A couple things on LeBron James and his signing with the Miami Heat Thursday:
- I feel empathy for the Cleveland area. This is a native son, who turned his back on his hometown. It's not unlike the area in which we live in that it takes a lot of bashing that is, frankly, unfair and unnecessary. Good people in Cleveland and Akron and the surrounding areas. They deserve better than this.
- I think it says something about his lack of competitive character that LeBron wants to play on a team where the deck is stacked.
- Who is going to be the leader of the Heat, Dwyane Wade or James? Wade is the one with the championship ring. It's not LeBron's team. It's Wade's. How will LeBron's ego handle that? There is, after all, only one ball.
- We'll see how much depth means in the NBA. The Celtics had some decent players surrounding their Big Three. And ultimately a great one in Rajon Rondo The Heat won't have nearly as talented role players. And after James, Wade and Chris Bosh, that's all they figure to have.
My Column in Friday's Oakland Press: Time For The Tigers To Turn The Tables On The Twins: http://tinyurl.com/2alhevt
Not a LeBron fan but I have no problem with an athlete choosing where they want to play. Teams and owners dump players all the time when the players are no longer valued with no regard to the player. After the way Gilbert bashed James what player would want to come to that franchise? The behavior of the ownership of the Caveliers has been awful throughout this entire offseason. Sports is a very cynical business.
ReplyDeleteAlan
Pretty sick. At least the Boston 3 were all on the downside of their careers. These guys are just entering there prime.
ReplyDeleteSuperstars are where it's at in the NBA. 2 of them mean you are a major contender. 3 mean you're a dynasty. I don't see anyone stopping them, depth or no depth. This is more of a slam dunk than any team in a long while.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteI thought Gilbert's comments were odd only in regard to what he was willing to do with MSU fans with Tom Izzo.
Caputo
Michael C,
ReplyDeleteThe thing is, both Wade and James can handle the ball. They don't need a point. Spot up shooters will be important. Bosh will guard the rim and score inside.
Caputo
Glad Lebron-mania is done so ESPN can get beck to what they do best: worshipping Brett Favre. Wonder if he will get a 2 hour special to announce if he will play again this year?
ReplyDeletePat,
ReplyDeleteNot only was Gilbert willing to leave his alma mater high and dry by taking Izzo, he fired his coach and GM to appease James after winning 60+ games two years in a row. He had no regard for their "feelings" but now he cries like a baby because his feelings are hurt (and pocketbook)!!!
Alan
Jeff H,
ReplyDeleteIt's not over yet. ESPN had the trio on in the Heat celebration as their main prime time programming. Also, I turned on the NBA Network in between innings of Tigers' game expecting to see Pistons' rookie league, but no, it was LeBron.
Caputo
Alan,
ReplyDeleteAboslutely great points - and so true.
Caputo
Bad karma for James and Bosh, and Bosh in particular seemed unable to handle the moment, and got snippy.
ReplyDeleteSome injuries, some dissension, and it could all go bad for them. And Riley will have the long knives out for the coach as we know, so that could be trouble.
Talent yes, but that isn't enough. James hasn't proven capable of leading, imo, and he's taking on plenty of new pressure.
Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteCount me among those, too, who believes in karma. I understand the modern world of sports and marketing, etc, - and usually embrace it- but even so, something just doesn't smack right about this.
Caputo