He arrived. He hung out for a little bit. Now he's gone. But he's not really gone, just you know, gone if you live in Cleveland. If you live in Miami, he's just arrived. Call him what you want, but he is LeBron James and he is the most marketed athlete of our time.
He made his free agency announcement in a live one-hour special, because he is, after all, the King. The King does what the King wants, except win titles, ha! There are mixed reviews on this decision to leave Cleveland. From a business standpoint, and sports is all about business, it makes perfect sense. He needed to be with a title contender. Cleveland is 'close' to being a title contender, but having a bunch of role players to surround your superstar just doesn't cut it. Okay, let's be fair, Shaq is not a role player, but he's 38 and over the hill, and he's not about to win anybody anything in the last 2 years he plays. So Lebron needed help, and it didn't look like the Cavaliers were getting him any. They got Antawn Jamison last year at the trade deadline, and he turned out to be a playoff bust. He may now be the next Cleveland superstar, lucky him.
So LeBron searched high and wide, or vice versa, and had to make his decision. I enjoy that the Nets have an extravagant Russian billionaire owner who thought he could sway the King. Lebron wasn't going to the Nets, or Knicks, it just wasn't happening. They are so far away from being contenders it's not even funny. But best of lucky to the Sexy Serb and his 5-year championship plan - I hope it works (it won't). So LeBron had to go where he thought he had the best chance of winning, and after Bosh signed on, he had 2 of his Olympic buddies on the same team, and the contracts began to fall into place. There is a new 3-headed monster in the NBA, and it's the Miami Heat. This is similar to when KG and Ray signed on with the Celtics, albeit this new monster is younger and has more lift. Although, I do recall in 2004 when the Lakers signed on Gary Payton and Karl Malone to join Shaq and Kobe, only to lose to Detroit in the Finals. Ha!
More importantly than the signing, however, is Lebron's legacy. People are either digusted or appalled at the level of ego that has gone into his team selection, and it is disgusting, but it's also a product of the environment he has lived in. Lebron James has been wooed by the NBA since he was 16. He life has been a media circus. He was pride of Akron and he was destined to bring Cleveland a title. Or so it was thought. You can only ordain someone so many times before they believe their own hype, and clearly Mr. James does. There is no question he is a great player, but is he a great player when it counts the most? He wasn't in the playoffs when he kept getting sent home early, and that separates a great player from a championship player. Clearly he needs the support structure, and now (we think) he has it in Miami. He will be allowed to have an off night. I mean, he clearly has to win the title, but he has a much better chance now than in Cleveland. His eye is on the prize, and the prize may be in Miami.
Now, basketball aside, he is coming off as an egotistical douchebag, and the Heat will be the most hated NBA team next season. Most people normally hate the Lakers, and for good reason. They suck. Now, everytime Lebron takes the court, especially in selected cities, he will be booed out of the arena. The build up to his free agency and the television special, both unnecessary, were a product of the media and an audience who enjoy a spectacle. I expected the fans to be disappointed, although I think owner Dan Gilbert went a little too far with his bitterness. Your star was a free agent and went to a better team, sometimes stars do that. He shouldn't have guaranteed a title for Cleveland before Lebron gets one, that's just dumb. He shouldn't have called Lebron a coward. People use that term for terrorists and gunmen, not free agent athletes. He should have taken the high road and said he was disappointed on the decision but wishes Lebron the best of luck. Or not. Actually, next time the WWE is in Cleveland, I'd like Dan Gilbert to be the guest host so he can cut a promo on how much he hates Lebron and then hit a guy in a Miami Heat jersey with a folding chair. Now that would be spectacle.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Close only counts...
There is a phrase that is often used among sports writers when it comes to describing a close championship game. Sadly, as a Boston fan, I have heard it too many times in the past 3 years. The phrase is: 'Team X was within X minutes of winning a title.' This is to say that a certain team blew a fourth quarter lead and lost the game in the final minutes. It's happened to 3 Boston teams in the past 3 years, most recently the Celtics - although unlike the other two instances, it wasn't an upset, just a very tightly wound game where on team ran out of gas.
I had the unique opportunity of watching the game at work. When I say watching, I mean following the score on ESPN Gamecast. I didn't really want to watch it, I only wanted to witness the score on the Boston side go up. I have seen too many games during the playoffs where sloppy, 'who wants the ball?' basketball takes over, instead of playing the game like a team and thinking before that errant pass is made. For all of his growth this season, Rajon Rondo still displays that 'I'm gonna do what I wanna do' attitude at ill times, like when he throws the ball up in the air and hopes it goes in. I'm sure he practices that shot, I just wish he'd practice a jump shot instead.
So the Celtics were playing sloppy basketball that was winning games, barely. Celtics fans were waiting for the team to re-create one of those blowout games, where the defense takes over and the offense is flowing. Unfortunately for Game 7, the defense took over, but the offense never did. I saw the score tightening up just as I heard people in my office screaming for the Lakers (not a lot of Boston fans in New York). I was trying to avoid thoughts of the game at all costs, but eventually I just had to turn on the TV on my desk and take it in. I turned on ABC just as Derek Fisher set up for the 3 pointer that would tie the game. Here we go again.
So the Celtics lost, and I spent the final, waning moments of their season walking through the streets of Chelsea avoiding the game visuals but frustratingly trying to find the score on my phone. The network was dead, I would have to wait for confirmation of the inevitable.
This will be an interesting season for Celtics fans, because the trade that wiped out the Celtics and brought in two All-Stars had a 3-year window, and now we've reached that point. Fortunately, we do have young stars like Kendrick Perkins, Glen Davis, and Rondo. These players are going to keep getting better, even when members of the 'PGA Tour' retire. That's the good news. We just have to find a team on the West coast that can end the Lakers' reign of terror. The visual of Bill Russell handing any trophy over to anyone wearing Gold and Purple is not a sight I ever want to see again. You got that, Phoenix?
I had the unique opportunity of watching the game at work. When I say watching, I mean following the score on ESPN Gamecast. I didn't really want to watch it, I only wanted to witness the score on the Boston side go up. I have seen too many games during the playoffs where sloppy, 'who wants the ball?' basketball takes over, instead of playing the game like a team and thinking before that errant pass is made. For all of his growth this season, Rajon Rondo still displays that 'I'm gonna do what I wanna do' attitude at ill times, like when he throws the ball up in the air and hopes it goes in. I'm sure he practices that shot, I just wish he'd practice a jump shot instead.
So the Celtics were playing sloppy basketball that was winning games, barely. Celtics fans were waiting for the team to re-create one of those blowout games, where the defense takes over and the offense is flowing. Unfortunately for Game 7, the defense took over, but the offense never did. I saw the score tightening up just as I heard people in my office screaming for the Lakers (not a lot of Boston fans in New York). I was trying to avoid thoughts of the game at all costs, but eventually I just had to turn on the TV on my desk and take it in. I turned on ABC just as Derek Fisher set up for the 3 pointer that would tie the game. Here we go again.
So the Celtics lost, and I spent the final, waning moments of their season walking through the streets of Chelsea avoiding the game visuals but frustratingly trying to find the score on my phone. The network was dead, I would have to wait for confirmation of the inevitable.
This will be an interesting season for Celtics fans, because the trade that wiped out the Celtics and brought in two All-Stars had a 3-year window, and now we've reached that point. Fortunately, we do have young stars like Kendrick Perkins, Glen Davis, and Rondo. These players are going to keep getting better, even when members of the 'PGA Tour' retire. That's the good news. We just have to find a team on the West coast that can end the Lakers' reign of terror. The visual of Bill Russell handing any trophy over to anyone wearing Gold and Purple is not a sight I ever want to see again. You got that, Phoenix?
Thursday, May 20, 2010
The Lebron-Athon
The following post comes as we approach Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Celtics and the Magic, and the Cavs are nowhere to be seen. The 2009 - 2010 NBA season was supposed to be the season of Lebron. It would be the year that Lebron James captured his long-awaited NBA title, delivering a sports championship to Cleveland for the first time since 1964. Being from Boston, I really don't care that much about other cities championship droughts. The Cubs are the only other team that has a significant championship drought for a team (102 years?), but now that they've been taken over by a Russian Billionaire everything should change, right?
Back to Lebron. I'll be honest, a few months ago I was sort of hoping he would win a title this year so I wouldn't have to hear about his free agency and his not winning one for months on end. But then the C's got better and sunk the Cavs ship and now I could care less where he goes, although it will be a monumental shift in the league.
The tale of the tape is as follows: The NBA is Lebron James. Ever since Michael Jordan retired, they've been looking for the next guy to take over the league. There was Tracy McGrady, then Vince Carter, then Kobe, and now Lebron. As much as I hate Kobe Bryant, he does have the resume to approach Mr. Jordan's, unlike most other modern day superstars of the NBA. So Lebron came along and started winning MVPs, and then the questions becomes, when does he get his first ring. Michael won his first ring after 7 years in the league, and that is the standard Lebron is being measured with.
He has taken his team to the NBA Finals once, getting swept by the Spurs 3 years ago. His GM, Danny Ferry, a so-so player in his heyday, was in charge of getting Mr. James a supporting cast that would help deliver a crown. So Danny went out and got Shaq, who at this stage of his career is that big lug who can take up some space in the paint and attract double teams. Dominant, not so much - that was mid-2000's Shaq, not this current dude. I'd also like to point out that when Shaq was traded from Miami to Phoenix a year go, he famously pointed to his ring finger and said he was brought in to win a championship, I wonder how that went. So back to 2010, we have Shaq, and then at the trade deadline they bring in Antawn Jamison from the Wizards, another pretty good player. The Lebron- Shaq-Jamison connection was supposed to be fortification enough to fight off the Big Three of Boston and the Big Dwight of Orlando. As it turns out, it wasn't. So the mission of 'A Ring for the King' came to a crashing halt in Cleveland a week ago, and now of course begins the Summer of Lebron.
Lebron is a free agent and he has to decide what to do with himself. As Kevin Garnett so aptly pointed out - loyalty can get you in trouble, and possibly prevent you from winning. He should know, as he spent a good 12 year chunk of his career wallowing on a bad team in Minnesota, when he probably had a few chances to change scenery and get on a winning team. He's on one now, but I think his message to Lebron was 'get out while you can.'
The state of Ohio and city of Akron is all that Lebron James has ever known. It is his foundation, and it's where he has his roots. It has been remarked on numerous occasions that Lebron James has had a very sheltered life, being considered for the NBA in his teens, and basically being surrounded by his advisors and agents for most of his 25 years. So the question becomes, do you supplant from your foundation in search of a championship, going to a new team that will give you a better chance at a ring? Conventional wisdom would say, yes.
Where is this new team? Well, the names that have been mentioned are New York, Miami, and Chicago. In New York, well...hmm... other than being in New York, I can't think of anything exciting about being in the Knicks - I'm sorry. Miami has Dwayne Wade, Jermaine O'Neal, Udonis Haslem, and Dwyane Wade. I think Lebron and Dwayne Wade would scare any team - that's a lot of points right there. Chicago has Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Brad Miller. You add Lebron to that, and you get a formidable team. I don't know who Cleveland has because I think they're vetting that sumbitch and rebuilding. They've had their chance, and they blew it. So what I'm saying is, Lebron should sign with the Nets.
The End.
Back to Lebron. I'll be honest, a few months ago I was sort of hoping he would win a title this year so I wouldn't have to hear about his free agency and his not winning one for months on end. But then the C's got better and sunk the Cavs ship and now I could care less where he goes, although it will be a monumental shift in the league.
The tale of the tape is as follows: The NBA is Lebron James. Ever since Michael Jordan retired, they've been looking for the next guy to take over the league. There was Tracy McGrady, then Vince Carter, then Kobe, and now Lebron. As much as I hate Kobe Bryant, he does have the resume to approach Mr. Jordan's, unlike most other modern day superstars of the NBA. So Lebron came along and started winning MVPs, and then the questions becomes, when does he get his first ring. Michael won his first ring after 7 years in the league, and that is the standard Lebron is being measured with.
He has taken his team to the NBA Finals once, getting swept by the Spurs 3 years ago. His GM, Danny Ferry, a so-so player in his heyday, was in charge of getting Mr. James a supporting cast that would help deliver a crown. So Danny went out and got Shaq, who at this stage of his career is that big lug who can take up some space in the paint and attract double teams. Dominant, not so much - that was mid-2000's Shaq, not this current dude. I'd also like to point out that when Shaq was traded from Miami to Phoenix a year go, he famously pointed to his ring finger and said he was brought in to win a championship, I wonder how that went. So back to 2010, we have Shaq, and then at the trade deadline they bring in Antawn Jamison from the Wizards, another pretty good player. The Lebron- Shaq-Jamison connection was supposed to be fortification enough to fight off the Big Three of Boston and the Big Dwight of Orlando. As it turns out, it wasn't. So the mission of 'A Ring for the King' came to a crashing halt in Cleveland a week ago, and now of course begins the Summer of Lebron.
Lebron is a free agent and he has to decide what to do with himself. As Kevin Garnett so aptly pointed out - loyalty can get you in trouble, and possibly prevent you from winning. He should know, as he spent a good 12 year chunk of his career wallowing on a bad team in Minnesota, when he probably had a few chances to change scenery and get on a winning team. He's on one now, but I think his message to Lebron was 'get out while you can.'
The state of Ohio and city of Akron is all that Lebron James has ever known. It is his foundation, and it's where he has his roots. It has been remarked on numerous occasions that Lebron James has had a very sheltered life, being considered for the NBA in his teens, and basically being surrounded by his advisors and agents for most of his 25 years. So the question becomes, do you supplant from your foundation in search of a championship, going to a new team that will give you a better chance at a ring? Conventional wisdom would say, yes.
Where is this new team? Well, the names that have been mentioned are New York, Miami, and Chicago. In New York, well...hmm... other than being in New York, I can't think of anything exciting about being in the Knicks - I'm sorry. Miami has Dwayne Wade, Jermaine O'Neal, Udonis Haslem, and Dwyane Wade. I think Lebron and Dwayne Wade would scare any team - that's a lot of points right there. Chicago has Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Brad Miller. You add Lebron to that, and you get a formidable team. I don't know who Cleveland has because I think they're vetting that sumbitch and rebuilding. They've had their chance, and they blew it. So what I'm saying is, Lebron should sign with the Nets.
The End.
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