LeBron James

(1984-à, Akron, Ohio)

1964. Ask anyone from Cleveland, and they’ll know the significance of that date. It was the last year a professional sports team from Cleveland won a championship. Modern Clevelanders had come to accept that their teams will not win; but, a prodigy known as “The King” or “The Chosen One” in Northeast Ohio brought hope back to the city of Cleveland. His name was LeBron James, and his mission was to bring this downtrodden city the title that it so deeply desires.

Growing up in the projects of Akron, LeBron James certainly did not come from a background befitting of “The King.” His biological father spent most of LeBron’s childhood in jail, while his mother moved from project to project in an effort to keep LeBron away from trouble. Gloria James found the best way to keep her boy safe was to put a ball in his hand and let him play. A football and basketball standout, LeBron would soon take his craft to St. Vincent-St. Mary High School; and a star would be born.

After two years in high school, LeBron had already won two state titles in basketball, was named “Mr. Basketball” in Ohio, selected as an All-American by USA Today as well as an all-state receiver in football. He soon left the gridiron behind to concentrate on hoops, and the nation was there to follow the moves of the 6’6”, 230 lb. “man-child” from Akron. ESPN began televising his games, Sports Illustrated placed him on the cover with the moniker “The Chosen One,” and celebrities like Shaquille O’Neal and Jay-Z became fixtures at SVSM basketball games. After two more dominant years in high school, LeBron’s next step was obvious: the NBA.

In a fortuitous moment, Cleveland won the right to take the #1 pick in the 2003 NBA Draft; and of course, the Cavaliers selected LeBron James. As a native of Northeast Ohio, LeBron knew what the people wanted when he said:

“I got a goal, and it’s a huge goal, and that’s to bring an NBA championship here to Cleveland. And I won’t stop until I get it.”

The Cavaliers improved rapidly with their new superstar with the culmination coming in 2007 when LeBron and his teammates reached the NBA Finals in 2007. However, the Cavaliers were swept by San Antonio. It was OK, thought many Clevelanders. This was a young team led by a young star, and trips to the finals will become the norm. Clevelanders began to believe it was a matter of “when, not if” the Cavaliers would win a championship. Such positive thought is a rarity in Cleveland, and sadly reality would soon set in on the shores of Lake Erie.

In the next three seasons, the Cavaliers finished very highly in the NBA regular season before being disposed of in the playoffs by Boston in 2008, Orlando in 2009, and Boston once again in 2010. At the end of the 2010 season, LeBron James was up for free agency and many NBA teams obviously wanted his services. With a team that kept falling short, some Clevelanders worried that LeBron might leave for greener pastures; but many kept thinking back to what “The King” had reaffirmed in March of 2010:

“I got a goal, and it’s a huge goal, and that’s to bring an NBA championship here to Cleveland. And I won’t stop until I get it.”

In July of 2010, numerous teams including the Knicks, Bulls, Nets came to Cleveland to court LeBron. By the end, reports indicated he was choosing between Cleveland and the Miami Heat. With speculation rampant, LeBron announced that he would tell the world his decision in a one-hour ESPN special called “The Decision.” On the morning of “The Decision,” numerous stories came out stating that LeBron would be joining Miami; yet many (including prominent NBA writers and players) thought he wouldn’t go on national TV to break Cleveland’s heart. Doing so would be like announcing a break-up with your high school girlfriend over the school PA BEFORE you even told her…he couldn’t be that ridiculous! Alas, on the night of July 8, LeBron uttered the now-famous words:

“ I'm going to take my talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat.”

Miami fans rejoiced, NBA insiders were astounded at LeBron’s arrogance, and Cleveland…well, it went nuts!!! To try to comprehend the anger, read the words of this Cleveland blogger:

“Losing the best player in the NBA was going to suck no matter how it happened, but the complete and utter lack of respect he showed for Cleveland fans during his festival of arrogance was one of the most ridiculous displays of hubris I have ever “witnessed” in my life.
What the hell? Seriously, what the hell? Not only did he leave us, he kicked us in the junk on the way out the door.”

Fans (including Mr. Dees) burned LeBron jerseys; and Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert posted a spiteful letter about LeBron that captured the hearts of many Clevelanders, but also included the memorable phrase, “I guarantee the Cavs will win a championship before the self-declared former king.”

In the days following “The Decision,” LeBron seemed to gain more enemies by the day. He and his new Heat teammates—Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh—had a massive gathering in Miami where they declared that the “Big Three” were joining forces to win “not one, but four, five, six, or more championships.” While the anger’s epicenter was in Cleveland, many across America could not believe the arrogance of LeBron. It was clear that the Miami Heat, led by LeBron James, had become the most-hated team in the NBA.

The 2010-2011 NBA season was defined by the Miami Heat and the Big Three’s quest for a championship. After a slow start in which many questioned LeBron and his new team, the Heat found their way in Cleveland, of all places. In his first game back in Cleveland, fans screamed, taunted and booed the “King” constantly; but the Heat rolled 118-90. After that contest, the two teams’ differing fortunes were quite evident. The Heat won consistently, while the Cavaliers lost a NBA-record 26 consecutive games. In a season full of many losses and a crushing return to basketball reality, the Cavaliers did have one great moment—a 102-90 win over LeBron and the Heat in Miami’s return to Cleveland.

In the 2011 Playoffs, LeBron and the Heat rolled through Boston and Chicago to earn a trip to the NBA Finals versus the Dallas Mavericks. Clevelanders were coming to the realization that their “former King” would leave and win a title in one year. Groups called “Cavs for Mavs” formed on Facebook, and after falling down 2-0 in the Finals, the Mavericks did come back to win the championship. LeBron was denied the championship, and many in Cleveland rejoiced. But, the sad reality of 2011 is that LeBron is close to gaining his title…but not for the city of Cleveland.

At the end of the 2011 season, the Cleveland Cavaliers earned the right to the #1 pick in the NBA Draft once again. This time, though, there was no hoopla around Cleveland. Nobody dreaming of a King coming to save the city. No thoughts of 1964 being wiped away. Clevelanders have now returned to believing their teams will always come up short. If the local boy-turned NBA MVP left Cleveland without a title, what hope is there for Kyrie Irving of Duke?