LeBron’s “Decision”, Your Fault #NBA

By Brian Beckner:

Well, are you happy? Don’t look at your shoes, you made it this way and it’s only going to get worse. Full disclosure: I didn’t watch LeBron James’ made for television “Decision,” but I’m just as accountable as the rest of you.

Don’t get me wrong, I am sickened by everything LeBron James. And not because he went out like a punk and hitched his wagon to an actual champion. That’s his prerogative, although it should be stated that this is not the move of a “superstar.” By agreeing to play second fiddle to Dwayne Wade, LeBron is telling everyone that watches NBA games that he doesn’t have the heart to lead. He’s not a champion. He’s not a leader. He’s just a guy. His last playoff series in Cavs gear showed you all you needed to see. He’ll leave the leadership to the real champions.

Remember that prior to this the NBA’s ultimate villain was Kobe Bryant whose biggest misdeed (aside from what he did in that hotel room) was orchestrating the ouster of the league’s most dominant player from his own team. He just didn't market it as a TV special. LeBron’s “Decision” makes Kobe look like the Mother Teresa. It takes a frightening level of arrogance and narcissism to make Kobe Bryant look sympathetic. But make no mistake, we created that monster too.

Turning his “Decision” into a televised rape of the city of Cleveland is just the worst part of a really bad guy, and that’s the part that’s your fault. What brings an individual to this point? How could someone so wealthy and powerful be so painfully ignorant? How could someone with LeBron’s means be subject to such a steady stream of crappy advice? Because we have exalted him to a place where he clearly does not belong. Think about it. This is a guy that’s had everyone’s lips stapled to his ass since he was knee high to a basketball. We allowed him to anoint himself the “King,” and we expect him to be humble? This is someone that has never heard the word “no,” and we expect him to be measured?

Selling your “Decision” as a national television event isn’t promoting your brand, it’s evidence of a personality disorder. LeBron James dragged his balls across the face of every citizen of the state of Ohio, and expected to be celebrated for it. That’s not hubris, it’s sickness. And we’re responsible. The blood is on our hands.

We live in a society where the gap between the athletes we admire and Joe Six Pack gets wider every day. The reason LeBron James doesn’t think twice about giving Cleveland the atomic sit-up treatment is the same reason Tiger Woods can lay an international sex swath that would make Wilt Chamberlain jealous. Athletes are above us, and we put them there. We floated these individuals on piles of our money to places that they obviously do not belong. Ben Roethlisberger is a rapist (this is my opinion, although if you read the police report from that time he raped that sorority girl that would also be your opinion), and he will draw an NFL paycheck for at least the foreseeable future. This is our fault. We encouraged this.

Somewhere in America there is an eight-year-old with mad ball skills, and shortly John Calipari will be in his living room with a letter of intent and the keys to a Cadillac. He will be glorified through his adolescence and ultimately rewarded with an NBA contract, shoe deal and skanks from coast-to-coast. He’ll stay at five-star resorts and be subject to adulation everywhere he goes. You’re going to buy his jersey, his shoes and tickets to watch him play. You’re going to bet on his games and yell at your friends that think some other kid is better, and he is going to hear you. Just don’t get pissed off when he shows up at your door for a turn with your wife. You made this monster.

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