Joining Heat Would Ruin LeBron's Legacy
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Jul 7, 2010 10:56 AM CDT
in Cleveland Cavaliers in the News
Email
PrintOk, so this might come off as bitter. It's not, really. That's why I am writing it today, before LeBron announces his free agent destination.
Let me say that I believe whole-heartedly that LeBron James has earned the right to make the decision any way he sees fit. He has given everything he has to the Cavaliers for the past seven years. No matter what, I thank LeBron for that.
With that out of the way, let me remind LeBron that a move to South Beach would be the wrong move, and there is really no other way to look at it.
In most free agent decisions, players look at one of two things when making a decision. They either want the big payday or they want to win. Sometimes a player can get both. We, as fans and media, usually blast players that make a move for money(see Albert Haynesworth) and praise those who want to win, paycheck's be damned. In that case, shouldn't we be praising LeBron for thinking long and hard about leaving millions on the table to potentially go to a team with D-Wade and Chris Bosh?
In this case, the answer is a resounding NO!
Fairly or unfairly, LeBron's legacy is what is at stake, not merely winning or losing. That's what comes along with being the most hyped athlete ever to come out of high school. That's what comes along with exceeding those expectations. That's what comes along with having a nickname like King James.
Going to Miami, a team with a superstar in place already, can only take away from that legacy. Right now, LeBron is the greatest Cavalier of all time. Sure, not the legacy James is hoping for, but heading to Miami, where Wade is The Man, and Pat Riley gets all the credit and little blame, would not help LeBron escape the shadow of Jordan.
On second thought, maybe it would.
Going to Miami would allow LeBron to get out from the weight of Michal's 6 rings, and the 5 rings that belong to Kobe Bryant. LeBron would no be more Scottie Pippen to Michael Jordan - a great player that was unable to win a Championship as the alpha dog, needing other great players to help pull him along. Maybe that is what LeBron wants. Less pressure.
Staying in Cleveland, however, would keep LeBron's legacy in tact, or at least give James the ability to build a legacy. Does that sound hypocritical? Maybe, but it's not. Winning a championship in Cleveland, as THE MAN, would mean more to the way LeBron was remembered than winning 2 or 3 in Miami hanging on Wade's coattails. Even having the guts to stick it out in Cleveland instead of forming some kind of 'dream team' with Riley would look better. If legacy is what LeBron is about.
He might not be, and that is OK too. Just remove 'King' from in front of your name, and remove 'King Of Akron' from your Twitter profile. LeBron James would simply be a great sidekick.
56 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I would say now is the time to post these sort of articles
…and pray LeBron checks out the site
"I’m tired of hearing about money, money, money, money, money. I just want to play the game, drink Pepsi, wear Reebok." ~Shaq
by Max_in_Missouri on Jul 7, 2010 11:48 AM CDT reply actions
Over the top...
probably, but you get the point.
FTS
SBNation's Cleveland Cavaliers Blogger
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Jul 7, 2010 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions
I don’t think that’s over the top at all.
I think you hit it right on the nose. There’s nothing in this piece that I can disagree with.
I’d just add, on that “King of Akron” note, if he leaves, Akron hates him. Ohio hates him. Can we still thank him for giving us his all for 6.99 seasons? Yes. But once that is acknowledged, the whole state, and especially Akron, never forgives him for abandoning them, us.
Let’s hope it never comes to that. Personally, I’m still sitting at 50/50 in my own head. I keep trying to convince myself that LeBron is looking forward to add / recruit Chris Paul to the Cavs within the next year.
I don’t think that’s over the top at all.
I think you hit it right on the nose. There’s nothing in this piece that I can disagree with.
Completely agree with you.
I thought if LeBron left, I’d be able to at least wish him the best. Nope, I don’t even think I’ll be able to do that. If I turn on TV tomorrow and see a one hour special with LeBron saying he’s leaving/explaining why, I’ll be crushed, furious, etc. The people on ESPN alone will be sickening.
And yeah, Simmsinns, if he leaves he can forget that “King of Akron” title.
I thought if LeBron left, I’d be able to at least wish him the best. Nope, I don’t even think I’ll be able to do that.
Nope. I’ll wish him nothing but failure…b/c if he leaves it will truly reveal what kind of character and what kind of man he is…
by johnnyphoenix on Jul 7, 2010 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions
I agree. This just sucks right now. If he’s leaving, I can’t believe he’s going out like this. What a big “screw you” to all of Ohio.
There’s still a big, big chance he stays…I just hope Bosh’s decision didn’t tip the balance.
by johnnyphoenix on Jul 7, 2010 2:55 PM CDT up reply actions
Bruce Drennan is saying that he couldn’t imagine LeBron doing this 1 hour special on national TV to say that he’s leaving Cleveland. He says that would be so cruel and like a machete tearing out the hearts of the fans.
He says that would be so cruel and like a machete tearing out the hearts of the fans.
You mean, kinda like this whoooole damn free agency mess he created in the first place?
He’s definitely more of a queen than a king right now…a drama queen.
by johnnyphoenix on Jul 7, 2010 5:27 PM CDT up reply actions
I don’t think Bosh’s decision tipped the balance. Bosh has said all along that he would go wherever LeBron goes, just not Cleveland. LeBron probably made up his mind to go to Miami a few days ago and Bosh followed suit.
Colt McCoy... the cure for Cleveland's Eric Berry man-crush.
I agree
I don’t respect the Lakers as much as other championship teams. Given the talent they had…AND Gasol…they were expected to win on talent alone. If he heads to Miami it will be the same…and theres nowhere to go but down if they don’t win mutiple/consecutive rings.
I'm Polish...what's your excuse?
I read the whole thing
It is just the vibe I got from reading it. Sour grapes. Sorry if that offends. Just my opinion. :)
vr, Xei
When you know the first thing about being a Cleveland fan, please return and apologize.
by Roger Dorn on Jul 7, 2010 3:00 PM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
…and you are…(?)
…and came here for…(?)
by johnnyphoenix on Jul 7, 2010 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions
hmmmmm
what is the big story on the front page of SB Nation and where does it link you to? Three guesses.
ok well, you know where you can go now? Three guesses.
by johnnyphoenix on Jul 8, 2010 3:27 AM CDT up reply actions
If he leaves, it doesnt mean its forever, only 5 years. maybe he learns something and returns to Cleveland a better (?!?!) player. by then, after rebuilding, maybe we will have a better group of players for him to join.
Personally, if he leaves now, I don’t want him back.
by Bernie19Kosar on Jul 8, 2010 2:00 AM CDT up reply actions
Nonsense. Complete nonsense. James is going to stay in Cleveland, but moving to Miami would do nothing to hurt his legacy. He’d win a lot of rings in Miami and his Heat team would challenge for 70+ wins for the next several seasons. He’d play on what could be the best team(s) in NBA history. He’d be a legand either way.
Maybe his legacy in NE Ohio would suffer greatly, but his legacy around the globe/rest of the 49 states would be just fine. He’d be a huge rock star, like he already is.
That said, James is going to resign in Cleveland and the Cavs will be one of the Top 4 teams in the east every year he stays in town. I hope he joins my Heat, but I’d put the odds of that at 0.000001%, which are better odds than the likes of the Bulls, NY, Nets, etc.
World Cup officiating reminds me of Bob Slowik's coaching. It’s embarrassing when people in the spot light get promoted well beyond their level of competence.
Welcome McGeorge...
I see we will disagree about this as well, though it is with a caveat. My angle is that – since Day 1 – LBJ has been compared to MJ, Bird, Magic et al, as perhaps one of the best ever. One thing all those guys have in common, besides rings, is they stayed in one place, and were part of the building process.
KG, Ray Allen, etc. are all great players. LeBron is a great player and will go to the Hall of Fame, obviously. Going to another ‘kingdom’, however, and winning rings on someone else’s team doesn’t take away the fact that LeBron is a great player. It does remove him from the G.O.A.T. talk…
FTS
SBNation's Cleveland Cavaliers Blogger
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Jul 7, 2010 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions
This is true.
If he leaves his legacy will always contain the *asterisk that he couldn’t get the job done in Cleveland with more support both on and off the court than anyone would conceivably hope for….. Not having success? Ok, don’t stick it out and be true to your word…just turn tail and run and pretend it was for different reasons that it really was.
That being said…I think there’s a decent chance he stays.
Anyways, one last thing…Bosh is such a little punk. He way, waay overestimates his ability…thinks he’s part of the ‘free agency’ royalty group…and while he is to a certain extent…it’s only b/c Number 2’s are just (if not more sometimes) as courted as Number 1’s. Screw him…even with him in Miami it’s still not enough to get it done.
by johnnyphoenix on Jul 7, 2010 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions
You sound bitter and you’re lacking in rational argument department. Who knows if Bosh and Wade will be good enough? That will be for the future to determine. What we do know is that thus far, LeBron hasn’t got it done and the 2010 playoffs were a massive failing for a team holding the best record in the league. You are in a highly questionable place to be saying which teams and players will and won’t get it done.
Bosh did what he felt was right for himself and his future. LeBron will do the same (if it is in Cleveland or somewhere else).
World Cup officiating reminds me of Bob Slowik's coaching. It’s embarrassing when people in the spot light get promoted well beyond their level of competence.
Excuse me…but exactly how is my argument not rational?
…I don’t like Bosh’s attitude…he doesn’t want to play in cleveland which…well, I suppose is his perogative…That being said he also now apparently wants to convince LBJ to leave cleveland…so…how am I supposed to feel about his attitude? Should I be jumping through f*cking flaming hoops about him right about now thinking how great he is?
by johnnyphoenix on Jul 7, 2010 5:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Bosh is acting in his own best interests. Just like LeBron.
Your posts are not rational, they are emotional. Some folks think with their hearts, not their heads.
World Cup officiating reminds me of Bob Slowik's coaching. It’s embarrassing when people in the spot light get promoted well beyond their level of competence.
Bosh is acting in his own best interests. Just like LeBron.
As am I. Bosh trying to convonce LBJ to leave cleveland isn’t in ‘my’ best ‘interests’..so I react accordingly.
Depends on what you mean by rationale. ‘Rationally,’ Bosh had a much better chance of winning a title in cleveland than miami..(assuming he is aware of Lebron’s decision and it was to stay) if that was his main ‘concern.’ Apparently, it’s not.
by johnnyphoenix on Jul 8, 2010 3:33 AM CDT up reply actions
LeBron is already compared in a good light with the likes of Bird and Magic. People already think he is better than Kobe even though Kobe has 5 rings and LeBron has none. His career stats and likeability will put him in the GOAT talk regardless of if he ever wins a ring.
World Cup officiating reminds me of Bob Slowik's coaching. It’s embarrassing when people in the spot light get promoted well beyond their level of competence.
Um…being a cavs fan Trust me…go to any board around and ask people how ‘likable’ he is. Sure, people want him on their team, of course…but was and still is a never ending song and dance about how much people despise him all season. It’s unceasing.
…now he’s…likable?
What about this whole mess suddenly makes him more ‘likeable?’
To be honest, the only people who ‘like him’ right about now are the people who’s team he’s going to be on…some 8 year olds, and his momma. That’s about it. …and not even that b/c people who’s team he spurned are gonna go right back to despising him all over again…calling him LeQueen, LeCrab, LeTravel, ad nauseum…as per usual. Don’t believe me? If he stays in cleveland come back and read some of the troll posts that are going to pop up about him staying.
…and after he picks a team…everyone else is going to go back to despising him again.
by johnnyphoenix on Jul 7, 2010 5:40 PM CDT up reply actions
Hater to lover.
So you despise LeBron? Interesting.
You are a drama queen, can’t wait to hear your love fest for LeBron when he resigns with the Cavs tomorrow as you about face on a dime.
Most folks like LeBron because he is a one of a kind basketball player and a good person off the court. He will do what is best for himself, which is exactly what you or I would do. I don’t despise him for putting himself before the feelings and hopes for some NBA fans. As much as we like sports, it’s not worth despising someone for acting in his own best interests instead of ours.
World Cup officiating reminds me of Bob Slowik's coaching. It’s embarrassing when people in the spot light get promoted well beyond their level of competence.
…I never said I despised him.
I was commenting on how much antipathy he generates from other fan bases, and that aside, I don’t particularly care for a lot of things he does, and I’ve always said that. Always.
by johnnyphoenix on Jul 7, 2010 11:39 PM CDT up reply actions
Soooo… he should stay in Cleveland because it creates a larger challenge? I do somewhat understand what you are saying… however I also think if Lebron went to Miami it would never be looked at as Wade and his sidekicks. It would be looked at as the “big 3”. Look at Boston. Pierce/Garnett/Allen. If one of them would have decided they don’t want to share the spotlight they wouldn’t have had the success they have had. I want Lebron to stay but if he goes to Miami good for him.
by kershaw_equals_stud on Jul 7, 2010 1:48 PM CDT reply actions
He can go where he wants…but the fact remains he was the one who gave his word that he was going to bring a championship here…
by johnnyphoenix on Jul 7, 2010 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions
Agreed, he wouldn’t be Wade’s sidekick. They would be an even bigger three. It is Miami we are talking about, so maybe they would be the three amigos. However, that is nowhere near the legacy he is capable of if he is able to bring multiple titles to Cleveland. You can’t be the GOAT, if there is a legitimate debate about whether you are even the best on your own team. LeBron’s willingness to pass and get others involved in an environment where there are 3 go to guys who all want the ball would not lend itself to him winning a “who’s the greatest ever?” discussion, regardless of how many rings they might win together.
Every pessimist thinks himself a realist. In the case of Cleveland sports fans, they are probably right.
Hopefully Lebron doesn't listen to the ESPN crap that Cle is a blackhole and doesn't have the talent to win a championship
Lebron should choose Cleveland, Bosh and Wade don’t scare me and I hope LBJ can see the big picture. In Cleveland, LBJ is the man and he does not have to deal with all the media hype and criticism. In Miami, he is going to have to take all the pressure not Bosh and Wade. Bosh is a complementary piece and Wade is equally talented but he did not leave like LBJ. With a LBJ commitment, some of these free-agents will be willing to take less to play for Cleveland. The Cavs are not that far off. They need to find a better SG than Parker and they need to find a center. If the Mike Miller rumors are true, he would definitely fill the starting SG vacancy and would be a definite upgrade over Parker. I like the Barbosa rumor, hopefully they are legit. As far as center, Brad Miller is an adequate center, maybe find another center like maybe Jermaine O’Neal or even Kwame Brown to split time w/Brad Miller. Hypothetically, I like our 9-man in Lebron, Hickson, Brad Miller, Mo Williams, Mike Miller, Varejao, Barbosa, Jamison, and Kwame Brown. We have instant offense in Barbosa and Jamison and an energy guy in Varejao. Plus we will have the pieces to possibly get Chris Paul before the trade deadline. Will have expiring contracts and intriguing players like Mo and Varejao to get Chris Paul in town.
Defense maybe an issue with the acquisitions of Brad Miller, Barbosa, Mike Miller, and Kwame Brown plus Jamison and Mo Williams but a look at the free agent market there are not many defense stalwarts and a guy like Raja Bell, I hear no mention that he would come to Cleveland. With an up tempo offense and good team defense, our deficiency in defense could be overcome.
Another Cleveland Nightmare?
Are you kidding me? This had better not be an hour long kick in the nuts. What has any Cleveland sports fan done to deserve that?
“Not announcing in Ohio” sounds really ominous.
I agree.
Regardless of Lebron’s decision this whole thing was absolutely ridiculous to do to fans who worshiped you…and cleveland fans no less, who have a history of heartache, and yet are insanely loyal to hometown heroes.
Why do it like this to his hometown fans? If he wanted to leave he coulda just said so and left. Done, and done. He coulda still hid where he might go and there would still be the media frenzy if he craves it so much…Not this ‘twisting in the wind’ crap for cleveland fans.We don’t deserve this, and even if he stays I’ll admire him for his play and keeping his word, but that’s it. For me, even though it doesn’t matter…my opinion of him really isn’t very high at all after this.
by johnnyphoenix on Jul 7, 2010 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions
Funny thing is…
…wait until after he says what he’s gonna do…we’re either gonna get the ‘hahah LBJ left cleveland sucks" posts…or the ’HaHa LBJ sucks he stayed in cleveland you guys might have kept lebron but you’ll still never win a title."
by johnnyphoenix on Jul 7, 2010 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions
Go over to the Knicks sight....right now.
They are convinced he’s a Knick.
I'm Polish...what's your excuse?
I highly doubt that. As much as no one really knows…I do feel a degree of certainty that’s pretty unlikely.
by johnnyphoenix on Jul 7, 2010 5:42 PM CDT up reply actions
I agree that it's better if he stays in Cleveland, Am a heat fan and i liked the idea of Lebron playing
in Miami but it doesn’t really make sense, because wade is the man down here, he’s gonna take the last shot in a game, and lebron probably wouldn’t be okay with that, it would ruin the chemistry. Lebron should stay there and wait 2 more years or 1 year when the cavs have enough cap space to pursue other big name free agents.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
Socialize With FearTheSword
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
