When LeBron left Cleveland for Miami I hated everything about it. I hated The Decision and the way he went about it. I hated the party where he guaranteed not 6, not 7, not 8 rings. I hated that the people in Cleveland thought he abandoned them. It was just bad all around and I hated LeBron for it.
I've come back around though.
Photo courtesy of the Associated Press
Year 2 in Miami, LeBron decided he didn't want to be the bad guy (a role I think his buddy Dwyane Wade surely encouraged). LeBron started to change his image. He went back to being more humble and saying the right things. He became likable again.
Now, he's going home to Cleveland and it's perfect.
Personally, I don't have a vested interest in the Cavs. However, I do see the things that the rust-belt cities like Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo and Pittsburgh are going through. I think it's great that an athlete of LeBron's caliber can help his hometown by playing for the hometown team. His reach is going to go so much further than just the team. The residents of the area will have something to root and cheer for. LeBron will be big with youth groups and charities and help to inspire people to do more. That's a great thing for the city.
LeBron made a huge mistake by handling his exit from Cleveland the way he did. I do, however, think it was good for him. As he said in his SI piece, going to Miami was like going away to college. It helped him grow and mature and now he can come home a better man and have an even bigger impact on his community.
I've come back around though.
Photo courtesy of the Associated Press
Year 2 in Miami, LeBron decided he didn't want to be the bad guy (a role I think his buddy Dwyane Wade surely encouraged). LeBron started to change his image. He went back to being more humble and saying the right things. He became likable again.
Now, he's going home to Cleveland and it's perfect.
Personally, I don't have a vested interest in the Cavs. However, I do see the things that the rust-belt cities like Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo and Pittsburgh are going through. I think it's great that an athlete of LeBron's caliber can help his hometown by playing for the hometown team. His reach is going to go so much further than just the team. The residents of the area will have something to root and cheer for. LeBron will be big with youth groups and charities and help to inspire people to do more. That's a great thing for the city.
LeBron made a huge mistake by handling his exit from Cleveland the way he did. I do, however, think it was good for him. As he said in his SI piece, going to Miami was like going away to college. It helped him grow and mature and now he can come home a better man and have an even bigger impact on his community.
