Why LeBron why?
LeBron’s decision to leave the Cavs has been depressing for me, but I don’t even like the Cavs, I just like LeBron and the idea of LeBron and the Cavs, and the entire story behind it. For more, see the documentary, More than a Game, which is about LeBron’s high school team, and growing up in Akron, Ohio. Him staying in Cleveland and being a legend is just a great story, and I’ve been a fan of his since he was in High School (hmmmm). Loyalty, community, team.
So with LeBron, Bosh, and Wade making their super trio, I have the following thoughts, most of which have been said by many.
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It sucks for Cleveland to have him leave, but what was probably the douche part was not telling Cleveland in advance or doing the show to collective break their hearts
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At the same time, he did use the opportunity to get advertising and give over $2 million dollars to the Boys and Girls club. Good stuff.
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I respect the decision. He has a right to make it.
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But he gave up money.
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He gave up the legacy. The legend.
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It’s not even going to be his team. It will always be Wade’s.
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If you were on the Miami Heat last year, how dissed do you feel? Maybe they didn’t have a lot of talent, but Chalmers is the only one left. Everyone else was strategically removed or left out. It’s like Wade saying (so what if he’s not management, his moves have that responsibility), “All you guys are chumps. I’m building my own team suckers.â€
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The Cavs are in contention for the #1 overall pick next year. Maybe that gives a good reason why LeBron left, but at the same time, the Cavs built this team to give LeBron a chance to win. They made those trades (whether good or not, that’s different), took on salary to sacrifice the longer term to make sure he could have support. They fired Mike Brown for him. Danny Ferry, gone, for him. Mo Williams said, The person that I feel most sorry for is mike brown. He is a really good coach. And LeBron left anyway. Which leads me to…
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David Falk has a really good point in his book when he says that athletes don’t use their power enough. He gave an example in which Joe Dumars, as a player, refused to tell front office staff the team really respected one coach over another. Players want to stay out of it. But isn’t that what being a leader is about? If you really want to win, and you’re not exactly an idiot about this sport you play, you should be able to give your recommendation on whom you respect and whom you think can motivate you. LeBron really wanted to win? And he’s a real leader? Then he should have influenced the front office to do what he thought what get it done. Period. This is no different from work. If you are a high level employee, and you just blame the people above you for your failures (by leaving, that is what he is saying) and leave instead of trying to fight it out, doing what you can, not just from the pure work, but also giving your opinions, influencing others, then you’re really not a leader. You really aren’t doing everything you can to make it happen. That’s what true responsibility and leadership mean. If LeBron did do all this and they told him to go away, fine, that’s on the Cavs.
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I can’t find myself rooting for this new Heat team. I hope they don’t win championships, and that in 4 years, they all opt out again amid the pressure that everyone says they are busts. And Miami suffers. Yes, I have plenty of time to change my mind and not care, but there is just something wrong about seeing LeBron leave Cleveland. And it depresses me. (On the good side, my relentless optimism / ignorance about the Warriors is returning)
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If they do win a championship, I hope it’s not with Pat Riley.
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