Its the second night of the NBA season, a great time for a Jock Talk Preview. Everyone and their grandma has given their take on LeBron, now its our turn.
- First, on those who say he is a quitter for taking the easy way out by joining forces with 2 of the top 10 players in the NBA right now: why wouldn't he? If you told me that at age 25 I would be given the option to move to Miami and work with my two best friends and that because we were working together all of our jobs would be easier I would accept instantly without even thinking, and I'm assuming you would too. LeBron was criticized for choosing bro-time on South Beach and multiple championships over struggling to win a single title while playing for an absolute maniac in the countries second worst city to live in. On Dan Gilbert, if you think someone quit during the playoffs in consecutive years why would you want to pay them a max contract, much less be upset if they left your team.
- On the players who spoke against him, starting with Magic Johnson. Magic said he would never have called up Larry Bird to team up because "that's not what we were about." The funny thing is, Magic has actually been quoted as saying that if the Lakers had not acquired the first pick in the 1979 NBA Draft he would have returned to Michigan State for his junior year rather than play for the Chicago Bulls. The Lakers won the toss and Magic won 5 rings. Quoting Magic, "The only reason I came out was to play with Kareem and the Lakers." Not what you were about Ervin? Give me a break. You could argue that Magic and Kareem were a better 1-2 duo than LeBron and Wade will be.
On to Michael Jordan, who claimed he "would've never called up Larry, called up Magic." In his Hall of Speech he specifically pointed out that his former GM Jerry Krause wasn't in attendance and noted he didn't invite him. Michael noted that while Krause believed organizations win championships, he "didn't see organizations playing with the flu in Utah." Over a decade later, Jordan is still bitter that someone else was the true architect of his teams, but when other stars elect to build their own team he says he "would've never" that? Please. Jordan wishes he could have been the architect and player, the sole entity responsible for his championship teams. Why do you think he is involved with the Bobcats? He must prove to himself he could have done what Jerry did.
Last but certainly not least is Charles Barkley, who used the word "punk" to describe LeBron and his decision and has stated LeBron will never be MJ. Barkley spent 4 years in both Phoenix and Houston at the end of his career chasing a title, has a gambling problem, and has proclaimed that he is not a role model, saying "Just because I dunk a basketball doesn't mean I should raise your kids." Who is the punk?
The common theme of the previous 3 paragraphs? Former stars who are so full of themselves they have lost perspective to the point that they are incapable of reflecting on their careers without feeling self-entitled, causing them to make comments contradicting things they said only 20 years ago. What a complete show of a lack of self-awareness these guys have become. - On the decision, it was an epically bad idea and has ruined the image of one of the NBA's brightest stars. LeBron has carried the NBA for consecutive seasons and Maverick Carter tried to ruin that. LeBron tore the heart out of a city that really has been a sports wasteland for a very long time. The Browns may be Cleveland's best franchise at this point.
- And finally, every single team in sports would love to have just one of these guys and several teams were willing to open up their pocketbooks for record setting contracts this offseason. Pat Riley got all 3 at a discount. That is truly incredible.
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