It has been said before that, nobody roots for Goliath. I can't think of a greater example of that cliche than LeBron James. Throughout his career, and especially as of late, his physique has been more of a disadvantage rather than an advantage.
These claims have been made public recently, and they should. I didn't realize that the NBA rule book on hacking fouls and body fouls were suppose to depend on whether or not the player being fouled can absorb the contact.
How is this guy suppose to become the Greatest of All Time if the game is trying to slow him down. The same thing happened to Wilt Chamberlain. All sorts of rules were changed to adapt to his dominance. Unlike Michael Jordan, who most people under the age of 35 would chastise you for not thinking he was the greatest, was the opposite.
Tickey-tack fouls were routinely called, traveling violations were never called, and a commercial break could separate the continuations MJ got for his "And 1's".
And speaking of MJ, let's look at a few more facts about him since he's the one everyone feels is the best (I do not, but that's a whole other story). Unless I'm mistaken, Jordan did not win an NBA title until he was 28, following his 7th season. LeBron just turned 24, in this his 6th season and primed for a title run.
Jordan had arguably one of the top 3-5 players in the NBA in Scottie Pippen on his team. LeBron has had 1 follow team-mate make an All Star game (Zyndrunas Illgauskas in 2005).
And how about Kobe Bryant? Kobe has three rings, although he was Robin to Shaq's Batman. He took his team to the Finals without Shaq last year just as LeBron did the year before with virtually no supporting cast.
Kobe was last year's MVP. An award as confusing as the NFL's QB Rating. One year it's given to the player with the best stats, the next year to the best player on the best team, or the most important player to his team.
Last year, LeBron had Kobe beat in virtually every statistical category. And who was more valuable to their team? In the seven games LeBron missed last year, the Cavs record, 0-7.
It goes without saying that LeBron James has had to deal with impossible expectations. To some, no matter how good he is or becomes, his accomplishments are likely not to exceed them. Since his every move on a basketball court is filmed, documented, thrown into a microscope, and then analyzed.
A lot of national media members such as Skip "Clueless" Bayless, remind us on a daily basis that Lebron has minor flaws in his game. Flaws that in my opinion, time and work will erase.
So facing all the comparisons to Jordan and Kobe, to name a few. Not so whistle happy refs, blowhard sports analysts, a city hungrier than ever for just 1 title, much less 5 or 6 that everyone outside Cleveland thinks he should win. His game has improved, and will continue to do so.
He's conquered the defensive end of the game, next will be his jump shot. And as soon as the refs figure out how to properly call games that LeBron is in, you will see performances that everyone will be measured against.
And then maybe, just maybe, people will leave LeBron alone so he could actually enjoy his career.
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