LeBron James
 

is a colossal douche.

That is all.

no surprise

The Championship of Me comes crashing into a primetime cable infomercial that LeBron James(notes) and his cronies have been working to make happen for months, a slow, cynical churning of manufactured drama that sports has never witnessed. As historic monuments go, this is the Rushmore of basketball hubris and narcissism. The vacuous star for our vacuous times. All about ‘Bron and all about nothing.

James is throwing a few foosball tables at Boys & Girls Clubs, an empty gesture out of the empty superstar. He’s turned free agency into the title of our times, a preening pageant of fawning, begging and pleading. Hard-working people are dragged into municipalities and told to hold signs, chant scripted slogans and beg a diva who doesn’t care about them to accept a $100 million contract.

Privately, Dwyane Wade(notes) and Chris Bosh(notes) weren’t pleased on Wednesday morning with the belief that James’ camp was responsible for leaking their plans to a television partner, but then again it makes perfect sense: This isn’t about Wade and Bosh choosing the Heat. It’s about LeBron getting the stage to himself on Thursday night.

One front-office executive whose team made a presentation to LeBron James told Yahoo! Sports that he believes James is choosing between Miami and Cleveland. And yet, if James wants to deliver the biggest kick in the gut to his hometown, he’ll pick the flat-lined New York Knicks. Whatever the decision, he’s made clear that the teasing and tormenting of the loser isn’t his concern.

Team LeBron is having the time of its life, but has no idea the repercussions of what it’s done here. All that comes to James now is the biggest burden to win a championship that sports has ever seen. They aren’t making James a bigger star with this big-top, but a bigger target. All those teams that marched into the presentations and listened to some of the foolish and naive questions asked of them believed these kids had no idea what they were doing, or what they had gotten themselves into. They’re all feeling more validated every day. From beginning to end, this process has been a farce.


On James’ new website, under the headline dubbing this TV debacle “The Decision,” there come these words: “Maverick Carter, CEO of LRMR Marketing said…” This explains everything. Carter’s marketing company isn’t doing so well trying to get its one client Jonny Flynn(notes) a used-car dealership endorsement in the Twin Cities, and now Carter’s going to try to justify all that plush office space, staff attorneys, private planes and resort hotels by translating the Championship of Me into the making of his reputation.

Carter’s pushed one agent – Aaron Goodwin – and one advisor – William Wesley – aside because he wanted to be the voice in James’ ear and the one getting credit on the masthead. So far, Carter’s been a superstar at spending James’ money on LRMR, but now he’s getting the company name out there and turning LeBron into Mr. July after LeBron didn’t have the stomach to be Mr. June.

Team LeBron had discussed a documentary on the free-agent process, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported, but the narrative changed after James’ Game 5 meltdown in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Carter says there was never a plan for a free-agent tour, but this is what he means: There was never a plan for James to get held accountable, to have his motivations and priorities called into doubt. There was never a plan for the blame to shift from Danny Ferry, Mike Brown and his Cavaliers teammates. There was never a plan that real-world rules applied to the self-proclaimed King.

They scrapped the tour, the documentary and set sights on hijacking the network for an unprecedented special they believe will elevate James’ brand. Only, James has never looked smaller, never more insecure and unsure of who he is and what he wants to be. He won’t look so much like Kobe Bryant(notes) and David Beckham, but rather a three-star linebacker from Shaker Heights picking Bowling Green over Kent and Ohio U. on local access television.

Team LeBron has known all along it was going to do this, and the cushy, protective relationship with that television network culminates with a basketball player commandeering his own coverage on his own terms. Now James and his buddies spoon out misdirection plays on his possible destination – feeding everyone for days and weeks that the Knicks were dead, only to say now, “Well…who knows?” – to build back drama for the infomercial.
For LeBron, free agency hasn't been about Dwayne Wade (R) or Chris Bosh, it's been about him.
(Lynne Sladky/AP Photo)

This is some plan they’ve hatched and some game they’re playing with those Cleveland fans who’ve been so relentlessly loyal to James. First, he marched the biggest suitors in the sport to come court him in downtown Cleveland with those pointless presentations. He wanted those people out there creating a visual public push-and-pull for him, and because James needed to be told something that probably isn’t completely true anymore: Cleveland loves him.

Well, Cleveland craves him. Love is a strong word, and it ought to be unconditional, but loving a sports hero is the most conditional kind of love there is. Only, it was different with Cleveland. He’s one of them, but you still have to wonder: Are they one of him?

James never shared that town’s angst with the Browns and Indians. He wanted winners in his life, and rooted for the Dallas Cowboys and New York Yankees. He doesn’t feel the pain of a city’s broken heart. Shaquille O’Neal(notes) leaving the Orlando Magic for the Los Angeles Lakers 14 years ago was a hard hit, but LeBron bailing on Cleveland is far more devastating on a different level.

Everyone ridicules Cleveland, makes it a butt of jokes, but LeBron James has the chance to change all of that. And even then, it has to crush Cleveland’s sporting psyche that James could still walk out. If one of our own won’t stay, what does that say to the rest of the country?

That’s the hardest part here, and that makes the possibility that James would go on national television – with those split-screen shots of stunned fans in Akron and Cleveland – and completely crush those people so impossible to believe. He couldn’t be that cold, that callous, that cunning? Or perhaps, maybe this is all a rollout – the website, the Twitter page and the infomercial – to introduce a new LeBron, a new city, to the world.

Whatever happens, James and the television network will hide behind some money going to the Boys & Girls Clubs. But this isn’t about kids and sports, and it sure isn’t about the credibility that comes with winning championships. Something’s changed here, and LeBron James has gone a long way to devaluing winning and losing in the NBA. David Stern has long pushed the individual over team, marketed showy over substance, and LeBron James represents the manifestation of it all.

Greatest talent to ever walk into this league, the self-proclaimed King, and now everyone gets a front-row, primetime seat for how it means to live without self-awareness, without restraint. The vacuous star for our vacuous times, live on Thursday night and fitting himself for a ring as the undisputed Champion of Me. All about ‘Bron and all about nothing.

that was a very good read

i still want him in chicago and still don't get why there's no chance of this happening

MEH

If he comes here or Miami he wants to win. If he goes to New York he wants the money. If he stays in Cleveland he wants to stay home and lose.

no way he goes to Miami. My guess would be the Bulls at this point

Just hand him the clothes you fucking shithead.

I don't see any reason why society is entertained by such people. This is almost as bad as people caring about golf/Tiger Woods.

I'm sorry, but he shouldn't be paid any more than 50,000 a year for what he does.

ahahahahaha

That moon cricket just wanted to treat a white person like shit.

like you wouldn't suck his dick if he was on your team.

fuk u cracka!

Sounds like he's going to Miami.

Man if he ends up on the Heat...

I'm surprised that both Lebron and D-Wade could be on the same team, but Bosch too? I just don't see how this works financially.

Man imagine the storylines that a Lakers-Heat 2011 finals would entail.

market forces BITCH

lebron james slept with sppunk's MOM

earning an organization and city millions and millions of dollars? :erm:

Chicago is his best option even if he doesn't see it

Miami even with those 3 isn't a slam-dunk Eastern favorite. They have nobody else on the roster. The Bulls are just as god and much deeper.

But it's the NBA, one of the most unwatchable pro sports around. Miami's got no fan support and couldn't care less about basketball. Go figure the egomaniac would go there (if that happens).

fairweather fans. Its miami, all games will be sold out.

also, chicago isnt better.

I understand that demand dictates people's paychecks, but what I'm saying is that people shouldn't value guys like this in any society ever.

Ever been to Cleveland? LOL


If he's earning millions for Cleveland, you realize he's being paid millions though, right? Also, if you're the kind of person who spends money on that crap, you should be taxed penniless. This is the problem with the free market - people are goddamn fucking idiots.

local cleveland businesses will certainly take a hit if he leaves.

it is strange that miami could end up with this ridiculous trio, particularly because they are fairweather. sometimes you watch a heat game and hardly anyone is there.

he'll end up being d wades bitch sidekick. goes from king james to not even being the leader of the team

I can't stand ESPN. Leave it tp them to jump on this shit, it's right up their alley--hero worship, hype and making an hour show out of a ten second announcement. With Stuart Scott, awesome. :rolleyes: Next month it will be Brett Favre, maybe they can get a mini-series out of that one. James grew up in the Survivor/reality TV era so this is what it breeds. If they'd go along with it he'd probably line up all the team executives and give one of them a rose at the end of it.

BTW I don't see him leaving Cleveland. I bet he signs a deal with an opt-ut in the 3rd year to be a Net.

Just don't see him throwing the town he "loves so much" under the bus on national TV. If he does, Cleveland people will go apeshit and probably try to kill the guy that'll be known as the biggest asshole douchenozzle in American sports.

When was the last time we really held athletes to any sort of standard regarding loyalty? There are so few examples of players making an effort to stay where they are (Crosby and the Pens). Why are we doing it with LeBron? I think he's a douche, but I don't think he's obligated to stay in a place that hasn't been able to put enough around him for years.

Also, it's Cleveland.

Nobody moved to Cleveland to watch this guy. NOBODY.

no one said they did?

sports teams bring in money. good teams bring in more. good teams with superstar players bring in more than that. what are you on about?

Remember Bettis? And Lemieux? Now those were some good guys. http://forums.netphoria.org/wwwboard/icons/icon14.gif

How on earth can you justify this statement in regard to Cleveland? How does this guy bring Cleveland money? People are already living in that city (poor people).

...

people go to games. go out before and after games in the city (putting money into local businesses). people buy sports team apparel from local businesses.

i mean i'm not incredibly well versed on the economic impact of pro sports, but there is obviously a benefit. and saying "well lol cleveland still sux" does nothing to refute that.

if you can't see how a winning franchise brings money into a city you are mildly (possibly severely) retarded.

in the particular case of cleveland, which was hit particularly hard by the recession, i would argue lebron james (one of the biggest athletes in the world) leaving could potentially have severe economic repercussions on the city to certain businesses.

no one moved to the city to watch this guy? i don't even know what the fuck that means. But certainly you can't argue against the fact that it is a huge tourism draw for the city, especially a city that other than rock and roll hall of fame and the other sports teams, shitty browns and shitty indians, doesn't have a huge draw (at least not that i know of).


people want to watch him play. people don't go to games in miami and already they season tickets are sold out with news they may have this super trio.

he leaves cleveland, and certain local businesses, ie. bars, restaurants, hotels, sports shops etc will certainly notice. now hopefully the economy does get better and the loss isn't as severe as it could be, but the fact of the matter is they won't make as much money as with him there.

now he isn't the entire economy, i mean to take your no one moved there comment seriously for a moment, one could argue that if you live in cleveland and decide to go to the cavs game great, but if you didn't you would have spent that 70 dollars somewhere else in cleveland, at least maybe they do. of course all of the stuff i've read on pro sports ecnomics and impact on city tends to look at things on the macro level. on the micro level i'd say small business will feel a loss with bars/restaurants would have the most to lose i'd say.

of course you may just be trolling, if so touche, but your services would do better on the sp board

brendan haywood got a 6 year 55 million dollar contract

celtics signed jermaine o neal :(

People go to games. People go out before and after games. You think people did not go out prior to this? You think Clevelanders would never exit their shanties were it not for their basketball team games?

People buy sports team apparel from local businesses. And I suppose those people would be unable to sell regular clothing?

Eulogy, Eulogy, Eulogy... You're moving the same money around in the same city. The point of an attraction like a successful sports team is to bring other people into a city so it can grow. But Cleveland's such a desolate hellscape that nobody's going to move there purely for the sake of seeing a basketball team win a game. If anything, Cleveland would make more money through attracting new money by selling their team and using the money to repair their streets.

post/custom title

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH

If he was staying in Cleveland, why would he have the press conference in Connecticut (before you say it, Greenwich is no where near Bristol. It's about as far as NYC).
It's the Knicks or Nets. Nothing else makes sense at this point.

Maybe Jay-Z will be performing live on ESPN tonight.

I bet 30,000 posts he doesn't go to the Knicks.

(If I'm wrong oh well who cares - he'll continue to never win championships)