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.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
509 comments Add your comment
Ted M
July 9th, 2010
9:25 am
Mark,
I just read this article in the print edition, I’ve been avoiding most of the LBJ blogs and sportscenter segments because I was/am just sick of it, great article you nailed.
The Cavs owner has just stated that LBJ quit in the playoffs on several occasions. I agree with him too. In some cases it was obvious.
How many times do the Hawks play the Heat is it 5 or 6?
Alice
July 9th, 2010
9:25 am
Don’t hate the player, hate the game! The Cavs would have traded him in a heartbeat when they thought they could acquire someone younger or stronger. Never personal, just business.
ACE
July 9th, 2010
9:32 am
I don’t remember all of this hatred for his supporting cast during the last 2 regular seasons. On X-mas
day when they smoked the Lakers, everybody was handing them the championship. Shaq was supposed to be the answer. Whatever? It’s funny how whenever LBJ’s boat starts to take on water everybody shows up w/2 buckets, one to bale out the boat and the other full of excuses for the QUEEN
ACE
July 9th, 2010
9:33 am
Alice-go make me a turkey potpie!
Joey
July 9th, 2010
9:35 am
Not Carmelo, Mark, but Chris Paul will be there soon. Bill Simons (ESPN) has been writing about this since he picked up on the rumor, that during their time on the 08 Olympic team, LBJ, Bosh, Wade and Paul made a pact to play together on the same team. The first three in ‘10, and Paul in ‘12 or before. Stay tuned.
Also, I think having the TV show to announce anything other than returning to Cleveland is just heartless, almost mean.
Alice
July 9th, 2010
9:36 am
The truth hurts, ouch!!!!!!
Byron Scott
July 9th, 2010
9:37 am
Well Ace, I loved my ex-wife, before the divorce. No matter how much you love somebody, the feelings change when they run off with a stranger.
ACE
July 9th, 2010
9:39 am
Byron Scott-huh? I don’t get the point you’re not making.
Byron Scott
July 9th, 2010
9:41 am
Not only run off with them, but brag about it on TV. And you are surprised Cleveland fans are bitter.
Byron Scott
July 9th, 2010
9:45 am
Kinda like Vols fans when Kiffin jumped ship, or like Falcon fans when Petrino left. Actually, what James did was not that bad, but honestly, wouldn’t you feel just a little bit slighted if this was your team, and you had pulled for this guy, and now he’s leaving for a BBD?
BigDeal
July 9th, 2010
9:46 am
The whole thing was a sham. Everything from the dishonesty of LeBron and his, I just decided this morning, to his desire to be the next Jordan went up in flames yesterday. There will not be but one basketball on that court, and I see this whole thing blowing up rather quickly in Miami. Plus, are the three of them going to play the entire game? They have no one else. Everything LaBron was saying was, I, I, I…well, he may want to be Jordan, but he will be lucky to be Worthy.
ACE
July 9th, 2010
9:48 am
i never said anything about Clev. being bitter, I don’t blame them. What he did would be like Michael Jordan going on tv to announce he’s divorcing his wife?
dan
July 9th, 2010
9:51 am
Basically for years we have heard from athletes “Show me the money” “We need to renogiate my contract” “I am being disrespected” but not we have 3 players saying no to that so can other athletes now use that terminology to gain more money can owners now say to the players it should be about winning championships? I think that allowing teams to dump salaries etc especially this year is ruining the game and the Miami Heat are like the NY Yankees of basketball which kinds of makes it uninteresting? I agree with Mark and hope their scheme fails and they dont winning but also in the process since they have to share the ball that their numbers will be demininished and because of that we hopefully one day all look back and say “Remember the time when 3 young talented superstars came together they never won any championships and their individual stats were not great since there was only 1 ball and there are not listed in the top of any NBA all-time catagories”
Will
July 9th, 2010
9:52 am
I’m done with the WWE I mean NBA. Can’t take it anymore. Too lopsided. Lakers have been to more than half of all the NBA finals. It’s a rigged league.
Marvin
July 9th, 2010
9:53 am
” a AN one hour special..”?! Not an English major but that can’t be correct.
ACE
July 9th, 2010
9:54 am
How about this scenario- Mike Vick never gets into any trouble, at the end of his contract he has an hour long press conference to announce he’s going to play for the Rams. Everybody in Atl. okay with that? Yeah that’s what I thought.
dean
July 9th, 2010
9:55 am
How many times did James say, “I’ve done great things….”? I quit counting after the third time.
Also, how many times can an athlete say, “At the end of the day…” before I puke on his shoes?
Eisendawg
July 9th, 2010
9:56 am
I miss the old days, when a player normally stayed with his team through-out his career. Now, theres so much money involved, and teams change so much, it’s hard for a fan to connect with his team and the players. Alot of people have still not forgiven Tom Glavine leaving to play with the rival Mets. Just human nature, I guess
The last Boy Scout
July 9th, 2010
9:58 am
The story is not that a spoiled kid gets on TV and making himself into the great one or that news media blows up a boring story (big deal somebody moves from Cleveland to Miami.) The story is we watched. What does it say about us that millions are in angst and thousands are in nirvana about somebody playing a game in a different city?
News Flash
July 9th, 2010
10:01 am
Who cares? The NBA has become the professional wrestling of team sports.
ChippersLoveChild
July 9th, 2010
10:07 am
Joe Johnson makes more than Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh…. Joe Johnson makes more than Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh… no matter how many times it’s said, that is just too funny… Enjoy being the third best team in the division… Ugh.
redweather
July 9th, 2010
10:10 am
I haven’t read all of the previous posts, so I may be repeating someone. But Wade, Bosh and Lebron sure have given every other team in the league a whole lot of extra incentive to leave everything on the floor when they play Miami.
Then there’s the refs. Will they be sending Miami to the free throw line sixty or seventy time a game?
Finally, three huge heads don’t necessarily make for a successful basketball team.
Eisendawg
July 9th, 2010
10:11 am
And all of these guys make more money in one year, than any of us, will in a lifetime.
JD
July 9th, 2010
10:11 am
I disagree. If you do research in the last 20 years on Championships, the superstars on those teams had some help. Jordan had Pippen, Kobe had (Shaq, Gasol, Wade had (Shaq)
N
July 9th, 2010
10:13 am
Very sad to see him leave Cleveland. He may come to regret this someday just as some stars like Griffey etc I think came to regret leaving their first team. To have brought multiple championships to his hometown would have been the greatest for him.
On the other hand you can’t say he isn’t about winning because he had more guaranteed money on the table to stay in Cleveland. Apparently if he had convinced Bosh to go to Cleveland it would have been a totally different story and if true shows how much he put winning and his perception of the best chance for it at the top.
dawg1
July 9th, 2010
10:13 am
who really cares………… Miami will never win with the big 3 egos on that team.
N
July 9th, 2010
10:16 am
Remember when the Lakers had Kobe, Karl Malone, Gary Payton etc and it didn’t work. Can’t remember if they still had Shaq then or not.
dawg1
July 9th, 2010
10:19 am
good point N…..
Drew
July 9th, 2010
10:22 am
I was at a Lebron party a few years ago and remembered what an asshole he was to everyone. He intentionally walked around flaunting himself just so he could hold his head high and refused to say hello to everyone. It was really arkward to see that – It was like that popular high school cheerleader that made her rounds thru the cafeteria just so people to could get a glimpse.
I knew then that Lebron on TV is all an act – As the Cavs owners said it best, his true colors are finally coming out.
I could care less that he signed with Miami to pick up some easy rings. i would prob do the same,. But to do a one hour special and spit on all your loyal Cavs fans and an owner that did everything he could to help you win. Don’t forget the Cavs had the best record last year – it was Lebron that failed to close out the season with a Championship.
Lebron is total douche!!!
Mark Bradley
July 9th, 2010
10:24 am
They still had Shaquille, N. They lost to Detroit.
ACE
July 9th, 2010
10:24 am
N-yes Shaq was still there, good call
TheAntiMe
July 9th, 2010
10:27 am
This bulletin just in… the LeBron James Re-signing Celebration Parade through downtown Cleveland has been canceled for today.
ACE
July 9th, 2010
10:27 am
That was the end of Shaq/Kobe, if you remember he showed up to camp that year about 350lbs overweight.
Timmy
July 9th, 2010
10:27 am
LeBron became LeChoke after his performance against the Celtics.
LeChoke became LeJoke after last night’s spectacle.
All of this makes me want to LePuke. I hope he gets Leprosy.
N
July 9th, 2010
10:28 am
2004 Lakers roster: No Ring.
Lakers[15]
Head Coach Phil Jackson
Point Guard Gary Payton
Shooting Guard Kobe Bryant
Small Forward Rick Fox
Power Forward Karl Malone
Center Shaquille O’Neal
Reserve
Derek Fisher
Stanislav Medvedenko
Devean George
Kareem Rush
Horace Grant
Brian Cook
Bryon Russell
Luke Walton
Free Lebron James
July 9th, 2010
10:29 am
If the GM made all the moves, we’d call it genius… but players who take control of their destinies, we call it egotistical and unfair…
Payton, Malone, Barkley, and others should have left their teams way earlier to chase the coveted “Ring”… but waited til they saw the writing on the wall at their teams, and realized that loyalty is a 4-letter word!
Congrats Lebron… and I hope future draft classes take notice!!!! Power to the Player!!!
Can You Feel The HEAT?
July 9th, 2010
10:29 am
Bradley, you’re just sore because the Hawks STINK and they overpayed and got taken to school by Joe Johnson and his massive contract with a NO TRADE CLAUSE.
Pat Riley is a genius!!! The Miami Thrice will destroy the little birds…Josh Smith is a joke and so is Joe Johnson!
You can’t spell hate without bringing the HEAT!
Mr. Thomas Anthony "The Taxman Cometh" Jones, SR
July 9th, 2010
10:31 am
Can we just kill the messager here in Marthasville, Goergia (Atlanta, Georgia). The news medis here in Atlanta, especially the AJC sports cohort is always, always negative. You destroyed Mr. Damon Evans, Mr. Chan Gailey, Mr. Dennis Felton, Mr. Billy Knight, Mr. Michael Vick, and Mr. Daniel Reeves. You try to destroy Mr. Paul Hewitt, and now Mr. LeBron James.
Can we destroy the news media here in Atlanta, especially the bunch at AJC. You are always negative. Not only do you attack people you forget that people have families. If you do not like people at least keep you negative feelings to yourself and just report the facts. And that’s all.
The number of people at AJC who take drugs, have committed adultery, and have evadedtheir Internal Revenue Service and State of Georgia Incoem Taxes is staggering. yeah, some of this information is public domain knowledge and the rest has boon confided by confidential sources who work in the media here in Georgia. So let someone who without sin throw the first stone. We just want the facts here in Marthasville, georgia (Atlanta, Georgia) not your worthless prejudiced opionion.
Lastly,as a native here in Marthasville, Georgia I note that the AJC circulation has lagged as your negativity has surged. Change one, change the other!
ReddJonn68
July 9th, 2010
10:31 am
No hating Lebron, but you will not win a ring. Everyone on the bench will be making 500k. Where’s Antione Walker when you need him !!!!
N
July 9th, 2010
10:33 am
Payton, Malone and Barkley all played in Finals prior to the end of their careers so how can you say they should have left. No guarantee somewhere else and they had good teams where they were.
McDawg
July 9th, 2010
10:35 am
How many non-championships did Michael Jordan endure before Chicago won it all-what a loser–i tink the thing w/ his mother may of had something to do with it
ReddJonn68
July 9th, 2010
10:37 am
You can’t spell HEAT without EAT. As in ” eat crow ” which is what Lebron is gonna do when he finds out this team cannot play defense, Bosh plays defense about as good as Za Za !!!
Greg
July 9th, 2010
10:38 am
The Cavs owner should have guaranteed a championship BEFORE Lebron left, how about going out and getting Stoudamier last season? Little late for the Cavs owner to be talking smack. he had his chance. Didn’t get the best coach, or any cast around Lebron.
Jay
July 9th, 2010
10:39 am
I’ll guarantee you Miami will win 3 championships before ANY Cleveland team ever wins 1.
JET
July 9th, 2010
10:40 am
AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT IS A BASKETBALL CAREER WITH A CHAMPIONSHIP RING. YOU PLAY THE GAME FOR THE ULTIMATE SATISFACTION – A CHAMPIONSHIP RING. JAMES HAS TO DO WHAT MAKES JAMES HAPPY AND WE THE PEOPLE SHOULD ALLOW HIM TO DO JUST THAT. EVERYONE WHO CANNOT IMPACT JAMES LIFE HAS A COMMENT. YOU PEOPLE WITH YOUR NEGATIVE COMMENT SHOULD SHOVE YOUR COMMENT UP WHERE THE SUN DOES NOT SHINE.
So much for ‘Wade County’ … it’s LeBron’s house now : The Reid Report
July 9th, 2010
10:40 am
[...] Bosh and James, the team now goes panhandling for filler, and “King James” goes from hero to villain. Forget Snitchy and the Lakers. Everybody will be gunning for Miami now. Share this [...]
JET
July 9th, 2010
10:40 am
THAT SHOULD BE ‘WHAT IS A BASKEDBALL CAREET WITHOUT A CHAMPIONSHIP RING’
Phil
July 9th, 2010
10:41 am
The players on King James’ team were not high calibre like Michael or Kobe has had. The coach was not Phil Jackson either. James made the best move, fans in ESPN poll thought Miami was Lebron’s best move. You got Pat Riley, you got D Wade & Bosh, you got a formula that the Celtics have used to dominate.
Heat fan in Atlanta
July 9th, 2010
10:43 am
Whose to say that Lebron ever wanted to play with the Cavs. He was picked by them in the first round he did not choose to play for them. What if Minnesota had the first pick that year would we even be talking about loyalty then. I think that he did what any athlete that has made money should do. Leave some money on the table to win a championship. Hate to be one of the 50 greatest players to never win a ring. Now he has his chance to win several. Its all about winning!!!!
N
July 9th, 2010
10:43 am
I thought Cleveland had a pretty good team around James.