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One of the most iconic and controversial events in recent sporting history occurred on July 8, 2010. On that day, ESPN broadcast a television special called The Decision.
Rhetoric and hyperbole aside, it was simply an interview with NBA superstar LeBron James, in which he announced that he would be leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to play with the Miami Heat.
Yet it ended up being so much more than that.
Leaving the actual time elapsed aside, The Decision feels like a very long time ago. Specifically, I’m referring to the perception of LeBron James in the fateful days following The Decision, and how LeBron is viewed today.
The contrast couldn’t be starker.
If it feels like I’m discussing an athlete switching teams in the same tone as I would a natural disaster or political assassination, then I appreciate the bewilderment. That’s exactly how I felt when I witnessed America’s outrage – yes, outrage – to LeBron leaving Cleveland.
The anger vented towards LeBron after the TV special was as surprising as it was fierce. The media storm and fan fury was like nothing I’ve ever seen before.
It was the lead news story across America for days afterwards. It was the subject of thousands of newspaper and online stories. Rioting occurred in Cleveland. Fans burnt LeBron jerseys. Ex-players decried James as not having the heart to win by himself, instead joining up with All Star friends Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami.
LeBron would not have predicted that the TV special would make him appear arrogant, heartless, a quitter, selfish, soft and completely self-absorbed. Yet those are just some of the barbs that were thrown his way in the aftermath.
The Decision, of which LeBron and his manger were the architects, was myopic and lacked self-awareness. Yet, let’s be honest, it was fantastic theatre and gave every journalist and fan plenty to talk about for months on end.
The phrase “taking my talents to South Beach” entered pop culture and became part of the lexicon of sport talk. And the instantaneous recasting of LeBron from everyone’s favourite athlete to absolute villain re-energised the NBA.
The sub-plot of Miami morphing into everyone’s most hated team ensured that NBA ratings soared.
Yes, The Decision was ill-conceived. But in its own way, it was also unintentionally brilliant, even if LeBron probably wishes it now never happened.
As for those who critiqued his actual decision to leave Cleveland and team up with his buddies, they need to ask themselves three questions.
Have you ever been to Cleveland? Have you ever been to Miami? Have you ever wanted to play basketball with your mates?
If you can answer all three questions with a yes – and I can – then you would understand LeBron’s decision to leave one of the bleakest cities in the world for one of the more vibrant.
And yes, the old school players said they would never partner up with their main adversary like LeBron did with Dwyane Wade. But that’s easy to say when they had built-in sidekicks on the level of Scottie Pippen, Kevin McHale and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, just as Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson did respectively.
In any case, make no mistake, LeBron became public enemy number one, and the Heat became the bad guys that every team wanted to beat, and every fan wanted to boo.
LeBron and Miami got their comeuppance, much to the delight of most people, when they lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals. As if the loss wasn’t bad enough, LeBron had a meltdown on the biggest stage, fuelling the ‘choker’ talk that was already hanging over his head.
For LeBron haters, the 2011 NBA Finals was nirvana.
Last season, LeBron and the Heat once again made the Finals. However this time, the script would be different, and behind a stunning solo performance from LeBron, Miami crushed the Oklahoma City Thunder and captured the NBA championship.
It was sweet redemption for LeBron, and even the haters had to admit that he had earned it.
This season, with the monkey off his back – not to mention the media and fans – LeBron has played in a more relaxed, stress-free manner.
With the mental demons vanquished, LeBron has simply played basketball, and his demeanour, ability and success have seen him return to his rightful place as one of the most popular athletes in the world. He was never the right casting for the villain.
In a career full of amazing seasons with ridiculous statistics, the one he is halfway through might be his finest.
The game just looks so easy to him. He is shooting a career-high percentage from the field, and recently went on a six-game streak of 30 points or more, while shooting higher than 60 percent; the first player in NBA history to do so.
He’s unstoppable. He’s charming. He’s popular. And he’s winning.
There is no way in hell I’m going to compare him to Michael Jordan, the greatest of all time. LeBron is a different player, plays a different position, has a different skill set and a different mindset.
What I will say is that no one has dominated the league like this since the bald guy in the number 23 jersey was running around for the Chicago Bulls.
Arrogant? Heartless? Selfish? Soft? Self-absorbed? Not respected? Choker? Hated?
Yep, The Decision sure does seem a long time ago.