Burning LeBron jerseys last night, a bit much? All part of the theater James created as a build up to what some believe is the most important decision ever made in or about the city of Cleveland. I'm surprised they didn't bring in the Black Bloc to wreak havoc in the streets just to underline the point.
LeBron...gone. Wade...stayed. And we get to dis Chris for bolting to South Beach and forming the Miami magi. To hear people talk you would think this was like the first Roman Triumvirate. It's nothing like that. Crassus, Pompey and Caesar got together for money, power and control. Wait a minute. That's exactly what LeBron, Wade and Bosh are doing.
Now, losing Bosh stings us here in the Big Smoke. But Cleveland. My God, what a hit that city took. LeBron gave Cleveland cred, respect and a profile. A lot like what Gretzky did for Edmonton. Most Americans couldn't find Edmonton on a map of Edmonton. But hockey fans south of the 49th knew where Gretzky played and where the city was located in their atlas.
America has 4 glamour cities. L A, New York, Las Vegas and Miami. You migh toss in Chicago to make it a 5 pack. Sure you have San Francisco, Dallas, Philly and Boston but they don't have the panache or the allure. Cleveland doen't make that snack bracket. It's a the low end of the "where I want to spend my vacation" food chain. Except during basketball season. LeBron gave Cleveland a profile. Sports can do that. I mean we would even mention a backwater like Green Bay if it weren't for the Packers. When LeBron decided to flee to Florida Cleveland became Cleveland again.
One of the problems a lot of people are having with this is the way James bailed. He turned it into a guessing game, he teased us. Although I'm willing to bet he didn't make his mind up until just a few days ago. But a one hour special on his decision? Was that necessary? Well, why not? Sport is entertainment. The entire build up to this was show biz. I don't know how many times I saw Jon Stewart beg LeBron to come to New York on the Daily Show. Cities put together music videos to con LeBron. The announcement was the premier of the latest "Twilight" flick for all of us jocks and jockettes.
People in Toronto were pissed at Bosh for twittering his way out of town. He'd intimate, insinuate and give us a sprinkling of inklings on what he had planned. Welcome to the new media.
No one knows how this is going to shake out. The Heat has to figure out a way to piece together a supporting cast for the Magi. The Raptors have to rebuild again. And Cleveland is back to being.....The Mistake By The Lake. Late last nigtht Cav's owner Dan Gilbert sounded like he was ready to fitted up for a trip to the puzzle factory when he issued a statement to castigate the reprobate. It read...in part...."I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER "KING" WINS ONE. You can take that to the bank."
Ah, no you wont. Didn't win one with him. Wont win one without him. Edmonton won a Stanley Cup after Gretzky left because the Oilers had a great supporting cast. The Cavs don't. Did LeBron betray Cleveland? No. He played by the rules set up by the NBA and agreed to by the owners. Ultimately he, Bosh and Wade took care of themselves. Which is what Gilbert and the Cavs wanted to do. Take care of themselves. Didn't work out. Love turns to hate.
And who knows, the Miami Triumvirate could end up like that first Roman Triumvirate. Crassus killed in battle. Pompey went to war against Caesar, lost and was murdered. Caesar was assassinated. I don't know that Gilbert and the fans in Cleveland would want to see things go to that extreme....but...I'm sure it crossed their mind.
Wish he would have stayed here in Cleveland.