The King Is Dead...

... well, at least, to the people of Cleveland.  As you all know, unless you've been living under a rock for the past week, LeBron James announced in an hour-long TV special the other night that he's leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to join the Miami Heat.  I thought I'd weigh in on the matter like everyone else is doing, especially since I know next to nothing about professional basketball.  Quite honestly, I'm not sure what to think about the situation.  I've been somewhat of a fan of the Heat since Shaquille O'Neal joined the team in 2004, though I'm not as die-hard of a fan as I am of the Steelers and Penguins, and like I already said, I don't really follow the NBA all that much.  Initially, I was excited that my favorite team got another All-Star to go along with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosch. 

But after hearing about LeBron's motives for going to Miami - because he wanted to play for the team that would give him the best chance to win a championship - I can't help but feel sorry for all of those fans in Cleveland.  They have every right to feel betrayed.  As a die-hard Penguins fan, I know how it feels.  In 2008, just weeks after we lost in the Stanley Cup final, Marian Hossa stabbed us in the back by signing with the Red Wings, the very team that beat us, claiming that they would give him the better chance to win the Stanley Cup.  I've always held the belief that a team should win because a good player helped them to do so, not the other way around.  The Cavs pretty much built their team around LeBron, but now that he's gone, what are they supposed to do now? 

As for whether or not the Heat will actually win a championship with LeBron, that remains to be seen.  From what I've heard about him in recent years, he doesn't really seem to be that much of a team player.  I certainly agree with Cavs owner Dan Gilbert's assessment of LeBron as "conceited."  I mean, c'mon, did he really have to have an entire TV special just to announce his decision?  On paper, the Heat look like the team to beat next season.  But more often than not, when you try to put multiple big-name players on the same team, any semblance of team chemistry flies completely out the window as the players compete with one another for their share of the spotlight, and before you know it, the team's whole season goes down the sewer.  Does the name Terrell Owens ring any bells here? 

So come basketball season, I'll still be rooting for the Heat with what minimal enthusiasm I have for the sport, but I'm certainly not prepared to bet the house on them winning a championship anytime soon.  Given LeBron's reputation in recent years, I have this sinking feeling that he's just not going to mesh well with the other Miami players. 

B-)