The LeBron Sweepstakes
I wanted my first post to be more about life and philosophy and so forth. I decided it is too hard of a topic to tackle right away, so it will be set aside for another time.
Why is LeBron so sought after? He hasn’t won any championships. He dominated a lot of games, but not everyone sees him as the best player right now. So why is everyone, from the Nets to the Knicks to the Heat to the Bulls to the Cavs, even the Clippers and the Mavs… why are they all throwing everything at him to try to sign him? Is it all about money? Is that what this world is all about now? Sure he will change the entire city. Sure he could help with the local economy. Sure he will dominate the sport and sell tons of tickets. But will he bring the team a championship? He’s had some good chances. He’s had some bad supporting cast. He’s folded at times when he was needed the most. He’s come out on top and dominated when asked of him at times.
What is it that LeBron wants from these teams? Does he want to win Championships? If so, he should do well in Chicago or even Miami, if Wade and possibly Bosh join him. If he doesn’t mind living under Jordan’s legacy, Chicago is the best team equipped to bring him all those championships that he so desires. Does he want to be a global icon? Does he want money and fame (which he already has)? If so, he should sign up with the Knicks or the Nets. The billionaire owner of the New Jersey Nets will definitely do what he can to make him a billionaire himself. Is it all about loyalty? If so, why this whole circus act? Why not just sign with the team that he helped build?
I am from Columbus, Ohio. My dad grew up in Cleveland. He loves his Cleveland teams: the Browns, the Cavs, the Indians… It doesn’t matter how bad the team is, he will always follow them and support them. It was his influence and passion that got me hooked on sports. Because of him, no matter where I end up, I will always support Cleveland. Having seen LeBron change the franchise and the entire city as a whole has been remarkable. It was his loyalty that kept him there. He’s given many good years for the city. He’s loyal to his friends and family in Akron. So can anyone blame him if he chooses to pack it up and go somewhere else? People in Cleveland, don’t hate him for that. I still wish and believe that his heart will remain in Cleveland. LeBron is all about loyalty and that’s where he’s needed and wanted the most. I believe he still has a chance to win championships there. But should he decide to start his own legacy and win multiple championships, Chicago is only a short flight away.
It will be interesting to see what happens in the next few days. It’s been quite entertaining seeing Jay-Z and Prokhorov trying their best to woo LeBron, seeing the Knicks using the city of New York to grab LeBron’s attention, and seeing the Bulls trading away Hinrich and their own first round pick for next to nothing just to free up extra salary space.
No matter what every wants and tries to give LeBron, it all comes down to what LeBron wants for himself. He needs to ultimately decide what will make him happy. What will make him realize his life goals. If it’s loyalty, stay in Cleveland. If it’s money and fame, go to New York or New Jersey. If it’s championships, go to Chicago. If it’s to show all of us some awesome highlight reels, join Wade and Bosh in Miami. That team would be nearly unstoppable. No matter what he decides, I will always watch him play, and I will always cheer him on.
In: LeBron James, Sports · Tagged with: Cleveland, LeBron, NBA, sports