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!!?