After LeBron James held the summer of 2010 in his hands, as far as the sports world is concerned, another star was waiting for his moment. Buried in the shadow of LeBron once again, Carmelo Anthony wasn’t the only conceited star looking for an easy route to a ring. As tension began rising in the Denver front office, it became well known that the 3rd overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft wanted out, and out soon. Similar to the LeBron issue, Denver has the ability to offer Anthony more money than any other team in the league. But is it money that these stars want? Clearly no. After taking into account the amount these guys have already made in their seven years in the NBA, what’s the difference between $20 million/year and $16 million. Once you throw in two All-Star teammates and a larger market, the money is meaningless.

After Melo and LeBron were selected as two of the top three picks in the 2003 draft, one being compared to that of the ’83 class, the NBA’s next generation was born. At the time, it was expected that one of the big names that were taken in the first round would lead their team to a championship. Seven years later, it’s clear to see that the NBA landscape has changed drastically. In the days of Jordan, Magic, Bird and even Kobe Bryant, the biggest stars of the game have historically strived to defeat their greatest competition. For the Eastern Conference, the alignment of stars in Miami, Boston and potentially New York and Orlando, have produced powerful alliances that are similar to those of World War I.

Now we sit today, with another star waiting to leave his most loyal fanbase and the place that he has called home for his entire career. To many, the arrogance and egotistical display of greed has changed what people think about the NBA. Never before in any sport have players had such control over entire franchises than what’s going on in the association. After LeBron blatantly gave the entire state of Ohio the middle finger, it’s clear Carmelo has similar intentions. A great deal of speculation has been going around about a possible alliance in Madison Square Garden with Melo, Amare Stoudemire, who signed with the Knicks days before LeBron’s decision, and Chris Paul, who clearly wants out of New Orleans. Is this what’s right for the NBA? As small market teams struggle to retain high profile players, what’s happening in the NBA is similar to Major League Baseball. When the rich get richer, it only creates a disparity in the league, thus decreasing competition.

What I’d like to memo to the Nuggets organization is if Carmelo won’t accept the money now, he never will. Don’t let Anthony hold the future of your team in his hands when it’s clear he doesn’t care about his teammates and the success of the club. This is where arrogance and ego comes into play. With zero championship rings and one series win under his belt, Carmelo Anthony has literally accomplished nothing in the NBA other than averaging 24.7 ppg in his seven years in Denver. Proving that he is unable to carry the Nuggets anywhere in the postseason, even after having an above average supporting cast, Melo is steadily etching himself into the LeBron type of player. Rather than taking the blame on his shoulders, which big name stars are expected to do, the new crop of superstars are opting for the Miami route. Is this what’s right for the NBA? Tell me what you think.

-how to play the game the right way

-how to play fair, with rules

-how to interact with others and be a helping hand towards a greater cause

-how to grow as a person

-how to deal with the situation your forced with

-how to make your teammates that much better

-and lastly, MOST importantly, when to be loyal to your team and your hometown, the team that watched you grow up from a young phenom to a freak of nature athletically on the court.

I’m not a Cavs fan. But I feel like he ripped the hearts out of all Cleveland sports fans.

I feel for the city because every time I talk to a Cleveland fan about sports, it’s almost painful no matter what. They don’t get hopeful anymore. And they have every right to feel that way. They are like the girl that gets her heart broken every time she “falls in love”. Well this city has fallen in love enough. LeBron was the perfect guy for the town. He’s been around here all his life, and they let his problems go. Yankees hat? “Eh, who cares, just bring us a title, King.” Cowboys gear? “No biggie, just win it when it matters in June, ‘Bron.” I’m not from Cleveland, but boy I sure feel the pain. I don’t even like Cleveland sports teams but I’m hurt. Because I watched him grow up from a strong freshman that came into the state tournament with a team that was ready. LeBron, you didn’t show weakness and try to sprint to the locker room when you got pummeled physically by Cincinnati Roger Bacon your junior year. Your teammate did though. But I don’t get you LeBron. How can you hurt your city like that? The town you grew up in, lived in. But hey, the Browns and Indians we’re never good enough for you anyways. Now, your saying the Cavs aren’t either. Go ahead and be the guy that breaks the girl’s heart for no reason. Just remember, they won’t call the day after looking to be just friends.

Last but certainly not least, here is Zach with his definition for “Sports are…”

Sports are about a city that has gone through all sorts of depression, whether it be economic or sports related, get a breath of fresh air from the home grown. Watching that potential grow to great proportions, it seemed that the city of Cleveland was on the way to reversing the “curse” that they so desperately hold. Behind the dominance of LeBron James, the Cavaliers had to many, the best team chemistry in the NBA. But in reality, this was the complete opposite. When one person on a successful team gets all the attention and credit, it seems that that ship will finally sink, and this is what happened in Cleveland. LeBron, who is revered as the ultimate team player by many, is the direct descendent of selfishness. For seven years, the “ooh” and “ahh” we’re what kept bringing fans to the Quicken Loans Arena. LeBron did some things on the court, that have never been done by any other player to wear a Cavaliers jersey. The Hollywood type antics, from the pregame dance routines, to the chalk throwing before tip-off, everything about LeBron was a show. But this is not what team players do. In sports, talent is crucial, but when it comes down to it, team chemistry is what breeds champions. To attain success in a team sport, every single member on a team must be on the same page, and each player must work together to achieve the ultimate goal. We have seen this accomplished the previous two seasons from the Los Angeles Lakers. Each game, a new teammate stepped up. Whether it was Ron Artest, Derek Fisher or Pau Gasol, the crucial moments were shared with the entire team. For Cleveland, this was not the case. When the Cavaliers would be the topic of discussion, it was always, “LeBron and the Cavaliers,” not just the team, but LeBron first. And LeBron First was the motto for seven disappointing seasons in Cleveland. When Larry Hughes wasn’t the right fit for the “King,” what was the end result? When Mike Brown couldn’t bow down to James, where did he go? When Danny Ferry couldn’t assemble a team where LeBron didn’t have to take responsibility for the early playoff exits, what happened to him? Each one of these men were run out of town due to the inability of the “Chosen One,” to win when it mattered most. For LeBron, he has always been known to make his teammates better. But where was this improved production in the playoffs? It remains to be seen, because on a team, equal distribution of success needs to be evident, and for Cleveland this wasn’t true. Every accomplishment from 2003-10 will fall on the shoulders of LeBron. Last time I checked, there are five players on the court at one time, but to LeBron, there’s one and one only. And in sports, divas don’t win championships, ask Terrell Owens how his selfishness has added to his trophy case. For Cleveland this only adds to the sad story of sports in the city. At one point in 2007, it seemed that the city was finally going to reverse the curse. The Cavs had reached the NBA Finals, the Indians were a 90 win ball club behind CC Sabathia and the Browns we’re winning again. But piece by piece, this illumination faded. From the departure of back to back Cy Young winners, and the complete disassembeling of a football team, Cleveland fans still in their minds, had LeBron and the Cavaliers. But when a phantom elbow injury was the reason for the Cavaliers departure, it was evident that LeBron didn’t want to belong in Cleveland. It was clear to see the way he walked off the court at the Boston Garden, that LeBron knew in his mind that he would not be returning, because the 60 win team he had wasn’t good enough for his egotistical mentality. And after being the most talked about figure in sports for the past two months, LeBron aggravated the nagging injury that comes with Cleveland sports, by severing the pain of the people althroughout Ohio. Needing a way to create the stage for himself, LeBron had the sports world in his hands. “The Decision,” which will live in infamy for Cleveland fans for as long as they live, is the epitome of LeBron James and what his legacy will become. Offering no remorse for his former teammates and his own hometown, LeBron made himself into the selfish man that we are becoming to annoit him as. To athletes, winning is what counts, and I respect LeBron’s decision to win, but after what he did to the place that he called home, I don’t think I can respect the man.

LeBron, you may be tired and down in this picture. But multiply that by about 500,000 , and you will find that many people that feel just the same now. Your a heck of an athlete, but don’t let the door hit you on the way out bud.

]]> http://www.behindtheboxscore.com/2010/07/09/sports-are/feed/ 0 http://www.behindtheboxscore.com/2010/01/21/sports-tidbits-for-this-week/ http://www.behindtheboxscore.com/2010/01/21/sports-tidbits-for-this-week/#comments Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:04:05 +0000 Zach Fleer http://www.behindtheboxscore.com/?p=1567 In a crazy week of sports that involves championship weeekend in the NFL, Cavs-Lakers in the NBA and arbitration in Major League Baseball, here a few interesting facts that are products of this week.

• In his first season, Mark Sanchez already has the most playoff wins in Jets history.
• Michael Beasley guaranteed an “easy victory” over the Charlotte Bobcats yesterday only to lose 104-65.
• Both hockey teams in the Canadian province of Alberta lost by a combined 15 goals on Monday night.
• Tim Lincecum asked for a pay raise up from $600,000 a year to $13,000,000, 15x his current salary.
• Rasheed Wallace returned to Detroit last night, claiming the Palace was still his, only to be blocked three times in a 92-86 loss.
• The Dallas Mavericks extended their streak of one-point victories, in a 94-93 win over the Washington Bullets uhm i mean Wizards.
• The Nets only lost by 11 points on Monday night, a moral victory for a team that has a record of 3-38.
• Kelvin Sampson finally hung up the phone Tuesday night.
• Johnny Damon remains unsigned along with Miguel Tejada, that’s what happens when you’re 35 and think you deserve Albert Pujols money.
• Jose Canseco didn’t call anyone else out this week, a first for the washed up steroids user.
• Tiger Woods checked into sexual rehab this week, it’s a good thing that they have all male nurses there.
• Central Crossing boys basketball has a three game winning streak.
• Northland won by 68 on Tuesday over Mifflin, 30 more than the total points scored the Punchers.
• Alex Rodriguez will play for Haiti in the next World Baseball Classic, his third team in three renditions of the tournament.
• John Wall’s name was once again mentioned on Sportscenter last night, breaking Tim Tebow’s former record of 20 consecutive shows.
• The color man for the Michigan-Wisconsin game on Wednesday said this when referring to a shot attempt by the Wolverines’ Manny Harris, “They better hope State Farm covers the damages from that brick.” And we thought Bob Griese was bad.
• Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady have sufficient votes for the All-Star Game, funny when McGrady has not played this season and Iverson quit on the Grizzlies then moved back to Philadelphia to ask for more shots.
• Evan Turner continued to dominate on Monday, abusing the Northwestern Wildcats for 20 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists.
• RIP Gaines Adams

If you have anything you’d like to share from this week, comment below!

For the majority of LeBron James’ life, #23 has been a mainstay. Sporting the number his senior year of high school which resulted in numerous national televised games, a state and national title and earlier last month, a movie, the King or Akron Hammer as he has been dubbed all across America this week, is planning a change in his number to honor Michael Jordan. A week removed from a trip to New York which included a Yankee parade, draining a fadeaway j then landing in the lap of Jay-Z and numerous indications that James will be going to the city that never sleeps after this season, James is back in the headlines.

This time for good reason. In a time where professional athletes have been criticized for being disrespectful to their sports, James is the alter-ego. When asked about the matter, the King responded by saying, “If you see 23, you think about Michael Jordan,” James said, according to The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer. “You see game-winning shots, you think about Michael Jordan; you see guys fly through the air, you think about Michael Jordan; you see fly kicks, you think about Michael Jordan. He did so much, it has to be recognized, and not just by putting him in the Hall of Fame.” With numbers such as Jackie Robinson’s being retired in baseball, this seems fitting for the NBA. As their best player in the history of the league is not immortalized in the Hall of Fame, a move such as the one James is initiating makes perfect sense. For James, six is a number he is very familiar. Wearing the number in the Olympics, James helped lead the US team to the gold in the Beiging Olympics in 2008. It has also been noted that James wears the number in practice and has been doing for the past two seasons. Whether James is changing his notorious number for respect of Jordan or just to keep the summer of 2010 off his mind, either way the situation looks good for Cleveland, as the Cavs are hot, riding a three game win streak that included wins in Orlando and Miami.

Coming off the Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Orlando Magic last season, GM Danny Ferry and the rest of the Cleveland Cavaliers were intent on one goal, to stop Dwight Howard and the Magic. With the acquisition of Shaquille O’Neal, Cleveland didn’t lack for size, but the speed and athleticism was now in question after an 0-2 start.

Surging to four wins in five games, the matchup in Orlando last night was arguably the Cavs’ biggest game of the season with regards to Opening Night vs the Celtics. Both questions were answered last night in part of a 102-93 victory in which the Cavs won with defense and a solid contribution from Mo Williams, the heavily scrutinized point guard, who started out 9-9 from the field along with 22 points in the first half last night.

Along with the solid games from Williams and LeBron James, who added 36 points, eight rebounds and four assists, Howard’s foul trouble was crucial in the first half. Picking up two fouls in the first five minutes, the best center in the game shot 100% from the field on only three attempts and only played 32 minutes. O’Neal’s presence in the paint made scoring opportunites harder for the Magic, who prided themselves on kicking it in than going outside in the ECF last season.

In a game that wasn’t nearly as close as the score seems, the Cavs proved to be the better team, and showed that when they score, nobody can stop them. In the four games Cleveland has scored over 100 points, they have won. Another positive for Cleveland is the slow emergence of second year man JJ Hickson. Dominating the ACC as a freshman in 2007-08, Hickson showed signs of the great potential he has and with his nine point, six rebound night in the Amway Arena on Thursday, it looks as if the Akron Hammer might have even more scoring options, something that hasn’t come at a premium in James’ seven year career. Aside from James, Williams and Hickson, O’Neal scored ten, Anthony Parker poured in nine of the bench and Zydrunas Ilgauskus mustered four points in 24 minutes of action.

For Orlando, this should serve as another game as the Magic, (6-3) received quality games out of Vince Carter, Jameer Nelson and JJ Redick, yes there was a Redick sighting in Orlando last night. But for the 216ers, this is just another piece to the puzzle that is known as the NBA, and if the King has the key, the rest of the suitors should be able to fall into place and for once, Cleveland fans will be able to celebrate a championship. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves though, a tough game awaits against Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat tonight at 8 on TNT.

Roughly a month before the Cavaliers kick off their 2010 debut, LeBron James will have a debut of his own. After winning three state titles, a national championship in 2002 and being named Mr. Ohio in basketball for three consecutive years, the only player to do so, James’ journey of his team through high school will show in theatres all across the country. Five kids that played together ever since their grade school days decided to team up and play together in high school at Akron’s St. Vincent-St. Mary. Battling through hardship and rough circumstances, the group of five, James, Dru Joyce, Sian Cotton, Romeo Travis, and Willie McGee stuck to one another and brought their game to a new stage. Winning multiple AAU national championships, the group of five wreaked havoc in the state of Ohio. Winning titles in 1999, 2000 and 2002, this group is arguably the greatest team in the state’s history. With the NBA’s best player leading the offense, the complimentary players did more than just witness. Joyce, and Travis  went on to play at the University of Akron and McGee also played college ball. With such a prestigious resume, something had to be done to tell their story.

Well, Disney decided to do something about it. “More Than a Game,” is the doucumentary/film dedicated to the Irish teammates and is set to hit theatres on October 2nd. Having looked at multiple trailers and previews, this film looks outstanding as it shows the hardships in dealing with the life of the ghetto and avoiding the wrath of drug use, alcohol and gang violence. To see more here is the link, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fihLEEllL1k. With each film, it’s always more than a movie, and with this group of young men, together it was more than a game.

 All four players were acquired for basically nothing as Cleveland is building a quality “team” around LeBron James, who is eligible for free agency following next season. With the chance to sign James this off-season, the Akron native decided to wait it out until after next year, a move that can either be good or bad for the Cavaliers.

 If James had signed this summer, all contract and free agency negotiations would have been put to the side and James would have been able to focus on his team and the common goal, the NBA championship. If James is planning on bolting for New York after this season, that would be horrific for Cleveland as the team doesn’t have any other big time scoring threats. The plan most Cavs fans want to believe is that James is just stalling and ultimately focused on winning the title this season with a much improved team.

Cleveland is one of the youngest teams in the league, as the top teams in the East with Boston and Orlando are a little older and the Cavs have improved the most this off-season. With the Lakers still controlling the West, Cleveland must take care of business in their own conference with the new and improved lineup they look to feature. With Parker and Delonte West battling for the SG spot, the bench is very deep with Moon, Powe, who wont be able to play until February, Daniel Gibson, Zydrunas Ilgauskus, Terrence Kinsey and either West or Parker coming off the bench.

Everyone except James struggled against Orlando in the ECF which triggered Ferry’s moves. Boston only got older this off-season, signing PF Rasheed Wallace. Orlando lost key parts to last season’s run to the finals, losing SF Hedo Turkoglu, PG Rafer Alston and SG Courtney Lee and only adding the 35 year old Vince Carter. With a relative shakeup in the conference, the Cavs are the favorite this season to make a run and give LeBron and the Cavalier franchise their first championship.

1. LeBron James, SF, Cleveland Cavaliers- The King has arguably been the best player in the league the past six seasons since his rookie year in 2003. Averaging 27.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, and 6.7 apg, stats comparable to Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson, nobody in the NBA has stats even close to these. Last season was arguably his best as James put up 28.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, and 7.2 apg while winning the MVP Award and leading the Cavs to 67 wins, a franchise and NBA best. With his zero rings on his fingers, James’ teammates WILL have to step up this season if GM Danny Ferry wants to keep James around after the 2009-10 season, a season where he is due to become a free agent. James said as of today that he is unlikely to sign an extension with Cleveland until after next season. With all the skills in the world and 12,993 points poured in during his career, James is the clear choice for best player in the East.

2. Dwyane Wade, SG, Miami Heat- Wade is another player from the touted draft class of 2003 which produced James and Carmelo Anthony. Wade is a great shooter that can also drive and throw it down on somebody. Winning a title with Shaquille O’Neal in 2006, Wade has cemented himself as the best player in Heat history. Also due to become a free agent after next season, Pat Riley hopes that he can bring Wade and his 9,992 points back to South Beach for at least a few more years. Being the third best player in the league, D-Wade will likely stay there for quite some time as LeBron James and Kobe Bryant fill the void at first and second. Look for another 30 ppg season from the Marquette alum as he is hungry for a second ring.

3. Dwight Howard, C, Orlando Magic- The best big man to play for the Magic since Shaq, Dwight Howard is a man among boys in the low post. At 23, and Howard has led the league in double doubles, blocks, points in the paint, and rebounds per game in his young five year career. For Dwight, his work ethic has brought him there as he came into the NBA being a tall, skinny kid wearing braces and all he could do was dunk. Now, the Superman looking center is the most dominant big man in the league and will continue to do so for the next ten to twelve years.

4. Danny Granger, SF, Indiana Pacers-Granger, an alum of New Mexico, is relatively unmentioned in the conversation over the best players in the league. Playing in a small market in Indianapolis, Granger has put up major stats the past two seasons and really broke out in 2008-09, averaging 25.9 points per game. At 6’9″, Granger is one of the most athletic players in the East and should be good for years to come.

5. Paul Pierce, SG, Boston Celtics- Averaging at least 20 points a game for each season, Pierce has shown to be a great leader and be able to make the clutch shot. Also improving on defense each year, Pierce was key to the Celtics championship in 2008. If he can continue to produce, Boston should be just as good with the addition of Rasheed Wallace. Watch out for Pierce to have another strong year as the ball will be spread out and open shots will be on the horizon.

When the waning moments dwindled to a close in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, LeBron James immediately left the Amway Arena. Upset and confused over why the team with the best record in the NBA had been upset by a trio of men named Pietrus, Lewis and Turkoglu who all answered to one: Howard. Cleveland was favored to run through the East, a conference suffering the loss of Kevin Garnett and everyone expected Cleveland to have a home court advantage similar to Duke in college basketball.

For the Cavaliers, the fans of Cleveland, an economically downtrodden city which on home games, the city reels in a million dollars, this loss wasn’t supposed to happen for Cleveland, a city suffering a championship drought of 45 years. The expectation wasn’t too much for James, but too overwhelming for the cast of teammates who were inconsistent in the Conference Finals and couldn’t come up clutch when needed. Mo Williams struggled mightily throughout the first three games, not even averaging 10 points a game and turning the ball over more than he ever had. Zydrunas Ilgauskus was no match for Dwight Howard, who muscled his way, sometimes even fouling Big Z but they never call a foul on him, to the bucket and was the reason for the Finals clinching win where the former #1 overall pick poured in 45 points and 18 rebounds.

Many gave James flack for his early exit in both the playoffs and the arena, but there was reason behind it. James, who works as hard as anyone in the NBA, has had a very rough offseason to date. First he received harsh criticism for leaving Amway and the bashing got worse when tapes came out that he was dunked on by Xavier’s Jordan Crawford. When Nike refused to release the tapes, most pointed the finger to the King, calling for his head. In reality, the holding of the tapes was a company policy and James wasn’t even dunked on, another attempt by ESPN to tarnish the image of James, who has never done anything bad in his career. After not showing up at the ESPY’s, an overrated event hosted by washed up actors that need something to do, James was picked on by Samuel L Jackson who by the way just purchased another pair of sunglasses. With ESPN favorite Kobe Bryant in the house, the event, hosted at the Staples Center, imagine that, James was put down for his inability to win a title. For the first six years in his NBA career, LeBron has had a large task at hand. Put the entire state of Ohio on his back, carry the 16 win Cavaliers of 2002 into the playoffs and turn the frowns of a depressed city upside down. Coming into his rookie season in 2003, the King as he was proclaimed by ESPN in his senior year of high school, had expectations like no other. With the injury plagued Zydrunas Ilgauskus being the only player from the team that season, LeBron has been the epicenter of a new movement for Mike Brown’s Cavaliers. GM Danny Ferry has been criticized often for his lack of trades, signings,etc but if you look at it, Ferry has done an outstanding job. With LeBron in ’03, the Cavs had no other scoring options, or at least consistent options with Ricky Davis, Darius Miles, Dajaun Wagner and Jeff McInnis being the top scorers. If you recollect, Davis has been a bench player for a number of years, Miles has been in and out of the league, Wagner who suffered a career ending disease in ’04 hasn’t played since and McInnis has been with as many teams as the Royals’ Bruce Chen. Ferry has built a good ball club at least for Cleveland, who had the worst football team in the AFC North last season, and a baseball team who is last in their division and just completed the transition to a minor league team, giving away the reigning Cy Young winner and the only clubhouse leader the Indians have had in recent years. In a city still bringing up the days of Jim Brown and Otto Graham, LeBron will once again try to represent Akron, rise for Richfield, fight for Chiagrin Falls, gamble for Glenville, battle for Berea and owe it all to Ohio for a Cavaliers championship in the upcoming season. With a reloaded roster that boasts the signings of wing players Jamario Moon and Anthony Parker but the biggest acquistion of all is the King’s new witness, four time champion Shaquille O’Neal. Shaq will be there for the King to help him deliver a title and will do more than witness when LeBron is holding court. Expected to body Dwight Howard and get in the head of Kevin Garnett, Shaq who took down the Big Show on WWE the other night, will be another scoring option for a team that has one of the best teams in the Association. With LA losing Trevor Ariza but signing headcase Ron Artest, the task at hand is very tough but LeBron has shown he is up to the challenge. Remember “The Shot?” Nobody in the history of the Cavaliers has ever made a shot so difficult and the images last in the minds of fans everywhere. Even in a series where LeBron averaged over 40 points a game, he still put the team on his back. With three new weapons that last season combined to score 33 points, 22 rebounds and 6 assists a game, anyone in Cleveland’s way better move or be moved. Shaq may be nearing the light at the end of the tunnel, but with every dark cloud there’s a silver lining, he knows. When critics said the Heat made a bad move trading for him from the Lakers, when Kobe showed how selfish he is driving him out of town, Shaq took superstar Dwyane Wade to new heights and gave South Florida something other than drugs and murders to talk about.

When people compare LeBron and Kobe, there really isn’t any comparison. As a whole, LeBron has done more through his first six years than Kobe ever did and just imagine what he will be able to do in the future. Throughout each players entire career, James has averaged more points, rebounds, assists, game winning shots, points in the paint, and the only thing Kobe beats LeBron in is rape. The whole comparison is brought on by ESPN, who in recent months has been criticized for not reporting on Ben Roethlisberger and letting Pete Carroll have his way. It’s about time someone sums up the debate right here, right now. First off, LeBron was expected to do much more than Kobe coming out of high school and has proven to be everything he was hyped up to be. With no pressure, Kobe eased into the most talented team in the NBA with the Lakers and couldn’t win a title until MJ took his six rings and left the Windy City. Kobe had a very talented team and had the presence of a younger, swifter and more athletic Shaq that made up for the flaws in the Black Mamba’s game. Bryant is one of the most selfish players in the league, averaging the most shot attempts a game for the past six years, calling out his teammates and coaches on the air and demanding a trade for the player who without him, Kobe wouldn’t have done anything in his career.

On the other hand, LeBron took a team that had the worst record prior to his rookie season, a team full of players with less than a years worth of college experience and a coach that seemingly didn’t care. Winning 32 games in his rookie season, James helped continue the upward movement while playing hard each game and being the first one in and the first one out of the gym. Through the years of ’05-07, James played on a team that won at least 45 games each season. When Larry Hughes was expected to be his wingman, the signing of the St Louis alum didn’t go as expected. Yearning for the spotlight, Hughes was detrimental for the team and James could have acted like Kobe, crying for a new team and asking for Hughes to be traded. But he didn’t. Patience is a virtue and that’s what the King took to heart, Hughes and a cast of others were finally removed and a new mold was in the process of completion for a team that plays each night in Quicken Loans Arena, THE BEST arena in the NBA that has such a home field advantage, the Cavs only lost two games at home all season.

For LeBron, his game and way of life is more than basketball, it’s for pride. Bryant grew up with a father making good money playing in the NBA and never was faced with the struggles that young men in rough neighborhoods have to face. Growing up in several different homes, James went through his childhood without a father, a mother that gave birth to him at 16 and in the fourth most dangerous city in Ohio. With the only father figure in his life incarcerated for robbery, James could have very easily circumvented into the life of drugs, money and crime but James proved to be better than that. Patience is a virtue, and James waited it out. When he was given his first play hoop at the age of three, James dunk on it at the highest level. Viewing sports as a way out, James saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Similar to the song “Tie My Hands,” James was surrounded by dark clouds but each one of them had a silver lining, dominating every sport he played in up until his freshman year of high school. Recruited by every school in the country for football, James was the second rated player in the state of Ohio behind Maurice Clarett, a disadvantaged young man that has found a new way of living serving a five year sentence in prison. Clarett is another example of a Northeast Ohio depression filled story, as an All-Big Ten freshman RB his freshman year in 2002, leading Ohio State to their first national championship since 1968, Clarett could not end his marriage to the streets and that led to his downfall. In his blog, on wordpress, Clarett has found a new way of being and imagines doing good. James had this vision all along, it wasn’t what he looked at in his life, it was what he saw. Realizing his abilities and putting them to full use, James has led his career exactly to where it is at. So when you put down this young man, yes he is only 24, first go back and realize where he has came from. Leaving the Amway Arena may be disrespectful but this man never cheated on his wife, he never was charged with robbery and he never raped a woman. LeBron has come from a rough background and through basketball had made screensavers all across the country. As the third richest athlete in the world and most popular athlete on the planet, James found a way out and kept his head up through the bad. So when you say the Eastern Conference Finals loss was a heartbreaker for LeBron, realize the strength of this man. On his fifth Christmas in Akron, James’ grandmother dropped dead and was never coming back. With LeBron and his mother, Gloria, living in the house supported by his grandmother, this was the beginning of hardship, nothing compares to that tragedy, not even basketball.

With a little support anything can happen, and with the moves Danny Ferry has made throughout the past year, LeBron has a team that can take down anyone in the NBA. So when you go out and say LeBron will never win a title and accomplish anything other that his stats, he will prove you wrong just like the haters and people that tried to bring him down growing up in Akron. You’re no better than them, and the King will hold court once again, this time on the home floor of Quicken Loans Arena, hoisting something other than the MVP Award, this time the NBA Title.