The Best Decision – Aaron Keyer
I would like to start by saying that I am in no way a fan of any Cleveland sports teams, and never will be. Before the “The Decision” I had respect for Cleveland sports fans, for how loyal they have been over the years. However after seeing how they acted after Lebron James made his decision leave Cleveland, I lost all respect for Cleveland fans and Cleveland sports franchises.
Lebron James was the only reason the Cleveland Cavs were even remotely relevant in the NBA and it’s quite evident that Cleveland fans have not figured out that in today’s world professional sports is one thing, a business.
Making the decision to leave Cleveland was the single best decision of Lebron’s career. He probably could have done it in a different way, but who’s to say it was his decision to make his decision on national television. Where was his agent, manager, family or his marketing team in all this? Professional athletes make very few decisions by themselves.
For Cleveland fans to act the way they did toward him in my opinion is almost hypocritical. If you were offered the same job, with the same salary, with a much better run company, in Miami, Florida wouldn’t you leave Cleveland too?
“The Decision” has not hurt Lebron’s marketability at all. In fact his marketability has done nothing but grow. He still is one of the most recognizable figures in the world, he still has his own complete shoe and sports attire line with the most popular sports company in the world, Nike and now he has a NBA Title.
Cleveland fans need to realize that they blame shouldn’t be directed toward Lebron, but toward the upper level management. Lebron left Cleveland and the Cavs went from the best record in the league to setting the NBA record for consecutive losses in a season. He did more for and gave more to the city of Cleveland than any of us will ever know. The fact that it was even a decision for him should say something about him as a person, because for any other athlete, staying in Cleveland would not have even been an option.
All in all, Lebron James made the same business decision any other professional athlete would have made. The way he has conducted himself since “The Decision” has turned me into a huge Lebron James fan. Even with the way Cleveland fans have treated him, he is yet to say one bad thing about Cleveland. Go Heat.
While I do not blame him for leaving Cleveland for one second, his flawed character showed on his way out. I think he has been handed a lot of things during his ascent to stardom and doesn't know what true adversity is. As a Bulls fan, I was conflicted about whether or not I wanted the Bulls to sign him, mostly because of how good of a player he is. I loved the fact that Derrick Rose refused to reach out to LeBron and recruit him. I will never be a fan of LeBron James or of the way he won his championship, but I am glad he seems to be past a lot of unfair criticism. However, he should never be applauded for how he conducted himself during the days of "The Decision".
ReplyDelete-Marc Rodriguez
I agree that Lebron had the right to move on and choose any team he wanted to play for. He earned the right with the superstar status he gained over his career and superstars should get to pick where they want to play when their contract is up. However, the way he did was wrong and slap to the face of Cleveland fans. It was egotistical and cocky and showed his true character when the “Decision” was aired. I am not a Cleveland sports fan but I think they are angrier at the way Lebron left Cleveland as he did in the “Decision” with a big smirk as he announced he was going to Miami. I think Cleveland fans know how much Lebron did for them that’s why they acted the way they did, in burning his jerseys and heckling him to this day because he meant so much to them. The “Decision” was never going hurt Lebron’s marketability because he is the face of the NBA, it just showed his class and how he is all about himself. I also believe the way he won the NBA title shows that he can’t be compared to Jordan because he left Cleveland to join a superstar filled team where Jordan stuck it out in Chicago. Lebron could have moved on from Cleveland where the fans would understand his decision if he did it in a humble manner.
ReplyDeleteRyan Viselli