Leaving money and brand aside, Lebron just doesn't understand the way sports work. People loved him so long as he was a single man trying bring prominence to a cursed city and franchise. Everyone cheered him in 2007 when he singlehandedly took his team to the Finals. Fans everywhere went ecstatic after his performance in game 5 of that memorable series against the Pistons. He was one man trying to impose his will on the opponent and on a whole league. We go crazy for that kind of "David vs Goliath" heroic stuff. It's just the way we imagine our sports heroes. Now, he goes to build an empire in South Beach with his two best friends. It's all exciting and entertaining until fans outside of Florida realize their team is no match for the Heat, at least on paper. So LeBron is going to face the backlash of an entire nation of fans who think it's unfair to create another dynasty to destroy their hopes every year. See Kobe as flawed as he may be, understood this all too well after the 3-Peat with a then dominant Shaq. He knew people were losing interest in his legacy where winning is a given and expected, while losing is the only shocker. Therefore, he had to change the dynamics, get rid of Shaq and rework the entire "one man vs the rest" angle. Jordan followed the same logic after 3 rings. Took a year off, refocused his legacy into another "miraculous" comeback story so his fans would love and adore his rise from the ashes. I'm not saying Lebron needs to do any of this but the way he carries himself, it's going to be a hard sell when he is in the company of two other premiere players for at least another 5 years. In that time the Heat could win every single title but Lebron will still face doubts from fans everywhere. The "Kobe Complex" will definitely bother his ego when it begins to cast a shadow on his individual legacy. Going forward I can see the tables turning on Lebron and what he considers a global fan-base. Right now most non-Heat fans are hoping even wishing for his failure so that it sets a standard against players booting their respective franchises to play on a "super" team. As a Rockets fan, I'm glad our big guy didn't opt out this summer like he could and then go join the evil empire. Can you imagine Yao as free agent getting calls from Riley and his minions this very moment? I would puke on the very thought of such an occurrence. Finally, the ultimate lack of foresight by LeBron is the fact that there are a handful of players always waiting in the wings to take his position as the hero. Durant is the most likely to get my vote as the guy to root for outside a Rockets uniform. In the end, Lebron got his wish now he has to play Darth Vader for the rest of his career. Good Luck!
I think he was so desperate at getting a ring because he didn't want to be remembered as the "superstar that couldn't bring one home". Of course... this might backfire on him.
If Lebron stayed with the Cavs, HERO = ZERO People don't get it, the Cavs has zero chance to win it all and they have no trade assets to further improve the team. Jordan is lucky, the bulls traded a talented rookie in Pippen and to have the best coach in the league. Kobe is lucky to play with 2 great big men, Shaq and Gasol.
Yep, now if he gets one eh will be known as the 'superstar who need to team up with 2 more to get a ring'. I mean sure he gets a ring but no matter what he does now the haters will have the 'he needed Wade and Bosh' comeback.
I wasn't implying Lebron should have stayed with the Cavs but this whole conspiracy of fixing similar contracts began several years ago when all three got the same deal of opt-out in 2010. That is the real concern, if this was the plan all-along then why waste time in Cleveland? Can you imagine Derrick Rose and Kevin Durant concocting a similar plan to team up in Chicago in a few years? I think this move by LeBron will really change the way teams are built from here on.
nba fans arent just the clevelanders. im sure the heat fans right now think of james as a hero. the rest of us dont care and the remaining are the bitter fans of other teams because they know it just a got a lot harder for their team to win a championship it's lbj's life, it's his legacy, it's his decision. i doubt he cares about the opinions of faceless people out there.
Chris Paul trying to convince lebron to stay in cleveland with byron scott in all likelihood wasn't an "empty" request, the issue is could lebron wait 2 years or so? In the end he will win titles, and he'll be a good brand in florida, there will never be a global lebron brand now, miami will just be team usa to everywhere else, and if kobe beats them, he will probably finally earn the right to be considered in the rare air of mike, and i hate kobe.
You cant please everybody If he stays he was never gonna win in cleveland, and if he doesnt win then he not one of the true greats. If he goes he would have never won without bosh and wade The moral of the story is do whatever you want to do because people are stupid and will hate you no matter what
LOL Tmac always puts up numbers in the playoffs, but he never got out of the 2nd round. Do you remember him as a hero? Its the same thing here. You can't do it alone, and unlike Jordan, Duncan and Kobe, he hasn't been gifted with an allstar cast. I for one like Lebron even more. Rather than mouthing off to the public about being surrounded by mediocre players like Kobe, Paul etc. he goes out and creates his own power team. He doesn't rely on luck, he makes his own luck. Kobe and Durant play within a system. Lebron oth IS the system.
Instead of making a new thread, I'll post it here. Administrators can break it off into its own thread once it becomes wildly popular [Sports] Star Wars (this post will have photos) Spoiler Pat Riley: Money Never Sleeps LeBron James, you were the Chosen One! It was said you would destroy the Heat, not join them! "Ssssss! I'm Chris Bosh!" Dwyane Wade, I guess... It's not like I'm not some nerd who knows about Star Wars or nothin, shucks
fixed. Lebron is a douche who stopped believing in himself. i respect kobe way more than Lebron... and i hate Kobe.
Really, is that what Kobe did. I thought it was because he was a major d-bag who didn't want to share the spotlight. Well, at least until his team started to suck with Shaq gone so he demanded a trade until Pau Gasol was gift-wrapped to him. What a hero.
I know right Kobe suck these nuts he aint all that with PAU GASOL who came there for FREE from David Stern that douche bag. So all yall KING JAMES hater quit hating.
