There are so many things I’ve taken for granted in my life. I always knew my late father would let me borrow a maximum of $100 until payday, and the cheeseburger at that hole-in-the-wall joint I frequented would always taste the same. It’s easy to be complacent and certainly you can classify me as often not realizing how fortunate I am to experience certain things in life and not just the unparalleled joy I personally derive from sports.
That being said, I thought about something recently as I sat in Bankers Life Fieldhouse watching the Indiana Pacers battle Cleveland in Game 4 of the NBA playoffs. LeBron Raymone James Sr. is the best basketball player in the world, and someday he will ride off into the sunset leaving me wanting more.
Sure, his life after basketball will be even more meaningful — and we’ll continue to feel his tremendous presence in the business world — but I will no longer be able to watch him dominate the game of professional basketball, and that is simply a shame. Look, I’m not trying to show him the door, as he’s still an incredible physical specimen by virtue of a training regimen that most people couldn’t maintain for five minutes. He’s still competing at a level that no other player can emulate, and with any help at all from his teammates, he can still take Cleveland to the NBA Finals for a showdown with Golden State. But the fact remains, King James is in the twilight of his career and as an NBA junkie, I do not want him to leave the stage. Selfishly, I want more.
Those facts aside, what puzzles me is how so many fans can actually boo this guy when he comes to their town and sells out every seat and parking spot in the house. Forget the financial windfall he creates and just look at the marvel the man is on the basketball floor. Doesn’t that overshadow the fact he generally crushes the hometown team in a fashion that demands our respect as those who follow the game? Of course it does. The hostility registered toward James recently here in our fair city is beyond comprehension, and I for one can’t begin to understand it.
Sure, I understand the desire to support the home team, and yes, the Pacers have clearly over achieved this year, giving those, who unlike me, pay their hard earned money to get into something to be happy about. The buzz in the building was rather intense, and it clearly helped the Blue and Gold, especially when they fell behind by big margins. As loud as that support was, it actually paled in comparison to the deafening boos aimed at LeBron every time he lowered the boom on the home team. It’s clear to me that whatever the element is that drives that disdain, it clouds the judgment of those who can’t for whatever reason appreciate what we are seeing from James, and recognize how rare this type of athletic talent actually is.
Look, this isn’t his professional obituary or a personal tribute. I’m simply scratching my bald head wondering why there isn’t more appreciation for what can only be described as a rare and unique athlete. Want to comprise a list of players who warrant the praise this old scribe is bestowing upon him? You won’t need a big piece of paper for that endeavor. Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Julius Erving, George McGinnis, Earvin Johnson, Kobe Bryant, and of course, Michael Jordan. That’s it folks, short and sweet. All the more reason to acknowledge this final phase of James’ career and savor it, and for goodness’ sake, don’t miss the remaining episodes.
So, as I sign off and sit back awaiting the the hate mail from Pacers fans, I for one look forward to watching LeBron play every opportunity that is left. It’s like an eclipse or a classic car, as they simply don’t come along that often. Join me if you like, or sit back and take him for granted, but I promise you this, you will regret it if you don’t embrace the final chapters of this epic masterpiece. When he’s gone, that’s it, and what a shame it will be.
Danny Bridges, who might be the only person outside the city of Cleveland who wants LeBron James to battle Golden State in the NBA Finals just one more time, can be reached at (317) 370-8447 or at Bridgeshd@aol.com
