The Sports Page 7.10.2010: On "The Decision"
The Facebook Migration Series, Volume XV
Originally written July 11, 2010
I told The Muse (she knows who she is) that I was thinking about writing another note and asked her if she had any ideas for a topic. I had some in mind, but this LeBron thing is all in all interesting. I know it created hostility, jealousy, heartbreak, joy (I guess in only one city), et cetera. It's so interesting because it created so much drama and many unanswered questions. I personally do not get too caught up the dealings of celebrities because they don't give a darn about anyone except for themselves those close to them (and I do not blame them at all), which is why I never understood why people (mostly women) get so into TMZ and tabloids. Who cares if Sandra Bullock got cheated on? Pay attention to your life and make sure your man isn't messing around on you and just enjoy her movies. However, this is one of the most interesting sports stories in recent times because of the many facets and dynamics of LeBron's move. Here in this edition of the sports page, I will talk about 11 points, 4 in this part, of the possibly millions of points that could be made about LeBron's "Decision."
1. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH LEBRON CHOOSING TO GO TO THE HEAT. Outside of the millions of Cavs fans in the state of Ohio, I don't think too many people are upset about him choosing the Heat of Miami, Florida. First and foremost, LeBron, as an American, has every right to pursue his version of happiness as he sees fit. The overarching fact is that he did what HE wanted to do and what HE thought was best for him and the people around him. I have never understood why ONLY athletes get trashed for making personal decisions. How would people like it if millions of people were outraged and sent them death threats just for taking a job in another city that was better for that person's happiness? It's ridiculous.
We tend to forget that athletes/entertainers are doing their job. The only difference between them and most people is that they are good at a job that many people cannot do and many people covet. Although millions of people in this country pick up a basketball and play it, less that 1% of them have what it takes to play in the NBA, much less be a superstar like LeBron James. Since so many people desire to be a big time entertainer or just enjoy being entertained, huge numbers of people throw their money at entertainers which allows entertainers to be rich and famous. With all that being said, LeBron has a job, and it is Professional Basketball Player with the National Basketball Association being his employer. His employer, the NBA, created an environment that gives him the right to choose where he wants to go when his contract expires. He only chose to go where he think he will be happiest. There is nothing wrong with that.
Put yourselves in his shoes for a minute. He his a megastar in the league. I don't have the data, but I believe only Kobe sits in front of him as far as worldwide popularity. Just take a look at this anecdote from the 2008 Beijing Olympics (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKzpyRKdcJ8&feature=related).
As a megastar in Cleveland, Ohio, he suffered from the Fishbowl Effect. He could not do anything or go anywhere in Ohio without being mobbed and bothered. To add to that, he had the enormous pressure of basically singlehandedly lifting Cleveland out of it's sports misery. I imagine that wore on him. Having to go to bed every night knowing the fate of a whole state depended solely on him is not that fun.
So you are still in his shoes and you are a 25 year old male. Not just any male, however. You are the baddest basketball player on the planet [arguably]. You get a call in which you are offered a job in Miami. MIAMI people! I mean just the women alone is a valid excuse in my opinion. In addition to the women, you have the beach, no state income tax, no state income tax, no state income tax, 75 degree weather in the winter, palm trees, the nightlife, and think I forgot to mention women and no state income tax. What cannot go overlooked is that in Miami, you have the freedom from the Fishbowl Effect. The late Giovanni Versace was able walk around alone in Miami/South Beach without much harassment. And this is Versace. Please. This man was 50 times as large as LeBron James will ever be. And this is why Matt Damon made it his home. You compare that to Cleveland, Ohio? As my homie Clay Davis from The Wire would say, Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeit! It's no contest. Who in the hell would choose the city of Cleveland over Miami?
2. LEBRON HAD EVERY SINGLE RIGHT TO CHOSE TO GO TO MIAMI. We cannot forget this simple nugget of a fact. LeBron James was a free agent. Free agent means you are not currently under contract with any of the 29 teams, which means you have the right to sign with any team that offers you a contract. He spent seven years in Cleveland putting the putrid Cavaliers on the map. LeBron deserves a statue in Cleveland for singlehandedly taking easily the worst Conference Champion in NBA history to the finals. Hell, a case could be made for that 2007 Cavs team to be the worst finals team in the history of pro sports. He fulfilled all his contractual obligations, whether people like how he did it or not, and has earned the right to do whatever he wants. Just because he was born near Cleveland does not mean his has an obligation to stay there. Cleveland was just not right for him long term. Just like any very successful person from a small place, he eventually needed to get out, see the world, and maximize his potential. He feels that Miami is the place for that.
3. NOT THAT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT, BUT I THOUGHT HE COULD HAVE HANDLED THE WHOLE THING BETTER THAN WHAT HE DID. I am not the naive type, except for when it comes to women when I always think the next one is going to not be like the previous women I've encountered. Another Sheeeeeeeeeeeeit. Anyhow, I do believe LeBron knew how he felt about all of this. I won't say that he knew all along that he was leaving for Miami, but he knew there wasn't a great chance he was staying in Cleveland. I saw this coming when he refused to go to the negotiation table to ink an extension. If he really loved Cleveland that much, he would have signed. Granted he did not have a great running mate, but they won 60-something games and had the best record in the league. Nonetheless, that was not good enough for him.
I also learned that it is a fact that LeBron tried to talk Christopher Bosh (Christopher because I really get tongue-tied trying to say Chris Bosh. Am I the only one?) into joining him in Cleveland. I'm thinking Bosh is like me and just imagined all those Cuban mamis and Cuban mixed breeds down in Miami and said..."Sheeeeeeeeeit. I'm sorry Bron, but Cleveland over Miami? *throws up the peace sign...but in the cool black people way*" And this happened a week ago.
Doing "The Decision" was not the best way to go about things, even if he softened the blow by donating a couple million bucks to the Boys & Girls Club of America. I just do not understand the public relations aspect to it. This would have been fine if he were going to Cleveland, but otherwise it could only be horrible on his image. If he were staying in Cleveland and did this, folks would say, "Aw that's cool. He turned his choice into nice gesture for the Boys & Girls Club." By not going to Cleveland, people are saying, "Oh no. He did an hour long program to stab Cleveland in the heart and self-indulge." We know Cleveland is just hurting in ways sports fans cannot imagine. The other part is that people outside of Ohio view him as spoiled, cowardice, narcissistic, ignorant, back-stabbing, selfish, primadonna, self-indulgent, and on and on. I don't know if I necessarily agree with any of those except one of them, ignorant.
When you listen to LeBron speak and see how he carries himself, he is a good, smart dude. However, we have to remember his upbringing. I will not get into all the poverty and single-parent household issues. That's whatever to me in this situation. I'm more interested in how his world was shrunk growing up, as with many child stars. By the time he was in middle school, he was already a phenom. At this point, it became a straight and narrow path to the NBA. This was good in a sense because he was getting prepared for his eventual profession. It was also bad because he, like so many athletes and entertainers, was deprived of intellectual and informative riches that most of us normal people gain while growing up. We have that sort of ability to get an ever expanding perspective on life.
The most striking thing from "The Decision," (I only saw the highlights on SportsCenter) was from his subtle reaction to clips of Cleveland burning his jersey. He had a subtle, quick expression on his face that suggested that he was stunned at the fan's reaction in Cleveland. This told me a lot about him and lots of athletes/entertainers. I thought to myself, "how in the world could he not know the ramifications of making an hour long show to tell Cleveland he will never put on a Cavs jersey for the rest of his life?" It's was so shocking to me, but I though about how I grew up [relatively] normal. I went to college. I read books about all kinds of things about life (currently reading books about Carl Jung and economics). I read the news paper. I interact daily with people from Korea, Japan, Canada, Austrailia, Vietnam, Iran, Guatemala, Turkey, France, Indonesia, China, and Brazil. Thus, I have such a broad perspective on the world and life. LeBron and many others like him lived most of their lives in a gym, a weight room, a plane, and in front of a camera rather than allowing themselves to be enhanced intellectually. I'm not being critical, but rather just saying how it is. It seemed as if he lacks that awareness of how he may be portrayed by normal people.
Right when the Cavs were eliminated, or at least a short time after to let the emotions wear off, he should have been frank with the Cavs, although he did not have to be. This would have reduced the damage of a P.R. hit. He could have told them he was on the fence rather than icing them so that Cleveland could at least make some moves and better handle their free agent options. LeBron put them in a bad position. They could not go out and makes moves because they need all that money for signing LeBron plus a possible free agent sidekick. We all know that the only way another player would sign with Cleveland is if LeBron was resigning. We know Bosh told LeBron "Sheeeeeeeeeeeit," about joining him in Cleveland. Bosh was really the last viable potential running make for LeBron in Cleveland (Amar'e Stoudamire is not a great player). Also, Cleveland could have work out some sign and trade scenarios to get something out of losing LeBron. While LeBron had no obligation to do this, doing it this way could have reduced the P.R. damage.
But this is what happens when you hire your boys rather than bonafide professional handlers. I mean his right hand man is called Maverick. Forget that. I want some dude named William who has a law degree or something. Maverick could still roll with me though, but I'm not giving him the keys to my career.
4. NOT THAT IT ULTIMATELY MATTERS, BUT THIS MAY HINDER HIS LEGACY AS FAR AS BEING IN THE PANTHEON OF THE NBA GREATS OR EVEN THE ALL TIME GREATEST ATHLETES IN ANY SPORT. LeBron is an alpha player in the league. As of now, there are a few alphas of the league. Currently, I would say LeBron, Kobe, and Wade are my alphas. Others may throw in Chris Paul (maybe), Carmelo Anthony (not to me), Dwight Howard (not really to me), or Kevin Durant (on his way). LeBron will be seen as having to join another alpha to become a champion. This is the hardest to explain, because you probably have already thought about how Jordan could not win without Pippen, Kobe without Shaq, et cetera. Or why more players are not considered alphas. Hear me out.
Right under the alphas, there are those that are great players, but not quite alphas. For instance, yes Jordan did not win until "Scott" Pippen was drafted by the Bulls. However, Pippen was a great player, but not an alpha. Pippen was not on the same line as Magic, Kareem, Bird, Isiah Thomas, and Jordan. LeBron joining Wade is not the same as Pippen joining Jordan because LeBron is an alpha player. This would be like Jordan saying "eff it, I cannot win with this Bulls team, so I'm going to join Bird and his squad." Jordan, joining the alpha Bird in Boston? Yet another Sheeeeeeeeeit. Jordan, Bird, Magic, Barkley, and those those alphas of that era had infinite respect for each other and where actually great friends with each other. Magic and Bird's relationship was well documented, as well as Magic and Isiah's (not so much Bird and Isiah though, lol). However, they wanted nothing more to kill each other on the court despite their friendship. I miss that era. I love how they compartmentalized and kept their friendship intact while trying to murder each other every season. Just greatness.
LeBron's Decision shows that he is not wired like the previous generation of alphas and that he really does not care about all of that, which is perfectly fine if it is what makes him happy. He is part of this whole AAU generation this is basically turning into sort of a fraternity of ballers, hence some of these guys sharing homes with each other during the season when the other one is in town. I sort of get grossed out by that and the display of love right before a game (after the game is fine). I loved seeing Reggie Miller getting into it with Michael Jordan. Seeing Kareem getting ready to take Kevin McHale's head off. The Bad Boys not shaking hands with Jordan's Bull after being dethroned in the Eastern Conference. But this is new generation, for better or worse. As an alpha in a previous generation, LeBron would only want to destroy Wade, Kobe, Durant, Anthony, or any other adversary. Now, for every ring he wins, Wade will have more. Secretly, Wade is the biggest winner in all of this while LeBron created a situation for himself in which he won't be discussed in the same light as Jordan, Magic, Bird, and perhaps Kobe (or even Wade) in some time. However, he still made the right move if this is what makes him happiest.
5. CAN LEBRON AND WADE COEXIST EFFECTIVELY?
To be continued...
Originally written July 11, 2010
1. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH LEBRON CHOOSING TO GO TO THE HEAT. Outside of the millions of Cavs fans in the state of Ohio, I don't think too many people are upset about him choosing the Heat of Miami, Florida. First and foremost, LeBron, as an American, has every right to pursue his version of happiness as he sees fit. The overarching fact is that he did what HE wanted to do and what HE thought was best for him and the people around him. I have never understood why ONLY athletes get trashed for making personal decisions. How would people like it if millions of people were outraged and sent them death threats just for taking a job in another city that was better for that person's happiness? It's ridiculous.
We tend to forget that athletes/entertainers are doing their job. The only difference between them and most people is that they are good at a job that many people cannot do and many people covet. Although millions of people in this country pick up a basketball and play it, less that 1% of them have what it takes to play in the NBA, much less be a superstar like LeBron James. Since so many people desire to be a big time entertainer or just enjoy being entertained, huge numbers of people throw their money at entertainers which allows entertainers to be rich and famous. With all that being said, LeBron has a job, and it is Professional Basketball Player with the National Basketball Association being his employer. His employer, the NBA, created an environment that gives him the right to choose where he wants to go when his contract expires. He only chose to go where he think he will be happiest. There is nothing wrong with that.
Put yourselves in his shoes for a minute. He his a megastar in the league. I don't have the data, but I believe only Kobe sits in front of him as far as worldwide popularity. Just take a look at this anecdote from the 2008 Beijing Olympics (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKzpyRKdcJ8&feature=related).
As a megastar in Cleveland, Ohio, he suffered from the Fishbowl Effect. He could not do anything or go anywhere in Ohio without being mobbed and bothered. To add to that, he had the enormous pressure of basically singlehandedly lifting Cleveland out of it's sports misery. I imagine that wore on him. Having to go to bed every night knowing the fate of a whole state depended solely on him is not that fun.
So you are still in his shoes and you are a 25 year old male. Not just any male, however. You are the baddest basketball player on the planet [arguably]. You get a call in which you are offered a job in Miami. MIAMI people! I mean just the women alone is a valid excuse in my opinion. In addition to the women, you have the beach, no state income tax, no state income tax, no state income tax, 75 degree weather in the winter, palm trees, the nightlife, and think I forgot to mention women and no state income tax. What cannot go overlooked is that in Miami, you have the freedom from the Fishbowl Effect. The late Giovanni Versace was able walk around alone in Miami/South Beach without much harassment. And this is Versace. Please. This man was 50 times as large as LeBron James will ever be. And this is why Matt Damon made it his home. You compare that to Cleveland, Ohio? As my homie Clay Davis from The Wire would say, Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeit! It's no contest. Who in the hell would choose the city of Cleveland over Miami?
2. LEBRON HAD EVERY SINGLE RIGHT TO CHOSE TO GO TO MIAMI. We cannot forget this simple nugget of a fact. LeBron James was a free agent. Free agent means you are not currently under contract with any of the 29 teams, which means you have the right to sign with any team that offers you a contract. He spent seven years in Cleveland putting the putrid Cavaliers on the map. LeBron deserves a statue in Cleveland for singlehandedly taking easily the worst Conference Champion in NBA history to the finals. Hell, a case could be made for that 2007 Cavs team to be the worst finals team in the history of pro sports. He fulfilled all his contractual obligations, whether people like how he did it or not, and has earned the right to do whatever he wants. Just because he was born near Cleveland does not mean his has an obligation to stay there. Cleveland was just not right for him long term. Just like any very successful person from a small place, he eventually needed to get out, see the world, and maximize his potential. He feels that Miami is the place for that.
3. NOT THAT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT, BUT I THOUGHT HE COULD HAVE HANDLED THE WHOLE THING BETTER THAN WHAT HE DID. I am not the naive type, except for when it comes to women when I always think the next one is going to not be like the previous women I've encountered. Another Sheeeeeeeeeeeeit. Anyhow, I do believe LeBron knew how he felt about all of this. I won't say that he knew all along that he was leaving for Miami, but he knew there wasn't a great chance he was staying in Cleveland. I saw this coming when he refused to go to the negotiation table to ink an extension. If he really loved Cleveland that much, he would have signed. Granted he did not have a great running mate, but they won 60-something games and had the best record in the league. Nonetheless, that was not good enough for him.
I also learned that it is a fact that LeBron tried to talk Christopher Bosh (Christopher because I really get tongue-tied trying to say Chris Bosh. Am I the only one?) into joining him in Cleveland. I'm thinking Bosh is like me and just imagined all those Cuban mamis and Cuban mixed breeds down in Miami and said..."Sheeeeeeeeeit. I'm sorry Bron, but Cleveland over Miami? *throws up the peace sign...but in the cool black people way*" And this happened a week ago.
Doing "The Decision" was not the best way to go about things, even if he softened the blow by donating a couple million bucks to the Boys & Girls Club of America. I just do not understand the public relations aspect to it. This would have been fine if he were going to Cleveland, but otherwise it could only be horrible on his image. If he were staying in Cleveland and did this, folks would say, "Aw that's cool. He turned his choice into nice gesture for the Boys & Girls Club." By not going to Cleveland, people are saying, "Oh no. He did an hour long program to stab Cleveland in the heart and self-indulge." We know Cleveland is just hurting in ways sports fans cannot imagine. The other part is that people outside of Ohio view him as spoiled, cowardice, narcissistic, ignorant, back-stabbing, selfish, primadonna, self-indulgent, and on and on. I don't know if I necessarily agree with any of those except one of them, ignorant.
When you listen to LeBron speak and see how he carries himself, he is a good, smart dude. However, we have to remember his upbringing. I will not get into all the poverty and single-parent household issues. That's whatever to me in this situation. I'm more interested in how his world was shrunk growing up, as with many child stars. By the time he was in middle school, he was already a phenom. At this point, it became a straight and narrow path to the NBA. This was good in a sense because he was getting prepared for his eventual profession. It was also bad because he, like so many athletes and entertainers, was deprived of intellectual and informative riches that most of us normal people gain while growing up. We have that sort of ability to get an ever expanding perspective on life.
The most striking thing from "The Decision," (I only saw the highlights on SportsCenter) was from his subtle reaction to clips of Cleveland burning his jersey. He had a subtle, quick expression on his face that suggested that he was stunned at the fan's reaction in Cleveland. This told me a lot about him and lots of athletes/entertainers. I thought to myself, "how in the world could he not know the ramifications of making an hour long show to tell Cleveland he will never put on a Cavs jersey for the rest of his life?" It's was so shocking to me, but I though about how I grew up [relatively] normal. I went to college. I read books about all kinds of things about life (currently reading books about Carl Jung and economics). I read the news paper. I interact daily with people from Korea, Japan, Canada, Austrailia, Vietnam, Iran, Guatemala, Turkey, France, Indonesia, China, and Brazil. Thus, I have such a broad perspective on the world and life. LeBron and many others like him lived most of their lives in a gym, a weight room, a plane, and in front of a camera rather than allowing themselves to be enhanced intellectually. I'm not being critical, but rather just saying how it is. It seemed as if he lacks that awareness of how he may be portrayed by normal people.
Right when the Cavs were eliminated, or at least a short time after to let the emotions wear off, he should have been frank with the Cavs, although he did not have to be. This would have reduced the damage of a P.R. hit. He could have told them he was on the fence rather than icing them so that Cleveland could at least make some moves and better handle their free agent options. LeBron put them in a bad position. They could not go out and makes moves because they need all that money for signing LeBron plus a possible free agent sidekick. We all know that the only way another player would sign with Cleveland is if LeBron was resigning. We know Bosh told LeBron "Sheeeeeeeeeeeit," about joining him in Cleveland. Bosh was really the last viable potential running make for LeBron in Cleveland (Amar'e Stoudamire is not a great player). Also, Cleveland could have work out some sign and trade scenarios to get something out of losing LeBron. While LeBron had no obligation to do this, doing it this way could have reduced the P.R. damage.
But this is what happens when you hire your boys rather than bonafide professional handlers. I mean his right hand man is called Maverick. Forget that. I want some dude named William who has a law degree or something. Maverick could still roll with me though, but I'm not giving him the keys to my career.
4. NOT THAT IT ULTIMATELY MATTERS, BUT THIS MAY HINDER HIS LEGACY AS FAR AS BEING IN THE PANTHEON OF THE NBA GREATS OR EVEN THE ALL TIME GREATEST ATHLETES IN ANY SPORT. LeBron is an alpha player in the league. As of now, there are a few alphas of the league. Currently, I would say LeBron, Kobe, and Wade are my alphas. Others may throw in Chris Paul (maybe), Carmelo Anthony (not to me), Dwight Howard (not really to me), or Kevin Durant (on his way). LeBron will be seen as having to join another alpha to become a champion. This is the hardest to explain, because you probably have already thought about how Jordan could not win without Pippen, Kobe without Shaq, et cetera. Or why more players are not considered alphas. Hear me out.
Right under the alphas, there are those that are great players, but not quite alphas. For instance, yes Jordan did not win until "Scott" Pippen was drafted by the Bulls. However, Pippen was a great player, but not an alpha. Pippen was not on the same line as Magic, Kareem, Bird, Isiah Thomas, and Jordan. LeBron joining Wade is not the same as Pippen joining Jordan because LeBron is an alpha player. This would be like Jordan saying "eff it, I cannot win with this Bulls team, so I'm going to join Bird and his squad." Jordan, joining the alpha Bird in Boston? Yet another Sheeeeeeeeeit. Jordan, Bird, Magic, Barkley, and those those alphas of that era had infinite respect for each other and where actually great friends with each other. Magic and Bird's relationship was well documented, as well as Magic and Isiah's (not so much Bird and Isiah though, lol). However, they wanted nothing more to kill each other on the court despite their friendship. I miss that era. I love how they compartmentalized and kept their friendship intact while trying to murder each other every season. Just greatness.
LeBron's Decision shows that he is not wired like the previous generation of alphas and that he really does not care about all of that, which is perfectly fine if it is what makes him happy. He is part of this whole AAU generation this is basically turning into sort of a fraternity of ballers, hence some of these guys sharing homes with each other during the season when the other one is in town. I sort of get grossed out by that and the display of love right before a game (after the game is fine). I loved seeing Reggie Miller getting into it with Michael Jordan. Seeing Kareem getting ready to take Kevin McHale's head off. The Bad Boys not shaking hands with Jordan's Bull after being dethroned in the Eastern Conference. But this is new generation, for better or worse. As an alpha in a previous generation, LeBron would only want to destroy Wade, Kobe, Durant, Anthony, or any other adversary. Now, for every ring he wins, Wade will have more. Secretly, Wade is the biggest winner in all of this while LeBron created a situation for himself in which he won't be discussed in the same light as Jordan, Magic, Bird, and perhaps Kobe (or even Wade) in some time. However, he still made the right move if this is what makes him happiest.
5. CAN LEBRON AND WADE COEXIST EFFECTIVELY?
To be continued...
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