The NBA: Where Monopolies Happen

So now what?

What do we, the non-Heat fans of the world, do now? We just lost a chance at the best free agent available in the history of the NBA, and perhaps the world of sports.

LeBron James is headed to Miami to team up with a mini-Olympic team that already featured Dwyane Wade and now also has Chris Bosh wearing the orange and red.

The Heat, though they may not have a starting five at the moment, are now the pick to win the Eastern Conference and perhaps the NBA Championship.

For teams like the New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, and the Cleveland Cavaliers (how do you think they feel right about now?) it's a desperate time indeed. The Nets, Knicks, Bulls, and Cavs all had reason to believe at one point or another that they could be LeBron's No. 1 destination.

But it's all for naught.

The NBA has just monopolized to a degree that would make the Nazi war machine jealous.  One that would make Stalin say, "Hey, not bad, Miami."

For if you really love the NBA (I mean, really love the league), how can you not be a little disappointed with the results of today's "decision"?

The Heat may not hold the NBA title over their heads next summer, but they will at some point. They'll have five seasons (if not more) if Wade, James, and Bosh.  You and I could fill in the rest of the starting lineup, and I bet we'd give other teams a hell of a run.

They'll go toe-to-toe with the Los Angeles Lakers for the next few seasons, and then the Lakers will fade away as Kobe Bryant's legs get older.

Then, the Heat will become the New York Yankees, New England Patriots, and Detroit Red Wings for the next half-decade.

They won't be denied a championship. Let's be serious: They'll probably win three of four with this group. They just won the lottery. The '90s Bulls are now the '10-'19 Heat.

Do you think Commissioner David Stern likes his new super-league now?

If you're not from Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, Boston, Atlanta, Denver, or Dallas, what reason do you have for watching the next five NBA seasons?

Unless your favorite team plays in one of those cities, you're likely not going to experience an NBA title.

Does that sit well with you?

As a Chicago resident and life-long Bulls fan, I have to admit the truth: I'm shaken and disturbed at the thought of near-meaningless basketball for the next five years in this city.

Sure, you might have a good team upset a No. 3 seed in a best-of-seven series, but that's about it.

The NBA is a league built on the have and have-nots.  The Heat have three of the former.

For the rest of us, one (maybe two?)  player(s) can be considered "elite" or "superstar" on our rosters. For the rest of us; we cannot compete with you, Miami.

You've done all the right things, and we can't fault you for clearing room under the salary cap, because the rest of us did, too.

We can't fault you for your warm beaches, your recent championship success, and the presence of Pat Riley, a basketball wizard.

We can fault you for taking the life out of the NBA for the next five-plus seasons.

Many of us thought more of LeBron James.  Loyalty in sticking by a franchise used to be the norm.

Just ask Karl Malone, John Stockton, and, to a lesser degree, Kevin Garnett.

So, what can we do now?

How does a three-month break from LeBron James sound?

That's the approach I'll be taking, and I encourage all of you to join me.