One Quick Note

I just wanted to say, before we watch LeBron's decision and begin to read all the negative columns that will immediately follow on its heels, that LeBron may have lost me. I have been a LeBron defender for a number of years (I may yet post some e-mails between a friend and myself, arguing Kobe vs. the real LBJ, to prove it -- or because there will be no other basketball news). But the King's shameful, tone-deaf to the degree of a third world dictator (one who insists on conducting the symphony, if you prefer your metaphors a little unmixed) decision to announce where he'll sign in primetime television has even me a little outraged. The only thing that will justify this reality TV show (and by justify I mean make it in poor-taste but still well meaning, instead of psychotically cruel) is for James to re-sign with the Cavs. That's a nice sports story about a man who loyally stayed with his home town, rather than going for wins and self-serving fame. Sure, it will still be the act of an egotistical man, but a man to whom some stuff matters. If, on the other hand, LeBron signs with Miami -- as all reports indicate he will -- it will stand as the act of a scared, out-of-touch, and disastrously arrogant man. One who doesn't seem to understand how basketball teams work (even if the Heat succeed, which I doubt, how can anyone argue they will succeed as a team and not three egos?), and one who is scared to shoulder responsibility alone. It will mark him not as a leader, but as a follower, and a follower of poor decisions at that. I won't be hating LeBron as much as I do hate Kobe (he'll probably have to mess with my family for that), but I don't think I'll ever be able to love him again (not even with sports love, which is little more than a passing admiration and respect in all but the most ardently felt cases).

It's important to note, however, how we got here. Less than a year ago we all saw a different LeBron James. With the release of the documentary about his high school days and the book he co-authored with Buzz Bissinger, LeBron gave a flurry of media interviews, some of which I listened to or watched. In those interviews he does not at all come off as the conceited man he now appears to be. He instead seems to be very much like the nice, popular kid in high school. A kid aware of his privilege -- albeit, not entirely -- who keeps a foot in every social group. He could geek out, if ever so slightly, with the nerds, joke around with the jocks, revel in good fortune with the rich, and bring some heft and respect to his discussions with everyone else. He seemed aware of who he was and not without respect for others. He was a golden boy, liked by everyone, who liked everyone back. Although this may have been as much artifice as today's capital D "Decision," I doubt it. LeBron, as he is proving this summer, does not have the political instinct. His mishandling of this situation, complete with smug donation to the Boys and Girls Club, seems to confirm that he's not a very good actor and bad at intuiting what people want to hear. So I believe the other Lebron, the one from last year and before, was the real James.

So what happened? I think that the media, in its much maligned minute by minute news-cycle (but you can't really blame the media, or at least I can't, as I spent much of today refreshing various wepages and reading all I could about LeBron's choice; where there's demand, supply will follow) has hyped and hyped and inflated and inflated this free-agent class to the point that it distorted LeBron's own understanding of it and of his own worth. He, the boy who seemed able to handle (at least decently) the acclaim poured on him since high school, became more and more narcissistic as he entered onto the World Stage. After being told so many times that July 1, 2010 was the most important date in NBA History, he started to believe it. I think that LeBron's crew is mostly filled with sycophantic cronies and high school buddies. Dudes who may mean well, but can't advise him what to do while on the top. No one can ever help anyone else in this position, because being on the top necessarily means being alone. When faced with the situation, some people stand tall and prove their momentous worth; these people ascend to godhood. Others crumble. And many achieve heroic heights and then tragically crumble later (Michael Jordan is the best b-ball example, but history's pages are littered with people who fit that story). Thankfully most of us will never have to know how we would fare when looking down from the peak (likely, many of us would weaken and collapse). Unfortunately for James, he does have to face this challenge. And all reports seem to indicate he will run scared. Humanly understandable, but not the kind of thing one would expect from the once and future king.