So, some guy named LeBron James (you may have heard of him *sarcasm*) announced he was leaving his NBA basketball team, the Cleveland Caveliers, after seven years. He’s moving on the the Miami Heat for what looks to be the Yankees of professional basketball in the next coming years.
The guy is 25 years old. He gave the last seven years of his life to the Cavs. He didn’t win a championship there either, and honestly, I couldn’t tell you one other person on the Cavs team, but I don’t keep up with NBA too much. The point is that in today’s world, seven years is a lot. Gen X-ers and Gen Y’s don’t stay at their jobs for life like previous generations do. And that’s what this was – a job. Granted, it was a job doing what he loves, but it is still professional basketball is still his career. One would think he should be allowed the same opportunities as the rest of us in the workforce. Did I mention he’s only 25?
But here’s where things get messy. So “King James” has kind of toyed with everyone’s emotions about where he was going to go. He’s likely probably was just indecisive, as most 25 year olds are. He’s got his agent, his coaches, his teammates, his colleagues, his family, his friends and his fans ALL will an opinion about what he should do. Should he stay in Cleveland? I mean, he is from Ohio after all. He is truly the hometown hero there. Should he go somewhere else where he may have a better chance at a championship? Truth is, I didn’t care if he stayed or went to another team. It’s his life and career.
Oh, but someone cared. That someone is Cavs owner Dan Gilbert. He called LeBron a “coward,” “disrespectful,” a “quitter,” and felt “betrayed.” Seriously, he said all of those things. The interview is here. He also posted a letter to fans on the Cavs’ website. He’s pretty upset with LeBron, to say the least. Here is a screenshot of the letter and link:
Open Letter to Fans from Cavaliers Majority Owner Dan Gilbert
There is a bit more to the letter, but did you catch the font? Comic Sans. Nothing says I’m a professional and owner of an NBA team like COMIC SANS. Oh yeah, and an angry letter because someone broke up with my team.
Seriously, this guy has some issues. I mean, if all of those things he said about LeBron are true, why would he even want him on his team to begin with? It seems like he should be happy he left. Oh right, because you just got dumped by the hottest girl in school. Really, it’s nothing more than that. He’s not on some moral agenda about feeling “disrespected” or holding a professional athlete “accountable.” I guarantee had LeBron chose to stay with Cleveland Dan Gilbert would be the happiest man on the planet today.
Maybe LeBron has some issues. Maybe he is narcissistic. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that “King James” and his hour long tv special to announce his decision does have a bit of an ego. But so what? He’s 25 years old and probably the best player in the NBA right now. It would be hard for him not to buy into the hype.
However, why not just do like any other boss that looses their best employee – accept the resignation and move on. Be mature, tell the fans you’re disappointed, but that you’ll move forward. Don’t say things like,
“I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE” (comic sans font removed by me because, um, I’m not 7).
It will be interesting to see if his prediction comes true. I’m betting not. I’m betting on King James and his Yankees of Miami.
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P.S. Reading through is Wikipedia bio I read this and thought it was ridiculous. I was actually impressed. Heaven forbid people have a mind of their own and not talk about things they’re not informed on.
During the 2007 NBA Playoffs, James drew criticism[89] when he declined to sign a petition started by his teammate, Ira Newble, regarding the Chinese government‘s alleged involvement in the ongoing conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan, stating that he did not know enough about the issue.[90][91]
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