More often than not, sports pundits love to point out what is wrong with professional sports across the board.
Lately, sports analysts personalities, such as ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, have reveled in their moment by picking apart the brawl between the Pacers and the Pistons two weeks ago. Rather than waste your time on the subject, the one I expressed my opinion on earlier in the year, I prefer to talk about what is right in sports. I should clarify, what is right in one sport in particular: basketball.
After watching the sheer thuggery of NBA players, and the stupidity and sophomoric behavior of inebriated fans, Americans are looking down their noses at NBA prima donnas. Instead, people should look to athletes who are setting examples for children both on and off the court. One athlete in particular has reshaped an entire city's mindset on numerous levels. He is, of course, LeBron James.
Cleveland is a proud city where professional sports misery is a way of life: A city cursed by heartbreak, near-misses, John Elway's drive, Willie Mays' catch and Michael Jordan's jumper.
A town tormented by Earnest Byner's fumble, Edgar Renteria's line drive, Red Right 88 and Tommy Maddox's arm. And if you're a true Cleveland fan you will bark in the "dawg pound" till your lungs give out, pound the bleachers at the Jake as John Adams beats his drum and paint your face orange and brown, red and blue and wine and gold year in and year out.
Cleveland fans never give up, yet at the same time, never have anything to give up on.
Sure, the Tribe had their run of championships in the '90s. But that was in the central division, at a time when the Twins were rebuilding, the White Sox were also-rans, the Tigers were mired in inconsistency and the Royals were, well, the Royals. The Browns have not won anything since the '60s and their plight, as of late, is depressing.
Yet, as you walk through the streets of downtown Cleveland, people have an ear-to-ear grin on their face, a la number 23.
Yes, LeBron James, the man-child you have heard about since his sophomore year of high school, is living up to the hype, and in the right way. Too often, we see stars in various sports leagues put up big numbers, but at the expense of the team. Sure Allen Iverson, I bet you will score 30 points tonight, but it's on 10-32 shooting, and your team loses.
That is why people do not like professional athletes. They look out for number one, and number one is often themselves.
That is why to watch LeBron is a breath of fresh air in comparison to the usual athlete. The most telling stat line of LeBron's season came a few nights ago when he put up 43 points against the Detroit Pistons. Normally a 43-point effort comes at the expense of teammates, but not with LeBron.
LeBron scored his 43, and only one other player was in double figures for the Cavaliers. However, LeBron still had five assists and scored 43 on 15-22 shooting. That is shooting at 68 percent. Those kinds of numbers are unheard of for a perimeter player. That is the difference. LeBron gets his points, but he does not force it: He lets it come within the flow of the offense, and keeps his teammates involved.
That is what makes him so much fun to watch: He is the consummate team player.
For example, LeBron is currently the second-leading scorer in the NBA, behind Kobe Bryant. James, however, ranks in the top 15 in the league in assists and 16th in field- goal percentage.
Those are not the kind of rankings fans become accustomed to from their small forwards. Kobe is right behind LeBron at just out of the top 15 in assists, but ranks 96th in field-goal percentage. That is what makes LeBron such a talent.
Great players come and go often; legends come along once in blue moon. Penny Hardaway was a great player; Grant Hill was a great player; Vince Carter never lived up to the hype.
But LeBron, Larry and Magic– those are legends that played the game within the team concept and made their teammates better players. Players are drawn to him, and so are fans, as they should be.
With all that is wrong today in sports, should fans not have someone to be a beacon of hope? LeBron already has the weight of a city and a franchise on his shoulders, why not the entire league?
Tonight LeBron leads his Cavaliers, who have won nine of their last 10, against Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets at 9:30 on TNT.
I recognize we are not in an NBA city, but surely this kid you have been hearing about and now are watching mature and dazzle before your eyes is reason enough to give the NBA a second chance. And I mean, hey, LeBron is younger than more than 50 percent of this campus, just remember that.
