James was asked if it would've been sweeter to win a championship in Cleveland at his press conference. Are you kidding? That's like getting upset because your baby took his first steps in the hallway and not the living room. It doesn't matter where it happens. It matters that it happened.
Winning is winning whether it's by a little or a lot. Same with losing. Losers want to win. Winners want to keep winning. If Wade, Bosh and James can keep their egos in check and play to the best of their abilities, they'll win.
The Cavs owner declared they'd win a championship before the Heat. Who do they have on the Cavs' team that can lead them? Let's see if they can pull it off. The odds aren't in their favor, but stranger things have happened.
LeBron shows he’s king in name only
*Image from MSNBC.com
4 comments:
Just having the arrogance to request an hour of ESPN primetime to showcase himself and his decision says so much about his "humility".
One report I heard claimed that Mr. James was donating all of the money that was paid to him for that special would be donated - I believe to a Boys' and Girls' Club. If a little grand-standing gets a big donation for a good cause, that can't be all bad.
--FinePickens
I think you hit the nail on the head. This is a business. Mr. James' arrogance doesn't disturb me as much as where it comes from. The almost-worship of the public watching his every move. There are so many people out there who contribute much more to society than putting a ball through a hoop. Let's honor them instead.
Who authored this MA blog and what city are you from or living in? Let's get some cards out on the table to see where you are coming from!?!
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