Out of Your New York State of Minds

Tomorrow night, LeBron James makes his first trip to "The World's Most Famous Arena" as a member of the Miami Heat, when the team from near South Beach collides with the upstart New York Knicks.

While this game would sell out under ordinary circumstances, for New Yorkers, the feeling that The King could have been and, in their collective minds, should have been one of them, adds a little more flair to what would normally be considered just a fun game to watch.

Much like the faithful in Northern Ohio, residents of The City feel jilted that LeBron shunned their efforts to coax him into joining their squad. It's understandable why fans in Cleveland would have lugubrious expressions after "The Decision", but New York? When exactly did LeBron give any indication at all that he wanted to be a part of Knicks basketball?

For all of the phony scorn that will be thrust LeBron's way Friday night, none of it has any merit. Chicago was rejected. The Clippers. The Nets. All of these teams made their sales pitch and ultimately LeBron had to choose one and he rolled with the Heat. I have googled for hours trying to find any quotes, comments, interviews, anything, that even hinted LeBron considered New York a frontrunner. And I'm not talking about tweets from Ochocinco or Jared Dudley.

I searched for LeBron himself saying "I'd love to be a Knick." This is my favorite arena to play in, sure, I found LeBron saying that, but Reggie Miller loved playing there too. Jordan certainly enjoyed the glitter. But, was either player about to leave the Pacers or Bulls? 

The Knicks, just like the aforementioned teams, went all out in their courting of The King. Knowing LeBron was a fan of the Sopranos, they opened their video presentation with James Gandolfini and Edie Falco looking for hot spots to bring their "important friend."

Next they put up the famed image of Madison Square Garden with taped testimonials from true icons of the city: former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Knick icons Willis Reed and Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, Mr. October Reggie Jackson, Rangers immortal Mark Messier and the ever present Spike Lee.

Finally, Coach Mike D'Antoni spent the majority of the meeting drawing up plays and talking strategy with LeBron, hoping his offense would be exactly the type of free flowing orchestra Lebron would relish conducting. He met with Allan Houston briefly afterwards and that was that.

Why people in New York believed LeBron's love of playing in MSG or his supposed loyalty to the Yankees, or even his ESPN debacle in Greenwich (hey, it's near the Knicks practice facility, it must be NY then!) meant he was coming here, just doesn't make sense. Cleveland fans are the only ones in North America with any right to be upset.   

This isn't Eli Manning dissing the Chargers, John Elway saying forget it to Indianapolis or Steve Francis saying peace to Vancouver. He didn't leave your team to play somewhere else, he left another team and chose to play in a city not named New York.

Mitch Lawrence and Frank Isola, both of the New York Daily News, seemed to have particular scorn for James actual decision, which to me seems petulant.

The Knicks right now are more than exceeding expectations and Amar'e Stoudemire has shown so far that the bright lights of this massive city may run out before he does. His play has been beyond comprehension. He has shown leadership, heart, hustle, constant cheering on the sidelines when he isn't in the game and that, dare I say, defense? Sure it would have been amazing to see him and LeBron together, Bron' did court him for Cleveland, but it didn't happen. Move on.  

LeBron throws around the word "loyalty" like this is something he lives by. He has no loyalty to anyone at all but his crew. Be happy New Yorkers that a true professional, a legitimate icon and a player whose loyalty has never been nor will ever be questioned, chose to keep his Hall of Fame talents in the Boogie Down.

Derek Jeter.