Even with the star power of “Ocean’s Thirteen” and the hype of “The Dark Knight,” the Miami Heat (6-4) are performing with the mediocrity of “Valentine’s Day.” The Celtics, or rather “The Expendables,” have placed the Heat in little brother status after two convincing victories, and there is talk of enough drama within the organization to please a scriptwriter for the OC.
Much of this has been placed on the back of LeBron James, the “King” (or Queen as I have seen to be his popular nickname in Miami). But is it fair? Ten games into the season, most are writing LeBron James and the Heat off like the cast of “The Perfect Storm.” Will this ‘storm’ happen to reach South Beach come April?
I am sure most of you reading this are familiar with the controversial, downright strange LeBron/Nike commercial “What Should I Do?” Well, what should LeBron James do?
People need to understand that the man is a human being paid to play a sport. While commitment to a team and a fan base is necessary during the season and while under contract, James exercised his free agency to look at other teams, which is completely understandable. Although teams were blatantly pathetic in their attempts to “court the King” and James himself was pathetic by hosting a selection show, one cannot despise a man for taking the opportunity of a lifetime.
Through James’ seven-year drought with Cleveland, he had reached the Finals only once. That year saw the Cavaliers fall to a much older, more experienced San Antonio Spurs team. As Orlando and Boston grew and developed in the East, Cleveland never surrounded James with a supporting cast valuable enough to win a championship. Antawn Jamison, Shaquille O’Neal and various other transfers were never enough to overcome or handle a three-point bonanza with Dwight Howard in the paint or an aging veteran squad with a young superstar at the point in Rajon Rondo. If they had made it to the NBA Championship series, one would highly doubt that they would have enough firepower to handle the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Miami Heat opportunity was one that could not be missed. Cleveland made a personal episode of Family Guy involving him and his teammates. Chicago redundantly sized him up to Michael Jordan by showing him empty championship ring boxes and giving him Air Jordans and asking if he could fill the shoes.
The Knicks promised the glamour of New York and Amar’e Stoudemire, but not much else. The other Los Angeles team, the Clippers, and the New Jersey Nets were involved in a catfight over not being the team with the least chance to snag James. Then, there was a legitimate offer. The Miami Heat came to James and offered Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and cap room.
Humanity was given or evolved, whichever you believe, the ability to reason. Although there had to be a tugging sense of home in Cleveland, the chance to play alongside two of the decade’s best players in a stable program could not be passed. Having played alongside Wade and Bosh in U.S.A.’s gold run in Beijing, some chemistry was there. Add rebounding making Udonis Haslem, James’ close friend Zydrunas Ilgauskus, and two valuable assets in Eddie House and Jerry Stackhouse, and a reliable team presents itself. Chemistry needs a while to grow and prosper, and the environment in Miami promotes it.
To all of those who still believe LeBron James to be a cheap sellout, do you feel the same about Nick Saban? Saban did what he thought was best by leaving LSU to go to the NFL, ultimately to leave that tenure early to return to college football at the University of Alabama. Whether his decisions and intentions were personal or not, the truth of the matter is money and opportunity have a say in the game.
The people at the top of the game or in the game are human at their core, and, despite how big the commitment, pride, or honor of a program is, one cannot blame an athlete for being human and having goals of their own.
Do not count the Heat out. Their names will be around come season’s end. This team may not win it all, but, if they do, they will be the most outstanding team of the last decade.
They have the athletes to be the most outstanding team, but having the chemistry and determination to hurdle all of the criticism and negativity thrown their way is the ultimate obstacle. What should you do LeBron? You should fulfill your desire to bring a team a championship, and the Heat has the parts necessary to help.
Tyler Rigdon is a sophomore majoring in chemical engineering.
