When questioned about how I feel about LeBron James bailing on Cleveland to go to Miami, I haven’t had a whole lot to say. That’s not entirely true, as I’ve had things to say, just nothing that other people haven’t said before me. I haven’t spewed any venom LeBron’s way like many have, nor did I burn a jersey, but I don’t know if I’ll ever hold LBJ in the same regard as I once did.
As humans, the first thing we do with athletes is compare them to someone. In fact, it’s not just athletes; we try to find comparisons with people in all walks of life. Think of your own life as you went through school. If you have any older siblings or family that went through the same school system, your expectations may be set as soon as you start kindergarten.
With athletes, comparisons come from an early age and never truly end. I follow college basketball recruiting where the first thing people want to know (on the outside) is who a particular player plays like. This past week, I saw Center Grove’s Andy Smeathers compared to Gordon Hayward. Look, I like Smeathers game, but outside of the fact that they’re both tall, skinny, can shoot it, and white it’s not a very good comparison. But we have to compare him to someone, so Hayward makes sense.
This past week, a common theme has been “Well Jordan wouldn’t have done what LeBron did. Jordan would have taken on whomever to prove he was the best.” The statement itself is pretty accurate. With what we know, Jordan DIDN’T leave and seemed to be wired to take on anyone, anywhere, and at anytime. That’s what made MJ the greatest basketball player of all-time. LeBron James has been compared to Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson since his teenage years. What’s been hard to grasp the past couple of years and then magnified during “The Decision” is that LeBron James is LeBron James.
It’s the same reason he has yet to develop a low-post game. We all think it would make him unstoppable. Kobe added one. Jordan added one. LeBron has yet to truly develop one. It’s one of those things that makes him different. We want LeBron to be the greatest basketball player of all time. It’s tough to swallow when people don’t live up to the expectations (or comparisons) we set for them.
I felt disappointment last Thursday in realizing that I’ll never be able to place LeBron on the same pedestal as Jordan. Those are expectations that I placed on LeBron. I thought he could win in Cleveland. I thought he was good enough to take on the world. Again, that’s what I wanted.
LeBron just wanted to go win a ring with his boys. It’s almost like he’s surrounded with Dru Joyce and Romeo Travis again. They get to hang in South Beach and win some ballgames. It’s not what I expect out of greatness, but let’s be serious, what do I know about greatness?
If the Heat win the title this year, we won’t hold LeBron in the same regard as if he won in Cleveland. If they win 6 in a row? That might be a different story.
In the end, how we regard LeBron James means nothing to LeBron James. He’s not the little brother trying to live up to big brother’s expectations. He’s trying to set his own in what is definitely becoming a new era of sports.
I’ll learn to live with it, and will definitely set my own household record for Miami Heat games watched in a single year.
I just won’t be rooting for them.
6 comments:
How is what he did any different that what Boston did? And if I remember right you were cheering for Boston because of how fun they were to watch. Ray and Kevin joined Paul and thats ok?
First, I don't quite hold Ray Allen OR Kevin Garnett in the same esteem as LeBron James. To me, he's a notch above them. He got his team to the NBA Finals. I thought he could take them to the promise land on his own.
Second, both Allen and Garnett got traded to Boston on the downside of their primes.
Third, I'm not ripping the decision itself. I just held LeBron on a higher pedastal than anyone you mentioned on the Celtics. That's fine he went there, he'll just be judged differently.
And he's okay with that. No harm there.
I do agree that he is on a higher pedastal. He was thought of as one of, if not the best player in the league. Don't get me wrong, I was also disapointed with his decision. However, since he made this decision I have started to understand why.
Cleveland's owner is nuts. He was not giving him anything to work with. I know all the greats make the others around them better. Lebron made the players around him better, too. But seriously, Shaq and Jamison? Both of those guys are way out of their prime. I just don't think Cleveland tried real hard to get him any guys that had talent enough to win.
Secondly, after the comments the owner made I don't blame him for leaving. He fires Ferry and the Brown and tries to bring in Izzo? Don't get me wrong, I love Izzo, but I don't think he was the right guy. The owner took Lebron for granted and it cost him.
I am sad Lebron left, but I do understand why. He wants to win. I honestly don't know if he would have even won in Cleveland.
With all that being said, in three or four years we will all be talking about how great Lebron is again. I have a feeling he will not disappoint in Miami. I may not cheer for them but he is still Lebraon, one of the greatest players of all time.
Hey Chad, great to see you back writing on the blog again!
Is it the fact that he left Cleveland or the fact he went to Miami the reason you have against LBJ? Would you have been as let down or disappointed if he went to chi-town with boozer or the knicks with A'Mare?
To the first anonymous,
I overstated it in my blog (said he'd have to win 6), but I'm with you on the 3 to 4 years thing: probably even less. We have short-term memories, so there's no doubt this will be an afterthought soon.
To the second anonymous,
I guess I just wish he stayed in Cleveland. I liked rooting for him in Cleveland. I loved watching him play. I'm going to still love watching him play, but I don't know if I'll be able to feel the same way if he wins a title with the Heat.
Winning is winning, but it just won't feel the same to me. It will feel the same to him, and that's all that matters.
The number one reason Lebron left Cleveland - His stepfather.
A.K.A. - Delonte West
If anyone deserves the blame for Lebron leaving it is Delonte.
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