Fast forward two years from now. The summer of 2010.
Brittney will probably be 300 lbs. and going to jail for the murder of a media member who was staked out at her house.
The U.S. Men's National team will disappoint once again at the World Cup.
The Red Sox will be going for their fourth title in seven years after a 2009 World Championship.
But nothing will dominate the headlines more than one man. LeBron.
This past year LeBron became a man. It wasn't just the 30 ppg. he averaged, or the seven assists per game or even the eight rebounds. It wasn't even the awkward montages we had of him in his house 'playing' with his wife and kids.
Did anyone else think the entire time LeBron was playing basketball in his house with his little kids he was just gonna swat one of the balls back and say, "YOU KNOW WHO I AM? I'M LEBRON EFFIN' JAMES."
Beyond everything else, LeBron played defense. You have to remember this was one facet of his game many believed would never come around. Every scout predicted him to be the most offensively gifted player since MJ, but few believed he would become a lock-down defender as well.
And make no mistake, LeBron James is a lock-down defender in key situations. No coach will ever stick him on the best guy and tell him to shut him down night in and night out. He'd be sidelined by the 30th game with exhaustion. But, in tight spots or the playoffs, this guy becomes an animal.
Witnessing it first hand when the Cavs played my Celtics, I honestly couldn't believe what I was watching. LeBron shut down Finals MVP Paul Pierce for the entire series until Pierce had one of those 'No one is stopping me tonight' games during Game Seven.
He was all over the place on defense. Making key steals, big blocks, and flat out taking over the game on the defensive side.
I attended Game Seven of that series. When the Cavs came all the way back and pulled within one, I thought to myself, if somehow we lost this it would be more of a defining moment in LeBron's career than Game Five of the Pistons series last year when he scored 37 straight points. It was special to watch. And when we pulled out a victory everyone in the arena knew one thing. LeBron had arrived.
So, back to the future. Two years from now LeBron will be a free agent. Able to leave the Cavs, the team that drafted him. He'd also be leaving his home town. The talk right now is revolving around who is actually going to be able to afford this guy.
Well, as of Wednesday night, we at least have one team that is going to try. The New Jersey (soon to be Brooklyn) Nets. The Nets dished Richard Jefferson's $13 million a year for Yi (I'll be out of the NBA in four years) Jianlian and Bobby (Does anyone know who I am?) Simmons. If you don't see that this is a total cap saving move then you have a worse lazy-eye then Stu Scott.
Anyway, in 2010 the New Jersey Nets will officially become the Brooklyn Nets. Part owner of the Brooklyn Nets will be Jay-Z. Coincidently, Jay and LBJ are butt buddies. Surprise, Surprise. It adds up like Josh Howard's weed on a Saturday night.
It's hard to fathom that a team could actually be trying to prepare to sign one, single player two years before that player goes on the market, but, that is the type of player LeBron James is.
If LeBron doesn't have the type of year he just had, do the Nets make this move? Maybe. But what we do know is what the entire NBA knows. LeBron is here and he is legit. So let the sweepstakes begin.
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3 months ago
This was enjoyable to read. I really liked it. Uhh, and it maybe true that he might be packing up to go start another life in brooklyn. Maybe even start a new album with Jay Z..who knows. The NBA: Where amazing happens.
3 months ago
Lebron did come of age, no doubt. And the Cavs might have won Game Seven if Mike Brown hadn't taken Lebron off of Pierce for long stretches in the first half. But we Cavs fans can't cry about that now. Of course everyone here hopes that LB stays in Cleveland. But there are too many owners hoping to lure him away. Some of these deals seemed aimed not only at getting Lebron in two years, but in stopping the Cavs from being successful. Did anyone consider that maybe the Nets dealt Jefferson to the Bucks not just to clear cap space but to ensure that the Bucks wouldn't deal Redd to Cleveland? Of course, I"m hoping these moves will backfire and that everyone will clear their rosters for a player who signs in his home town. As to Jay Z: if you asked LBJ to name his fave five friends, JZ would not be on that list. They have a celebrity friendship. Lebron's real friends are in Akron. And seeing as he's in business with them (LRMR), I think they're going to have a say about where he does or does not go.
Here's hoping to an active off-season for the Cavs.
3 months ago
I'm not saying KG and Lebron are that close. I just feel like with the fact that they even have as little as a celebrity friendship with eachother that its definately another thing working against Cleveland. As for the the deals being made to make sure Cleveland doesnt make any. I dont buy it one bit. You say the whole thing about the Nets sending Jefferson just so the Bucks dont deal redd to the cavs. Why would the bucks even be interested in stopping lebron from going to brooklyn? The Nets may have done it for that but the bucks have 0 interest.
3 months ago
"Anyway, in 2010 the New Jersey Nets will officially become the Brooklyn Nets. Part owner of the Brooklyn Nets will be Jay-Z."
Actually its not until 2011. And he doesnt even own 2%.
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