Good Or Bad "Decision"; Reflection On The Plummeting Popularity Of LeBron James

Popularity Poll results of the top athletes in the world were released recently, showing a staggering 41% drop in popularity for "the King" and it got me thinking about a question I was recently asked during an interview:

Did LeBron make the right…DECISION…by leaving Cleveland for Miami?

I was actually thrilled someone finally asked me my opinion on this topic instead of me having to hogtie people so they will sit still long enough to listen to my rant.  So, now that I had free reign, and rant I did.  

“The answer really depends on what part of this fiasco we are talking about…If we are talking about the television production that was “the Decision”…then the answer is both yes and no. Yes, it was the right thing to do because he got everyone in the world to sit on pins and needles and do nothing but talk about him, thus upping his value, at least in his own mind.  No, it wasn’t the right thing to do, because as soon as the anticlimactic “decision” was made, every basketball fan not calling Miami home, with some semblance of a brain, now hates LeBron.  I hate him for somehow suckering me into thinking I really cared what he decided…and I hate him even more for making me watch the most uninteresting 1 hour special ever aired…I will never get those 60 minutes back…damn you LeBron, damn you!!

However, with all the pomp and circumstance aside…professionally, if he wants to win a championship it was the right decision…but I cannot help but think he will now never be able to live up to his nickname.  Had he been able to capitalize on the opportunities he had had over the last couple of years, and won a title with a decent yet, not star studded supporting cast…he could maybe be considered “the king”, but having to do it with two other superstars, definitely diminishes his value…at least in my mind. Maybe if he hadn’t mailed it in the playoffs more than once, I wouldn’t feel this way…but it isn’t just about winning sometimes, it is about how you lose.”

I think it is this last statement that I hold onto most when I think of the now, widespread plummeting dislike of the so called “King”.  My opinion of him started to diminish long before his “decision” aired. While I was thrilled my Celtics were able to roll over the Cavs with relative ease, I was equally amazed with James’ inability to perform when it really matters.  All dirty jokes aside, the man just rolled over. This was his greatest chance, his best supporting cast yet, and it ended with the worst collective playoff performance of his career.  Was he already looking south toward Miami?  Did he know it would look even worse if he left Cleveland after winning a championship, if they had won a championship? We may never know.    

In 2008, the Celtics were the better team, they were the BEST team.  In 2010, they were good, but the Cavs were rightfully expected to win.  I think the phrase “Never underestimate the heart of a champion” fits this situation perfectly.  Through his latest playoff performance, LeBron James has proven that that is the missing ingredient.  So apparently, he is going to Miami to mooch some heart off of DWade.  I can’t help but find the whole scenario disheartening, and apparently, as the poll numbers prove, I am not the only one.