Villain? Really? Isn’t that a little harsh for an athlete that simply left a team to further his career and pursue championships? Yes, villain is harsh and unwarranted. LeBron did what hundreds of athletes do every year; leave a team for more money or a better opportunity. LeBron saw what was in store for him in Cleveland – a mediocre team with little opportunity to compete for a title in the near future. LeBron has stated over and over again that he wants to win. Thus, he left the Cavaliers to compete for titles as a member of the Miami Heat. I have absolutely no issue with LeBron leaving. I would leave too. Leaving Cleveland didn’t make LeBron a villain; it made him a professional athlete.

It’s the way LeBron left Cleveland that made him a villain, an ego-centered imbecile, and a heartless diva. Donating $2.5 million to a national charity won’t forgive the shamelessness of LeBron’s self-serving telecast. He might as well have sat there with both middle fingers extended for the full hour. He screwed Cleveland, he screwed the NBA, he screwed his legacy, and he unknowingly screwed himself. The king looked more like court jester on Thursday night.

If it’s true that LeBron knew he was headed to Miami since his season ended, then he truly is a dog. You have some serious vanity issues if you allow five other franchises to court you and tell you how great you are while all along knowing you’d be heading elsewhere. No person with an ounce of humility would concoct such a situation, and only a person with no awareness would allow it to play out to completion.

There’s no defending LeBron on this. I agree he doesn’t owe Cleveland anything, but they certainly don’t owe him anything either. He came to Cleveland a high school kid with no titles. He left Cleveland an NBA superstar with no titles. To recap; in terms of winning, LeBron accomplished nothing. He left a loser.

When he referred to himself in the third person on his hour long telecast (that was as awkward and painful as a colonoscopy), it became painfully clear that this guy is out of control. He’s been babied, spoiled, and gone undisciplined for his entire career. So naturally, when it came to choosing a destination, he chose where he thought he could win titles the easiest. Maybe the great LeBron James isn’t as confident in his abilities as he would like us all to believe.

What LeBron doesn’t understand is that winning titles isn’t easy. It wasn’t easy for Jordan, Bird, Magic, Isiah, Duncan, Kobe, Shaq, or anyone else. Jordan didn’t flee Chicago after struggling to reach the Finals in the early stages of his career, nor did Tim Duncan join forces with Grant Hill in Orlando as age began to creep up on the 2000 San Antonio Spurs. Both managed to capture multiple titles because they overcame. They were true champions. Running to a stacked team doesn’t guarantee championships either. Just ask Karl Malone or Gary Payton.

If it truly was LeBron’s desire to focus on winning and become one of the all time greats, Miami won’t help him. He’ll probably win a few titles, but he’ll undoubtedly hear whispers for the rest of his life about how he needed Wade to capture those titles. His legacy as a player will always have a “needed Dwyane Wade to win title” asterisk beside it, and now his legacy as an individual will always include, “stabbed home city in the back by spurning them for Miami on national TV” – on a telecast HE created nonetheless.

To become legendary, Chicago or New Jersey was the right destination. In either city he would play with young talent and they could all grow into a championship team…HIS team. As Kobe will attest, winning NBA titles as a sidekick doesn’t do much for your “one of the all time greats” resume until you begin adding your own titles on top. So, instead of pursuing his own legacy, LeBron will be riding Wade’s curtails for the foreseeable future. Only time will tell if he ever finds his mojo as the alpha dog on a championship team.

Until then, LeBron James will champion the position of sports greatest villain. And that is no one’s fault but his own.

Has there ever been a more ridiculous circus surrounding one player in the history of sports? Originally, I was entertained by the suspense of where LeBron James would end up. Now I’m appalled at how far these desperate franchises have taken their courting of LeBron. For starters, the guy hasn’t won anything. Not a darn thing. Two MVP awards certainly look nice on his fireplace mantel, but that doesn’t mean anything to the Cavaliers, or to the next generation of fans who may look back on LeBron as one of the most disappointing players in history. After all, MVP trophies aren’t hung from the rafters.

This situation exemplifies everything wrong with sports today. LeBron shouldn’t have ESPN at his disposal to schedule his own destination X press conference. While he’s a freakish athlete and a superior individual talent, LeBron hasn’t steamrolled through the NBA as expected. In fact, his only accomplishment as a member of an NBA team is an Eastern Conference title won when the conference was at its absolute weakest. On the court, he’s Donovan McNabb minus three conference titles. Off the court, he’s more obsessed with his brand and image than winning basketball games. Why couldn’t he approach this process the same way any other free agent would; fly to meet with potential suitors, make a decision, appear at a introductory press conference a day or two later? Is he above it all, or is standard operating procedure too mundane for “King James”?

What an unfitting name. I always laugh when I hear it. I laughed harder when LeBron’s first tweet from his new Twitter account referred to himself as “the King.” To this point of his career, he hasn’t performed like a king…or at least a very good one.

From a historical standpoint, great kings were courageous warriors who conquered adversaries. No-showing games 5 and 6 of the Boston series in the 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals wasn’t exactly warrior-like. Staring blankly at teammates and moping around the court as a veteran team kicked his tail didn’t qualify as courageous either. The list of those he’s conquered? Um, it’s empty. No, LeBron is not a king.

In fact, “King James” reminds me more of Commadus from Gladiator. Like Commadus, LeBron is a little immature and needs attention. He needs to believe the whole world will be waiting on Thursday night as he proclaims where the next chapter of his career will begin. (His camp says the decision is being made live on ESPN because of “unprecedented attention.” Translation: “I’m a big deal. I want everyone to watch me decide.” Whatever.) Unfortunately, one team will hand over their franchise to him and he’ll undoubtedly hold the team, front office, and its fans hostage for the next decade. Has any player, in any sport ever been given so much after accomplishing so little? LeBron obviously didn’t attend college (where upper classman would have reigned in his ego), wasn’t disciplined by coaches in high school, and was never told, “This is the way things are going to be. Deal with it.” Winning happens between the lines, in sweaty gyms, and when the cameras aren’t rolling. Staging a spectacle to announce his destination only proves that LeBron is more in love with being a global icon than earning a legacy that comes with being an NBA champion.

If I’m a GM with money available, I’m throwing everything at Dwyane Wade, not LeBron. Wade has proven he has the competitive fire that Kobe has and Jordan patented. Wade single handedly brought his city a title by attacking the rim with reckless abandon for four straight games even as all five opponents geared to stop him. Sure, he may struggle with injuries over the course of his career, but you can’t teach what Wade has. He isn’t looking to become the next international idol or to be a billionaire businessman. Wade is sick of losing. He wants to win and he knows what it takes to do so. LeBron clearly doesn’t understand winning on that level, nor does he care as much. If he did, he would drop the global brand crap and concentrate on basketball.

Don’t get me wrong, LeBron is one of the best players in the league. Although, I hope for the sake of those young kids who will undoubtedly watch on Thursday night that LeBron never sniffs an NBA title. He’s been given too much by a league that he has yet to champion. He’s been handed endorsements about winning when he really can only endorse charisma and physical superiority. The man isn’t a winner, and yet NBA front offices are creating cartoon sitcoms and international branding campaigns for this guy? Somewhere along the way we as sports fans have lost our edge. Never before have we embraced someone with such unabashed adoration who hasn’t won.

My favorite part about this whole scenario is that 15 years from now history will show that LeBron never lived up to the hype. He never actually earned the adulation that was blindly given to him. LeBron only has 5-7 prime basketball years left. It doesn’t appear that he’ll team with Wade or Bosh, so there are no guarantees that he’ll win even one title. On top of that, there are veteran teams like the Lakers and Celtics still hanging around as well as young up-and-coming teams that will challenge for titles.

One of those up-and-coming teams is led by Kevin Durant, a pure scorer and more capable leader. While LeBron has been prancing around fancy hotels being courted by billionaires, Durant quietly signed a multi-year extension while sitting on the bench supporting the Thunder’s summer league team. Does Durant have to be at summer league? Not at all, but he’s there because he understands winning requires more than just his own efforts. Winning requires a team, a culture, an idea that revolves around a leader more similar to Maximus than Commadus. Maximus shied from glory and conquered with strength and will. Commadus always wanted more, wanted to be the center of everyone’s attention even though he’d never done a single thing to earn it. LeBron falls in line with one of these characters. Unfortunately for whoever signs LeBron, they’ll learn he’s more similar to the one that accomplished nothing, asked for more, and ultimately cared only about his status.

LeBron’s a public figure, a business mogul wannabe. He’s not an NBA legend. He’s not even an NBA champion.

July 1, 2010 marks the beginning of the biggest free agent bonanza the NBA (or any professional league for that matter) has ever seen. I’m a Sixers fan, so regardless of who goes where, my team will still suck. Nevertheless, I can’t wait for the final destinations to be determined.

Let’s be real though, this free agent period is all about two players; Dwayne Wade and LeBron James. Yes, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, and Dirk Nowitzki are all impact players, but Bosh will follow either D-Wade or LeBron (most likely LeBron), Pierce and Dirk are beyond their primes, and Amare and Joe Johnson are amazing NBA talents with no defensive genes. So really, Wade and James are the big rocks thrown in the jar first and everyone else is one of the smaller rocks dropped around them.

From where we stand right now (36 hours until 7/1), the Bulls and Heat are the frontrunners to land the most prized talent in this free agent pool. The most prevalent rumor is that all three max contract players – Wade, LeBron, Bosh – will be joining forces in Miami. The common response is “game over,” as in, “no one else will sniff an NBA title for the next five to eight years.”

If all three unite in Miami they will undoubtedly become the most talented team in the league. Having two of the top five players in the league would also make them extremely difficult to eliminate in a seven game series come playoff time. The only real detriment here is the depth. Many have already noted that the Heat would have a tough time rounding out their roster with anything more than NBA journeyman or undrafted rookies. Others have argued that solid NBA role players will gladly take pay reductions to play with LeBron and Wade. I tend to agree with the latter for two reasons. First, who wouldn’t want to join that team? Neither player is a notorious jerk or lousy teammate, Miami is a nice place, and there’s no personal income tax (so I hear). Secondly, a perceived lack of depth wouldn’t matter too much. Bosh, LeBron and Wade are all in their physical primes. They can put up big minutes all season long; although I highly doubt that will be the case. With as bad as the Eastern Conference is, claiming home court throughout the playoffs won’t be too difficult.

With that said, there is one issue. As great a team as Bosh, James, and Wade would make, how long could they sustain that greatest? I would argue not long. Sure, they’ll probably win a title, maybe even two, but superstars don’t normally last together. Both Wade and LeBron want to be the go-to-guy. As ESPN’s Bill Simmons argues, there can only be one alpha dog on any basketball team. Who will claim that role for the Heat? Will it be Wade because he’s been in Miami his entire career? Or will it be James because he’s the “Chosen One”? What happens if Wade thinks it’s his team and LeBron tries to pry it away or vice versa? Those who argue against these possibilities because the two played together harmoniously in the 2008 Summer Olympics are ignorant. Both players were there for one common goal and more importantly, for a definite length of time. Coming off the bench for a month to help his team win a gold medal was an easy decision for Wade. Deferring to another superstar for 9 months a year for the next half decade is a completely different story. Thus, I’m not convinced they can make it beyond a title or two. After one title egos will start to grow, the desire to be great subsides and selfishness kicks in. Selfishness leads to disruption and disruption leads to confrontation about team leadership and before you know it, you’re the 2004 Los Angeles Lakers.

So where do I want LeBron and Wade to end up? So glad you asked. Here are the top 3 scenarios of how I would like to see the 2010 free agent market – as it pertains to LeBron and Wade – play out (in reverse order):

Scenario 3
LeBron James goes to New York and makes basketball in the Big Apple relevant again for the first time since Patrick Ewing’s flat top. I’m not a Knicks fan. In fact, I hate them, but sports are always more exciting when there’s a big market team that we all love to root against. I can’t root against the Knicks right now. Doing so would be like hoping a second grader gets beat up at recess. If LeBron goes to New York and brings one of the other elite free agents with him, the Knicks immediately become contenders in the Eastern Conference and I can once again root against New York with all the disdain I once held for Ewing and John Starks. As a Sixers fan, what more could one ask? (Well, in addition to my team making some sort of progress after a half decade of stagnancy/regression.)

All three (Bosh, LeBron, Wade) ending up in Miami could also qualify here. It wouldn’t necessarily make the Eastern Conference very competitive, but it would be fascinating to see how LeBron and Wade progress or digress together over the years.

Scenario 2
LeBron James goes to Chicago along with elite free agent forward X and Chris Bosh and “pretty stinkin’ good” free agent X join Dwyane Wade in Miami. As previously mentioned, it’s likely that Bosh will follow LeBron. However, Bosh is the best power forward available and the Heat need front court talent. For my own enjoyment, I want Bosh with Wade in Miami. I love this scenario because LeBron joins a very young team in Chicago with an already talented nucleus and the free agent additions in Miami would hopefully provide Wade with an equally talented group. This would make the Eastern Conference Finals one of the most exciting series in all of sports for the next handful of years. Raise your hand if you wouldn’t want to see LeBron James and Dwyane Wade go head to head in a seven game series once a year for the right to advance to the NBA Finals. Anyone? Anyone? I didn’t think so. (I also secretly love this scenario because I personally think Wade is the better player and I’d get a kick out of seeing him outduel LeBron in a seven game series on an annual basis. By the way, I just added “LeBron” and “Dwyane” to my Microsoft Word dictionary. THAT’S how big of a deal they are.)

Scenario 1
This is by far my favorite scenario and unfortunately, also the most unrealistic. Ok, it’s virtually impossible. Imagine this: LeBron, Bosh, and Wade all have a gentlemen’s agreement to take less money and join forces in Miami. However, right before it all becomes official, LeBron begins to have doubts about sharing the spotlight with Wade and secretly considers going to Chicago. Wade finds out and makes a preemptive strike and signs with the Bulls. (Very, very, very unlikely because Wade publicly insulted the Bulls front office, but allow me to continue.) LeBron is obviously furious and signs with the next best thing; a young and talented nucleus in New Jersey. Because neither the Bulls nor the Nets can sign two max contract players, Bosh is left out in the cold and signs with team X (back to obscurity, Mr. Bosh). Wade returns to his hometown of Chicago. LeBron ultimately ends up in Brooklyn. The NBA has two of its most marketable players in two of its biggest markets. Even better, LeBron finally starts taking the game more seriously simply to beat Wade, and Wade is always locked in knowing LeBron is gunning for him. (How motivated would LeBron be? Imagine him going toe to toe with Delonte West – who allegedly slept with LeBron’s mom – for a seven game series every year, only Wade doesn’t suck and doesn’t have West’s creepy facial hair.) What’s more (and this is my favorite part), the NBA has two super-duper stars that no longer like each other. No more friendly handshakes before big games. No more kissy face quotes about one another to the media. No sir. I’m all for peace and friendship but I think we need a little animosity in the NBA. Due to their feud, the Nets and Bulls evolve as the most heated rivalry in the league, and LeBron and Wade fuel the fires. Every spring we’re treated to an Eastern Conference Final between two amazing players that don’t get along. Dual triple doubles, insults through the media, and legendary performances as LeBron and Wade go title for title over the next half decade? Yes please! Will it happen? No, but tell me that wouldn’t be the most amazing outcome of NBA Free Agent Bonanza 2010? You can’t.

To start, the playoffs happened. While cliché, the playoffs really are an entirely new season. The Flyers, Washington Capitals, and Montreal Canadiens have all proven as much. The Flyers spent most of the 2009-2010 season overcoming injuries and fighting off accusations of locker room issues. Instead of folding and looking toward next year, the Flyers regrouped to become the grittiest team in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They erased the overwhelmingly favored New Jersey Devils with relative ease in round one, and followed that up by treating fans to one of the greatest comebacks in history. Overcoming a three games to none deficit is an amazing accomplishment. We could spend 1,200 words describing such a feat. As enjoyable as that may be, let’s focus on what enabled the Flyers to pull off the greatest comeback the NHL has seen in thirty years.

As previously mentioned, the Flyers have overcome a rash of injuries, both in the regular season and the playoffs. They’ve essentially advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals with two goalies that were each listed as the team’s third goalie at one point this season. The Flyer’s top scorer and most lethal offensive threat (Jeff Carter) struggled through a rough year and was essentially lost for the playoffs early in the first round. Another offensive threat and veteran leader was also injured for a chunk of the playoffs and just recently returned to action. With or without those injuries, the Flyers are hardly one of the NHL’s elite squads anyway (as far as talent is concerned). Ask any NHL fan from outside the Delaware Valley to name two players from the Philadelphia Flyers and they’ll respond, “Chris Pronger” and “Ron Hextall.” The Flyers aren’t laden with superstars or marquee players. They’re a hardworking, resolute group that have found their groove at the right time, and refuse to roll over when logic tells them they should. (This was perfectly exemplified in game 4 when the Bruins tied the game in the final minutes to force overtime. Most teams down 0-3 in that situation close up shop. The Flyers outplayed Boston in overtime to stay alive and momentum shifted to the Flyers. Tying the game late and then losing was the worst possible scenario for Boston. It gave too much confidence to Philadelphia and deflated Boston more than an outright loss would have. All the pressure immediately shifted to Boston. They never recovered.) Like the city they represent, these Flyers are fighters. They’re Rocky Balboa, Vince Papale, and Bobby Clarke all wrapped into one.

While noble, overcoming injuries and playing with heart isn’t enough to win in the playoffs. An unheralded complementary cast is necessary to succeed. Scottie Hartnell and Claude Giroux won’t make Sportscenter’s Top Plays on a nightly basis, but they will make a difference in a long series. TNT’s basketball analyst, Doug Collins often uses the term, “50/50” plays. These are the small plays that appear insignificant but ultimately decide a series. Obviously, they’re referred to as 50/50 plays because they’re entirely up for grabs. These plays aren’t given freely though, they’re earned. Hustle, hard work, determination, and grit win most 50/50 plays. Hartnell and Giroux have provided the Flyers with an overwhelming majority of 50/50 plays. Giroux has an uncanny ability to find the open man and create offense, while Hartnell has thrown his body around to clear a puck, insight some energy, and even score a significant goal when needed. These guys are pocket knives. Whatever you need from them, they’re willing and able to provide it. You can’t win in the playoffs without “pocket knife” players.

In addition to the pocket knives, a successful playoff team requires heroic performances. Even though he looks as if he skates in mud through open ice, Chris Pronger has proven his worth throughout these playoffs. He’s big, mean, and more importantly, the reason Flyer goalies have had mostly clear views of the shots coming their way. Pronger clears the front of the net like a plow, and he isn’t afraid to deliver or absorb a severe blow in the process.

On the offensive end, the Flyers are getting “who are you, and what did you do with your old self?” performances from Danny Briere and Simon Gagne. Fittingly, both players have been tagged as career underachievers for the Flyers. In the second round especially, Briere and Gagne have carried the scoring load. Both scored goals at critical junctures of the series. Gagne returned from injury to net the overtime game winner to avoid the sweep in game four, and then sealed the series with his late 3^rd period goal in game 7. Briere has scored big goals throughout the series as well and has also been a catalyst for the Flyers offense. It took awhile, but Briere is finally playing like the player the Flyers thought they were getting when they plucked him from Buffalo three years ago.

Even more critical to the Flyers success is the character of the team. The Flyers never stop fighting, always play with urgency, and never believe they’re finished. These characteristics are all a direct reflection of leadership. In hockey terms, the Flyers’ captain is a bad man. That man is Mike Richards. Over the past two seasons, Richards has received harsh criticism for his leadership skills-he’s not tough enough, not focused, stays out too late, etc… Well guess what? When your team claws its way back from a 0-3 deficit to win a seven game series, that means your captain knows what he’s doing, and he’s doing it well.

Great athletes rise from adverse situations. It took Richards some time to figure out his role as captain, but he’s certainly responded to that call now. Watch any Flyers game over the past month and one player will stick out. He’s the player that goes all out for an entire shift. He scores, he facilitates, he defends, he fights, he hits, and he’s the fiercest player on the ice. For lack of a better term, he RUMBLES. Now look at that man’s number; it’s number 18. Mike Richards has grown into the leadership role the Flyers knew he was capable of when they slapped that “C” on his sweater. He couldn’t have picked a better time.

The Flyers playoff run is full of feel-good stories and obviously, a historic revival. They discarded long time nemesis Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils in round one, poetically fought off a 0-3 series deficit to win game seven 4-3 after trailing 0-3 early in the first period, and have managed to gain home ice for the conference finals as a seventh seed. It’s a great story. Now here’s the inconvenient truth of the situation; if the Flyers don’t win the Stanly Cup, or at the very least advance to the Cup Finals, it will all be mostly forgotten.

I know, I know, you’re angry and think I’m wrong. Settle down and listen. It’s not fun, but this is the way sports work. If the Boston Red Sox don’t go on to win the 2004 World Series after storming back from 0-3 against the Yankees, do we remember that comeback like we do today? No, not really. Maybe we remember the comeback, but it’s severely watered down. Look at 4^th and 26. It was/is perhaps the greatest play in NFL playoff history. Unfortunately, the miraculous fourth down conversion is mostly ignored in the sports world because the Eagles wet the bed against Carolina in the NFC Championship. If a title doesn’t follow a great playoff moment, that moment is ultimately for naught. It’s a harsh reality, but also very true.

Right now the Flyers’ second round comeback against the Boston Bruins is historic. For it to become legendary, a parade down Broad Street must ensue. We remember the Red Sox’s rally in the ALCS because they won the World Series. We adore Rocky’s determination and toughness because he eventually took down Ivan Drago. Without a Stanley Cup, we’ll have a nice story and fond memories of the 2010 Flyers, but nothing legendary.