What’s In An Ego?

After watching the Heat/Celtics series I came to a few realizations. LeBron doesn’t play for Cleveland anymore (I know I’m slow) and he is a decent player (I’m a Cavs fan it took a lot to say that). And it really got me thinking about his leaving. And not in the twitter/blogs way of “he could have done this in Cleveland”.

Over and over again we are punishing him for something that we regular Joes and Joe-ettes do on a regular basis. Really, it isn’t all that different. I worked hard, got job at company A where I thought everything was great, and thought I would never leave.

Then along came company B who offered twice the opportunities of company A, and what happened, duh of course I went to company B. The only difference is we are obsessed with LeBron’s job. He worked hard, got job with company A then saw better potential at company B and went.

Now I refuse to change my way of thinking that the way he did it was tacky and tasteless, and as Cleveland fans what do we attribute that to? Oh yes his massive ego.

Where did THAT come from?

We acted as though he should be grateful for what we gave him. “He can’t go look at what we have put into this kid”! “His ego got in the way!”

Ok now take a deep breath before thinking about killing me…..better? Good.

Now where do you suppose LeBron got this ego that we blame so much? We gave it to him. All of us in Northeast Ohio who pay attention to our basketball. I live in Canton/Akron and had the opportunity to watch him grow up.

Here are just a few examples:

• Who packed his high school gym for every game?
• Who stood outside practices and games waiting for autographs?
• Who flocked to local parks on rumors he would be in pick-up games?
• Who parted the Red Sea at the malls and movie theatres?
• Who told the kid he was the best ever?
• Who told him that he was the King?

That’s right we did. We helped build the king and the ego that went with it. And in typical fan fashion no one cared or made a peep until he left. Then out came the claws. I know it is a part of being a fan, but now that the fire has died down it’s time to move on and see things for what they are.

- Racheal Sayers