Tarnished Legacy for a Championship

As you may have known by now, Lebron Raymone James has just signed a 5-year sign-and-trade contract with the Miami Heat. Yes, we are all witnesses of the day Lebron tarnished his Legacy.

....of "The Betrayal".

Before all this animosity happened, Lebron was just like your ordinary NBA "Superstar" player. He was in his last year with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He just became a back-2-back NBA Season MVP. He led his team to an impressive 61-21 record, a NBA best, securing them home-court advantage throughout the 2010 Playoffs. This was their championship season. The Cavs bulldoze their way against the Bulls. Everything looked good, until they met this three again.

No picture was available. And no, I don't hate them.

The only difference was that this three are a little older now compared to when they last met in the 2008 Playoffs. So what could possible could go wrong right? The Cavs took Game 1, setting up what could be the last series for this Celtics. Instead, the Celtics humiliate the Cavs on their own home floor with an 104-86 win in Game 2. Yeah, Cleveland took back Game 3 in a 124-95 win, but that was already the last win the Lebron Cavs would take. Boston took the next three games, and well, you know the story. But the big story was really about Game 5, on how Lebron chose not to fight back this old nagging Big Three. He didn't deliver what he was suppose to deliver. The King bowed down, and off he went to the Biggest Free-Agent Market in NBA History. And if I am not mistaken, the NBA named this "Decision 2010". When did the free-agency had a name of such. Never, because Lebron made this bigger.

His got to look good.

Players become free agents on July 1. So when the clock struck 12:01 AM, the whole Free-Agent Market went into a frenzy. James was courted by several teams, most prominently by the New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, as well as his hometown, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Even before the 2009-2010 season begun, teams were already preparing for the 2010 Free-Agency, sacrificing their season to catch the biggest free-agent there is. Saving money for the most expensive jewelry in the NBA box. Different gimmicks, names were used just to lure James away from the suburbs of Ohio. No one had an idea where he will go. New York was the front-runner. At that time, it seemed New York will be getting Bron-bron. But who will he play with? Can he even win a championship there? Outside the basketball sense, Lebron will do good in New York. Bright lights, big city, Lebron would go global. But as the season went by, Lebron chose to shut his mouth to where he wanted to go, only stating that July 1 of 2010 will be a big one. And so it did. Outside New York, teams popped-out, taking their shot to the elusive Lebron James. Expensive dinner dates with team owners, long-day discussions and assurance that money wasn't a problem. They gave Lebron a reason to play with them, they showed Lebron who he can play with, they gave Lebron the confidence he can win a championship on their team. Everyone was guessing where we would end up with. The leads for the front-runner team was changing. But all of this, one thing stands with them all. Lebron has the attention of everyone. Even during the Finals, Lebron stole the show by talking again about the big free agency. As much as great is his talent, also can be said to his ego. He wanted the attention. This was the King with no championship, but all be damn, he wants the attention, and he got it. But set aside the big Lebron chase, was the fact that what made this free-agency more bigger, was because of the other players that were available. I won't get to the context of naming them all, but just the next two, D-Wade, and C-Bosh.

The other big baits.

So with these three around, with no assured teams to sign, they made news all around the world. Chris Bosh, as a lot of people expected, wanted to be out of Toronto. Dwayne Wade, as much as Chicago wanted to take the Chi-town native, was still committed to the Heat organization. The three were having a chess game, waiting for the other to make a move. With talks of the possibility that this three can play together, the possibilities just became endless. Other players such as Paul Pierce and Dirk Nowitzki already re-signed with their respective teams. While Amare Stoudamire and Carlos Boozer already signed with the Knicks and the Bulls, respectively. But the Big Free Agents still yet to decide. But to cut all the crap, Bosh signed with the Heat to form a two-man combo with Wade. Now, everyone was looking at "The King". July 8 (9 here in the Philippines) was the date. ESPN was the channel to watch. Some Boys and Girls foundation were to be used as Lebron's props. This was the day Lebron has waited for. And suddenly, he utter these words: "This fall I am taking my talents to South Beach and play with the Miami Heat. The major factor was the best opportunity for me to win, to win now and for the future also. Winning is the most important thing for me. I feel like this is going to be the best opportunity."

Check....

....and mate.

All across the globe, millions of people instantly became a Heat bandwaggon fan. The possibility, just became possible. It shook the NBA as a whole. Teams, executives, coaches, and players were all stunned with the news. Different reactions came across every NBA or basketball fan. This is the team to beat. This is the team for the ages. Championship Contender, heck the Championship is already being prepared for the Heat. The new Big Three has arrived.

Younger, leaner and less green.

And so the basketball frenzy for the new Heat has arrived. Despite this, the Heat has still a lot of things to do, like for example, I don't know, fill-up the rest 11 slots? Yep, the Heat has a lot of things to do to support this "Superstar Trio". They gave up a lot of players, not resigning them, and trading players to have enough money to cash in the three. So it's a big responsibility of the Heat organization to deliver what is necessary to get the championship. But beyond this, Lebron also did what only a cruel man can do. Leave a beloved for the sake of "Business".

It sucks that they can just burn NBA jerseys. I'm so poor I cant buy one and I want one.

Lebron left the Cleveland Cavaliers to chase a championship. He left everyone in Cleveland with broken hearts. The people that became "Witnesses", supported the "Chosen One" when he stepped in the NBA. The people that looked at him as a god, worshiped him, consider him as the savior of Cleveland, all has their heads bowed down. Because their King betrayed them, their King left them. Because he was no king in the first place. He was no savior. He wasn't some alpha dog "best player in the league" guy. He only showed that he can't win a championship in Cleveland, he needs his buddy Wade and Bosh. And from there, Lebron tarnished his legacy.Truth be told he could have been all those things.

And yet here we are Lebron, and yet here we are.

Despite being a Kobe fan, I'm also Lebron fan. I could still remember just a couple of months ago, playing some tune-up game. I made a strong power dribble, took two big steps going to the rim, with a defender in sight, I adjusted my lay-up and the ball went in despite with contact. And then I said to myself, I played like Lebron, because the time I made the dribble, I had Lebron's mentality to attack the rim. I'm not that great in basketball, but I can say I can pull-off moves based on the players I idolozed. And Lebron is no exception. I have said a lot of times that Lebron is too good not to win a championship. Only during his 4th season, he took his team to the NBA Finals. Despite the fact that they got swept, and the Eastern Conference was weak on that season, it was still impressive for a guy to lead his team of nobodies to the Finals. But Lebron took the easy way out for a chase of the championship.

I know what you're thinking.

Okay I also know that.

Yeah this one too.

Yes, yes, this led into a three-peat.

Okay, you're starting to push it.

Did I say no other picture was available? Anyways, Alright! I get your point!

This is just a reminder who are the back-2-back champs right now.

Okay, no individual can win a championship by himself. Its proven. Its tested. But if you come to think about it, these champions above didn't took the move Lebron took. If you want to compare Lebron-Wade-Bosh to these guys, then Lebron is the Pippen of Jordan, the Shaq of Wade, the Garnett/Allen of Pierce, the Pau of Bryant. Everything that hyped Lebron, all gone. Because he isn't the man on this Heat team, it's Wade. This is Wade's team. Lebron is bringing his talent to Miami to help, "to help", bring Miami a championship. He isn't the "King", "Chosen One", "Greatest Player in the League" or whatever they used to name him. If he wants a legacy of winning championships, then he can forget about it. He doesn't have a legacy anymore. He decided to go to the Heat to give himself an opportunity to win a championship. Even if he has 10 championships with this team, at the end of the day, this means nothing compared to what Magic, Bird, Jordan, and Kobe did.

These three will win a championship. THESE THREE. You can't individualize.

These three are still young. There were all superstars of their own team, made the playoffs, and led their team to the championship (except Bosh), but given some talented teammates, they could have gained a legacy. That is what Magic, Bird, Jordan, Kobe, and even Wade had. They had a legacy of leading a team to the championship. With Lebron, he could have stayed a few more years with the Cavs, giving at least one last push to bring a championship to Cleveland with him on the driver seat. Lebron is still way too young, way too talented, to instantly refer and looked for some help from his friends to win a championship. But he wants to win now, and who can blame him? But them winning because of him, it will never happen. Along the road, Lebron will take over games, will be the main reason why they won a game. But to win the championship, even if he becomes the Finals MVP, don't be ignorant that he is playing with Wade and Bosh. Every game they play will be like an All-Star game. But a three man act.

He may be the most payed, but they are still a three-headed dog.

So here it is. Truth be told, pressure is on them to win. Pressure is on them to prove they can win a championship instantly. I won't be surprise if they won. I won't get pissed if they won. As much as I'm a Laker fan, I'm also a NBA fan, I'm excited to see how this turns out. But if we look back at the once "King", then you could pretty much say that he has tarnished a once promising legacy. He acted cowardly, but made a bold "business" move to win a championship. He left the only home he knew, to a place where he knows a championship is a damn possibility, or you could already say, already an outcome. But you can stop comparing him to Kobe, stop talking about how he can be, or even be greater than Jordan. Because he will never be like Kobe or Jordan. Stats, athleticism, maybe you can still compare him to them. But a life in the NBA means winning championships. Yes, Jordan and Kobe had helped, HAD. Lebron? He became THE HELP to Wade. So to all Lebron fans, this is it. Lebron is about win his first championship. I could already see it now, Heat and the Lakers for the championship. But at the end of the day, Lebron was nothing but a hype.

Probably his 5 championships won't mean anything to just one of the championships Jordan or Kobe own.