Lebron James: The Global Icon?

So I tuned in last night just like millions of others to hear the decision of LeBron James.  I can’t say I was surprised by his decision based on reports from various people that day that he was going to be joining the Miami Heat with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh.  Last night, LeBron just made it official.  He is a global icon but of what I am not sure yet.  No longer can he be in the conversation as best ever player because Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Tim Duncan, and Kobe Bryant would never jump on a team together and try to win.  Could you see Jordan teaming with Bird or Magic?  Instead, they would go out and eviscerate all their competition including each other to win the ring.

A couple of months ago after the Cavs lost, I read a column that said LeBron doesn’t have the Jordan competitiveness DNA and Magic leadership DNA, but that he is very similar to the Dr. J DNA.  Now Dr. J was beloved by all and is one of the top 20 basketball players of all time, but he did not have the chops to lead a team to a championship without help from a superior player (Moses Malone).  When you watch LeBron, you are amazed at what he is capable of, and I guess with him teaming with Wade and Bosh, we will get amazed regularly on a night in and night out basis.

During this free agency period, it is crazy how one of the most popular players in the game has turned into one of the biggest villains with all the self-absorption, spectacle, and everything else that has gone on since the Cavs lost in the playoffs two months ago culminating in last night’s announcement on an hour long show with the worldwide leader.  Not since the Lakers in the early 2000s have we had a team in any sport that we really hated but with this triumvirate, we seem to have that.

No matter how many rings LeBron, Wade, and Bosh win together, D Wade will always have one more.  I don’t see how playing second fiddle to Wade helps LeBron become the 2^nd athlete to become a billionaire and how this makes him a global icon which were goals that he stated at various points leading up to the free agency period.

So all of this to say, I finished watching “The Decision” and left feeling disappointed about what could have been.  I think it is great he is playing with his buddies and friends, but with all of his all world ability, I didn’t think he would take the easy way out.