The emotionally crippled widow of Art Modell and the young, hotshot bachelor who practically grew up in the backyard, yet seemed destined for bigger and better things. How was this ever supposed to work out? Sure, on paper it seems like a match made in heaven due to location, but things were always headed straight towards hell. It makes as much sense as forcing Leonardo DiCaprio to star in straight-to-DVD movies. Or asking Lady Gaga to be the opening act at the local fair right before the sword-swallower guy and the bearded lady take the stage.
LeBron James was always going to be too big for Cleveland. Cleveland was always going to expect him to be its savior. Now, the LeBron brand is bigger than ever, and he’s become obsessed with that brand. Meanwhile, despite LeBron winning two consecutive MVP awards, Cavs management has failed to surround the King with an adequate court. Cleveland sports fans also sense that the drought is nearing its end, foolishly I might add. Sure, the Cavs have enjoyed some regular season success, but they are not a true championship contender. Expectations will be unrealistic moving forward if there isn’t a divorce.
LeBron gave them seven years and the Cavs couldn’t get it done. Part of that was LeBron ascending to the top too quickly, and the expectations that rose with him. The more significant part, however, is that the Cavs front office could not lure a Paul Gasol-type sidekick to Cleveland. Hell, Carlos Boozer left Ohio for Utah if that tells you anything? Salt Lake City, Mormonism and Joseph Smith sounded better to him than the Mistake on the Lake, LeBronism and Joe Smith.
For all the “woe is me” sentimentality going on in and for Cleveland right about now, Cavs fans also turned their back on LeBron in the playoffs. Here we had a hometown hero who had brought the city millions and millions of dollars and resuscitated a franchise that was on life support, and the fans turned their backs to him at the first sign of trouble. Not even trouble — the first sign of struggle. Do you think the rapid OKC Thunder fans would have done that to Kevin Durant? Maybe that’s why he re-upped so quickly.
Honestly, if I were in LeBron’s corner right now I’d advise him to leave Cleveland. I’d advice him not to walk, but run. I’d advice him to keep running until he stopped smelling the corned beef and stuffed cabbage. Until he was no longer haunted by the ghostly images of Jordan’s shot over Craig Ehlo, of Elway’s “Drive.”
Chris Bosh proved that no real All-Star, not one in his prime at least, is coming to Cleveland. Not even to play with King James. I don’t blame them. I left Missouri for L.A. then Miami and eventually Austin, TX. I don’t do cold weather and I don’t do small cities. I also like states with no state taxes (Florida and Texas). I know a lot of these guys think the same way, and I don’t blame them. It’s your life, you’re the one who has to live with your decisions in the end. Like K.G. said — you don’t owe anybody nothing. Do you have to stay somewhere just because you were born there? That’s effing ridiculous.
Besides, does LeBron want to spend the next three, or worse yet six, years in Cleveland going through the exact same struggle while the Laker and Heat dynasties torment him? Does he want to put Cleveland sports fans through even more heartbreak, because if he stays that is exactly what will happen with that deadbeat roster?
If I were the King, I’d rock the Rock and Roll Capital and roll out of town before it’s too late. I wouldn’t go down to Miami and be Jester James to King Wade either, but that’s another article for another day. LeBron, do what Shaq did and realize you were just too young when you got married the first time. Realize that while there’s still a lot of love in your heart, that you’ve outgrown your partner. It’s in everbody’s best interest, including the rest of the league’s.
P.S. – My folks have been married a combined nine times, so you should probably heed my advice — I know a failed marriage when I see one.
Original Story:
http://fansided.com/2010/07/08/the-ca...
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