A Tumultuous Season: LeBron James Continues His Quest for a Title Despite Critics

Different opinions are what makes sports so colorful.  Fandom allows us all an opportunity to manifest our love for our favorite team, city or player.

Often times it is easy for fans to fall victim to being a homer.  Passion and tension can build so high in the world of sports that you allow your allegiances to manipulate your sensibilities.  It happens to EVERYONE.

I have been a passionate and avid sports fan my entire life.  I like to believe that as I have grown older, my sensibilities have matured enough to the point where I can be understanding and tolerant of all opinions in sports, whether from fans or the media.

Unfortunately for me, I find that this current season in the NBA has completely shaken my faith in the media, as well as the intelligence and open-mindedness of fans across the country.

Never in sports have I witnessed a tirade against a particular player for doing what he was entitled to as a free agent.  LeBron James made a decision, that in turn made him public enemy number one.

It has been 10 months since James announced his decision live on ESPN.  I have to admit that at first, and until very recently I disagreed with how James made his free agency into what came across as an ego-centric hour long special.

While there may have been alternative methods of announcing his decision, it happened.  As a result, the first round of criticisms were shot toward South Beach.  LeBron went from being the NBA’s most coveted player, to sport’s most hated figure.

I understand how “The Decision” could be viewed as self-centered and self-important.  But the fact is that everyone who is a fan of the NBA wanted to know where he was going, and the ratings showed.  Funny how it always seems to go unnoticed that the program raised $2 million for the Boys & Girls Club of America.

The event that followed is probably what generates most of the hate for LeBron James and this Miami Heat team.  The Heat held a pep rally to celebrate the acquisition of the three most sought after free agents of the market in what was the largest free agent pool in the history of the NBA.

Was it excessive?  Probably.  Was it cheesy?  Definitely.  Was it intended for anyone else other that the city of Miami?  Absolutely not.  It was an event televised locally in South Florida and was free for fans to attend at American Airlines Arena.  It provided Heat fans the opportunity to celebrate what was an unprecedented off-season.

Other networks that are national and have four letters replayed the celebration countless times over their airwaves.  Without a doubt hurting Cleveland more than a one-hour special or a locally televised Miami Heat pep rally ever could.

Perhaps James did get caught up in the emotion and hype of the evening when he declared “not 5, not 6, not 7″…(championships).  Get over it.  Be upset at James for getting caught up in the moment, fine.  It does not justify how he has been treated throughout this season.

The media has made it their own personal agenda to crucify James whenever possible.  After a 9-8 start, prominent members of the media like Bill Simmons and Adrian Wojnarowski delighted in the Heat’s struggle.  Writing daily columns or blogs degrading James and his decision.  Stating that Miami’s Big 3 “does not fit” and “will not work.”

It would take too long to name everyone who attacked LeBron and the Heat, because it was almost everyone that had a platform in sports media.

As the season moved on, the opinions shaped from the Decision and the “pep rally” overshadowed any success that LeBron and the Miami Heat would have.

It simply did not matter what LeBron did, he still remained labeled as a “villain” for his actions in the offseason.  He would even finish the season measurably better in every statistical category than the eventual MVP Derrick Rose.  It did not matter.

LeBron was left off 9 ballots in the MVP voting despite being the most efficient player in the league during the regular season with a PER (Player Efficiency Rating) of 27.34.  Instead the award went to Rose, who with a PER of 23.62, recorded the lowest rating for a MVP since Allen Iverson.

As the season progressed into the playoffs, the criticism still loudly remained.  Pundits and talking heads still questioned LeBron’s ability to win late in games, despite the fact that he has been the best player in the NBA in the 4th quarter with 5 minutes remaining (according to 82games.com clutch stats).

All of these criticisms that have followed James and Miami throughout the season have absolutely contributed to the overall opinion of the country.  Thanks to people like Jason Whitlock and Michael Wilbon, (two writers that I respect very much mind you) we believe that we must hate this Miami Heat team.

What remains unfortunate is that these writers and talking heads have a predisposed bias against LeBron James.  Some hate him because he did not choose their city.  Some hate him because they are scared of the potential of his move and what it means for their own team in the NBA.

Saying that you hate LeBron for the way he left Cleveland is a weak and not at all a legitimate reason unless you are from Cleveland or a Cavaliers fan.  Someone living in Plano, Texas that watches First Take daily to get their sports fix does not actually care about a free agent switching teams.  That person is simply regurgitating what they hear from Skip Bayless.

My point is that eveyone has let this linger for too long.  The fact is that LeBron James is the best talent in the NBA.  He did something unselfish and unprecedented.  Shame on the media for leading a witch hunt against him when there are so many other athletes in sports who have actually broken laws and are still lauded.

Unfortunately I’m afraid that this will do little to change any of the brainwashed minds that watch blindly as Jon Barry tells them why Derrick Rose is more poised for the moment than LeBron James.

James, along with the rest of his team have an opportunity to silence all by winning.  Yet even with a championship, I’m sure there will still be the people who discredit the accomplishment.  Perhaps they just will not be as loud.