CONFLICTED INTERESTS

At least he was honest when he arrested the attention of millions last week to announce his move to the Miami Heat. That’s all I could think when I finally sat down and viewed 10 minutes of the 1-hour ESPN special that revealed where the “King” will offer his services next season. Lebron James repeatedly referred to his own happiness and the best opportunity to win as primary reasons for his departure from Cleveland. It was a quintessential business decision…business from a financial perspective and business from the vantage point of a throneless king. Can you think of a more heralded athlete in the modern era who, despite being freakishly gifted, has no championship at the level he is said to dominate?

Of the 3 Mi-Egos, Lebron’s situation is the most peculiar because he’s not only leaving a franchise but a city whose fans and business community bet the farm on a local kid drafted straight out of high school. The projected losses to business as a result of James’ departure is $20-$40 million. Fans are burning those expensive replica jerseys that might actually be worth something one day. Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert has gotten into the mix labeling Lebron a coward and a narcissistic traitor. In his open letter, Gilbert called the move to Miami a “heartless and callous action.” Did I miss something here? Has Lebron done something heinous or has he done what the culture of the NBA sustains, opportunism at its finest.

Isn’t this the same NBA that used to draft kids out of high school whether they were Lebron or Leon Smith? I don’t remember NBA owners being especially interested in loyalty what with their ability and responsibility to move franchises forward toward bringing championships to cities. Gilbert has villified a guy who gave seven of his prime years to his hometown. And while the griping is certainly understandable, the malice seems excessive. The people of Cleveland have been incited by the classic ad hominem fallacy, that the dearly departed king was a louse and we shoulda neva laid eyes on him. One business man has attacked another using emotional appeal as the argument type. It’s neither novel nor civil but it can save your investment lest you be accused as the guy who let the franchise get away.