The lessons LeBron could learn from Brett Favre. . .
It’s going to be a wild ride this summer kids, so strap on your seatbelts. The big question on everyone's mind: Are Ohio NBA fans about to join their fellow Wisconsin NFL fans in sports hell?
LeBron James fever is just beginning, and it happens to coincide with the annual saga surrounding American sports media's other favorite prima donna, Brett Favre. If King James is smart, he'll take a lesson from the long, tortured history of botched public relations that Wisconsin Public Enemy #1 has left behind him.
When it comes to LeBron, no amount of hype seems to be over the top. ESPN New York has a countdown to NBA free agency (it stands at 43 days and 13 hours). Celtics fans were chanting ‘New York Knicks’ at King James during the Boston-Cleveland playoff series.
LeBron has allegedly reached out to Eddy Curry, a move that should terrify the Knicks on a number of levels. LeBron’s friend’s uncle’s sister’s cousin’s twice removed is saying he wants to stay in Cleveland. Tony Dungy says he’s leaving Cleveland. There are rumors of a package deal with Kentucky Coach John Calipari.
And as your Big Daddy Knicks Fixer Alan Han reported Monday, William Wesley is bringing these Cal/LeBron discussions to the NBA, the Bulls and Nets specifically. It’s only going to get worse as free agency approaches, and the rumors fly like trashbags at Citi Field. Everyone from New Jersey to Sacramento wants a piece of the LeBron sweepstakes. And why not, it’s free publicity.
As for Favre, all the speculation from last summer is back, this time focused on whether he’ll be a Viking (again)?
Will he finally accept that he implodes spectacularly like a dying star when the calendar turns to December? The answer is probably not, as the prediction here is the NFL’s first grandpa will be back in that Barney purple #4 jersey come September. I’ll bet my prized rock from the Boston GAhhhhden on it.
LeBron can’t really help the frenzy surrounding his decisions for 2010 and beyond -- even if he and his camp weren’t saying anything, someone else would. But Favre? He's nuked every bridge between him and his cheeseheads, with his multiple 'retirements' and his drawn-out, desperate chase for another ring, whatever the cost.
Realistically, Favre left his chance for a happy ending the first time he retired. LeBron still has a chance for his.
The easy decision for King James is to stay in Cleveland. They have the money and a new-found commitment to winning, and honestly, that organization will do whatever they have to in order to keep him. That would be the ultimate of happy endings for Ohioans.
It's also possible LeBron could exit gracefully, going to Chicago or Miami or LA -- justifying it by saying he wanted to be with an adult organization that knows how to win. Long-suffering Cleveland fans would have nothing bad to say about that.
But if LeBron comes to New York (or New Jersey), look out. Outraged Cavs fans will howl that he's only about the bling, and the bright lights and the money . . . something no self-respecting sports fan could support. (cough, Yankees, cough)
Whatever LeBron does, we have one plea. Make a decision based on what you want. Don’t draw it out to create unnecessary headache for those of us who have to read this stuff. Don’t make it so obviously about you. Consider how your actions affect others. In other words, don’t be Brett Favre.
Thank you Alan for letting me play with the big kids!
