I’m assuming ESPN will be broadcasting live from Cleveland, perhaps outside of LeBron James’ home, during the ridiculous hourlong show to announce his free agency decision.
If he truly is going to the Miami Heat to play second banana to Dwyane Wade, that’s going to be one justifiably ugly crowd in Cleveland. The people there have given their hearts over to King James on the chance that he’ll bring a professional sports title to town, the first since the Browns NFL title in 1964.
If James, a multimillion-dollar economic engine for the city of Cleveland, is indeed leaving town, he should just call a press conference, say his piece, and go away.
But for him to be a part of a fawning, 60-minute TV special and then TURN HIS BACK on his home team and adoring fans? Why not just walk into the Q and punch every LeBron fan in the face? And for good measure, yank the LeBron-branded shoes off their feet?
Art Modell may still go down as the most despised sports figure in Cleveland history for yanking the Browns out of town, but if the reports prove accurate and tonight’s big show ends with James flying south for Miami, that’ll be the biggest asshole move in Cleveland in a long, long time.
Just for that reason, my theory has been that today is the culmination of a masterful campaign of hype and suspense around the "King James of Cleveland" brand, ending with a prime time national embrace of his hometown.
Still, everyone in Cleveland is bracing for that knife in the back. Why? Because we've all been there before.
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