When you think of the “good guys” in sports history, names like Peyton Manning, Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken, Jr., Wayne Gretzky, Barry Sanders, Ken Griffey, Jr., Larry Bird, Derek Jeter, Joe Montana and more pop up. These are the players that, no matter how much you loathed their teams, you still respected them as individuals.
And then there are the “bad guys.” People like Ben Roethlisberger, Kobe Bryant, Alex Ovechkin (as much as it pains me to say!), Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Ty Cobb may have a rabid local fan base, but their national images dovetailed during their careers for their playing style, off-field activities and general demeanor.
And there is one man currently in limbo between those two places: LeBron James.
Good: He is the most excellent basketball player in the world today.
Bad: He abandoned his hometown team to “take [his] talents to South Beach.” (His words, not mine). Oh yeah. He did it on a live special on ESPN.
Good: He has been a team leader since Day One, leading by example and words.
Bad: As good as he’s been, he has never won a championship.
So, where does that leave his public image? I’m caught in the middle. And I think he is, too. He’s definitely at a crossroads and the next 12 months will go a long way in defining his permanent-ish image.
Stay with me on this one. It combines sports and professional wrestling. But it makes sense.
Listen to this while reading. It helps set the tone.
The year was 1996. For over a decade and a half, Hulk Hogan was the hero of the then-World Wrestling
Federation (now World Wrestling Entertainment). He preached the “demandments” of training hard, saying your prayers and taking your vitamins. Kids loved him and parents saw him as a good role model.
He was the ultimate “good guy.” He toured the world, put on great shows and had a relatively squeaky-clean image (for this conversation, we’re talking about the Hulk Hogan CHARACTER, not the guy who testified in a steroids trial, ok?).
After leaving the WWF, he joined rival organization WCW. While there, he continued his benevolent ways, defeating bad guys of all shapes and sizes (and even a Horseman or three!).
In May 1996, former WWF performer Scott Hall appeared on WCW’s “Nitro” TV show to say that “we” are taking over. Hall was best known as “Razor Ramon,” a vaguely-Scareface-ish character who slipped back and forth occasionally from “good guy” to “bad guy.”
A short time later, Kevin Nash (known as “Diesel” in the WWF) joined Hall to wreak havoc in the about-to-start war against the rest of WCW.
The promised a third member of their group would emerge on national Pay-Per-View – at the 1996 Bash At The Beach. WCW stalwarts Sting, Lex Luger and Randy “Macho Man” Savage came to the ring for the match. Only Hall and Nash appeared from their side, but didn’t appear too worried. Luger was strangely injured and taken to the back early in the contest, leaving it two-on-two. And then this happened:
Hogan joined Hall and Nash to form the New World Order (NWO) with the stated goal of taking over WCW. The implication was that WWF owner Vince McMahon had sent them to destroy his competition, but a few lawsuits later, that undertone was removed. The NWO terrorized WCW for years to come.
Let’s replay that story, but with LeBron James in 2010:
Awesome, beloved good guy James, playing for his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, is living a dream. He takes on the Lakers, Celtics and Magic 81 times a year and is the undisputed face of the team and perhaps the second-most-marketable basketball star ever, behind Michael Jordan. As a free agent, he can choose what team he wants to play f or. Will he stay with his hometown team and lead them to championship glory?
While James was making up his mind, Dwyane Wade (Scott Hall) announced he was staying with the Miami Heat and wanted to attract other top stars to come with him to take over the league.
A day or two later, big man Chris Bosh (Kevin Nash) joined Wade in Miami, giving the Heat two of today’s top superstars.
On the nationally-televised ESPN show “The Decision,” James had the opportunity to come in and save the day for his hometown. He could spurn every offer and remain the ultimate “good guy,” the face of his franchise and most beloved player in the league.
James, however, pulled a Hogan. He ripped the hearts of out his loyal fans and joined Wade and Bosh in Miami.
Is he now a villain? Or is he a hero for turning down more money for the best chance of winning?
Time will answer those questions.
But, without a doubt, Wade, Bosh and James are now the New World Order of the NBA.
Tonight is the night! LeBron James will announce on a live special on ESPN who will pay him to
play basketball! (If your guess is “Nike,” you win snark points, but snark doesn’t help us solve this mystery.)
So let’s quickly break down his top options:
Cleveland Cavaliers – Who doesn’t want to be THAT guy who grows up somewhere, elevates the town and stays there? He would be the American Icon, the Hometown Hero — the Demigod of Ohio. He would be THE show, the undisputed King of Cleveland. He would have an unprecedented level of control over the organization for the next 15-20 years – and beyond, should he choose to go into coaching, managing, or even owning an organization. Don’t forget, the Cavs can pay him the most money under the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Miami Heat – If LeBron joined the Heat, he would be a part of the most talented trio of players in generations, with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Miami is a party town and a bigger market than Cleveland, for sure. However, he would be joining Wade’s team. He’d be a tri-Captain, instead of THE MAN. To do so, he’d have to take less money from the league and hope that endorsements and outside ventures help his bank account. On the flip side, the pressure to win for a decade straight would be immense. Anything short of an annual trophy hoist would be deemed a failure. So, to summarize: less money, less control, less spotlight, more pressure. Don’t see it happening.
New York Knicks – If ever a team needed a savior, it’s the Knicks. Burdened by bad drafts, poor coaching, terrible chemistry (or, to quote Charles Barkley: “just turrible”) and shady management, LeBron would give new hope to the #1 market. He would take the franchise from an afterthought to a legitimate contender. Plus, Amar’e Stoudamire, while an excellent player in his own right, could easily be the Pippen to James’ Jordan. For someone who has said on the record he wants to be a “global brand,” living in NYC could go a long way in helping the cause. The downside, of course, is the increased pressure to pump new life in a moribund organization. I would say there would be increased media scrutiny, but James is a national player – everything he does is examined on a higher level. The special is being filmed at former Knick star Allen Houston’s Greenwich, CT, estate. Does that mean anything? Or is it just a convenience place for ESPN to film on short notice?
Washington Wizards – Just making sure you’re paying attention!
Chicago Bulls – How do you become the greatest of all-time? You can try by leading his former team. While most people wouldn’t want to work under the shadow of Michael Jordan – the original “global brand” basketball star – James has seemed quite open to the possibility. Outfielder for the New York Yankees…Quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys…Forward on the Detroit Red Wings…playing these positions carries a mystique. Leader of the Chicago Bulls may have that pull for James. Do not forget that their roster is built to win for years to come. The supporting cast is there and the salary structure appears to be in good shape. Unlike Miami, where it would be the stars and nobodies, this team can grow together for a decade.
My Take – It makes the most sense for him to stay in Cleveland. Why would someone rip the heart out of his hometown on national TV? In all seriousness, what opportunities, exactly, would be more open to him if he played in another city? None. He has the connections and finances to call his own shots.
