Well, it’s here! Tonight is the night LeBron James returns to The Quicken Loans Arena for the first time as a member of the Miami Heat.
The eyes of the nation, not just the basketball nation, are on Cleveland, Ohio to see how we will react. Here’s hoping a few fans on national television don’t embarrass our city.
James deserves the boos he will hear from the wine and gold faithful that will pack downtown tonight, and there will be signs decrying his departure from a franchise that he took to the brink of a title in 2007. That’s all there should be.
You see, James doesn’t merit any more attention than that. He left. Good riddance.
As of this time, LeBron James lost a heck of a lot more by leaving than we, as fans, have. The Cavaliers won over 60 games the last two seasons, and James was named the league’s MVP in each of those campaigns. It does not appear that will occur this season, and the wine and gold’s former star likely will never win another MVP unless he would average a triple double for an entire season.
He’s also no longer in the spotlight as he was when wearing #23 with the Cavaliers. No one is talking anymore about James being either #1 or #1A with the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant in terms of being the world’s best basketball player.
And even if the Heat win as many titles as either Michael Jordan’s Bulls or Bryant’s Lakers, LeBron James will be viewed as a guy who helped win those titles, not as the preeminent player on those squads.
This is not to say we should feel sorry for James. He deserves to be reviled after what he did to the Cavalier franchise that treated with nothing but honor in his time here.
He also did not handle his business in the correct manner. He was entitled to leave Cleveland if he so desired, he earned the right to be a free agent. However, he did hold the franchise hostage because he never gave them a maximum year deal.
He should have called Cavs’ owner Dan Gilbert, who treated him as a partner, and told him of his decision to leave in person, not allowing one of his marketing group buddies to make the call.
He’s not worth the embarrassment. He’s gone, we are still here and you know what, life goes on. When Heat highlights (or lowlights based on their record) are shown, the blood doesn’t pump any faster.
On a different subject…There is a new sports talk alternative in Cleveland and it’s definitely worth a listen. Digital Sports Network can be accessed on Cleveland.com, The Plain Dealer website.
The network is an alternative to what has become “canned” sports talk on the town’s ESPN radio affiliate.
With outstanding hosts, including Cleveland radio veterans Les Levine and Bob Karlovec, former national talk show host Chuck Booms, PD columnist Bud Shaw, as well as Harry Petsanis, Joe Lull, Darryl Ruiter, and Ken Silverstein the talk is very entertaining and insightful.
They also have an interactive chat room so listeners can interact with other fans. Tell you friends about DSN. They will definitely love it.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 