In LeBron We Scapegoat: "The Decision" Answered

Halloween disclaimer: (For months, many people have cursed LeBron James for his narcissistic actions over the summer. Well, at least on this holiday weekend, Generation X and Y's counter and pseudo-counter culture can thank him. Because, as it turns out, the hot selling villainous costume of the year is being sold at the Gap of all places. Just grab a checkered pink and white dress shirt, wear some navy blue jeans that any self-respecting man already owns at home in abundant supply since he was age 2, and don't shave. Done and done.)

The poetic irony about the way LeBron James styled his beard during the telecast of "The Decision" is that it made him look like a goat. And as the events of the NBA season's opening week showed us, LeBron truly is a sheep in wolves clothing. Or, as it is more popularly known, a scapegoat.

Yes, LeBron's telecast was on the Kanye-scale of megalomania, even though the Obama administration probably tuned in as well.  But is that why the Boston and Philadelphia faithful were booing him with unbridled passion during the Heat's first two road games? Absolutely not. 

Let's make one thing clear. The Decision is a smokescreen. It's not the motive; its the alibi.  The real motive is, and has always been, LeBron's decision to go to Miami. The idea of Wade and LeBron in the same lineup shook everyone up, from the players to the fans, all the way to the people who clean the toilets in basketball arenas, because now opposing fan bases have a hard time controlling their bowel movements from the opening tip.

There are only two exceptions. One is the passerby NBA fan. For him, The Decision was the motive. And you know what? He only makes a big stink about it when he is around actual NBA fans because it's a conversation starter. That's the beauty of Sports. War cries unite the indifferent with the ultra-passionate.

The other exception is that LeBron tried to save face by spinning the charity move. It's one thing to make a decision. It's another to try to fool people that can see right through your bluff. 

But before considering the degree of despicability that it measured to, let's look at Carmelo Anthony.

If LeBron is going to be criticized for being a histrionic narcissist, why isn't Carmelo getting any derision for being a wolf in wolf's clothing.

At the end of the day, a man earns his respect by keeping his word. Carmelo can't even stand by a written contract he signed. He is trying to get traded to New York and forcing the Nuggets' hand. 

This is despite the fact that the Nuggets already have a good team surrounding them, and, only two years ago, they came deathly close to eliminating the Lakers before they made the Finals.

Carmelo only wants to get traded now, because all of his elite draftmates were able to realize their dreams this summer and he wants his piece of the pie now too. He is trying to pull the wool over everyone by saying: "Hey, I'm giving you warning because I don't want to ditch you guys without getting anything substantial in return for me like the Raptors and Cavs when they lost Chris Bosh and LeBron to Miami." 

Anyone who believes that his intentions are earnest is only fooling themselves. He wants to sign a contract extension now, because the more destined-than-rumored lockout next summer will more than likely conclude with players getting reduced contracts. Furthermore, he wants to go to New York because it's the biggest market and he has a ready made sidekick already there in Amar'e Stoudemire.The kicker in all this is that Carmelo took the exposure route just like LeBron. He didn't have to feed the media less than subtle clues that he wanted to leave. He simply wanted to bring more exposure to his profile, just like LeBron did. The only difference is that the demand of the public and the media for LeBron was much higher. 

Ultimately, everyone hates the Miami Heat because they fear them. Kobe and the Lakers are daunting, but beatable. Rondo, KG, and the rest of the Celtics are daunting, but they are beatable. Nevermind that both the Lakers and the Celtics have been the NBA's darling children the past two seasons from a playoff success standpoint. LeBron, D-Wade, and Chris Bosh have played the Celtics and Lakers though. Those three guys knew that those two teams just had too much talent for any one superstar to overcome without either injury or a lucky bounce to balance things more equally. So, they joined forces.

People don't like to admit their fears, so they will continue using LeBron as the convenient scapegoat he has unfortunately made himself into.

And the more dominant the Heat become, the louder the boos will be.

So enjoy wearing your LeBron costumes and trotting around town like the alleged villain you are. Make sure you don't wear the costume too long though, because the mask of every opposing fan base, hall of famer, or media broadcaster is slowly being uncovered.