Above these words you see the picture of a man you’ve been demonizing for the last 2 years. If you can’t recognize him he’s the one in the center. The one with the biggest smile on his face. Many of you have continued to viciously defecate on his persona, but as you can see on the man’s face, he has left all the negativity behind. In this moment, he is free. He is happy. He is a kid again. He has moved on to bigger and better things. He has turned the page and is writing a new chapter. His life has changed for the better, probably forever. And yet so many continue to despise the man. Now might be a good time to look at yourself and ask who the real bad guy is. Do you even remember why you hate this man so? Have you truly convinced yourself yet? “I’ve paid my dues time after time. I’ve done my sentence, but committed no crime.”
The man is, of course, LeBron James. The best player in basketball for years now (as well as a stand up guy, if you care to notice)–but only now being widely recognized as such–and freshly crowned NBA champion. The nickname King James finally sounds apropos. His smile has never looked more regal. In the wake of 20 plus some-odd months of intense vitriol, criticism, hyperbole and hypocrisy thrown in his direction, LeBron James could have easily become the bad guy that all of his critics so badly want to believe that he already is. The fact is that LeBron is just a better athlete than most anyone in the world. He’s a once in a lifetime talent. Sadly, that fact alone will make some people dislike him. But there are others who hate him solely for the way he flew south for the winners. The man was tired of waiting around for a championship and the help it would take to help him achieve one. He without a doubt made a few bad decisions in leaving Cleveland for Miami, but just for a second, imagine some of the bad decisions you’ve made in your life and how awful it would be if those who didn’t believe in you constantly reminded you of them, while ignoring all the good things you’ve done before and since your errs. “And bad mistakes…I’ve made a few.”
Sure, the officiating in games featuring the Miami Heat (and every other team for that matter) this playoff season was horrendous at times. Atrocious even. And yes, LeBron made a few glaring missteps while bolting for Miami a couple years back. He may have even had flashes of arrogance on the court at times. (Name me one superstar athlete who hasn’t done that in a moment of weakness, or a star athlete who doesn’t get a bit more gritty when racing for the ultimate prize…) But the continued (but hopefully waning) demonization of one LeBron James is not only ridiculous and unfounded at times, but also downright ignorant and hateful, especially when coming from the uninformed, or blindly negative types (i.e. sports fans who just don’t get it and/or casual fans who shouldn’t have an opinion anyway). It’s also getting really boring. A couple weeks ago, during the Eastern Conference Finals against the Celtics, Yahoo! Sports posted a “story” about LeBron “taunting” Kevin Garnett. Basically what happened was KG trash talked LBJ after a made basket and LeBron, in turn, laughed at him. Yes. That is the end of the “story”. And of course, they lured people in by implying that he taunted KG in some evil, mystical way.
If you actually watch LBJ with an open mind (as Miami beat writer Brian Windhorst also alluded to on Friday’s Mike and Mike In the Morning simulcast), it’s clear to see that most of the time, he does all the little things right. For instance, when he has an open court to himself, he has all the ability (not to mention if’s fair game) to do some crazy ass dunk, but he more often than not, will slam it straight in, with little to no pizzazz. He rarely shows up the other team. He also pats the ball to the opposing players after made shots that fall into his hands, whereas the Celtics themselves, for one, had a bad “habit” of knocking the ball away from everyone in an opposing jersey. It’s becoming more and more evident and obvious to me that some people will do everything in their power to bring down those who have reached a pinnacle of success and boy do they enjoy doing it. If the target is a perennial asshole, believe me, I’m all for it. But when it’s someone who has been under a microscope since the time he was a teenager and has handled the majority of his affairs like a gentleman and has been a model citizen on and off the court for at least 95% of his professional career, frankly I find it disturbing. I could find examples of his kindness and grace in the face of all the negativity, hatred and assorted other bullshit, but the people who continue to demonize LeBron, even after last night’s huge, healing step forward–will do so no matter what any objective person with no dog in the race has to say. Facts don’t matter to irrational people. “No time for losers…”
I (and many others) will continue to be a fan of LeBron forever, or until he gives me a legitimate reason not to be. Disgruntled, self-proclaimed enemies will continue to spit venom to a man who they’ve never met. But what will LeBron do? I hope LeBron just keeps doing what he’s been doing. The best thing LeBron can do is to continue to be a model citizen, continue winning, continue smiling and continue succeeding. He will make more mistakes and some will continue to scrutinize every single one of them, but from now on, no one can say he’s not a champion, even though a lot of people still will. Living well is the best revenge and I have a feeling LeBron is doing just fine. I hope LeBron has found his happiness and I would humbly suggest that those who will continue to wish nothing but the worst for him, do the same. It’s not like LeBron is listening anyway. And now he has even less reason to. Let the man enjoy his moment in the sun and find a little bit of that light for yourself. Either way, I’m sure he’ll keep on fighting ’til the end. And as long as he fights the good fight, I’ll be in his corner.
pocket knives AND lint 