Leading up to LeBron James’ return to Cleveland the hype was flowing from just about every corner of the sports world. Sports commentators giddily reported every new development, ESPN.com’s ridiculous “Heat Index” went from the NBA page to the front page and Cavs fans spent thousands of dollars to make sure that LeBron knew how much they hated him. My thought on the game was that there would be some fans getting tossed, Miami would win and LeBron would have a “C+” game. I thought that someone as sensitive as LeBron is would have a hard time dealing with the adversity. He has never shown that he can thrive in the face of adversity, why would he start now?
Well, the fans got tossed, LeBron had an “A” game and Miami blew out the Cavs. Two for three. I misjudged how terrible the Cavs are, the fact that they are a fringe playoff team in the east is somewhat sad. Also, how pathetic was it that nobody on the Cavs took the chance to be immortalized last night. What about a guy like Anderson Varejao clothes-lining LeBron on one of his drives to the hoop? Knock him down hard, get a flagrant 2, give the fans a reason to cheer and get tossed early from an embarrassing blowout, no downside. But instead he grabbed his headband and threw it…really hitting him where it hurts big guy. Somehow I don’t think that fulfills the graduation requirements at Kevin McHale University.
One thing that is very interesting is to see Cleveland play the Jennifer Aniston role. They are the scorned lover that LeBron (Brad Pitt) traded in for the newer, more exciting model. Cleveland has the sympathy of the entire country and at least for last night got amazing TV ratings. It remains to be seen if they, like Jen, derive unwarranted success from it but at least for last night they were everyone’s favorite team (or second favorite).
Last night was vintage LeBron, the prototypical basketball player; he hasn’t lost anything that made him the back-to-back league MVP, proof that he actually did take all of his talents to south beach. Last night was also proof that LeBron is no MJ, or even Kobe for that matter. He can shine against a bad team and he may be able to win as part of a cast of characters but don’t ask him to do it by himself and don’t ask him to do it in a big game. There is nothing left to say about LeBron that hasn’t already been said, but MJ’s legacy as the greatest competitor and greatest champion the NBA has ever seen will not be challenged, at least not by LeBron…take a mental note of that.
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