Miami Heat: How Following LeBron James Has Become a Full-Blown Circus
Last night, the Miami Heat invaded Quickens Loans Arena and handed the Cleveland Cavaliers their worst loss of the season, 118-90.
However, at the end of the night, the beatdown that the Heat gave the Cavs would be a mere footnote in the eyes of the mainstream media, who were more intent on following another story: the return of the most hated man in Cleveland. No, we're not talking about Art Modell, although he probably still ranks among the top two most hated men in the city. We're talking about Akron's number one son, LeBron James.
The fans in Cleveland were implored to take the high road when welcoming back their very own version of Benedict Arnold. It's just too bad the media couldn't do the same.
Ever since that fateful day in July when LeBron announced to the world he was "taking his talents to South Beach," the media has placed an even bigger microscope on the individual dubbed "the chosen one." ESPN had immediately placed Miami among the favorites to make it to the NBA finals. There was even talk in the preseason that the Heat could challenge the Chicago Bulls record of 72 wins in a season.
Last night should have been about the different paths that Miami and Cleveland have been on since "The Decision." Instead, it turned into a three-ring circus surrounding "The Return" of LeBron James to the city in which he started his NBA career. Never has there been more fuss made about one player returning to the franchise he started with in another jersey than last there was last night. Not even when future pro football hall of famer Brett Favre donned a Vikings jersey and entered Lambeau field, his home field for 16 years with the Green Bay Packers.
What's interesting is that the majority of America, save for those people living in Cleveland and Miami, could care less about "The Return." They don't quite understand why such a spotlight bigger than that reserved for Barnum and Bailey's main tent is being shone on an individual who hasn't won one NBA title yet, even though he has been in the league for seven seasons. Even after Michael Jordan, arguably the game's best player ever, won his first title since with the Chicago Bulls after coming back from his first retirement, he still didn't receive the media attention that LeBron James has.
That last night was more about the actions of one man, and the fans reaction to that man's actions, speaks volume's about the direction the NBA is headed. The man once dubbed "King James", is now more of a court jester than a king to many in the nation, and the NBA is his circus. And, last night in Cleveland, LeBron performed under the big top that is the "Q," to the delight of many in Miami, to the hatred of those people in Cleveland, and to the indifference to everyone else in the nation.
