The Indecision

So it's almost here. "The Decision" that will shake up the NBA for the next decade. Will LeBron James join Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade in Miami, join Amare Stoudemire in New York, become a billionaire in New Jersey, not live up to Michael Jordan in Chicago, or remain loyal to the city that raised him in Cleveland?

My wish is that LeBron will stay in Cleveland. He will be praised for his loyalty and humility by staying with his hometown that he has enthralled for the last 7 years. The hometown hero image is one that Kobe or Michael never had and LeBron would be the first such superstar the NBA has ever seen, if he wins a championship for the disgruntled city.

My fear is that he will go to Miami. Not that they will challenge the Lakers for the title, but that LeBron will have given up his life for a ring. Greatness is when you can build a dynasty with the same team your entire career. Kobe, Michael, Dwayne Wade even, Magic, Kareem, Bird... the list goes on. Also, the hometown hero image would not be anymore. LeBron should listen to more Bob Marley: "Don't gain the world, and lose your soul." LeBron would sell his soul to join Miami and maybe gain a world champion, but karma would be on his heels, nipping like a chiwawa.

My wallet would say that LeBron goes to the Nets. In 2005, LeBron said that he wants to be a billionaire (so freaking bad). New Jersey would make that possible with the franchise moving to Brooklyn soon and Mikhail Prokhorov being a worldwide business man. It is rumored that in their presentation to LeBron, Prokhorov pulled down a map of the world with cities that he has done business in highlighted. LeBron would be a superstar in each of these cities and countries. He would become a global superstar if he joined the Nets and eventually, a billionaire.

He could also become a global superstar with the Clippers. No joke here, Kobe is a huge star in China, the biggest star in the NBA. This is because the time change from the west coast to China is less drastic than from anywhere else in the country and the Chinese are able to watch games on the west coast more easily than games from the east coast.

My prediction is that LeBron will think of himself and join Miami. No income tax there, which would mean extra money for him. Maybe a ring or two unless the Lakers or Thunder have anything to say about it. But he would not be the "king" of Miami. That crown belongs to Dwayne Wade and it always will. Have fun being a side kick and not being able to be relied on in the postseason. Artest shuts down LeBron, Kobe shuts down Dwade, and Gasol embarrasses Bosh. The list goes on about how much better our team is than that one that was bought.

And as you throw that chalk up in Miami, thinking about choking again in a big playoff game, at least you'll have Dwade and Bosh for a couple shoulders to cry on. Karma LeBron.