Le Basketbawl

Unless you were out of the country, and cut off from the Internet this Summer you are well aware of the rumors. Coming out of all corners from ESPN, to someone running a blog out of their basement in Laramie, Wyoming the talk has been endless. LBJ according to all the self proclaimed “experts” is just counting the days until he can escape from the “Siberia of the NBA” Cleveland, and take his rightful place in the “Big Apple“.

Things escalated to new levels of hysteria, when James was seen fraternizing with the Dallas Cowboys when they opened the NFL season against the Browns in Cleveland. Not only was he seen showing love to the Cowboys, he was wearing his dreaded Yankees cap. As I recounted in a column LBJ Should Be Able To Root For Who Ever He Chooses a columnist from the “Cleveland Plain Dealer” Phillip Morris was absolutely beside himself! He questioned whether James thinks residents of Cleveland are a bunch of losers, and if he truly hates the city.

Last week Cavaliers Team Owner Dan Gilbert weighed in on the matter, when he spoke to the media on the eve of training camp. Gilbert said to reporters “It’s kind of an insult to the city of Cleveland in my opinion; an insult to the Midwest. People in your profession are very bored on both sides of the country. There’s no basketball going on so they write this stuff. I think we’re one of the top organizations in the NBA. I think we’re going to compete for a championship in the next year or two and we’ll worry about that summer when it comes.”

Tuesday the “Akron Beacon-Journal” reported that James addressed all these subjects when he spoke with the assembled media. LBJ told reporters that if they did their research, they would find he has constantly pointed out how satisfied he is playing for the Cavaliers.

“Go on the Internet and look at every time I have been asked am I happy in Cleveland and see my response. I’ve never given any indication that I was leaving or didn’t like being here. Every time I am asked the question; I love being here, I love playing in front of these fans, my family is here, I grew up 30 miles away; I never gave any indication that I did not like playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers.”

As for James seeming to be enamored with the Yankees, and the Cowboys, well he is! James told the reporters “Now, I’ll say I like the Yankees and the Cowboys, but that has nothing to do with the Cavaliers. Am I not allowed to be a fan? When I grew up watching sports, the Cowboys were a team to love; Michael Jordan was (a player) to love. If I say I like Michael Jordan, is that a problem because I didn’t say Mark Price? Is that a problem? Is it? That is who I grew up watching. These are the teams and the people that inspired me. Now I broke it down for you all.”

So now that LeBron has talked about all these unsubstantiated rumors, all this talk will now end, right? Come on now, you know that is not going to happen. Even as I am writing this there is some columnist punching holes in this scenario. They are asking why didn’t LBJ just flat out say he is committed to finishing his career in Cleveland? Because James is far too savvy to paint himself into a corner. Dwyane Wade will not do it in Miami. Carmelo Anthony certainly is not going to do it in Denver.

I have written on this topic far too often this past Summer. Between my columns on this site, our Sister Site Slam Dunk Central, and on my good friend Carolyn’s website And One I have addressed this subject ad nauseum. As much as I hope that I can stop writing about it for a long while, I have a nagging suspicion that will not be.