I know it has been a while since I blogged. I don't really have much of an excuse, really. I could make up some bullshit about it getting really busy at work, but what is the point. Irregardless, I am back. A funny thing happened during my 2 month hiatus: LeBron James decided to join up with Dwyane Wade on The Miami Heat. I realize that Chris Bosh also signed with The Heat, and his play might be even more vital to the overall success of The Heat, but LeBron's "Decision" seems to be the story (understandably so).
Ok. I know it has been done, and done some more, but I am going to write my piece anyway. However, the difference between me and every other asshole with an internet connection is that I'm not a complete fucking retard projecting from his high horse.
It seems that prevailing sentiment on the whole LeBron James "Decision" was: "I don't blame him for leaving, but it is the way he left." Fair enough, I guess. That is the easiest viewpoint to defend, thus the easiest position to take. I imagine that 80% of people who say that are not particularly invested in the NBA or the Cavaliers. They probably just feel that they need to have an opinion on the situation, as it has been the biggest news story of the past few weeks. (That in itself is quite noteworthy. For one player's free-agency tour to dominate the national news is unheard of.).
Let's examine the criticisms of the whole LeBron James saga:
1. "ESPN's 'The Decision' reeked of arrogance and self-serving narcissim"- Everyone wants to pile on LeBron for orchestrating this PR nightmare, but the truth of the matter is that we caused it. 9.95 million people tuned in to watch the hour-long special. That is good enough to rank as the third most-watched cable program this year (behind the Pro Bowl, and an episode of Nickelodeon's iCarly, of all shows). We, the people, have created the monster that is the LeBron James business empire. We scouted him as a freshman, televised his varsity games, and made documentaries about his life in high school. You can't blame ESPN or Nike for all this. They wouldn't have sold it if we weren't buying it.
2. "LeBron is a pussy. Jordan would have never teamed up with Magic and Bird. He wanted to beat them."- While Jordan managed to stick it out in Chicago until they became champions, I have not resigned to crucifying James for signing with another team, or for teaming up with the third-best player in the NBA. They are different players from different eras. Free agency, which began in 1988, was not what it is today. It wasn't till the mid nineties that it really went into full swing. The first year Jordan would have possibly been eligible for free agency would have been 1991...right in the midst of his first three-peat. Also, it wasn't until after 1992 when the NBA became one giant group of friends playing on different teams. There were no Dream Teams where the NBA's elite could spend summers becoming friends. Without free agency and with the absence of elite NBA players in the Olympics, teams maintain bitter rivalries with each other. Aside from Magic and Isaiah kissing before games, opponents were't friends. That was a development of the mid/late nineties. Players don't hate each other anymore. LeBron was in Carmelo Anthony's wedding last week (as was Chris Paul). The social landscape of the NBA has changed that way. This whole "MJ would have never asked for help" myth is a load of crap. Don't think for one minute that he would have refused to play with the Bulls had they traded for Charles Barkley in 1993. Someone please tell me what is the difference between the Cavaliers signing Wade and Bosh at the behest of James, and James signing on with Miami to play with them.
3. "LeBron took the easy way out. He chose to play with stars so he could win titles without having to shoulder the load himself"- Hello?! Isn't that what we have all been imploring players to do for years. "I can't believe Free Agent X signed with the Grizzlies. They suck, he just went for the money." Finally, a trio of players sign with a team for less money that they could have earned any other place so the team would have cap space to sign other players, yet they are villified for it. You can't have it both ways, guys. I understand that signing for $14 million instead of $16 million wasn't exactly altruistic, but they still lowered their asking price from what they were worth in the free market. He made a decision that showed that money was not his first priority when choosing teams. We all asked for it and then we got it. It is hypocritical for us to bash him for it.
No comments:
Post a Comment