On Thursday Night, Lebron James proved you can home again. The perennial NBA all-star and MVP forward returned to his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. After a four-year split, Lebron and the Cavaliers have reconciled the differences. Yes, that was a marriage joke. Yes, this marriage between superstar player and local team, owner, and fanbase fell apart resulting in a divorce. No, they did not go to "Divorce Court". They did what anyone in a public relationship would do...break up in bitter fashion through the media!
James announced he was leaving Cleveland in a made-for-TV special called "The Decision". Dan Gilbert, owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, wrote "The Letter" in response to "The Decision". Gilbert said James "deserted" the Cleveland Cavaliers and their fans. In Gilbert's words, James' choice "was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up" and said Cavaliers fans "don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal". Finally, Gilbert made a fiery proclamation, "I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER 'KING' WINS ONE". He added "you can take it to the bank" as more bravado.
As far as James, "The Decision" to leave Cleveland for the Miami Heat was a well-reasoned one from a basketball point of view. James would join fellow free agent Chris Bosh in teaming with at the time free agent but Heat property Dwyane Wade. The trio of individuals in Cleveland, Toronto, and Miami, would be almost unstoppable as one team. However, their egos got out of control. James embarrassed the city of Cleveland by not only leaving the hometown Cavs but also doing it on national television on ESPN. During the introduction news conference/celebration, Lebron claimed they would win "NOT ONE, NOT TWO, NOT THREE, NOT FOUR, NOT FIVE,..."championships as members of the Miami Heat. In their four years together from November 2010-June 2014, the Heat won two NBA titles (2012, 2013) and played in the NBA finals in the other years (2011, 2014).
For the record, Gilbert exclaimed the Cavs would win a title before Lebron. Final verdict, wrong. James and the Heat won the NBA title in 2012, James' 2nd year in Miami. Cleveland missed the playoffs in each of the first two post-Lebron years. Furthermore, the Cavaliers didn't qualify in either of the next two years. Meanwhile, the Miami Heat did get two championships in a row in 2012 and 2013. However, Lebron and friends didn't get three or four or five as they predicted. During last season's NBA Finals, the Heat were overmatched by the more motivated and team-oriented San Antonio Spurs. Chris Bosh was nowhere to be found for Miami. Well, he was on the court but not as effective. Age and injuries slowed Dwyane Wade down to an effective but not game-breaking superstar like in previous years. Also, finances came into play. Could the Heat keep everybody together? Would they even try to pay or rebuild? James, Bosh, and Wade all opted out of their contracts in expectation of resigning at a lower cost. Bosh and Wade resigned but James changed his mind and returned to Cleveland.
Well, wait a minute, I thought Dan Gilbert hated Lebron and Lebron didn't want to go back to his hometown. For goodness sakes, one Cavs fan burned a Lebron jersey on live TV after "The Decision". Well, let's kiss and make up shall we. The infamous letter written by Gilbert was taken down, curiously a few days before James opened negotiations with Cleveland. Early in July, James and Gilbert officially reconciled their differences as they agreed to a new contract.
Back to Thursday, everything was too perfect. The Cavaliers were at home for their game in the Lebron James 2.0 era against the New York Knicks. The night before on Wednesday, the Knicks lost by 24 points in New York to the Chicago Bulls. The stage was set, literally. There was an outdoor concert. Inside, many celebrities flew in to watch Lebron's return to Cleveland including Usher, Justin Bieber, Kevin Hart, Charles Barkley, and Michael Strahan were all courtside. Barkley, while a NBA studio analyst for TNT, was assigned by the network to call the actual game with Marv Albert and Reggie Miller.
The Cavaliers struggled offensively for most of the game. They only scored 90 points and lost 94-90. According to ESPN, which did an special on-site "SportsCenter" show from Cleveland, James had scored less than 20 points, made less than 5 assists, and committed 8 or more turnovers in a game for the first time in his NBA career. The crowd was so high at the beginning and so low at the end. They seemed to be shell-shocked and stunned with disappointment.
What was more disappointing was they booed Justin Bieber when he was shown on the big video screen. We're a Bieber fan. We think he's a good guy, great singer whose ability isn't showcased as well as it could, and a kid who is trying to be a better person in recent months. Yes, he's done some stupid things but haven't we all? We're trying to figure out why people hate him so much and choose to boo him.
For Cleveland fans, they're a weird bunch. They cheered Lebron James' every move until he left the Cavaliers. In his first game in Cleveland as a member of the Heat, James was booed mercifully! You would have though he was public enemy number one! Then, they turn around and cheer James again when he resigns with the Cavaliers! Gimme a break! Cleveland fans are schizophrenics! Okay, that's harsh even from me. Schizophrenia is a considering it's a serious health condition. Let's go with the "a lot of Cleveland Cavaliers fans are hypocritical morons" category for $500, Alex Trebek.
For Dan Gilbert, we hope he actually has apologized to Lebron personally and to the world publicly for that disgusting diatribe back in 2010. Gilbert has tons of money and pride, too much of both at times. Hopefully, Gilbert will be smart about how he spends his money with regard to free agents. The NFL's Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys spend millions of dollars on old players who don't fit their system. Gilbert does not want to become the NBA's Daniel Snyder or Jerry Jones. Also, we hope Gilbert acts more like an adult rather than a whiny child.
For Lebron James, we hope he realizes his mistakes in making "The Decision". While the decision to leave his hometown team in Cleveland was somewhat controversial, the process and eventual execution was too controversial in a selfish sort of way. James had great on-court success with the Miami Heat but off-the-court media and fan backlash followed him everywhere. Hopefully, he matures as a basketball player and as an individual thinking more about "we" than "me"
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