The local media finally had a tag line it could push to a frenzy: "Cavs to Mavs" was the battle cry for all the LeBron haters. As if that would make a difference in the story line that started last summer with "The Decision."
The wound is apparently still raw, if one were to believe the spewing sports talk hosts in that city to the north. Clevelanders must still be avenged, they think, for the unthinkable crime of Cleveland's native son taking his talents to South Beach.
Except he wasn't, isn't, and will never be Cleveland's native son. He's Akron, and he hasn't abandoned his hometown. He just found another place to work. One where he'll recognize the professional rewards that come with his profession.
I'll admit to being one of those who would have liked to see someone else win the NBA title this year, but not because of hating LeBron. I would have enjoyed seeing a medium market team work it's own magic (hint) as a message to the way the NBA does business.
But that said, I also think it'll be great when LeBron visits and has a chance to bring another trophy to show Akron.
The Cleveland LeHaters would like you to believe LBJ never delivered on the championship for the Cavaliers, and that's true. He did, however, do so multiple times when helping bring home state championships to the high school he attended in his hometown. Let's not forget he also shared those MVP trophy days -- twice -- with his friends and family. In Akron.
The whiners would like you to remember the LeBron who stiffs restaurant workers on tips and otherwise displays some of the boorish behavior we often see with other athletes. They would like you to remember the LeBron who would hold up the team jet from away games, the player who demanded (and got) treatment above and beyond from management. Those stories are also true.
What they leave out, however, is a simple fact: LeBron, like so many young people of his age, left northeast Ohio behind to seek greater fame and fortune elsewhere. LeBron is the prototypical child of a region that doesn't seem concerned their sons and daughters take flight unless they throw footballs, hit baseballs or dunk basketballs.
There's no question LeBron's decision to stay with the Cavaliers would have left us with a better season than we got but likely a similar result: still waiting for that trip to the altar.
Does anyone seriously think a repeat of LeBron and Shaq in 2011 would have given us that different an outlook from 2010? LeBron did what champions do: he played the game to win. Dan Gilbert's post-Decision bluster that we'd see a title before LeBron will sound pretty empty by the end of next week.
So fly high, LeBron; play well with your friends and accomplish the goal you set when you realized the road to the title wasn't on I-77 but at the end of I-95. Your critics will cringe when you enjoy the fruits of your labor, but they won't be able to take away that ring. You had the vision it would come, just not here.
Note I didn't say just not here at home. Because Akron's still home, and we've seen LeBron the Champion play out before.
Showing posts with label LeBron James. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LeBron James. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
CAK Is Not CLE; Get Over It
Another great reminder on just how wide the gulf is on the drive between Akron and Cleveland. The sniping continues over a 25-year old's decision to take his fame to South Beach, and his full-page ad in the Beacon Journal thanking Akron (but not Cleveland) for the good times.
Mapquest notes the drive from Akron to Cleveland is 39.27 miles and takes 47 minutes. It might was well be far enough, however, to warrant a jet flight when it comes to LeBron James.
There was another outpouring of hurt and outrage today from fans still smarting from LeBron's poorly executed "Decision" broadcast where he decided to exercise his free agent rights and head south to Miami. At no time did he disrespect his hometown (Akron) nor the town where he worked (Cleveland) but the vast majority of those in northeast Ohio were not happy with what they felt was a divorce notice served on national cable television.
The vitriol on local television, radio and websites following the announcement was, I suspect, expected. The jilted hate him and burn their jerseys; the disappointed won't root for him but respect his right to make a decision; the ones who grew up with him are sad he won't be playing home but recognize he's still from, of and by Akron.
I'm in the second camp, leaning toward the third. Not happy with the way he did it, but embrace the fact America is still a land of opportunity and if he decides the greater opportunity is in a Heat uniform more power to him.
We had him here for 11 years; with Akron, he did win championships with St. Vincent St. Mary. With Cleveland, he got close but no rings. With Akron, he's supported plenty of charities and put his name behind events such as the Bikeathon this weekend. He never claimed to be from Cleveland; he consistently reminded reporters, announcers and anyone interested he was from Akron.
Akron and the rest of the "plus" suburbs in northeast Ohio get the difference. Cleveland doesn't.
Cleveland will crab that LeBron owes them more; he should have bought the ad in the PD; he shouldn't have waited until Z did his full-page thank you. They're missing the point.
This isn't about them, it's about LeBron's relationship with his hometown, not the place where he worked. It's about him and us. It's about keeping alive that part of his heritage that still lives on the playground courts of West Akron where he started his journey. It's about that muscle memory that binds him to the gymnasium at St. V, and the JAR, and the local Akron area high schools where he faced his first true challenges. It's about the school where he and his friends were able to do something special, and bring home state championships for family and neighbors who knew him for who he was instead of what the NBA marketing machine wanted us to believe him to be.
The most disappointing aspect of the past month is seeing the business side of what LeBron has become, exemplified by the cynical ride on ESPN and "The Decision" but also the stories now making their way out of the Cavaliers organization on how far they bent over to make him happy. But he's not the kid on our playgrounds, or playing in our high school gyms anymore. He's the 25-year old who, like so many of his age in northeast Ohio, saw greener pastures elsewhere and decided to embrace his version of his future rather than be tied to someone else's expectations.
Critics will say the Beacon Journal ad is just another cynical chapter in LeBron's continued marketing. If that were true, how come his continued workouts at Akron General's Wellness Center aren't included? His pick-up games at the SVSM gym? His going about his everyday business in his hometown?
It's done. Take the high road. You can wish him well for his time spent here without cheering his success with Miami. His decision was whether or not to stay; our decision is whether to move forward or wallow in this over and over again.
Want something to really wallow in? How about all those other 20 and 30-somethings who think northeast Ohio is a great place to grow up and be from, not in?
Mapquest notes the drive from Akron to Cleveland is 39.27 miles and takes 47 minutes. It might was well be far enough, however, to warrant a jet flight when it comes to LeBron James.
There was another outpouring of hurt and outrage today from fans still smarting from LeBron's poorly executed "Decision" broadcast where he decided to exercise his free agent rights and head south to Miami. At no time did he disrespect his hometown (Akron) nor the town where he worked (Cleveland) but the vast majority of those in northeast Ohio were not happy with what they felt was a divorce notice served on national cable television.
The vitriol on local television, radio and websites following the announcement was, I suspect, expected. The jilted hate him and burn their jerseys; the disappointed won't root for him but respect his right to make a decision; the ones who grew up with him are sad he won't be playing home but recognize he's still from, of and by Akron.
I'm in the second camp, leaning toward the third. Not happy with the way he did it, but embrace the fact America is still a land of opportunity and if he decides the greater opportunity is in a Heat uniform more power to him.
We had him here for 11 years; with Akron, he did win championships with St. Vincent St. Mary. With Cleveland, he got close but no rings. With Akron, he's supported plenty of charities and put his name behind events such as the Bikeathon this weekend. He never claimed to be from Cleveland; he consistently reminded reporters, announcers and anyone interested he was from Akron.
Akron and the rest of the "plus" suburbs in northeast Ohio get the difference. Cleveland doesn't.
Cleveland will crab that LeBron owes them more; he should have bought the ad in the PD; he shouldn't have waited until Z did his full-page thank you. They're missing the point.
This isn't about them, it's about LeBron's relationship with his hometown, not the place where he worked. It's about him and us. It's about keeping alive that part of his heritage that still lives on the playground courts of West Akron where he started his journey. It's about that muscle memory that binds him to the gymnasium at St. V, and the JAR, and the local Akron area high schools where he faced his first true challenges. It's about the school where he and his friends were able to do something special, and bring home state championships for family and neighbors who knew him for who he was instead of what the NBA marketing machine wanted us to believe him to be.
The most disappointing aspect of the past month is seeing the business side of what LeBron has become, exemplified by the cynical ride on ESPN and "The Decision" but also the stories now making their way out of the Cavaliers organization on how far they bent over to make him happy. But he's not the kid on our playgrounds, or playing in our high school gyms anymore. He's the 25-year old who, like so many of his age in northeast Ohio, saw greener pastures elsewhere and decided to embrace his version of his future rather than be tied to someone else's expectations.
Critics will say the Beacon Journal ad is just another cynical chapter in LeBron's continued marketing. If that were true, how come his continued workouts at Akron General's Wellness Center aren't included? His pick-up games at the SVSM gym? His going about his everyday business in his hometown?
It's done. Take the high road. You can wish him well for his time spent here without cheering his success with Miami. His decision was whether or not to stay; our decision is whether to move forward or wallow in this over and over again.
Want something to really wallow in? How about all those other 20 and 30-somethings who think northeast Ohio is a great place to grow up and be from, not in?
Thursday, July 8, 2010
LeBron: The Media King
Watching all the screaming and kvetching going on over LeBron's State of the LBJ tonight on ESPN would be funny if it weren't so ridiculous. Especially since this isn't the first -- nor last -- time to see something like this.
I read the Advertising Age piece this morning on the horrors of ESPN giving up editorial (and more importantly advertising) control for "The Decision" airing this evening at 9:00 p.m. while watching and listening to the Emmy Award nominations.
Funny how there isn't the hand-wringing over CNN, the major networks, and radio stations coast to coast breaking into their programming at 8:40 a.m. to give a seven minute plug to the Emmy Awards.
A moment of honesty would be nice.
In LeBron's case, critics say it is an example of his selfishness that he would dare to negotiate the ground rules for his announcement. How dare he push this circus act even further into a prime-time TV show? How could ESPN agree to give up their editorial integrity and their control over their own ad inventory?
Easy. It's done all the time.
The networks vie for sports rights all the time. Broadcast and cable interests shell out billions of dollars each year to bring the Olympics, professional and college sports into your living room, cars, and mobile devices. The networks pay big money because they make big money, and all of those deals include editorial handcuffs. Every sports group -- including the NBA -- rightfully guards it's own rights when it comes to rebroadcast of their games. When you're listening to or watching that play-by-play team, consider the odds the announcers are hired by and answer to the teams they are covering.
LeBron's had good teachers by example to show him the way when it comes to marketing himself. At least he's making sure the proceeds from what is likely to be one of the highest-watched cable sports programs ever go to charity instead of a sports league or publicly-traded corporation.
On WAKR this morning, Terry Pluto sounded defeated, dejected, disappointed and disgusted with the way the LeBron Free Agency has been going on. He's right, at least on point of it leaving a bad taste in our mouths. But is it really any different than the way the NBA and NFL control Draft Day? Much different than the hype surrounding the Super Bowl? For that matter, comparable to the national soap opera played out for political junkies every four years?
This isn't LeBron's fault, he's just following the lead. It isn't the sports teams and leagues, they're just smart business people maximizing their product's brand. It isn't the fault of the media, even as we lap up every rumor and push every item into the public consciousness. We've got a role to play in this because we're the audience and ultimately we control the on/off and channel buttons.
This process is like a car wreck up ahead on the interstate; when we're behind the wheel waiting for traffic to move we just want to move on, and we decry the rubber-necking tying up our progress. But when it's time for us to pass the carnage, are you moving forward without a peek or do you slow down yourself to catch a peek of what might be under the sheet?
Want to stop all of this? Stop buying overpriced tickets. Don't spend your money on memorabilia and clothes. Check yourself out of the pack of sheep following others rather than forging their own lead. None of this is necessary to the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness; it's a want, not a need.
As for LeBron? More power to Akron's own for figuring this out long ago when the line of people wanting to make fortunes off his talent extended far beyond the St. Vincent St. Mary's gymnasium. As a fan, I'd love to see him stay; as a northeast Ohioan choosing to live here, I'd love to see him turn down the arrogance of New York, living in the Michael Jordan shadow of Chicago or joining the Madonna wanna-be crowd on South Beach. Life's still real here despite Cleveland's sometimes-deserved status as a national punchline.
But if he leaves, I hope he gets a ton of money. I hope he grows his brand even further worldwide and surpasses Tiger as a billion-dollar athlete. I hope he wins more rings than Kobe. He'll always be from Akron, and seeing a native son do good is enough for me.
Not enough to shell out to get pay-per-view, though.
I read the Advertising Age piece this morning on the horrors of ESPN giving up editorial (and more importantly advertising) control for "The Decision" airing this evening at 9:00 p.m. while watching and listening to the Emmy Award nominations.
Funny how there isn't the hand-wringing over CNN, the major networks, and radio stations coast to coast breaking into their programming at 8:40 a.m. to give a seven minute plug to the Emmy Awards.
A moment of honesty would be nice.
In LeBron's case, critics say it is an example of his selfishness that he would dare to negotiate the ground rules for his announcement. How dare he push this circus act even further into a prime-time TV show? How could ESPN agree to give up their editorial integrity and their control over their own ad inventory?
Easy. It's done all the time.
The networks vie for sports rights all the time. Broadcast and cable interests shell out billions of dollars each year to bring the Olympics, professional and college sports into your living room, cars, and mobile devices. The networks pay big money because they make big money, and all of those deals include editorial handcuffs. Every sports group -- including the NBA -- rightfully guards it's own rights when it comes to rebroadcast of their games. When you're listening to or watching that play-by-play team, consider the odds the announcers are hired by and answer to the teams they are covering.
LeBron's had good teachers by example to show him the way when it comes to marketing himself. At least he's making sure the proceeds from what is likely to be one of the highest-watched cable sports programs ever go to charity instead of a sports league or publicly-traded corporation.
On WAKR this morning, Terry Pluto sounded defeated, dejected, disappointed and disgusted with the way the LeBron Free Agency has been going on. He's right, at least on point of it leaving a bad taste in our mouths. But is it really any different than the way the NBA and NFL control Draft Day? Much different than the hype surrounding the Super Bowl? For that matter, comparable to the national soap opera played out for political junkies every four years?
This isn't LeBron's fault, he's just following the lead. It isn't the sports teams and leagues, they're just smart business people maximizing their product's brand. It isn't the fault of the media, even as we lap up every rumor and push every item into the public consciousness. We've got a role to play in this because we're the audience and ultimately we control the on/off and channel buttons.
This process is like a car wreck up ahead on the interstate; when we're behind the wheel waiting for traffic to move we just want to move on, and we decry the rubber-necking tying up our progress. But when it's time for us to pass the carnage, are you moving forward without a peek or do you slow down yourself to catch a peek of what might be under the sheet?
Want to stop all of this? Stop buying overpriced tickets. Don't spend your money on memorabilia and clothes. Check yourself out of the pack of sheep following others rather than forging their own lead. None of this is necessary to the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness; it's a want, not a need.
As for LeBron? More power to Akron's own for figuring this out long ago when the line of people wanting to make fortunes off his talent extended far beyond the St. Vincent St. Mary's gymnasium. As a fan, I'd love to see him stay; as a northeast Ohioan choosing to live here, I'd love to see him turn down the arrogance of New York, living in the Michael Jordan shadow of Chicago or joining the Madonna wanna-be crowd on South Beach. Life's still real here despite Cleveland's sometimes-deserved status as a national punchline.
But if he leaves, I hope he gets a ton of money. I hope he grows his brand even further worldwide and surpasses Tiger as a billion-dollar athlete. I hope he wins more rings than Kobe. He'll always be from Akron, and seeing a native son do good is enough for me.
Not enough to shell out to get pay-per-view, though.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Freedom Means Saying No, Too
t's just astounding watching the vitriol pour out of some people when it comes to someone else making a decision -- and this decision doesn't even really strike home.
It is more than amazing the percentage of college students planning to leave Ohio upon graduation -- 60%, according to some reports -- doesn't make our sluggish vox populi move an inch, but a 25-year old who skipped college and went right to work after graduating from high school? One daring to consider leaving Ohio for potentially greener pastures, leading to so much hate and hurt feelings?
It's pathetic.
The harshest critics of today's LeBron James -- as opposed to last month's LeBron James, who led the Cavaliers to their NBA-best record and what seemed to be a lock for the title so desperately desired by Cleveland sports fans -- owe it to themselves to take a really deep look in the mirror.
What really matters here?
Ohio's had James for seven years as a pro, ten years overall. The basketball world spun around Akron's Chosen One, even when the Cavaliers weren't contending for the title. It was a replay of what Browns fans saw when another young man from Boardman took up the weight of northeast Ohio on his shoulders, to lead the team to Super Bowl glory only to see The Drive and The Fumble dash those prayers on the rocks of Red Right 88.
Bernie Kosar would later get his Super Bowl ring with the Dallas Cowboys, "America's Team." All the love and admiration, in the long run, meant nothing when it came to a now-despised owner and now-admired coach decided it was time to cut their losses over "diminished skills." I remember when Bernie got that ring; fans here were happy for him, knowing it just wasn't going to happen otherwise.
I don't remember 1954, but I wonder if there was a similar outcry when Bob Feller and company stumbled badly against Willie Mays and the Giants and coughed up what should have been a certain World Series victory from the then-most-ever winning team in baseball. Was Feller a traitor, a bum, a guy who took a fall? Nobody in their right mind would ever say that to Rapid Robert's face, much less behind his back. Here's a guy who came out of the cornfields, made Cleveland his home, went to war for us at the peak of his performance for God's sake.
Feller still wears that uniform with pride and accomplishment, and fans still line up and shell out their money to grab a photo or signed baseball. They properly pay tribute to greatness, and effort, and heart.
LeBron James had a 77% chance of playing somewhere else when the 2003 lottery fell Cleveland's way. For once, northeast Ohio had fortune smiling upon our undeveloped, grim shores: the Chosen One would play for us. Home would remain home. But that deal didn't have "forever" written in the fine print.
As King James weighs his options, I can't imagine another case where we would encourage a favorite son or daughter to not seek the best arrangement possible to be the best they could be. If your children were actors, wouldn't you want them on the world's biggest stage? If they were lawyers, wouldn't you want their advocacy in the most important cases? If they could play an instrument or sing like a bird, wouldn't you want them to fly high rather than perform their song in a cage for a select local few?
One of the ugly sides of being a Cleveland sports fan is this recent vicious, personal reaction when we don't get our way. That's ironic, considering we really haven't gotten our way since 1964 -- even counting coming close with Kosar, or nibbling at the dream in 1995 and 1997 in the house Akron's Dick Jacobs built.
Now Bernie's bankrupt and the field we once called "the Jake" isn't even named after the local boy who rescued the hometown team.
It is the way things are; former ballplayers don't get another chance for fame and riches once the carousel takes them farther away from the brass ring. Owners only stand tall when they continue to pay the freight for naming rights.
Current players know all too well that winning isn't guaranteed just because they have talent and work hard, or even enjoy a streak of good luck now and then. Too many variables still make being a winner a crapshoot, especially when the only definition of winner is found in the rings on their fingers.
If the Cavaliers are a place where LeBron James continues to prosper and win a championship -- or two, or three -- then it's where he should be, and my guess is a place where he will want to be. If, however, it's the kind of place where fans so quickly put the entire weight of their dreams and aspirations on a 25-year old's shoulders and then bitterly denounce him when the effort falls short, maybe it's time to take another view: one from a rear-view mirror.
Cleveland fans, keep barking, crying and reaching out to tear down one of the best examples of success we've seen brewed here at home in generations. It'll lead to another drive, and this one will be just what you really deserve.
It is more than amazing the percentage of college students planning to leave Ohio upon graduation -- 60%, according to some reports -- doesn't make our sluggish vox populi move an inch, but a 25-year old who skipped college and went right to work after graduating from high school? One daring to consider leaving Ohio for potentially greener pastures, leading to so much hate and hurt feelings?
It's pathetic.
The harshest critics of today's LeBron James -- as opposed to last month's LeBron James, who led the Cavaliers to their NBA-best record and what seemed to be a lock for the title so desperately desired by Cleveland sports fans -- owe it to themselves to take a really deep look in the mirror.
What really matters here?
Ohio's had James for seven years as a pro, ten years overall. The basketball world spun around Akron's Chosen One, even when the Cavaliers weren't contending for the title. It was a replay of what Browns fans saw when another young man from Boardman took up the weight of northeast Ohio on his shoulders, to lead the team to Super Bowl glory only to see The Drive and The Fumble dash those prayers on the rocks of Red Right 88.
Bernie Kosar would later get his Super Bowl ring with the Dallas Cowboys, "America's Team." All the love and admiration, in the long run, meant nothing when it came to a now-despised owner and now-admired coach decided it was time to cut their losses over "diminished skills." I remember when Bernie got that ring; fans here were happy for him, knowing it just wasn't going to happen otherwise.
I don't remember 1954, but I wonder if there was a similar outcry when Bob Feller and company stumbled badly against Willie Mays and the Giants and coughed up what should have been a certain World Series victory from the then-most-ever winning team in baseball. Was Feller a traitor, a bum, a guy who took a fall? Nobody in their right mind would ever say that to Rapid Robert's face, much less behind his back. Here's a guy who came out of the cornfields, made Cleveland his home, went to war for us at the peak of his performance for God's sake.
Feller still wears that uniform with pride and accomplishment, and fans still line up and shell out their money to grab a photo or signed baseball. They properly pay tribute to greatness, and effort, and heart.
LeBron James had a 77% chance of playing somewhere else when the 2003 lottery fell Cleveland's way. For once, northeast Ohio had fortune smiling upon our undeveloped, grim shores: the Chosen One would play for us. Home would remain home. But that deal didn't have "forever" written in the fine print.
As King James weighs his options, I can't imagine another case where we would encourage a favorite son or daughter to not seek the best arrangement possible to be the best they could be. If your children were actors, wouldn't you want them on the world's biggest stage? If they were lawyers, wouldn't you want their advocacy in the most important cases? If they could play an instrument or sing like a bird, wouldn't you want them to fly high rather than perform their song in a cage for a select local few?
One of the ugly sides of being a Cleveland sports fan is this recent vicious, personal reaction when we don't get our way. That's ironic, considering we really haven't gotten our way since 1964 -- even counting coming close with Kosar, or nibbling at the dream in 1995 and 1997 in the house Akron's Dick Jacobs built.
Now Bernie's bankrupt and the field we once called "the Jake" isn't even named after the local boy who rescued the hometown team.
It is the way things are; former ballplayers don't get another chance for fame and riches once the carousel takes them farther away from the brass ring. Owners only stand tall when they continue to pay the freight for naming rights.
Current players know all too well that winning isn't guaranteed just because they have talent and work hard, or even enjoy a streak of good luck now and then. Too many variables still make being a winner a crapshoot, especially when the only definition of winner is found in the rings on their fingers.
If the Cavaliers are a place where LeBron James continues to prosper and win a championship -- or two, or three -- then it's where he should be, and my guess is a place where he will want to be. If, however, it's the kind of place where fans so quickly put the entire weight of their dreams and aspirations on a 25-year old's shoulders and then bitterly denounce him when the effort falls short, maybe it's time to take another view: one from a rear-view mirror.
Cleveland fans, keep barking, crying and reaching out to tear down one of the best examples of success we've seen brewed here at home in generations. It'll lead to another drive, and this one will be just what you really deserve.
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