After the 2010 NBA season ended with the Los Angeles Lakers beating the Boston Celtics in a Game 7 thriller, Free Agent and Ohio native, LeBron James announced to the sports universe on the ESPN Special: “The Decision” that he would be “taking his talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat.” and those few words changed everything we knew about LeBron.
LeBron James with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade formed “The Big 3” during his four-year tenure in Miami
Basketball fans were talking, his decision made national news, and the citizens of Cleveland were heartbroken. Many Cleveland Fans decided to show their frustration by burning his jersey and publicly denouncing him from their hurting city.
Cleveland Cavalier fans had bonfires, torching anything that had LeBron James on it
on July 10, 2010, LeBron joined Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, forming “The Big 3.” Miami threw a big party for the three mega stars, and during the celebration, LeBron made a bold statement saying that “We will win not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven but eight championships.” And during these four years, Miami has gone to the NBA Finals four consecutive times and won two out of four championships.
As fate would have it, after the 2014 NBA Finals, LeBron became a free agent. learning from his past and the mistakes he made on announcing his decision, he decided to send a well-written essay to Sports Illustrated.com and said “Cleveland, I’m coming home.” Those four words completely wiped out all the bad doings he had done to Cleveland.
He says in his essay that “Akron is my home, it’s where I walked, where I ran, where I cried, and where I bled. It holds a special place in my heart.” He also tells the loyal fans of Cleveland that “I’m not promising a championship, I know how hard that is.”
LeBron’s run in Miami made him a marked man, a villain, and possibly the most hated athlete in the NBA. Many critics had a field day when LeBron’s poor performance in the 2011 NBA Finals cost Miami the championship. Many laughed at LeBron, but all he ever did was train and focus on winning championships.
Once he won his rings, things still didn’t feel right. It felt weird seeing that LeBron never won championship for his home team, where he was born. Now that he is back in Cleveland, it seems that all the sins he has committed to the fans of Cleveland and Ohio have seemingly been wiped away.
LeBron pulls back for his famous “Tomahawk Dunk”
And his presence has changed Cleveland for the better, they have made multiple free agent moves signing players that have a close relationship to LeBron, including former Miami Heat Teammates Mike Miller, and James Jones. They also signed NBA Veteran, Shawn Marion. And they made the biggest move trading Prospect Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett to the Minnesota Wolves for Kevin Love.
LeBron may have left South Beach, and a fanbase that has endured all the hate the critics have given to LeBron these past 4 years. He may have left a dynasty in the making, but It only feels right that he finishes his career in Cleveland, it’s only right that he rights all the wrongs he has done, and it’s just right that he gives what any person in Cleveland, Ohio wants – a championship.
LeBron is excited after nailing a 3 pointer during the Cavaliers vs Pistons Game.
So fans of Cleveland, rejoice and get ready for the ride of your life as LeBron James takes you on his personal journey to bringing a championship to your city.
