By: Vaughn Resper, Jr.
Last night when the Cleveland Cavaliers hosted the Miami Heat, Cleveland fans presented LeBron James with a homecoming of their own (I use “homecoming” very loosely). The introductions for the game almost went the way that I expected. Obviously, when LeBron’s name was announced, the fans booed, but I thought these fans would get angrier than this. Before the season started, I thought that when this game would come around, that the fans would start throwing trash on the court as he came on, like the WCW fans did with Hulk Hogan when he turned his back on them and helped form the NWO. That is what I was expecting, because during the summer, the animosity from the fans in Cleveland was so intense, that I would have not been surprised if they did resort to that. On second thought they did, because somebody burned his jersey on camera live for the entire world to see. This was the longest summer that I have ever witnessed as a basketball fan, because never have I seen one player hog up so much spotlight just to announce that he was going to another team. This is one of the worst publicity stunts that I have ever seen out of any profession, from basketball, football, boxing, etc. which further cements the nicknames that I have given him (LeFraud, Queen James, etc.). Anyone with half of a brain could have just gone an easier rout and just do this deal behind closed doors and inform your former team that you are leaving and your new team that you are coming. That is one way that LeBron burned Cleveland. Now, on to the game. Last night, LeBron James came to make a statement to Cleveland to humiliate them even more with 38 points on a team that has two other superstars and there was absolutely nothing that the fans or the Cavaliers for that matter could do about it. Even during the game, Reggie Miller and Marv Albert voiced their opinions of displeasure about how LeBron handled his decision to leave, but also told Cleveland to move on and rebuild. Ultimately, that is what the Cavaliers organization has to do, but it will take even longer for LeBron to rebuild his image after destroying it over the summer. Right after this distasteful fiasco about the “Decision”, two of LeBron’s heroes, Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson ripped LeBron to pieces by going to Miami to team up with Wade and Bosh. Furthermore speaking of Jordan, LeBron James has been compared not only to Magic Johnson, but primarily Michael Jordan because of #23 and how he was a franchise player on an otherwise average at best franchise for a long time before things got better. However, unlike his hero with the #23 on his chest, LeBron went to a team that had two other franchise players who were All-Star caliber just like him that could average 25+ a game (Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh), which is something very un-Jordan like. Now LeBron is a side-kick in Miami, and speaking of side-kicks, the Cavs fans proceeded to chant “Scottie Pippen” at LeBron because just like Pippen, James is the right-hand man and not in the center. My conclusion is that at the end of the day, LeBron has proven that he did not have what it took to be the franchise player of a team, because he had to go somewhere else for help instead of using his influence to bring others to him. When you think of great franchise players, not only do you think of Michael Jordan, but Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Bill Russell, Jerry West, Julius Erving, Hakeem Olajuwon, all of whom have had ups and downs with their teams, but survived and did not sell their respect by going with another All-Star to win. Instead, many of these players brought others to their own team. LeBron has also proven that he is NOT a King, but rather a Queen because Kings can lead their soldiers to victory and not quit or choke. Queens are the side-kicks and support to the king. If LeBron was such a King, he would have saved the Cavaliers from being wiped off the court by the San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics, and the Orlando Magic for consecutive years and brought a Championship to the city. Regular Season MVPs do not cement your place as a king in basketball, but what you do when things really heat up in the playoffs that count and as of these last two seasons, LeFraud has deceived the NBA into thinking that he is the Most Valuable Player, while he has proven to be a paper MVP when his team needed him the most. In the 2007 Finals, the Spurs cut off his inside game and reduced him to outside shooting where he shot bricks, and to put the icing on the cake, Cleveland fell to pieces against Boston after being heavily favored to go to the championship against the Lakers. As a fan, I have learned one of the golden rules about basketball and overhyped players: Don’t believe the hype!!!
