Kevin P. Chavous: College Readiness Is More Than Academics
I hate to say "I told you so," but sometimes it's just kind of fun to brag a little bit. As I wrote the other day, LeBron James made his announcement tonight that he is going to join up with Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade with the Miami Heat. The announcement wasn't a big surprise, since I presumed that LeBron would rather play with the greatest talent pool in the Eastern Conference rather than against it. There were some, however, who thought that teams like New York and New Jersey had a chance. No, they did not.
New York makes money and has a massive media market, but the Knicks have stained their organization's reputation by showing that they don't care much about winning. Overpaying mediocre players and not managing their team properly has made them appear as undesirable as the "Kentucky Celtics" were when Rick Pitino took over and tried to bring his entire college roster to the NBA with him.
Chicago, in my opinion, was the only team that had an outside chance to land LeBron, but being in Chi-town would mean that he'd have to find a way through Bosh and Wade every year, along with the powerhouse team built by the Boston Celtics. The truth is that by giving Bosh and Wade what they needed to be great, LeBron has surrounded himself with young talented players who want to win as badly as he does.
The financial deal for LeBron is that, right now, he really needs a title. As much as I suspect that James was loyal to the Cavs, the truth is that they simply cannot guarantee him what he needs to build his brand to the status it needs to reach. Additionally, they can't give him the guaranteed title shot he will need in order to avoid being one of the great NBA busts of the 21st century. So, in some ways, LeBron had to go to Miami, there was really no other serious option.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. 
Comments: (14)
Add a comment
By: OOOZZZZZ on 7/09/2010 10:43AM
ltavers,
I agree ths is not that serious...where LeBron James goes to play NBA basketball..... but the main issue here is the lack of true professionalism, the lies told and justified protocol that seems to be absent in this situation and all these other issues that we as Americans face throughout this country......the fact that you knew what you're doing all along and pretend that you didn't know; use planned deception as a form of ego driven callous revenge, arrogance and greed (remember those risky mortgage home loans by Wall Street and the banks, they did not give a fyck about you or me) for a NBA team and a city that chose you, gave you much access, made you rich and bascially gave you everything in order to make you the individual and player that you are and suddendly, without any prior warning to the city, organization and fans that supported you, not having the balls to man up and directly face the negative music up close and personal, destroy a strong and nurturing relationship when the issue of him not winning a championship in Cleveland is just as much his fault as the Cleveland Cavalier organization.
And when I used the word greed in my previous paragraph, I am not talking about money. I am talking about climbing on the back of innocent people without any regard, in order to climb the ladder of success, the very ladder that those people, through their blood, sweat and tears, built for you and held it steady while you climbed.
It maybe pro basketball but it also a corporate business and politics (no different than major corporations that we are all pissed at for their pre-planning that caused this recession) and this smells no different than the issues that got this country into trouble in all areas: the oil spill, the recession, Katrina, two wars etc were a pre-planned agenda and non preparation was set in motion well before the disaster hit in order for several to gain and the rest are left to suffer the severe consequences. A few walk away with the spolis of victory and the rest are left (on purpose) to suffer long term and pick up the pieces.
This situation in the big picture, sets a very bad example of what not to do in a professional and political setting and for the benefit and good for others......eventhought this is what you consider, "just basketball"....and yet it mirrors the problems that we have facing in this country.
Report This
By: Lizzy on 7/09/2010 11:27PM
I agree with you OOOZZZZZ 100%
Remember this quote:
Lebron: I won't stop until I get it (Championship to Cleveland)
In an interview on NBA TV, LeBron James indicated that he "won't stop" until he reaches his goal of winning a title in Cleveland.
"I got a goal, and it's a huge goal, and that's to bring an NBA championship here to Cleveland," James said. "And I won't stop until I get it."
Taken literally, James' statement is newsworthy because it would mean that the Cavs' superstar, who can become a free-agent this summer, would stay in Cleveland at least as long as it takes to bring the city an NBA championship.
James also spoke glowingly about the professionalism and depth of the Cavs' roster.
Report This
By: Lizzy on 7/09/2010 11:55PM
Very well said ltavers
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: nakima olmdo on 7/12/2010 10:55PM
lebron should have told the calviers ahead of time that he was leaving the team and starting fresh
Reply to this Comment | Report This