Would you or wouldn’t you?
That was the question being asked throughout Cleveland this week as the Miami Heat came for their only visit to Quicken Loans Arena this season to take on the Cavaliers. Of course, one of the Heat’s players is the former member of the Cavs and northeast Ohio resident, LeBron James.
James was asked if he would consider ever coming back to the franchise where he started his career and he said it had crossed his mind. Seriously?
The most realistic thought fans had was that they root for the team, and if James were on the roster, they would support the “King”, but most people prefer that the former #23 never again wears the Cleveland uniform.
You see, James is an insecure superstar. He has shown no history of making the players around him better, and he certainly has shown no loyalty to the guys who helped him give the wine and gold the NBA’s best record each of the last two seasons he played in Cleveland.
Just ask Mo Williams, who was publicly dissed by James in his comments about Cleveland rookie Kyrie Irving.
He’s also a star chaser. He wanted to play with his buddy, Dwyane Wade, in Miami, and he comments publicly (via Twitter, of course) about dunks by Blake Griffin. In fact, the way he kisses the behinds of other great players in the NBA, it looks like he’s preparing for a job as an analyst on ESPN.
It is this kind of stuff that irritates some of the hard-working good players in the league, like Kendrick Perkins, who would prefer James keep his mouth shut on such matters.
In fact, James would be better off keeping quiet on most matters. He needs to see Kevin Costner’s character in Bull Durham for lessons in how to handle the media. Give reporters a sound bite, but don’t say anything. It’s a trait that has served Derek Jeter very well in baseball.
LBJ’s comments to the Cleveland media this week sounded like he was lobbying to lessen the inevitable booing that was going to take place in last night’s game. Look people, I might want to come back, so please be nicer to me!
The stupid aspect of his comments was what do people in Miami think? The fans won’t care too much, because there aren’t a lot of them, but you have to imagine team president Pat Riley was seething.
One of Riley’s pupils, Cavs’ coach Byron Scott seemed surprised by James’ words, and spoke about the lack of respect for teams today’s players have. Talking about going somewhere else during the season just wasn’t done in Scott’s day.
If the Heat don’t win a title this year with Wade, James, and Chris Bosh, changes will likely be made, and you have to believe James will be the one to go. Riley has to feel that he just doesn’t have the mental toughness to win a championship.
So why would Clevelanders want him back? It’s part of the intense yearning for a title that comes from not winning one since 1964.
James made his decision on this area after the 2010 season. He didn’t think he could lead the Cavaliers to a title. Now that the Cavs have Irving, all of a sudden, it’s a place he might want to play?
He’s not happy in Miami, so he wants to come home. Remember, he’s not one of us! He roots for the Yankees and Cowboys. He doesn’t embrace this area, he just happened to grow up around here.
If James does opt out of his deal, which he probably will because Wade will be 32 then, and will be on the downside of his career, so it will be time to chase another great player, let him go elsewhere.
Fans here will have more integrity than the so-called “Chosen One”.
JK
Cleveland Sports Perspective 