I Feel Bad for Lebron James

I feel bad for Lebron James. I know, people will think I'm crazy for this. As someone who has struggled to make ends meet, how can I feel bad for someone who has earned 9 figures just for doing something he loves? As an Akronite and someone who love all things Northeast Ohio, how can I feel bad for someone who left his city and hometown fans out in the cold? As a sports fan, how can I feel bad for someone who a majority of the media thinks has just guaranteed himself multiple championships?

It's easy - everything has a price, and Lebron just paid way too much for what he thinks he wants. For the past few years, the sports media has been working almost nonstop to redefine the word "great". They've convinced each other, the fans, and now, apparently, the athletes, that greatness is defined by the number of championships you win. Lebron has dominated the stat lines in a way that no one has in 40 years, but the media has declared that he will never be the best as long as Kobe has more rings than him. They've been selling it and selling it, and finally somebody bought it. Does anybody think Dominique Wilkins or Charles Barkley would have given up their careers for Robert Horry's? Would you rather be Jason Kidd or Derek Fisher? I guess that measure of greatness is only true if you believe it.

Regardless, that's the one that Lebron is after. Now let's take a look at what he's sacrificing to get it.

• Love - he's leaving the one place that would love him for getting them close. A team that wins 60+ games every year in Cleveland and the star that helped them do it, will be more appreciated than any team that wins in Miami - true story, Miami won a title 5 years ago and has already collapsed - and its fan support along with it.
• Family - Superstars, be they actors or athletes, have a tendency to drink often from the cup of life. In northeast Ohio, your business is your business - on South Beach, your business is everybody's business (the same could be said for NY and Chicago). The first time he's seen rubbing elbows with a starlet and his "wife" finds out, the reality will hit him. Also, his mother and her tendencies will be beyond his protection if she stays here, and will be too much in the spotlight if she goes there.
• Friends - Lebron's support team has undergone tremendous scrutiny, and I've been pulling for them. As "the Decision" grew near, the media began to hate on them. Even if they wanted him to stay, their reputations will be scarred forever. They will now be considered toxic and there will be few new clients joining LRMR.
• Freedom - As a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Lebron could go anywhere in the world and do whatever he wanted. It may not seem like a big deal, but he will never be comfortable in Akron, Cleveland, New York, or Chicago again - he traded 4 cities for 1. Don't believe me, look at this http://www.spike.com/blog/lebron-james-booed/97548
• Fun - The Cleveland Cavaliers came to be known for their team spirit and pre-game and in-game shenanigans, because there wasn't a lot of pressure. There will be nothing but pressure in Miami, and if they win, Wade will get all of the credit, if they lose, James can claim the blame. That doesn't sound like much fun to me.
• Status - It's good to be the king. Nothing special about being a sidekick - and make no mistake, in Miami that's what he'll be. Just take a look at this pic: If him and Bosh aren't sidekicks, neither was Robin or Al Borland.
• Money - He has plenty, but he has had no qualms about declaring his desire for $1B. Every little bit helps, and he left about $20M on the table. With his decrease in popularity, its going to take a lot to achieve his milestone.

I'll leave you with the words of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: "I think that the good and the great are only separated by the willingness to sacrifice."

Good Luck Lebron! You've made plenty of sacrifices, just hope greatness is all that it's cracked up to be.