I normally write about politics here – that seems to be my passion.  But, I played a lot of basketball in my youth, I’ve been a fan of the NBA since the days of Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, Sam Jones, John Havlicek, and the rest of the Boston Celtics of the 60’s.  Slowly over the years I’ve lost more and more interest in NBA basketball, and I’ve figured that is a natural progression because I’m “getting up there” in years, and the league seems to be a young person’s league.  That all being said, I can’t help but jot down a few thoughts after this NBA “nightmare” – what appeared to me to be a “circus” – the summer of 2010’s version of “free agency.”  It evidently culminated this evening with Labron James getting an hour on ESPN to explain why he chose to change his team to the Miami Heat from the Cleveland Cavaliers.  I have to tell you that, for me, the entire process was over the “top.”  Yes, I’ve realized for many years that the NBA is entertainment, it’s a business, and there is NO LOYALTY anymore in this league.  It’s every man for himself – and, this version of free agency couldn’t have played that scenario out any better.

However, in my mind I see a lot of problems with it.  First and foremost, I have to admit that for years I’ve been watching, and admiring, Lebron James from afar and secretly REALLY pulling for him.  In fact, this past season I found myself very disappointed when his team was eliminated from the playoffs.  Now, if I remember correctly, James was the brunt of some tough criticism from the Cleveland fans – for quitting, of all things – after their team was eliminated by the Celtics – who, without their center being injured in the 7th game of the finals very possibly would have won this year’s championship.  Still, I was hoping that James would set an example for all other future players and re-sign with Cleveland – saying “NO” to all the “large market” teams who were essentially throwing games for two years in order to have the “cap space” to make a pitch for his services.  In this case, James not only said “NO” to Cleveland, he said “NO” to any opportunity to be anything more than one piece of a championship team by choosing to “load up” the Miami Heat with himself, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosch – the three top prospects in this free agent “class.”  Earth to the NBA – “The inmates are running the assylum.”

How will this play out?  Well, for me – I’m guessing a lot less interest in the NBA – for starters.  For the fans everywhere except Miami – a team to HATE.  For James – a LOT LESS fans.  In fact, I believe the number of fans who will be pulling for him just went down exponentially.  Was he saying that he’s not good enough to win a championship on his own?  Do they really think loading up three “superstars” on one team is the answer?  They will probably win a champoinship or two – barring injury – but, why doesn’t the NBA just put our Olympic Team together so they can work on their “teamwork” in the off years?  I just found the entire process boring and, at the end, something akin to professional wrestling.  Does the NBA want to create a team that everyone HATES?  Is there some research that would suggest this will draw more interest?  The bottom line for me is that I never thought there would be a way I could root for the Lakers to win – but, the NBA has done it – that is, if I root for anyone in the NBA anymore.  If the Miami Heat get out of the first round of the playoffs next year – I hope they meet their match when they go up against the Lakers (I never thought I’d say something like that) – I just don’t think I’ll be paying attention.

I wrote those three paragraphs the night James “opted out” of Cleveland.  While I found the reaction of the Cleveland owner to be of a similar lack of “class” to the way James “left town,” after thinking about this a bit more it seems to me these players conspired to do this for several years – based on what I’ve read.  The NBA has problems – and one of the major problems is the players are out of control.  Once they gain a foothold into the league, lawyers and agents “latch” onto them – and they become “businessmen.”  I looked at the salaries being paid to the second tier of free agents and couldn’t help but shake my head.  Obviously, the depression (or great recession) hasn’t totally hit the NBA.  But, someone has to pay for the salaries of those players.  Lebron James gained NO SYMPATHY from my by saying he took “less” to play in Miami.  These people have lost touch with reality – yes, they’re really good at what they do – but it’s BASKETBALL for heaven’s sake.  I suppose the only part that is really disappointing to me is that I was disappointed to see that LeBron James was willing to be Dwayne Wade’s “Scottie Pippen.”  Connecting this to America’s political climate – there seems to be an endless stream of money at the “top,” but – at some point – the people at the “bottom” are going to stop finding all this “entertaining.”