[StarbucksSucksParticipant]

Have you ever fallen in love and had your heart broken in the same day? I have, twice. The first was the day the Seattle Supersonics drafted Durant. I attended 20 or more games a year and it was sickening to see the first blooms of greatness only to know your politicians, the baseball loving populace (safeco field/ key arena?), the evil hobbit Stern, and scumbag Schultz conspire to destroy the pro basketball in my city. Watching a spindly Durant jack up sweet jumpers couldn’t erase the knowledge that this arena would be empty very soon. I did not want to believe but I always knew the team was gone.

I imagine being from Ohio must be like being a Sonics fan. You have witnessed greatness, someone local whose talents were so profound you live vicariously through them. Ever dunk, dime, board, or block made you fall a little more in love with the boy you were watching grow into a man before your very eyes. But Cleveland, ask yourself in your heart didn’t you always know. The knowledge that somewhere deep in your heart that the hero you loved so deeply had stars in his eyes? The yankees caps? The association with rap stars? Like every young man he grew. With every inch and pound he was slowly outgrowing his home. You loved him but you knew, always, that someday soon he would break your heart. Would any of the great singers or actors ever have been great if they did not migrate to LA or NY? I know it hurts right now because the one you loved has spurned you to chase his dreams. Dreams he thought would never come true at home. leBron is a young man who is still learning, and he has every right, or obligation really, to take his gifts to the place where he feels he can realize greatness. To those who say he took the easy way out, I ask, what is more difficult than leaving everything you have ever known or loved and reaching for the highest star? If he had failed in Cleveland it would have been accepted, hell anticipated really, he could have easily smiled his way into being the new Barkley. Now if he fails his legacy is on the line. The pressure to succeed now will be enormous. I know your heart is broken now but you may be falling in love without knowing it, after all the King of Akron has left on his crusade, taking all his superhuman gifts with him. If he is successful, if his team breaks records, 72 wins, fourpeat, and he plays a leading role, you the citizens of Ohio should own that. The kid from NE Ohio hit the bigtime.

LeBron is my favorite player. That said he let me down. His failure to maintain focus through the West/Gloria fiasco, his unchecked ego, his aloof nature, his stupid tv special…Boo. But for the same reason that I still wear my Sonics Durant jersey, I will cheer for Lebron. Before Durant ever wore an OKC jersey he was a Sonic, he will always be a Sonic. Long before he ever pulls on a Miami jersey Lebron was a talented kid from Ohio who made us all hold our breath and think of what might be. Own it, celebrate it. The boy who would be king finally made a man’s decision. Unfortunately like most kings his quest takes him far from the land he CALLS home. Will he ever earn his moniker? Who knows? But Ohio if he does, no one, not the king himself will ever forget where he honed the skills that got him there. I wanted him to stay. I wanted him to lift Cleveland to new heights. He broke my heart tonight. At least you still have a team, and therefore hope. But when I think of Wade, Bosh, and Bron running a one dribble fast break, culminated with a Wade no look to Bron, who jumps from impossibly far away to slam it home I think somewhere inside I feel the seed of new love growing. I hope for your sake Ohio, your heart is not irreparably broken, and somewhere inside you still feel the love to.

[buckeyefanParticipant]

Man this is a really good article. Thanks for the support to Ohio!

[buckeyefanParticipant]

Man this is a really good article. Thanks for the support to Ohio!

[buckeyefanParticipant]

Wifi was going slow must have been pressing reply to much.

[sheltwon3Participant]

Dude your writing is very good man, you need to write for like ESPN or some well know sport site or something.

[MkadozaParticipant]

ESPN would never hire him. His insight has way too much perspective, not enough childish references, rhetorical question meant to make the reader feel stupid for not knowing, and overall way too mature of a tone.

That was honestly the best Lebron James article I’ve read in years.

Aran!! Get this published to the front page of the site NAO!!!!!

[Author]

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