"The Decision": My Two Cents

Ever since LeBron James made his decision, everything that everyone has been saying is that LeBron is a traitor and that he took the easy way out. Now, this isn't entirely false. Yes, he did abandon his hometown, and yes, he has acted full of himself, and for a while now.

However, how do we know Michael Jordan wouldn't have done the same thing? When asked this question, these "experts" say that MJ was completely loyal and never would have left. The truth is, he never was in this position. After three years in the NBA, Jordan extended his contract eight years and, by the time he was a free agent, he already had plenty of rings.

Same thing with Kobe Bryant—he was winning rings pretty early and LeBron doesn't even have one after seven years of being one of the NBA's best players.

Another question is, "what is the big deal?" Plenty of other athletes left to win rings and there was NEVER this much controversy or anger involved. In 2004, Alex Rodriguez decided he needed Derek Jeter. So, he moved from Texas to the New York Yankees and no one was yelling at him for abandoning his team or for going to a much better team to try to win championships.

In 1982, there was Moses Malone. He was much like LeBron, one of the NBA's best but still without a ring. What did he do? He left Houston to go play with Julius Erving, another great NBA player at the time, on the Philadelphia 76ers. When Malone made that move, no one was screaming at him or getting all ticked off and calling him a traitor.

LeBron is A-Rod wanting to win rings with Derek Jeter, or in this case, Dwyane Wade. LeBron is Moses Malone wanting to win a championship with Dr. J, or in this case, Dwyane Wade. What is the big deal?

In addition, the only reason that LeBron left Cleveland was because two of his best friends in the NBA, Chris Bosh and Wade (who also happen to be two of the league's best players) were finally together on a team for the first time since they and James were on the gold medal-winning basketball team in the 2008 Summer Olympics. If Bosh had not gone to the Heat, then I bet that anyone, including LeBron himself, would tell you that he would have stayed in Cleveland with his Cavaliers.

It wasn't about the money, either. LeBron gave up $15 million to play with the Miami Heat. He would be making that much more money if he signed with the Cavaliers or Knicks.

I still know people won't forgive him for leaving and people won't understand. People will still think of him as a traitor and think that his legacy is broken. That is partially true, though. Jordan's Bulls teams were his teams. Magic Johnson's Lakers teams were his teams.

But if LeBron were to stay in Cleveland, his Cavaliers would be just another ringless and average team. They would not be a six-time national champion like Jordan's Bulls.

I will close with asking you—would you rather be playing on an average team for your entire career with you having all of the pressure and expectations carried on your back and without a championship, or would you rather be on a team with two of your best friends with a much greater chance of getting that ring and trying to get your legacy back?

I thought so. I do know that the way LeBron handled this was that of a ten-year-old, but his decision was not a bad one.

Before you go on another rant on how much of a "bad person" LeBron James is, just remember that it isn't a big deal. Things like this have happened plenty of times in sports history. Also remember that his decision wasn't a bad one.

Take a deep breath so we can get on with our lives and start worrying about what really matters. Remember that there is still a massive oil spill happening in the Gulf of Mexico. I think that is much more important than one NBA player's decision.

Just get on with your lives.