Still the King's Court? LeBron Can't Handle Playoff Loss

After failing to invite Nancy Reagan to a meeting regarding stem-cell research—an issue with which she has a close connection after the passing of former President Reagan, who fought Alzheimer’s disease—President Barack Obama made the former First Lady a guest of honor for the establishment of a new Commission to be named in honor of her late husband.

The group, according to a blog post by Helene Cooper of the New York Times, is supposed to “organize activities to mark the 100th anniversary, in 2011, of President Reagan’s birth” and is named the “Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission."

President Barack Obama may have reconciled his past grievances with former First Lady Nancy Reagan on Tuesday. It was the misstep by LeBron James a few days earlier, however, that had sports talk radio and the blogosphere buzzing after Cleveland’s King and the future face of the Association failed to congratulate Dwight Howard and the victorious Orlando Magic following Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals.

It should be stated that this is only one of a handful of mistakes James has made during his rather short career, but it seems to have carried the most negative weight for his image.

Wearing a New York Yankees hat to the ballpark when the Bombers were locked in an ALCS matchup with the home-standing Indians and a verbal altercation with his mom during a game are the only other notable offenses.

Still, skipping the postgame press conference (a violation of NBA policy for players) and making an abrupt exit after the final buzzer (no league violation there) should not necessarily merit excess criticism for a man whose record is otherwise relatively clean.

But “The King” is the one in question here. The centerpiece of this debate, and of the Cavaliers franchise for the past five years, in many ways has signed on for what will perhaps be a lifetime under the spotlight of sports anchors, analysts and armchair experts in the field of, well, the playing field.

What James should realize, even at the tender age of 24, is that he is more than simply another piece of David Stern’s intricate basketball puzzle. Since his final days at Saint Vincent-Saint Mary’s High School, King James has been marketed.

The NBA and every other major professional sports league are businesses first and foremost these days, after all. This trend is also trickling down to the college ranks, as shown by this New York Times article. Also consider the cover of this week’s Sports Illustrated.

In LeBron, league executives saw a “man-child” who could help propel the NBA back into the popularity it enjoyed during the run that Michael Jordan had with the Bulls.

Let’s consider more of what the NBA wants from James.

He is the cornerstone of a league that wants this new 23 to be a reincarnation of the old 23, that guy who won the only six championship rings in Chicago Bulls history.

The NBA wants someone who can score on fastbreaks, in the halfcourt offense, or from half court if need be, but who can also kiss babies and shake the hands of winning players should the day ever come when he and his team loses.

Well, that day came this past Saturday. And James was not the man he has been for the majority of the past five years. Instead, in what many wanted to believe was a mere moment of weakness, he showed himself to be just as mature as most 24-year-olds tend to be.

While the NBA did not fine LeBron for missing the post-game press conference, the move detracted from his public image, and his comments the next day—saying the reason for his actions was because he is “a competitor”—certainly did not help. But the King can restore his credibility by taking a page out of President Obama’s book.

No, James need not create any organizing committees or commissions in honor of Dwight Howard. But for the sake of both the NBA and himself, LeBron should extend the olive branch to the Magic.

The United States President and the King of the NBA have some things in common in the recent past. Mr. Obama already righted his wrong on Tuesday. Now it is LeBron’s turn to correct his mistake.