LeBron goes from Cleveland to Miami, from hero to villain
In an hour of unbelievably overcooked live TV, LeBron James went from being the nice guy you hoped would someday win a championship to the schemer you hope never does. He went from being John Elway to being A-Rod, from hero to villain.
It must have seemed a good idea at the time: LeBron and his “team” went to ESPN and pitched an one-hour special, and the Worldwide Leader does as the Worldwide Leader invariably does — it turned a news story into a circus. It offered up Stuart Scott, who said “two-time MVP” so often in the space of 10 minutes you wanted to shout: “Bill Russell was a five-time MVP, and he never needed a one-hour special to remind us!”
Bill Russell also won 11 titles, and he never had to cherry-pick his team. Neither did Michael Jordan, who took six, or Magic Johnson, who won five, or Kobe Bryant, who has five, or Tim Duncan, who has four. Even if LeBron does win a championship with the Miami Heat — and there’s no guarantee he will — it won’t be seen as a great player lifting a team; it will be seen as a bunch of glitzy free agents banding together just to burnish their respective images.
The Heat won’t be seen as the Celtics, where three guys who had never won big came together near the end of the careers to enhance one another. They’ll be viewed as the Yankees, where the operative word is always overkill. LeBron James just told us that, for all his exterior bravado, he didn’t trust himself to be the linchpin of a champion. He needs Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Can Carmelo Anthony be far behind?
We the people are funny. We like our stars, but we don’t like sure things. It will be no news when Miami wins, but it will be the lead story whenever it loses. And it won’t just be newsworthy when/if the Heat fails — it will be laugh-out-loud funny.
Had LeBron gone to the Knicks or the Bulls, had he stayed in Cleveland, we’d see him differently today. We’d see him as a superstar looking for a team he could make better, as opposed to one that might well have made do without him. A team needs both LeBron and D-Wade? The two brand names whose games most mirror one another? Why not bring Jordan out of retirement just to complete the set?
The wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, no stranger to hype, offered two sneering Tweets in response to the word circulating early Thursday that LeBron was indeed headed to Miami to ally himself with Wade and Chris Bosh. From C.O.:
“Nickname is KingJames. Kings lead with the help of an army (supporting cast on team) – a lead dog doesn’t join superstars to make it easy.”
Also this:
“Kobe-Magic-Jordan-Bird all created legacies on their own teams. They didn’t join together to make winning a ring easy.”
We can argue that LeBron deserves credit for leaving money on the table. (The Cavs could have paid him more than any other team.) But money at this rarefied level is a given, and what’s a few million here or there? The trouble with being one of three — Miami Thrice! — is that LeBron will never be seen as a transcendent talent on the order of Jordan or Magic or Bird. He couldn’t take the guys around him and make them champs. He had to station himself next to D-Wade, who’s already a champ.
The Summer of LeBron figured to be strange, but it wound up being stranger than anyone could have dreamed. LeBron had the world at his feet, and he managed to alienate a goodly portion thereof. His ballyhooed “Decision” smacks of a calculated plan intent on world domination, and nobody likes a megalomaniac.
LeBron might well have outsmarted himself. A lot of folks who wouldn’t have minded if he won are now hoping he and the Miami Heat will lose. I know. I’m one of them.
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509 comments Add your comment
Gotalotofbooty305
July 9th, 2010
2:07 am
Hey ReddJonn68 you want to come to be third wheel???
ace
July 9th, 2010
2:09 am
It sounds to me like maybe you two should go to Key West, to watch the Lakers win three in a row.
ace
July 9th, 2010
2:11 am
I’m still waiting for someone to explain why they had the best record the last two years, yet he didn’t have any help. Did MJ go join the Pistons after losing a few years?
Simpdawg
July 9th, 2010
2:12 am
LeBron James has decided to take the high road, and for that he’s no longer in the same conversation as Kobe, Duncan, Larry, Isiah, Dream, Magic or Michael. Hell he’s not even in D Wade’s league. Championships or not his brand has been damaged. Right now the Hawks are looking at maybe sixth in the East.
ace
July 9th, 2010
2:13 am
now they traded Beasley, so they have 4 players on their team!
ace
July 9th, 2010
2:14 am
The good thing is that Lebron’s ego is big enough to play center.
hawkfan
July 9th, 2010
2:15 am
Ok, I’m sorry but the more comments I hear about Dan Gilbert just shows why Lebron did not contact him before his decision, he would probably sent the mob to him and threaten for him to stay, Dan sounds unprofessional especially as an owner and shows he was just another Lebron fan not a Cavs owner this whole time, sigh, the media hyped this too much so lebron made it into a soap opera with his hour long special, at least kobe challenged his front office to bring in more talent not just leave when the going gets tough but then again it is cleaveland (no championships) and not la, can’t wait to see kobe interviewed about the super miami trio and kobe say “ooohh, I’m so scared I should just quit now” haha, funny how everyone thought joe johnson would leave his team (even though he’s getting more money) and lebron stay with the cavs, now the cavs have a new head coach with rebuilding process now a reality, for their fans “for every high there is a low” and they were all on that lebron stuff and now know all his dust, dancing, and jokes were just that and nothing more
Gotalotofbooty305
July 9th, 2010
2:17 am
ace I’m going to have you pour us a bottle (ha ha ha)!!!
ace
July 9th, 2010
2:18 am
It’s funny how everybody talks ish on here, but when you call them on it they shut up. Gotalotofbooty305 Phil4real where you at?
ace
July 9th, 2010
2:20 am
You’ve probably been a Heat fan for about what 5 hours now?
ace
July 9th, 2010
2:21 am
I had you tagged for more of a WNBA fan, or LPGA?
Marioshaft
July 9th, 2010
2:23 am
I say so what. If he wants to go somewhere to win a ring then go… I will have all three jerseys… HA GO MIAMI…
ace
July 9th, 2010
2:24 am
Next year when Kobe has the trophy again, you can come up with some new reasons for Lebron. Where as all he cares about is that now it’s Wade’s team/fault when they lose. You might also want to keep his mom away from the team. haha
ace
July 9th, 2010
2:26 am
Again with the assumption that the ring is already theirs? They have 4 players on their roster
ace
July 9th, 2010
2:28 am
Marioshaft?-sounds like he is ready for Key West also
Shaq
July 9th, 2010
2:29 am
Anybody remember me? Please someone love me
zinoDawg
July 9th, 2010
2:31 am
He was a “Free” agent. Free to do whatever he wants.
It is very bad news for the Hawks and every other team in the East.
George Bush
July 9th, 2010
2:33 am
Dont hate congratulate GO BRON !!!!! GET THAT MONEY DUDE NO STATE TAXES YAHOOO !!
George Bush
July 9th, 2010
2:33 am
Enter your comments here
Simpdawg
July 9th, 2010
2:34 am
Phil4Real,
What are you talking about? For the past two seasons the Cavaliers has had the best record in the league, during the regular season and were favored to win a championship this year. No one was saying LeBron needed help when he and his teammates were posing, dancing around, and all of the other pre game crap, but when they lose in the playoffs prematurely for the second year in a row, everybody gets blamed for it except LeBron. LeBron how about growing some balls and saying I will bring a championship to Cleveland. No he had to take the easy route, and for that reason he will never be equal to Kobe, Magic, Bird and don’t even think about Mike.
Gotalotofbooty305
July 9th, 2010
2:38 am
@ace: I’m here!!! Just got back from buying a James HEAT jersey, hater!! Been a HEAT FAN 4EVER. Oh and give Kobe a message: Career over, this is the last time he will ever win a championship ring. So enjoy. He might as well join our team cause WE THE BEST!!!!!
ace
July 9th, 2010
2:39 am
thank you simpdawg, but unfortunately I think he’s partially retarded, he was talking about going undefeated earlier. Maybe he’s hanging with
Jawalrus Russell and the Purple Drank!
ace
July 9th, 2010
2:48 am
good luck with your 4 man roster. What have I said that was “hater”, there is a difference between hating and stating facts sorry dude.
ace
July 9th, 2010
2:50 am
Every year for the last 3 years, it’s been “the season” for Lebron, as bad as ESPN wants him to win it doesn’t mean he will. I feel sorry for Wade.
hawkfan
July 9th, 2010
2:51 am
and after seeing lebron not shake hands last season in the playoffs what else did people expect from him, he is not loyal and disrespectful, it’s all about him all the time and he knows what he’s doing at least his agent does by trying to suck up as much money and media time that he can from others
ace
July 9th, 2010
2:52 am
i don’t think Wade needs Lebron to get back to the championship. He and Bosh, fill in the roster with role players/bench, and see what happens.
ace
July 9th, 2010
2:54 am
Sorry you don’t have any confidence in Wade, i do, and i’m a Lakers fan. It doesn’t soun like you’re much of a heat fan to me
ace
July 9th, 2010
2:56 am
If you were a fan, you’d be smart enough to realize how bad your team has handcuffed themselves financially. Oh well nobdy in Mia. really cares about the Heat anyways.
ace
July 9th, 2010
2:57 am
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS MY FRIEND!!!BACK TO BACK!!!SOON TO BE BACK TO BACK TO BACK!
blackprix
July 9th, 2010
3:20 am
Mark: You said it well. All Lebron had to do is tell the Cavs, “I’m gone”. He chose to make it a circus and a ‘in our face Cleveland” … bad, bad, bad!
My take on this, without any really BIGS in their lineup and having to playing D all game long … this team will not be as good as everyone believes. I also don’t believe that Wade and James will play well together.
George T
July 9th, 2010
3:44 am
one basketball, 4 quarters, they can only score so much. other teams will adjust their games against miami to limit their production.
How would you feel if you were….Dexter Pittman? Heats first draft choice in the 2 round, their 1st in this years draft….Kid worked all his life to be in the NBA, gets drafted and Boom….
KakNiqueTree
July 9th, 2010
3:45 am
Winning a championship is winning a championship, period, cut and dried. and it does not matter if Lebron had to piggyback or whatever.
George
July 9th, 2010
3:46 am
What are the ticket prices going to be in Miami, 1,000$/game?
whateverboo
July 9th, 2010
3:56 am
Why do people post a comment just to say “Who cares”?? If I am not interested in a story, I simply do not click on the link–plain and simple. I was hoping he would stay in Cleveland. Also, I agree with what Ochocinco said.
BravesFan79
July 9th, 2010
4:24 am
Ive been telling everyone for YEARS that Queen James is way overhyped!! Did anyone not see him play in the playoffs against the Celtics?? “James for 3…. CLANK” “James at the foul line.. CLANK”! James is the most unclutch superstar perhaps ever.
PS… love what the owner of the Cavs did… told the truth!
Haile Selassie
July 9th, 2010
4:28 am
Dan Gilbert is such a hypocrite. He talks about LeBron not being loyal to Cleveland and the fans of Cleveland yet Gilbert showed no loyalty to Mike Brown or Danny Ferry at all.
Stuart
July 9th, 2010
4:59 am
Well, I hope LeBron is happy… because he just tarnished his legacy; he’ll always be playing second fiddle, the Robin to the Batman (in D-Wade, by joining HIS team). Michael BROUGHT a championship to Chicago, Magic BROUGHT a championship to LA, Larry BROUGHT a championship to Boston… all cemented themselves in their franchises and cities, doing whatever it took to BRING a championship. They did whatever it took to BEAT the best (in beating each other, creating such great rivalries) in order to earn their championship legacies; they didn’t join each other so that their championship runs were against nobodys. LeBron cemented himself as a NY fan, a Dallas fan, and a Chicago fan, then LEFT to look to go FIND a championship. That is no legacy or legend that will live on in the shadows of the likes of MJ, etc. Even Wade has brought his team a championship, and he didn’t leave his team behind. “Winning” was his number one reason for leaving to go to Miami. I hope it pays off for him… because it cost him his heart, loyalty, dignity, respect, leadership, integrity, and a majority of the casual basketball fans who admired him.
In LeBron’s words, “I wanted to soak it in and make sure I was making the right decision for NO ONE ELSE but MYSELF.” Uhh.. teammates, organization, friends, family, community, etc…. forget them?
Sure, it’s your life, you want to be happy, but I see that the work, dedication, and loyalty that others overextend to you means nothing in the long run. That’s right–forget all you other people; it’s all about me and my hour-long special to announce it to the world and rub it in the face of Cleveland that I have no connection with you, just like I’ve shown that I never do.
You’ve really got to feel bad for Cleveland, but for many NBA fans like myself, I’ve just lost all the respect for LeBron that I had. It’s true, he joins the likes of A-Rod and Barry Bonds amongst the athletes that you just hate.
Whopper Dawg
July 9th, 2010
5:01 am
Shut up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have got JJ, JJ!!!!!!!!!!!!
For years and years.
I sleep easy tonight. Hawks may be 6th best in the east. Glad we have that max contract.
Manny
July 9th, 2010
5:16 am
So ESPN showed a quick clip in the intro showing LeBron playing in his last game. He was terrible, remember?
Did he tank it in some plan to go to Miami?
And remember, they all were talking to each other. They were talking as early as 2006. They said that they were going to talk to each other. Wow.
All I can say is wow. That last playoff game (the last couple of playoff games) of LeBron in a Cavs uniform looked like a guy who was tanking. Look at his eyes. He was off badly but he looked calm about it. He looked like some guy pushed a button on him.
In other words, the Cavs may have been had in more ways than this “Decision” fiasco. (Oh, and LeBron is going to regret how he rolled this thing out.
I Heart Atlanta
July 9th, 2010
5:35 am
f the heat
NASCHAWK
July 9th, 2010
5:47 am
Heres hoping Lebron becomes allergic to leather.
Manny
July 9th, 2010
6:16 am
Oh, and can I say this?
I’m a Kobe hater. Can’t stand the dude. My stance softened only a little bit when I saw him completely ignore Chris Rock, because that showed me something. But Kobe is a Jordan wanna-be, IMO.
But let me say this: Kobe has held the Lakers down and won championships. He didn’t go join a superteam. He didn’t leave the Lakers to join a team merely to win a ring. Dude brought the ring to LA.
So let me say this: Right now, Kobe Bryant is the best player in the NBA. He’s the most clutch and he’s the closest thing that we have to Michael Jordan right now.
Bob L
July 9th, 2010
6:20 am
The Hawks can only manage to resign their barely better than average JJ, while Miami can resign a great player and still go out and get Bosh and Lebron. Why?
Big Mike
July 9th, 2010
6:41 am
It is a lot of hatred going on around here. Come on people. Lerbon is not Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant. Both those players had at least one person around them to help them out. Who did Lebron have in Cleveland……….NO ONE. Shaq? Shaq is at the end of his career. Lebron did not opt out of his contract, he stayed until his contract was over and weighed his options. If he had of went to any other team besides Clevland, people would have had something to say. And to the fools that are burning their jersey, that money is already in his bank account. So out and buy another one and burn it.
Gigga
July 9th, 2010
6:44 am
What a show.. all that was missing was the big clock around his neck..oh thats the other guy….what a joke
Gungie
July 9th, 2010
6:48 am
What a circus…..flavo fave ..now that is funny
guy
July 9th, 2010
6:51 am
All these different opinions over another over priced basketball player.It’s sad when our media makes this front page news.Mixed up minds prevail!
TheAntiMe
July 9th, 2010
6:51 am
I only hope that LeBron brings his magic powder with him from Cleveland because that magic powder they’ve got down in Miami can get a guy into some serious trouble, don’t you know?
Gus
July 9th, 2010
7:10 am
Why is this the main story for the AJC? I guess nothing interesting happens in Atlanta.
I'm with Stupid
July 9th, 2010
7:11 am
Who cares? This narcissistic baby has no place whatsoever among the great players of the past. I can not imagine Magic, Jordon, Bird, or Jabbar doing anything as classless and arrogant as this. Just another reason why I hate today’s NBA.