The big question in the sports world right now is WWLBJD: What Will Lebron James Do? Turn to any ESPN channel and you won’t be able to go more than a couple minutes without seeing a ‘breaking news’/’latest news’/’expert analysis’ piece to keep the hype going. Tune into Cleveland radio talk shows and you get about the same thing, along with phone calls from someone that knows Lebron’s mom/ agent/ buddy/ chef/ mailman/ barber/ trainer/ garbage man/ 3rd grade coach that says that Lebron is coming back.
Oh well. I might as well jump in this rushing current and give my own NON-EXPERT analysis of this media hurricane. Here is my argument list (mostly my opinion with a few facts mixed in) for my readers as well as for Lebron himself (since I am sure he is combing the Times Reporter website on a daily basis):
1. I am a lifelong Cavs fan.
2. Lebron did a phenomenal job carrying the Cavs to greatness while he was here.
3. The Cavs had 61 regular season wins Lebron’s last year. They won 19 the next year.
4. 61-19 = 42. A 42 –GAME DIFFERENCE WITHOUT LEBRON!!!
5. Lebron had a terrible game 5 vs. the Celtics in his last play-off series with the Cavs. And his effort in that pivotal game was very suspicious.
6. I was angry when Lebron left.
7. If I were advising Lebron back then, I would have told him to leave. The Cavs were not able to surround him with a good enough supporting cast for him to win championships. In his last game, the second best player was Delonte West. Yeah. That Delonte West. Feel free to insert various jokes right now if you want. If Lebron stayed, his results would likely have been about the same in following years. Shoulder the enormous load until a superior team ganged up on him to shut him down.
8. If I were advising Lebron back then, I would have told him not to go to Miami. By joining the Heat, it appeared that he couldn’t handle the leader role and had to be Dwayne Wade’s sidekick. It also looked like he felt the only way he could win was to stack his team. And anyone who has played sports, organized or pick-up, knows that move is garbage. Unless, of course, you are on the stacked team!
9. If I were advising Lebron back then, I would have told Lebron to go to Chicago. He would have been the alpha-dog with a great sidekick in Derrick Rose, as well as a solid coach and supporting cast.
10. If I were advising Lebron back then, I would have told him not to do the Decision (as would have just about anyone else in hindsight). In his defense, I will say that I do understand the mentality to do it. According to ESPN, that show raised over 3 million dollars for charity. THREE MILLION DOLLARS. That sounds pretty good when you & your advisors are sitting around debating the pros and cons. Plus, if you remember, the hype was enormous leading to that show. And pro athletes love hype.
11. Dan Gilbert’s reponse letter to the Decision was embarrassing, and a much poorer decision. He is multi-millionaire NBA owner, not some yahoo adding an anonymous comment at the bottom of a webpage (or trying to write a ‘Sports Smack with Mac’ blog!)
12. Winning solves a lot of problems.
13. Time solves a lot of problems. Long-term vision trumps short-term panic just about every time.
14. The Media (and society in general) does not like to give things time to play out.
15. Crock pot meals are infinitely better than microwave meals. Once again, long-term over short-term!
16. Four years later, Lebron’s decision to go to Miami ended up being a good one. He has two rings, and his legend legacy is on the right track.
17. If Lebron went to the Bulls, he would have likely had the same results or better.
18. Losing causes a lot of problems. A few bad games against a super San Antonio team last month has Miami ready for a possible shake-up.
19. Lebron is the best athlete ever to live.
20. Losing causes a lot of problems. See the Cleveland Cavaliers
21. While you are in the Cleveland aisle, check out the Cleveland Browns to support point #20.
22. Correction from #19. Lebron is not the best athlete ever to live. He could be someday. Michael Jordan is the best athlete to ever live.
23. Let me clarify point #22. For the term ‘athlete’, I consider winning and performance under pressure as big factors. That was a struggle for LBJ. He has definitely improved in the those areas. But he is no Jordan yet. Or Jesse Owens. Or Babe Ruth. Or Jack Nicklaus. Or Joe Montana.
24. Lebron is the most athletic human ever. Bo Jackson and Jim Brown could make an argument, but look at Lebron. Not only is he 6’8”, but he is strong, has a thick, muscular build, is very fast, and also is shifty and agile. Give him time to train and he probably would be amazing in most every sport. I know he would be an all-pro in the NFL. I wonder how he would look at the 2018 World Cup with four years of training? He already has the flopping thing down!
25. Lebron is a very classy athlete and a good role model. Besides the Decision, is there much you can criticize about his character? He is clean off the court. On the court, he is unselfish (to a fault sometimes) and very hard working. Probably the best defender in the league.
26. Putting arguments #6, #13, & #25 together, I now would be more than happy for my sons to be Lebron fans again.
27. I couldn’t say #26 a couple years ago.
So……………
If I were advising Lebron now, I would tell him to……..
28. Re-sign with the Heat.
29. Re-sign for just one year.
30. Re-sign for just one year and see how the Cavs, Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters, and Andrew Wiggins progress this upcoming season.
31. In the summer of 2015, buy your favorite sports blogger/fictional advisor (I am referring to me) and his wife a trip to Hawaii for their 20th wedding anniversary.
32. In the summer of 2015, re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
33. Referring back to argument #1, just skip #28-30 just go directly to #32 right now.
34. AT ALL COSTS, DO NOT SKIP #31!!!