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
RB
July 9th, 2010
7:16 am
I’m a Cleveland and Atlanta Fan. After Lebrons move and Atlanta’s overspending on JJ, I’ll now be pulling for the Orlando Majic to rule the East.
Brad
July 9th, 2010
7:25 am
What he did is much worse than anythign a-rod did.
Hmmmm
July 9th, 2010
7:35 am
A free man in America does not have to answer to no one but himself and God for his decisions. Get over yourselves. LeBron does not owe Cleveland his life. Haters make this world virtually unbearable.
fromminustoplus
July 9th, 2010
7:41 am
To all of the LeBron James haters….you sound like a bunch of whining girls. I think you all are mad that this black boy with a high school education has beat you at your own game..and he did it on national t.v. Kind of smart for a person with a high school education. And to top it off, he turned down millions of dollars from Cleveland. Why would a king leave his palace? There is so much more to this story than meets the eye. So stop the whining, because the guy wants to win.
Honestly
July 9th, 2010
7:42 am
Lebron is FREE to do what he wants, that is why it is called FREE Agency….however, this one hour spectacle of ME..ME..ME, has brought down pro basketball to its lowest level
David
July 9th, 2010
7:43 am
I’m proud to say I didn’t watch last night. Shame on ESPN.
John
July 9th, 2010
7:44 am
Hard to imagine the Wade/James/Bosh trifecta succeeding – particularly sustaining excellence (and harmony) for five years. I see one Pippen and two Jordans here. Something’s gotta give.
So these three guys got along during an Olympics. Big deal. They had all locked arms as equals – good Americans doing their patriotic duty. Which was living in five-star luxury while mopping the floor with undermanned international competition. And only for a couple months, too.
They’ll be in each other’s company for the grind of an NBA regular season plus a full complement of playoff rounds (so they hope). Let’s see how good a buddies they are in April 2011.
Harry Reid
July 9th, 2010
7:47 am
Now a team we can all hate!
Honestly
July 9th, 2010
7:47 am
Bosh is good, but not great…what has he done to make his teams better ?…same could be said for King James, very little….to me, looks like Heat are trying the same approach as the Celtics did with their “big three”
AWJ
July 9th, 2010
8:12 am
Most athletes say the politically correct thing and talk about wanting championships and in the end, they chase the money. This time the big 3 took less money (a lot less) to put together a team with the intent of winning a championship, and they get bashed for it. I take my hat off to those three and hope they do get their championships.
As far as Clevland bashing LeBron, it is ridiculous. He made his choice based on what he needed. Anyone that could take a job with another employer that would enhance their career would be a fool not to take the opportunity.
The 1 hour special was probably over the top, but whatever. Again, I applaud the big 3 for making the sacrafice to actually deliver on what they talked about: winning….
LeBron James
July 9th, 2010
8:12 am
Iam going to the Heat not only to win championships but also for the all women. I might go both ways too
Lance
July 9th, 2010
8:15 am
MJ had an amazing cast and coach, he didn’t NEED to transfer. Miami is a much better city than Cleveland. No taxes in Florida. No one criticisized the Celtics big 3 when they joined together. The history book don’t care about the circumstances, just says “Champion”. Lebron deserved a better coach, better players at Cleveland, he didn’t get it. Don’t blame him.
Latishia
July 9th, 2010
8:18 am
Michaela, Magic, Kobe, and Larry all had supporting cast that would have made any team better. They did not win titles alone. Lebron does not owe the city of Cleveland anything, therefore it is disturbing to read and hear that he has turned into a villain because he chose Miami. If you watched the hour long special it was clear to see that the decision was a difficult one, but because he loves the game he would rather win as a team than be an overpaid billionaire who never won a title.
If you look back at all the greats you can say that there was always a “Robin”. The only thing I can’t wait to see is, who will be Batman and who will take the role of Robin. I think it is encouraging to see players who put the game ahead of their pockets. These are young men who could have gone anywhere and made millions of dollars, but decided to lose a little money and play together. Let’s be realistic if Kobe had a chance to play with D Wade he would have jumped at it. The goal is to be the best; therefore you surround yourself with the best.
The fans burning their jerseys and hating on Lebron need to get a life. This man had to do what was best for him and his family. Chicago was a good fit but maybe he didn’t want to play there, come on if you had a choice to play with Michael Jordan or Joe Johnson who would YOU pick? We all know that Lebron is a great player so having another great player on his team makes him a bad person that the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. I’m sure if you ask any of the retired greats who never won a title what’s missing from their life/career, I’m sure they would say a World Championship.
LeBron James = Robin
July 9th, 2010
8:18 am
there is a difference between Boston. All of them were past their prime. Lebron could have tried to be like Kobe/MJ/Magic/Duncan and allow management to build a team around him. Instead he jumps ship during his prime.
During Kobes prime (after Shaq left) he stayed and allowed the Lakers to land Gasol and Odom and now he won with HIS Team
richham
July 9th, 2010
8:18 am
He actually didn’t leave more money on the table. He will make more money over how many ever years than the same time frame with Cleveland because of the state income taxes. He did leave that extra year on the table, but then he could make even more the next time around, so it’s debatable if he really lost anything.
John
July 9th, 2010
8:18 am
The level of anger aimed at James in particular is a bit hard to understand.
This happens in major league baseball every off season. The big difference is it’s the Yankees, Red Sox and Mets soliciting hired guns without the constraint of a salary cap. Are A-Rod, Mark Texiera, J.D. Drew et al any less mercenary than LeBron?
Hell, at least James and Wade and Bosh had to come up with a way to make this happen – not without sacrifice to their individual contracts by the way.
Major league baseball players (who are the most overpaid SOB’s walking planet Earth just sit on their lazy, entitled asses and wait for the best (biggest) offer to roll in. Then they (Texiera) claim at their press conference that it wasn’t about the money. Oh, BS.
Where’s the outrage for that? I guess some of us ain’t used to basketball players shaping their own destiny.
Could James have done this better? Hell yes. Is all this outrage overblown? Double-hell yes.
Latishia
July 9th, 2010
8:20 am
Micheal, Magic, Kobe and Larry…. sorry for the typo
Dawg in Iraq
July 9th, 2010
8:20 am
Well, I never thought that I would ever blog about the NBA, but I want to express my disgust with the NBA. I have been a lifelong fan of the Hawks, but as of today, I am finished with it. How sickening to see the circus that LaBron personally staged, and then he has the audasity to say it’s not about individuals in Miami, but the team, not only is he an egomanic, but he thinks we are all stupid, man I hope they lose every game!!!
The Nerve
July 9th, 2010
8:23 am
The only person that was a bigger joke than Lebron on that show last night was Stuart Scott. It is pure agony hearing and/or watching him on TV. I can’t change the channel fast enough.
Westurd
July 9th, 2010
8:23 am
Its nearly impossible to see Lebron in the same light….His ego is too big to fill the areana in Miami.
Power Up In My Pants
July 9th, 2010
8:25 am
From Dan Gilbert’s letter to fans:
“I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE”
http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/gilbert_letter_100708.html
Westurd
July 9th, 2010
8:26 am
Boston and LA could still take Miami, and don’t forget about Denver when Karl is back. Lebron is a bum…only starting feeling that way this morning.
Dawg in Iraq
July 9th, 2010
8:27 am
Yes, LeBron has a right to do what he wants, and I have aright not to like it. He made his choice, he the one that has to live with it. Wonder what its gonna be like when he visits Ohio!!!
Latishia
July 9th, 2010
8:27 am
Are we really going to get into state income taxes? I’m sure his endorsement deals will keep him living a pretty lavish lifestyle so how much he receives from a team is a little obsolete anyway. PEOPLE GET OVER IT. It’s his life and his decision. You have a right to cheer for any team you like, no one will pressure you to be a Heat fan, I promise!
Let’s be real, Kobe had already won titles when Shaq left the Lakers so that comparison is not a good one. He had three rings so waiting for his team to bring in good players was not urgency. Lebron has no titles, and there was no guarantee that Cleveland was going to be able to bring in good role players. So he could have been there another five years, with the best season record and more MVP titles but no Championship trophy.
kreedham
July 9th, 2010
8:31 am
I think the backlash may hurt him. How many sportswriters/voters might be less inclined to vote him another MVP, another 1st team all-NBA.
He should have gone to the Cavs and said if you can get me x or y player I’ll stay. If not, then he should have gone elsewhere!
Karl Childers
July 9th, 2010
8:32 am
James could have been the next Michael Jordan in Cleveland. Instead he’s going to Miami to be Scottie Pippen for Dwayne Wade.
Latishia
July 9th, 2010
8:36 am
I wish all of you the BEST of luck, please take care of yourselves don’t have a heart attack or self destruct, because Lebron is playing with Miami! Remember to eat and get lots of sleep I don’t want any of you to harm yourselves because someone made a decision that in no one impacts your life. LOL!!!!!
America is hilarious; because someone does something that you don’t agree with they are a horrible person. You are all right you have the freedom to dislike his decision and even discuss it but listen to yourselves you sound like obsessed idiots. I would have loved for King James to go to the Bulls, but that wasn’t my decision it was his!!!
For the people who believe Cleveland will win a title before Miami please see a doctor because you are losing it!!! LOL
D in ATL
July 9th, 2010
8:37 am
What a minute!!! We criticize guys all the time about taking the money instead of building a championship legacy. Then, a guy comes along (albeit overhyped), leaves his hometown, then aligns himself with the best opportunity to win the ultimate prize and we now say its overkill!?!? Truth is Lebron was in a no win situation so he decided to take the best opportunity to do just that, win. Does it seem selfish and self serving? Yes. Thats part of the make up of super star champion DNA in the NBA and it will always be that way. The more interesting part will be examining how these stars coexist and what kind of team is built around them.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
July 9th, 2010
8:43 am
just glad it’s all over- now we can all move on with our lives
savannahdawg
July 9th, 2010
8:45 am
Cleveland had a good team and was willing to do what it had to in order to keep filling in the pieces. Lebron never wanted to be there to begin with. This was his chance to leave and he did that. He picked the best team he thought would get him that ring. Fine, I can live with that. What burns me is his lack of guts to be honest. “It’s all about winning?” Give me a break Lebron. You are full of it, just like any other high-profile athlete.
I wouldn’t want to play in Cleveland either. Not because of the team, Who wants to live in Cleveland? Cleveland or Miami………….Cleveland or Miami………hello people……..the hell with Cleveland.
Who really cares anyway…………….Lebron will never be a Jordan. Jordan made those around him so much better. I guess Lebron can’t do that. Which is why he needs help from other big name players.
Crackhead
July 9th, 2010
8:46 am
Championships>$$$$$$
KOBE
July 9th, 2010
8:47 am
On LBJ, what a poser. He went to Miami because he doesn’t like the pressure of carrying a team or a city. He is no Jordan who made everyone around him better. My fav NBA team is now any team that plays the Miami Heat!
What time is it?
July 9th, 2010
8:48 am
LeBron is a tremendous player. He gave his all for Cleveland, even led them to the finals (swept by Spurs). To ask him to stay in Cleveland and loose for the rest of his career is selfish on their part. The LA and Boston teams have stacked the deck for years (trading scrubs and getting marquee players added to their teams). The only way to beat those teams; is to combine forces creating a super team of players, if you want to win a title. He has made the city of Cleveland, hundreds of millions of dollars, no one wants to see that change. LeBron deserves a chance to win a NBA title. Which one of you would stay at a job with no chance of advancing in your career, when another company gives you an opportunity to realize your dreams?
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Smitty
July 9th, 2010
8:52 am
So what happens in 3 years if/when Miami hasn’t won a championship? (Personally, I don’t think you can win with 3 all-stars and 10 D-league players) They will have 3 players eating up over $60 mil in cap space. Which of the 3 get traded? LeBron will get a new “process” to deal with that he hasn’t experienced before. If Miami doesn’t win 2 of the next 3 championships, his “brand” will be tarnished.
Manny
July 9th, 2010
8:54 am
To me, it’s not that he left Ohio. It’s HOW he did it that concerns me.
First of all, we have the playoffs last year. That’s when it started for me. When he played against the Celtics, he looked like he was deliberately tanking the Cavs. And this is the reason: I saw Lebron stink up the place before. He takes it personally. He looks angry and mad. He pushes the shot too much. And he gets fiery when something drops.
When he played against the Celtics, he looked like he had next year’s contract on his mind. He looked disinterested. He had that “Oh Well…” look on his face. He played like he had money on the Celtics.
Then, they made this announcement after the season that Joe Johnson, Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade and LeBron James was going to have this summit to discuss where they were going to go. Think about that for a moment- all they would need is a center and they would have their starting 5 if they all decided to go together.
Then they retracted it. And Joe Johnson knew that the Hawks was going to give him some gaudy contract and that bought him some loyalty. (At least JJ didn’t decide to join the Superteam.) People cried “Collusion!”
And then comes this 1-hour special. At a local Boys and Girls club. Due to the fact that he held it at the Boys and Girls club, I thought he was going to stay in Cleveland, because it would be a good object lesson for the kids. I thought that if he would have left Cleveland, he would have taken out a full-page ad in the Cleveland Plain-Dealer thanking the fans for his time there and making them feel good.
But he came out there and said that he’s doing “what’s best for LeBron James.” Get that kids at the Boys and Girls Club? Chase that ring, baby! You don’t owe appreciation for your past success! Go for glory!
Thanks, LeBron.
Either way it goes, it hurts him. So he goes on Dwayne Wade’s team and wins a championship. Fantastic. Now, you needed to join Dwayne Wade (who already won a ring without you) to get your ring. You’re second fiddle.
Next, you’re going to have to win a ring on a team led by you. Much like how Kobe felt before Shaq left the Lakers.
So where are you going to go in a few years? The Cavs?
Daniel
July 9th, 2010
8:55 am
As much as I hate what LeBron did to Cleveland, he got screwed over by their front office. Everyone who talks about how all these other greats didn’t need to cherry-pick their own team is fooling themselves. Kobe needed Shaq (all-time great) for his first three rings and Gasol (top three big man in the league) for his last two. Jordan needed Pippen (a top 50 player), Magic had Kareem (top 5 all time) and James Worthy (top 50), Bird had Parish and McHale and Dennis Johnson.
What did LeBron have in Cleveland? Mo Williams? Larry Hughes? I don’t blame him for leaving, just the way he left.
Manny
July 9th, 2010
8:57 am
Oh, and something else I gotta say:
Dwayne Wade is one heck of a GM, huh?
My Take
July 9th, 2010
9:00 am
He quit on his team during the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals so the fans wouldn’t be mad at him when he ditched them in the summer. The fans probably wouldn’t have hated him if he hadn’t done it in such a grandeur fashion. Good luck LeBron! From the hate shown here, buddy, you’re going to need it.
G-Money
July 9th, 2010
9:06 am
Grow up you people. Cleveland never illustrated the capacity to bring and develop great talent around him. Remember the previous regime allowing Boozer to test the free agent market. I think what really has people perturbed is that three jocks just urinated on the system, which by the way if they would eliminate four franchises, would allow for talent to be acquired as opposed to being spread so thinly. If he stays in Cleveland, the Jordan won in his seventh year crap starts, if he goes to another team without the superstar package then everyone is saying he should have just stayed put. The reality of it is he believes that he has positioned himself to win multiple championships, this could actually become a shift in how players determine destinies and/ or dynasties of teams. I wish him well,they beat the system.
The Man
July 9th, 2010
9:09 am
Why is everyone so upset? I love this move!!! Go Heats!!!!
5IML
July 9th, 2010
9:10 am
The Man,
I have asked the same question. I’m not sure whether is jealousy or fear.
dap01
July 9th, 2010
9:13 am
Boo Lebron. Boo Miami. Boo EPSN.
Manny
July 9th, 2010
9:15 am
My very last take on this subject is this whole thing about Jordan-Pippen. Since I was 17 at the time, I can remember when Pippen came to the Bulls in 1987.
Jordan didn’t win a championship until Pippen came along, but Pippen wasn’t a world-beater, either. Pippen was backing up Oakley and Brad Sellers. He was a bench player his first year out. He was a youngster that rode Jordan’s coattails and learned a lot from Jordan and Oakley. Pippen eventually got the starting job in 1988, during the postseason.
Dennis Rodman came to the Bulls to win another ring. He already had 2 with the Pistons, though.
But here’s the bottom line: Who’s team was the Bulls when Jordan played on it? Michael Jordan’s team. Who was the MVP all the time when the Bulls won championships? Michael Jordan. Who’s statue is outside the stadium in Chicago? Michael Jordan.
Rick Flair said it best: “If you wanna BE the Man, you gotta BEAT the man! Woooo!” All I’m saying is you first gottal be the Man on your own team.
StopYourWhining
July 9th, 2010
9:16 am
This was an absolute no-brainer. I don’t blame the guy one bit for leaving Cleveland to go play with a first ballot hall of famer….IN MIAMI!!!! Don’t you guys get it?? MIAMI – 25-YEAR-OLD MAN – MILLINONAIRE…………..IN MIAMI playing with a hall of famer and a young solid center. God, some of you kill me. If you wouldn’t have done the same thing in this age of free-agency you’d be a FOOL. The guy even took a little less money. Jeez people!
Eisendawg
July 9th, 2010
9:18 am
Great article Mark! It’s amazing to me that fans feel sorry for James because he hasn’t won a championship in Cleveland. We treat pro athletes like Gods in this country. They get paid mega-millions to play a “game”. I suppose he has the right to play where ever he wants to, but to have a hour special glorifying him leaving,to load up a team with superstars doesn’t seem to be special to me. This is alot like the Yankees. Alot of fans will despise and pull against this team.
bdette
July 9th, 2010
9:21 am
He did not sell his soul, he carried the cavs so what, people always trying to put someone down for what they want to do, you would do the same thing. find you guys a place in life and get one lebron move on and do your thing. year after year you putting your hard work in and not getting any where if you want a ring going somewhere where you well win you won when you left the team they was not helping you. proud of him
Bafoons!
July 9th, 2010
9:21 am
I say cry me a river also……..
Cleveland fans are a joke. They are talking about how the economy is going down and people will loose there jobs because of this. This man gave you 7 years and you expect him to play for 7 more and not win a thing? YOU gave him nothing while in Cleveland. SEVEN years and NOTHING !!!!!!! I am so glad that I am in no way asssciated with this city. If he would have choose to stay in Cleveland, then they would not have had a problem with the hour long show. Or the owner would not have went off like a gorilla on a hot summer Georgia day( like today). Get real! You people are pathetic. I am from Atlanta and I support all my Atlanta teams. However, I truly hope that he wins down in Miami. And all you people that are bashing him, will be lined up to see him when they come and play the Hawks. HYPOCRITES !!!!!!
DawginLex
July 9th, 2010
9:22 am
Mark,
You have probably heard by now that Melvin Turpin committed suicide yesterday. Truly sad.His wife is ill in the hospital with heart problems and he went home and shot himself.
He was a genuinely nice person who would talk to anyone he met.
Byron Scott
July 9th, 2010
9:23 am
He could have come here and got a ring. Do like Tech, win one big game, and have a ring made.