Dethroning the King
When I sit down and think about what I should write about there are a few topics that I try to avoid. Not that these topics are inappropriate, edgy, or boring I just find them to be played out. Example: I love sports, it’s a topic that I am very knowledgeable on (or at least I think) and I find it easy to write about. However I will try to avoid a LeBron James post like the plague. Why? Just go to ESPN, Grantland, Yahoo sports, SI, or any other sports website and there are two things you will see every time: Brett Favre’s penis, and an article that has to do with LeBron James. Other topics include: Kobe vs. MJ, Barack Obama, and the BCS when it comes to college football. I try to choose topics that would be fun for the reader, hence all the lists about tattoos, hairstyles, and mustaches. But today I am crossing the line that I said I would never cross and I am going to attempt to write about LeBron. So I apologize in advance that this is most likely your 12th time today hearing or reading about LeBron.
A not too long time ago LeBron James was actually a likeable guy. Was there anyone who did not see that game 5 against Detroit? And just in case you never “witnessed” it, let me bring you up to speed. It’s one of the best examples of someone taking over a game, and what was so strange about this is that it was a playoff game. Scoring Cleveland’s 29 of their last 30 points and the final 25 points to lead them to a double overtime win. He then released his “The LeBrons” commercials, and his MVPuppets commercials. We were all drinking the LBJ Kool Aid.
Disclaimer: When referring to the “LeBrons” I mean the Nike commercials, not the cartoon. Seriously, what the hell is that all about? Had The Decision never gone down I think people would still hate him for creating this load of crap.
Just a few years removed from him carrying the Cavs to the Finals LeBron is one of the most hated people in all of sports. Some say it started with the loss to Orlando and then refusing to shake hands with the Magic. Some say it’s the way he just quit against the Celtics in last year’s playoffs. As a fan of basketball these things made me upset. Not so much the Orlando incident (Personally I think the media blew it out of proportion), but the way he essentially gave up in Cleveland really bothered me. Three months later LeBron cemented his name in the all time Villain list, well at least to Cleveland fans.
THE DECISION: TO BE A VILLAIN
Every sports writer and analyst would agree that doing “The Decision” was the worst decision LeBron made during his free agency. Let’s look at all the things wrong with it. Now before people tell me that there was any good that came out of the Decision, like the 2 million that was donated to the Boys and Girls club, let me assure you that there was nothing good that came out of it. As for the money donated, it was nothing more than a tax write off. LeBron made more money than he “donated” on The Decision.
Second, there is a much better way to tell you “prospective” teams that you are not going to sign with them than going on national TV and letting them guess. When asked does the team you are going to play for know it yet, he answered with a yes. This was how he broke the news to all the other teams. “Well he never told us so I guess he is not signing with us.” Those teams, especially Cleveland, deserved better than that.
Third, there was how LeBron mentions himself in the third person.
Fourth, it gave us the worst LeBron commercial of all time, as if to justify his actions.
Even though just a couple sentences ago I said nothing good came out of the Decision I have decided to change my mind. There is one good thing that came out of this whole ordeal, this video being it. If you have a sense of humor I dare you to watch it and not crack a smile. Someone put a lot of time and effort in this video, matching up all the words to make it look like LeBron is actually speaking. (Warning: Video does have inappropriate language).
But what was done was done, and LeBron was officially a villain.
FROM HERO TO SIDEKICK
Once LeBron joined the Heat he went from Hero to sidekick. From day one it was D-Wade’s team. Remember Wade has a championship under his belt already. He was the man on that ‘06 Heat team, Shaq was still very good but it was Wade’s team then and it’s his team now. But when LeBron left Cleveland he basically admitted that he couldn’t do what Dirk just did a couple hours ago, he can’t win a championship on his own (can’t win one with Wade and Bosh apparently either). So when LBJ “admitted” this all comparisons of Jordan, even Kobe, went out the window. Those guys wanted to play against each other. They wanted to beat the best to prove they were the best. What if MJ had teamed up with Magic, Bird, Malone, Miller, or Thomas? He wouldn’t be considered the greatest to ever play, that’s what would have happened. I don’t want to get into a Jordan discussion right now but the way the Pistons treated him and the way he kicked their ass is what LBJ should of done with the Celtics… BY HIMSELF.
Disclaimer: Don’t you dare tell me, “Well Jordan had Pippen.” As good as Pippen was, HOF good, he was never considered a top 5 player in the league at any point in his career. Wade and James are both top 5 players.
THE PRESS CONFERENCE/PARADE/PARTY/WHATEVER THE HELL THAT WAS
If the Decision wasn’t bad enough there was the party that the Heat organization threw for Bosh, Wade, and James. Bill Simmons said it best in his article the other day before game 6, “We are one Dallas victory away from this becoming permanently funny.” My God was he right. This will be looked at as one of the most arrogant things to ever be done in sports.
(Before I continue I just want to point this out. Chris Bosh, especially when he played for the Raptors, looks exactly like Predator)
THE FINALS
Just when people were beginning to say that he was the most dominate player in the NBA again. That the move to the Heat may have after all been the right decision. LeBron goes out on the biggest stage and lays one helluva egg. 8 points in game 4. 8 friggin points! Then he has the nerve to go out and mock someone who kicked his ass while being sick. The Mavs knew, especially after the game 2 meltdown by the Heat, that LeBron would crack under pressure. Had this been 1998 and LeBron was playing the Jazz, Bryon Russell would be a hero. If you can’t close out a game championship then you can’t be considered the greatest of all time.
Joke of the Finals: Never ask LeBron James for a Dollar because he will only give you 75 cents. He never has a fourth quarter.
Well I have ranted on long enough to at least why I officially now hate LeBron James. It wasn’t just one thing, it was a series of things. I will try my best to never write a full article on him again but if in 365 days from now the Heat happen to lose in the Finals again, well you know.
Author: Stuart Pirri
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