I wish I wrote this... LeBron hardly a king

[M Dogg™]

GREENWICH, Conn., July 8, 1990 -- Michael Jordan announced on national television leaving Chicago to join the Detroit Pistons. Jordan said it was tough to bolt Chicago, where he was the most popular athlete in many years, because he thinks he has a better chance to win a championship if he plays with Pistons star Isiah Thomas. Jordan said by playing together, he and Thomas "won't have the pressure of going out and scoring 30 every night."

That would have sounded absurd, right? Well, it is no more absurd than what LeBron James is doing. Jordan was 27 years old in 1990, slightly older than James is now. He had never been to the NBA Finals. He had been beaten up by the Celtics and Pistons for years. He doubted his supporting cast was good enough.

But he never doubted himself.

And it became very clear Thursday night that LeBron James does doubt himself. James will be a champion in Miami -- if not next year, then sometime after that. If you put James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh together and give Pat Riley five years to find the complementary pieces, that team will win a championship.

But James does not have the heart of a champion. He does not have the competitive fire of Jordan, the bull-headed determination of Kobe Bryant, the quiet self-confidence of Tim Duncan, the willful defiance of Isiah or the winning-is-everything hunger of Magic Johnson.

He is an extremely gifted player who wants the easy way out.

And how do we know this?

James said so himself.

Oh, not in so many words. But once ESPN was done ESPN-izing its LeBron coverage -- filling it with babbling experts, needless hype and Jim Gray submitting his top six entries in the Stupidest Question Ever contest -- the self-proclaimed King said everything you need to know about him.

1. "You have to do what's best for you, and what's going to make you happy."

This is what's going to make him happy? Sharing a stage with two other stars? Really?

I guess that's all LeBron is: A complementary player with superstar talent. We should have figured this out before: He got that giant CHOSEN 1 tattoo on his back and calls himself King James because he is desperate for reassurance.

There is no greater challenge in sports getting drafted by a godawful team, planting your flag in a city and working like crazy until you have turned that team into a champion.

LeBron James didn't want the challenge. He wanted to play with his buddies.

2. "We don't have the pressure of going out and scoring 30 every night or shooting a high percentage."

Whoa. Hold on there. Scoring 30 a night is too much pressure for one of the five most talented players ever?

Find me another all-time NBA great who would utter those words. Jordan would rather do an adidas commercial than say that. Bryant must have laughed as he heard the so-called "King" say that. Larry Bird? The next time he complains about pressure will be the first. Magic was the greatest team player of the last 40 years, but he was also so competitive that he wanted to play Jordan one-on-one in a promotional event -- and this was when Magic had won titles and Jordan had not, so Magic had more to lose.

3. "I know how loyal I am."

The man just dumped his hometown(s) on national television. Cleveland (and, by extension, Akron) happens to be the most tortured sports city in America. To do that, then say "I know how loyal I am" ... wow, wow, wow.

I wish I could sit in on one of LeBron's meetings with his advisers. Does he make them all wear mirrored sunglasses, so that when he looks at them he sees himself?

We really don't ask that much of our sports stars. Try not to get arrested for anything big. Don't curse at the fans. You know, small stuff. We even understand that 95 percent of the time, they will make career decisions based on money -- we might not love it, but we understand it.

But see, the biggest thing that we ask of our sports stars is this: Take the competition as seriously as we do.

When LeBron James loses to Boston in the playoffs, we want him to take the heat, not take the Heat's offer. We want him to spend the summer adding to his game, calling and texting his teammates, plotting to do better next season.

Instead, well ...

4. "It's about joining forces with the other two guys."

He sounds like a nine-year-old playing Star Wars games with his buddies at a sleepover. And again: I do believe this Miami team will win a title. But it won't be as easy as he wants it to be. Miami will have the weakest bench of any contender next season After that, the NBA will have a lockout, and the league could eliminate the mid-level exception, which would be Miami's best tool for adding talent.

So this is a cop-out, but it's not as easy of a cop-out as it appears. And that brings us to ...

5. "This is the greatest challenge for me."

LeBron James just jumped into an elevator and wants us to think he can fly. Sorry, but we know better. We know that he did something Michael, Magic, Bird and BillRussell never would have done. We know he ditched Cleveland for an All-Star team.

But you know what? In Miami, anything short of a title will be a failure. Nobody outside of Miami will root for this team, and nobody in Miami roots for anybody. They're too busy enjoying the weather.

I thought he would stay in Cleveland, because I thought all he cared about was adoration. I was wrong about Cleveland, but he is wrong about adoration. He thinks he'll get it by winning a title. He has insulated himself from the world, surrounded himself with yes men. He has no idea how much backlash he is about to get.

That's one of the great ironies of this -- James is trying to flee pressure, but he will just face more of it. He is trying to maximize his "brand," but he just damaged it.

The first time I watched LeBron James live, I thought he could be the greatest player ever. The sad truth for us, for him, and for the NBA is that he never really believed it himself.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/michael_rosenberg/07/08/lebron.event/index.html

Michael Rosenberg>INSIDE THE NBA

[Chamillitary Click]

You mad?

[LooN3y]

been saying hes not gonna ever be comparable to MJ or KB

[OG Hack Wilson]

Shaq left for the Lakers and got his rings


Wade Boggs left for the Yankees and got his ring


Roger Clemens left for the Yankees and got his rings (right after they had won 114 games without him)




let's not act like Lebron is the first guy ever to break a cities heart by leaving.

[M Dogg™]

You mad?

Why? I'm sad for the actual city of Cleveland. I think that once LeBron would have won a title in Cleveland, that the city would have so much more pride. But me, I'm a western conference guy, and looking at the team, I'd take Fisher, Kobe, Artest, Gasol, Bynum and Odom over those three any day.

[Chamillitary Click]

Hack, don't bother.

Every anti-LeBron, "He ain't shit to Kobe", blah blah blah post/thread has been by NOBODY but Laker fans.

You guys need to relax with it, you're only making this so much sweeter lollll.

You mad?

Why? I'm sad for the actual city of Cleveland. I think that once LeBron would have won a title in Cleveland, that the city would have so much more pride. But me, I'm a western conference guy, and looking at the team, I'd take Fisher, Kobe, Artest, Gasol, Bynum and Odom over those three any day.

Boo-hoo, it's been a business. Cleveland wasn't winning a ring with Mo Williams running the point lol.

Nobody was going to say "I feel bad for LA that Kobe left for the Bulls"; LeBron basically did exactly what Kobe did, except the Cavs didn't steal arguably the most talented big man in the league lol. The Cavs are a small team, that's the only reason it's relatively "sad".

[LooN3y]

Hack, don't bother.

Every anti-LeBron, "He ain't shit to Kobe", blah blah blah post/thread has been by NOBODY but Laker fans.

You guys need to relax with it, you're only making this so much sweeter lollll.

You mad?

Why? I'm sad for the actual city of Cleveland. I think that once LeBron would have won a title in Cleveland, that the city would have so much more pride. But me, I'm a western conference guy, and looking at the team, I'd take Fisher, Kobe, Artest, Gasol, Bynum and Odom over those three any day.

Boo-hoo, it's been a business. Cleveland wasn't winning a ring with Mo Williams running the point lol.

Nobody was going to say "I feel bad for LA that Kobe left for the Bulls"; LeBron basically did exactly what Kobe did, except the Cavs didn't steal arguably the most talented big man in the league lol. The Cavs are a small team, that's the only reason it's relatively "sad".

mo williams dont even run the point, its james that runs the offense, mo williams is lebrons fish, hes basically a 2 guard. lebron really isnt shit, hes been proved that, he cant carry the team, his jumpshit isnt effeiceint enough for him to take the last shot for the win, this guys a overhyped period. who da hell was in chicago back in the day. certainly not 2 superstars to join with.


i dont know how the hell anyone would think hes better than kobe. lebron gave up, he cant do it with a team built around him, same as KG, ray, and pp.

[OG Hack Wilson]

KOBE HAD TO HAVE THE LAKERS STEAL GASOL FROM MEMPHIS FOR A PILE OF DOGSHIT


what do you mean a team built around Kobe???  how was he before Gasol was around?  that's right he was Allen Iverson for 4 years

[M Dogg™]

Hack, don't bother.

Every anti-LeBron, "He ain't shit to Kobe", blah blah blah post/thread has been by NOBODY but Laker fans.

You guys need to relax with it, you're only making this so much sweeter lollll.

You mad?

Why? I'm sad for the actual city of Cleveland. I think that once LeBron would have won a title in Cleveland, that the city would have so much more pride. But me, I'm a western conference guy, and looking at the team, I'd take Fisher, Kobe, Artest, Gasol, Bynum and Odom over those three any day.

Boo-hoo, it's been a business. Cleveland wasn't winning a ring with Mo Williams running the point lol.

Nobody was going to say "I feel bad for LA that Kobe left for the Bulls"; LeBron basically did exactly what Kobe did, except the Cavs didn't steal arguably the most talented big man in the league lol. The Cavs are a small team, that's the only reason it's relatively "sad".

See here's the difference. Business is business, but when you tattoo chosen one, and loyalty to your body, you have to stand for it. I ain't comparing LeBron to Kobe, as far as I'm concern, you can call LeBron the best in the game, it does nothing because it's a fictional title and the actual title belongs to Kobe.
Second, if Kobe left LA for the Bulls, people here would be mad, but Kobe wasn't from LA. Ask Philly fans why they hate Kobe, because he never claimed Philly, and if Kobe had the great career his had in Philly, you can beat your bottom dollar Philly would love Kobe. If Kobe as a 76er, he'd be cut so much slack, and Philly fans aren't like that. LeBron in Cleveland, Cleveland did everything, including trying to do a sign and trade with Bosh. They were going all out, and LeBron shock it off and said I want my ring now. To me, after having the best record in the NBA two years in a row, to throw away progress is truly a slap in the fans face there. I've never seen fans that dedicated to a player. Not even NIK's dick sucking compare to what Cleveland did. This shows a true lack of character in LeBron's part. See, if Kobe ever left LA for Philly, I'd understand, when Barry Bonds left the Pirates for the Giants, people understood, but now that Lebron is leaving Cleveland for Miami, people are confused.

[Chamillitary Click]

^LOL, WHAAAAAAAAAT?

It's almost silly for me to bring up points when you BLINDLY ignore them.

Let me bold it for you..

Kobe was ready to leave LA, until the front office came through with the robbery of Pau Gasol. He was packing his bags to go to Chicago because LA didn't supply him with enough. It doesn't matter who was in Chicago, because Kobe was leaving for something else, because LA wasn't cutting it for him. Not saying he would of won in Chicago, but he saw a better chance to win there. LeBron is doing that now, he sees a way to win in Miami. & most importantly, Kobe can't do it without help either, it's been proven.

Did the size enlargement help?

[M Dogg™]

KOBE HAD TO HAVE THE LAKERS STEAL GASOL FROM MEMPHIS FOR A PILE OF DOGSHIT


what do you mean a team built around Kobe???  how was he before Gasol was around?  that's right he was Allen Iverson for 4 years

LOL... and when they got Gasol the Lakers had the best record in the West. It was a long process, but the team was coming together. So to say they were nothing before Gasol is crazy. But honestly, I did not want a Kobe/LeBron thread. I wanted to put up what a guy wrote on how most everyone feels.

[OG Hack Wilson]

they wouldn't have won shit in the playoffs because Bynum went down



you guys should be soooo thankful Kendrick Perkins got injured

[LooN3y]

he got gasol, gasol wasnt considered the best PF in the league when he got him. bosh is, they said lebrons gonna win for past 2 years and the next 3 wit the cavs and kobes on the decline.



lebron will never be considered the "greatest PLAYER" in basketball. lol i know if kobe did this you would be talking all this shit. and kobe wasnt leaving chicago for 2 other SUPERSTARS

[Don Jacob]

i wouldn't get mad until the season starts. superstar teams like this usually crumble

[M Dogg™]

^LOL, WHAAAAAAAAAT?

It's almost silly for me to bring up points when you BLINDLY ignore them.

Let me bold it for you..

Kobe was ready to leave LA, until the front office came through with the robbery of Pau Gasol. He was packing his bags to go to Chicago because LA didn't supply him with enough. It doesn't matter who was in Chicago, because Kobe was leaving for something else, because LA wasn't cutting it for him. Not saying he would of won in Chicago, but he saw a better chance to win there. LeBron is doing that now, he sees a way to win in Miami. & most importantly, Kobe can't do it without help either, it's been proven.

Did the size enlargement help?

SMH

oh god. Okay, reality, Mike never won without Scottie, Magic never without Worthy or Kareem, Shaq without D Wade or Kobe, Duncan without Parker or Robinson, Bird without McHale or Parish, Russell without all those Hall of Fame teammates, and Kobe would never win without help. Why is that a bad thing. If management doesn't get Gasol, Kobe bolts to LA. So what? Get this, the Laker franchise has been down and rebuilt before, and they'll do it again. Kobe goes to Chicago, right now Chicago would have 2 more rings, Kobe with Noah and Rose, that would win a title quick. But Kobe is not from LA, Kobe is a hired athlete who's job is it to win titles for the Lakers. LEBRON IS CLEVELAND. HIS AKRON, HE BRINGS IN MONEY INTO A DEPRESSED CITY. There is a difference. As I said, I can careless about LeBron or where he plays, but what he did today to the city of Cleveland is fucked up.