Speculation on LeBron makes for a potboiler

The idea that the LeBronathon might have reached full throttle prematurely has caused concern in Bristol, Conn., where ESPN's top executives met last week to discuss how to tone down the coverage of LeBron James' impending free agency.

Yes, the network that made a spectator sport of Brett Favre's commitment issues is worried about wearing out its audience with too much coverage of LeBron.

"Clearly, a huge story; we want to cover it, we want to be there," ESPN executive vice president of content John Skipper told Newsday's Neil Best. "But we did talk about making sure that we modulate what we do so we don't overdo it."

But producer and director Dan Klores, whose entertaining documentary, "Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks" drew critical acclaim, believes the story is compelling right now and that there is the potential that interest could fade quickly.

"If he stays in Cleveland," Klores said, "that's when the story gets old."

It has been a subject that most of the country had little interest in - outside of the New York metropolitan area, that is - until the Cleveland Cavaliers, who had the best record in the NBA this season, were ousted from the playoffs in the second round by the Boston Celtics. What had long been considered an unlikely scenario by most of the basketball press was now accepted as not only plausible but very real.

"Me and my team, we have a game plan that we're going to execute," James said in his last public statement after his season ended. "We'll see where we'll be at."

Though he hasn't spoken since, the story has been covered with the intensity of the Celtics' defense that locked him up in the six-game series. James has an early termination option in his contract that he can exercise this summer to become a free agent. He either can sign an extension to remain with the Cavaliers or explore opportunities in larger markets, such as New York.

And with so much time between now and July 1, when the NBA's free-agency season begins, all there is left to do - besides watch the rest of the ongoing playoffs, as David Stern would like to remind you - is to speculate, posture and opine.

Though you would think this should be the kind of free buzz a publicist or marketing executive dreams about, the fact that James' future has been the subject of speculation for two years is considered troublesome, mostly because of the abundance of unsubstantiated rumors that have emerged.

One key member of Team LeBron expressed disgust to Newsday about the perpetual chatter that he thinks is produced "just so people can have their own voices heard."

And then there are those who believe their voices aren't heard enough. Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter Brian Windhorst has covered James since his high school days in Akron and reminds everyone that no one knows James better than he does. With that on his resume, Windhorst has seen his own image grow to the point that stories recently have been written about him and the difficult job he has playing the antibiotic to all rumor viruses that threaten to infect the truth.

"Every time somebody in New York sneezes," Windhorst said in an interview with MarketWatch.com, "I end up catching a cold."

At this point, it seems everyone has offered input on James' future, starting with, of course, politicians: from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to Ohio governor Ted Strickland, who was part of a bizarre music video chorus begging James to stay in Cleveland, to the office of the president, where an aide said Barack Obama hopes to see James sign with Chicago.

In Cleveland, the pessimism is as thick and rampant as that cloud of midges that surrounded Joba Chamberlain.

People close to Kentucky coach John Calipari promoted the idea that Calipari would bolt for the NBA if he had the opportunity to coach James. So the Bulls, who are searching for a new coach and have one of Calipari's most prized recruits, Derrick Rose, must be LeBron's destination. Didn't you hear the rumor that James already has been house-hunting in suburban Chicago? Oh, wait, that one already was shot down.

Columnist Jay Mariotti asked Michael Jordan where he believes King James is headed.

"Chicago," His Airness said. And remember, Jordan's current ties are to the Charlotte Bobcats, not the Bulls.

The Nets, with entertaining new owner Mikhail Prokhorov, were thought to be a potential alternative. Then they failed to get the first overall pick in the NBA draft lottery and people immediately said "nyet" to the LeBrooklyn scenario.

The Los Angeles Clippers are trying hard to get into the conversation, but no one is taking them seriously. No one ever does.

Chris Broussard, senior writer for ESPN The Magazine, penned a 1,200-word article that ran the day after the Cavaliers were eliminated that trampled on the arrogance of New Yorkers to think that James (or anyone else) pines for the Broadway lights and Garden stage. The headline read, "LeBron doesn't need you, New York."

Klores, like the many fellow New Yorkers who blasted Broussard in the comments section of that story, vehemently disagrees.

"I guarantee you, if he stays in Cleveland, Kobe and Kevin Durant are the faces of the league," Klores said. "But if [LeBron] comes to New York, it's all him."

See how it works? One person says something and someone disagrees. Regurgitate and serve.

There are 39 more days of this before the real story begins. Or ends.

The Dolan family owns controlling interests in the Knicks, MSG and Cablevision. Cablevision owns Newsday.