It has now been 2 days since the self-proclaimed "King", LeBron James, ripped out the heart of Cleveland and threw it into the Lake Erie 'monster' with nothing but a smile and an hour-long trampling of the Cleveland sports world live on ESPN.
And while I was slightly off on his final destination (I predicted the Knicks), the outcome in no way surprised me as it did many heartbroken Cleveland fans. It was always about LeBron, the Championship of Self, and doing whatever it took to take what he could and leave what he didn't need behind in the dust of unrealized dreams, broken promises, and unfinished business.
The home-grown hero is now a villan, and rightfully so.
It seems, however, that the national sports world (particularly ESPN) seems to think that the city of Cleveland is blowing this out of proportion, that we are taking this a little too seriously, and that we need to "lighten up".
It is clear to me that the national media, their commentators and sports writers, and anyone who has not grown up in the Cleveland area over the past 50 years, doesn't have the slightest clue how personal this LeBron James fiasco was, how deeply the wound was cut, and how angry and determined we are now to see the so-called king lose his crown. I mean, he's already ringless. What's one more undeserved piece of gold witheld from this Akron sellout!
We Clevelanders have been crushed, worse than the days of Art Model, worse than the fumble, the drive, the shot. This is "the move", "the decision", and we as Cleveland natives are working through this, and finding a way to make OUR decision to move ON. Give us our time, give us our peace.
Burning his jersey is not some barbaric act of heartless violence or drunken rage. It is a cleansing process. A cleansing process we Cavs fans need (I burned my jersey last night and had a private moment by my backyard bonfire outside my Chicago home). This is how we move on.
And now that the cleansing has commenced, now that the big sign across from the Q has been removed so we are no longer reminded of LeBum, of "Quitness", we can start looking to our team and new head coach for a way to move on, to avenge our pain, and to one-up the rest of the world that has already written us off completely.
So forgive us, world, if we wish to be bitter. If we wish to burn worthless tokens that remind us of a traitor. This is our way. And God bless our passion and loyalty to our city.
It is more than we can say about our former "King".
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Unfinished Business?
So apparently I haven’t had a lot to say in the wonderful wide world of sports since the dismal end of an amazing run by Apollo Ono in this year’s Olympics.
But on the eve before the LeBron James show takes center stage, I felt it necessary for a loyal Cleveland sports fan to speak his mind and make his peace with a King who’s probably going to be taking his court elsewhere following the hi-jacking of the NBA by Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade.
As this week of free agency rolled on, it was starting to become more and more evident that LeBron James was staying in Cleveland, and that the possibility of Cleveland sports fans finally getting some good news for once in our lives was becoming reality.
But as typical professional sports goes, nothing is sacred anymore, especially not loyalty. As LeBron James has started to realize that the dreams of getting Bosh or Stoudemire to come to Cleveland are not to be, his commitment to his home town has become much more situational, much more contingent on how the end game effects his icon, his opportunity of endless fame and fortune. It’s not about winning championships, so don’t let the self-proclaimed “King” tell you otherwise.
Regardless of what Miami and the national media tries to sell the world, LeBron’s best chance of winning a title has always been at home in Cleveland. How many years did we watch a stacked Cavs team become even more stacked, how many years did we watch the team with the best record choke in the long haul, and how much recently have we watched the 2-time MVP help create his own team’s demise, and yet separate himself at year’s end with an “I’m better than this city” mindset?!
Well guess what, LeBron? You know I love you and am clinging to the small hope that you will stick around and win a title for our waning city, but the reality is you haven’t earned the right to go anywhere. You haven’t won a title, and you yourself said that ever leaving your home town still titleless would always be “unfinished business”. So you see- you can put focus on your talent, on your road to fame through the bright lights of New York or the hot summer fun in Miami, but you are not a champion yet. You didn’t accomplish anything for anyone yet…except yourself.
The reality is, you need Cleveland as much as we need you. Forget the money. We’ve got it. Forget the fame. You own our town. But don’t forget loyalty. Don’t forget unfinished business. Don’t forget that you are to this city what Jordan was to Chicago, what Magic was to Los Angeles, and what Bird was to Boston. You can’t have it any better than you do in your home town, and how many players in pro sports would KILL to play in their home town?!
So as everyone sits down to watch Lebron’s “decision” tomorrow night, remember this- in the end he has 2 choices. He can leave Cleveland and chase fame (and maybe a title a few years down the road), or he can stay and finish what he started. It’s the difference between quitters and long-lasting greatness. Dynasties aren’t built overnight, in your own words LeBron!
In the end, we all know what we’ve always known from the start. LeBron James is going to be a New York Knick in 2010. There…I said it. He is lost in the world of LeBron, and only in New York City can his world be as big as he wants it to be.
Thanks for nothing, LeBron. You're Cleveland's new Art Model.
Joshua Cribbs, you want get something going with the Browns?
As always, the city of Cleveland, mourns, waits, and suffers.
p.s.- check out LeBron "unfinished business" at http://www.clevelandcavaliers.com/...how can this guy leave this city in shambles and still sleep at night!!?
But on the eve before the LeBron James show takes center stage, I felt it necessary for a loyal Cleveland sports fan to speak his mind and make his peace with a King who’s probably going to be taking his court elsewhere following the hi-jacking of the NBA by Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade.
As this week of free agency rolled on, it was starting to become more and more evident that LeBron James was staying in Cleveland, and that the possibility of Cleveland sports fans finally getting some good news for once in our lives was becoming reality.
But as typical professional sports goes, nothing is sacred anymore, especially not loyalty. As LeBron James has started to realize that the dreams of getting Bosh or Stoudemire to come to Cleveland are not to be, his commitment to his home town has become much more situational, much more contingent on how the end game effects his icon, his opportunity of endless fame and fortune. It’s not about winning championships, so don’t let the self-proclaimed “King” tell you otherwise.
Regardless of what Miami and the national media tries to sell the world, LeBron’s best chance of winning a title has always been at home in Cleveland. How many years did we watch a stacked Cavs team become even more stacked, how many years did we watch the team with the best record choke in the long haul, and how much recently have we watched the 2-time MVP help create his own team’s demise, and yet separate himself at year’s end with an “I’m better than this city” mindset?!
Well guess what, LeBron? You know I love you and am clinging to the small hope that you will stick around and win a title for our waning city, but the reality is you haven’t earned the right to go anywhere. You haven’t won a title, and you yourself said that ever leaving your home town still titleless would always be “unfinished business”. So you see- you can put focus on your talent, on your road to fame through the bright lights of New York or the hot summer fun in Miami, but you are not a champion yet. You didn’t accomplish anything for anyone yet…except yourself.
The reality is, you need Cleveland as much as we need you. Forget the money. We’ve got it. Forget the fame. You own our town. But don’t forget loyalty. Don’t forget unfinished business. Don’t forget that you are to this city what Jordan was to Chicago, what Magic was to Los Angeles, and what Bird was to Boston. You can’t have it any better than you do in your home town, and how many players in pro sports would KILL to play in their home town?!
So as everyone sits down to watch Lebron’s “decision” tomorrow night, remember this- in the end he has 2 choices. He can leave Cleveland and chase fame (and maybe a title a few years down the road), or he can stay and finish what he started. It’s the difference between quitters and long-lasting greatness. Dynasties aren’t built overnight, in your own words LeBron!
In the end, we all know what we’ve always known from the start. LeBron James is going to be a New York Knick in 2010. There…I said it. He is lost in the world of LeBron, and only in New York City can his world be as big as he wants it to be.
Thanks for nothing, LeBron. You're Cleveland's new Art Model.
Joshua Cribbs, you want get something going with the Browns?
As always, the city of Cleveland, mourns, waits, and suffers.
p.s.- check out LeBron "unfinished business" at http://www.clevelandcavaliers.com/...how can this guy leave this city in shambles and still sleep at night!!?
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Oh No Ohno!
Last night I was watching the final speed skating competitions of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and, though I normally stay away from bleeding red, white, and blue with my cowboy hat and guns blazing, America got screwed!
During the last lap of the 500-meter finals, Apolo Anton Ohno was making a pass on Canadian Francois-Louis Tremblay, and as most skaters do for cushoning and awareness, placed his right hand on the side of Tremblay as they entered the final turn.
Milliseconds following the legal contact between the two skaters, Tremblay lost his footing and crashed into the padded wall, leaving Ohno in third place.
Milliseconds after this, Korea's Sung Si-Bak loses his footing and crashes after his hand catches onto leader Charles Hamelin's right skate as they near the finish line. Hamelin would cross the finish line first doing a nice little dance to stay on his feet, with Ohno crossing the line in second place.
As in several past speed skating finals in this olympic games and previous ones, this type of incident would be reviewed but ultimately determined to be a competitive final charge for the finish line, with the 1-2-3 finish being Hamelin, Ohno, and Si-Bak.
Oh but wait- we'll go ahead and leave it up to the Canadian judge to determine whether one of his country's 2 skaters in the competition is eliminated or gets bronze. Hmmm....I wonder what he'll decide.
Meanwhile, earlier in the week a similar incident occured in which a skater was pushed even harder on a final lap and was pardoned, and I seem to remember it being a Canadian skater. I might be wrong though, so don't take that for Gospel truth.
But regardless of comparing it to any other race or skater from any country and looking at this completely from the perspective of this particular race, there is no way a Canadian line judge should be allowed to make the call when 2 Canadian skaters are in the event, one who is involved in the incident, and the decision being made could hand one of them a medal or leave them empty-handed. It is, needless to say, a conflict of interest.
Two things need to be said for this incident:
1) There should be alternate line judges for events like this so there is always a way to avoid conflicts of interest or suspicions of country favoritism.
2) The olympic rules for speed-skating need to be more consistant. Either contact should be legal, or all forms of contact should be illegal. Leaving these calls up to interpretation will always leave room for error and will never be 100% fair.
And for the record, there's a lot of buzz going around today about how Ohno's post-race interview was somehow unclassy or unprofessional, and I just want to tell the haters that they need to re-watch his interview. He was very respectful, very classy, and very humble about the decision made. When he was pushed to answer whether he thought the line judge's call was wrong and/or biased, he respectfully shared his opinion but held the olympic pride perfectly in tact. I give the guy credit. If it had been me, I may have taken a skate to the line-judges face after a call like the one made in this instance.
Oh, Canada, the line judges stand on guard for thee. I love your country, I love you athletes, but your judges kind of suck. Oh well, we'll settle this in the hockey finals!
During the last lap of the 500-meter finals, Apolo Anton Ohno was making a pass on Canadian Francois-Louis Tremblay, and as most skaters do for cushoning and awareness, placed his right hand on the side of Tremblay as they entered the final turn.
Milliseconds following the legal contact between the two skaters, Tremblay lost his footing and crashed into the padded wall, leaving Ohno in third place.
Milliseconds after this, Korea's Sung Si-Bak loses his footing and crashes after his hand catches onto leader Charles Hamelin's right skate as they near the finish line. Hamelin would cross the finish line first doing a nice little dance to stay on his feet, with Ohno crossing the line in second place.
As in several past speed skating finals in this olympic games and previous ones, this type of incident would be reviewed but ultimately determined to be a competitive final charge for the finish line, with the 1-2-3 finish being Hamelin, Ohno, and Si-Bak.
Oh but wait- we'll go ahead and leave it up to the Canadian judge to determine whether one of his country's 2 skaters in the competition is eliminated or gets bronze. Hmmm....I wonder what he'll decide.
Meanwhile, earlier in the week a similar incident occured in which a skater was pushed even harder on a final lap and was pardoned, and I seem to remember it being a Canadian skater. I might be wrong though, so don't take that for Gospel truth.
But regardless of comparing it to any other race or skater from any country and looking at this completely from the perspective of this particular race, there is no way a Canadian line judge should be allowed to make the call when 2 Canadian skaters are in the event, one who is involved in the incident, and the decision being made could hand one of them a medal or leave them empty-handed. It is, needless to say, a conflict of interest.
Two things need to be said for this incident:
1) There should be alternate line judges for events like this so there is always a way to avoid conflicts of interest or suspicions of country favoritism.
2) The olympic rules for speed-skating need to be more consistant. Either contact should be legal, or all forms of contact should be illegal. Leaving these calls up to interpretation will always leave room for error and will never be 100% fair.
And for the record, there's a lot of buzz going around today about how Ohno's post-race interview was somehow unclassy or unprofessional, and I just want to tell the haters that they need to re-watch his interview. He was very respectful, very classy, and very humble about the decision made. When he was pushed to answer whether he thought the line judge's call was wrong and/or biased, he respectfully shared his opinion but held the olympic pride perfectly in tact. I give the guy credit. If it had been me, I may have taken a skate to the line-judges face after a call like the one made in this instance.
Oh, Canada, the line judges stand on guard for thee. I love your country, I love you athletes, but your judges kind of suck. Oh well, we'll settle this in the hockey finals!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)