Le-Bernie James-off
A lot has been made of LeBron James’ controversial departure from his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers to the Miami Heat. Everything - from the way it was handled using a live television event to the idea that the best players in the league wanted to play with one another rather than against one another– was publicly scrutinized all summer. With the Heat struggling early, and their record at just 8-7, the criticism has only increased. However, my aim is not to talk about the Heat as a whole, but rather to consider what we have learned about LeBron the person.
One of the only things I consistently read without fail is columns by ESPN writer Bill Simmons. In many of his articles, and even his book, Simmons has considered out loud what LeBron’s place in history will be, and, more specifically, who he can best be compared to. Early on, LeBron’s all-world talents led us to automatically compare him to Michael Jordan. James was portrayed as the man who could surpass Jordan’s accomplishments and redefine basketball history and, honestly, through the first seven years of his career the comparison still seemed to hold some water. However, LeBron seemed to lack that “killer instinct” that is so often referred to in sports. He didn’t have the mentality towards his opponent that requires descriptions usually reserved for serial murderers, ala Jordan and, currently, Kobe Bryant. LeBron’s ability to run the show and his willingness to get his teammates involved made us draw comparisons to Magic Johnson. But even Magic had an inextinguishable fire to win burning inside him, and it is not clear LeBron possesses that, especially after he allowed his team to just roll-over and die against an aging and injured Celtics team in the 2009 playoffs. My favorite comparison was one Mr. Simmons came up with – Julius Erving. Dr. J is an NBA legend for his smooth finishes, gravity-defying dunks, and huge afro. He never won as many championships as Jordan, Magic, and Bird, but he brought the flair of the old ABA to the traditionally bland NBA and captivated fans everywhere. To me, that same description fits LeBron, he’s unquestionably the most unstoppable force in the league, but it seems winning is a by-product of this, and not his sole goal. To me, it seems LeBron seeks to be an entertainer. Of course he wants to win, but Jordan never threw chalk in the air or had elaborate celebrations with his teammates. LeBron is a showman. He wants to be loved by all, and he certainly wants to win, but he wants to put on a show while he does it. The thunderous dunks and monstrous come-from-behind blocks that send balls into the eleventh row are all just part of the act.
This was a perfect description to me up until July 9, 2010, when LeBron uttered the now infamous words “I will be taking my talents to South Beach.” In less than an hour LeBron went from the most beloved and idolized figure in sports to, arguably, its biggest villain. The whole debacle was very revealing about the true make-up of LeBron; here is a man arrogant enough to think he could turn his back on an entire fan base, (not to mention his hometown team), and a man who appeared to be taking the easy way out. Rather than cementing his legend and winning championships by himself, he was going to Miami to play with his buddies Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, who also happen to be two of the top fifteen players in the league, and setting an ugly precedent for future free agent superstars. He allowed his inner circle of friends to get in his ear, continually tell him he was invincible, and believed it, leading him to be the centerpiece in one of the most indefensibly stupid PR moves I have ever seen. Tiger Woods wasn’t this hated at his low point, and LeBron did it in one hour.
This led me to compare LeBron to someone completely unrelated to sports – Bernie Madoff. LeBron wasn’t as vindictive or conniving as Madoff, but it seems to me the two have a number of undeniable comparisons. First and foremost, both, at some point, were unquestionably the best at what they do. Madoff was seen as having the golden touch, and as far back as 1989 Forbes’ Magazine was praising him as the golden child of investments. LeBron has been headed for greatness since he was twelve, and, despite everything else, is still arguably the best player in the game. Predictably, both also have or had the aforementioned feeling of invincibility. LeBron had been God’s gift to Earth his entire life, and thought he could do anything and always be praised. Madoff thought he could go on forever lying and stealing, and that his gimmick would never collapse on itself. Needless to say, arrogance is the underlying quality of this attitude. Both men were too arrogant to think anything bad could happen to them. Secondly, both men appear to be completely obsessed with their image, ironic, seeing as both have managed to destroy theirs. LeBron has always made it known that he wants to be a “global icon,” which has no relation to basketball, and has used his fame to hang with the likes of Jay-Z and other celebrities. Madoff similarly parlayed his fame into the inner circles of celebrities and the wealthy. His client list is staggering, including names like the Spielbergs’, Kevin Bacon, and literally thousands of other individuals and organizations, most of which are household names. Finally, both men have experienced an enormous fall from grace. Madoff received a 150 year prison sentence, and while LeBron did not commit any crimes, he is so hated that the Cleveland Cavaliers owner wrote a scathing letter following his departure, made LeBron’s Fathead poster cost $17.19 because that is the year Benedict Arnold was born, and he is now booed every time he touches the ball in any opponents arena. Here are two men who were at the pinnacle of success in their respective professions, and the same pride, arrogance, and blindness to realities caused both men to ruin what they had. LeBron is certainly no criminal, but when people wonder how to place him in history and who to compare him to, I think the best comparison of all is not to Jordan, Magic, Bird, or even Dr. J, but to the most notorious embezzler of all time and the face of our country’s financial corruption.
- -- Zan Smith, an avid Celtics fan and self-admitted LeBron hater
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