I’m a die-hard Knicks fan. Some of my fondest sports-related moments have been Allan Houston’s game-winning shot against the Miami Heat, Larry Johnson’s four-point play against the Indiana Pacers, Patrick Ewing sending New York to the 1994 NBA Finals with
I’m a die-hard Knicks fan. Some of my fondest sports-related moments have been Allan Houston’s game-winning shot against the Miami Heat, Larry Johnson’s four-point play against the Indiana Pacers, Patrick Ewing sending New York to the 1994 NBA Finals with a put-back dunk and John Starks’ emphatic left-handed slam over the Chicago Bulls.
I’m a die-hard Knicks fan.
Some of my fondest sports-related moments have been Allan Houston’s game-winning shot against the Miami Heat, Larry Johnson’s four-point play against the Indiana Pacers, Patrick Ewing sending New York to the 1994 NBA Finals with a put-back dunk and John Starks’ emphatic left-handed slam over the Chicago Bulls.
The love I’ve given to this franchise has only been equaled by the hatred I have manifested for the two biggest Knick heels of my lifetime: Reggie Miller and Isiah Thomas.
The former destroyed a number of our best seasons, the latter destroyed the last decade of New York basketball.
Alright, Isiah arrived in 2003, so it was only the majority of the last decade.
Coincidentally, LeBron James also made his NBA arrival in 2003.
Since bursting on the scene, LeBron has become the league’s biggest draw, its biggest natural talent and the player whose ceiling seems to extend beyond the reach of even Michelangelo.
Now, after seven seasons in the league, LeBron is out on the open market, free to sign wherever he so chooses and determine the type of legacy he hopes to achieve.
After nine straight losing seasons and not having won a playoff series since 2000, Knicks fans have had their eyes on July 1, 2010 for what seems to be an eternity. Once general manager Donnie Walsh got rid of Isiah and began cleaning house to put together enough salary cap space to woo LeBron and the running mate of his choice, the possibilities were so tantalizing that they just seemed destined to become reality.
I have certainly been along for the ride in full force, feeling that anything except seeing James in the blue and orange would be an utter failure. He became the be all, end all.
This past season’s playoffs gave so many indications that he was ready to leave Cleveland. The Cavs won the most games in the league for the second straight season, yet did not make it to the NBA Finals either time. LeBron seemed flat-out aloof while on the floor against the Celtics in the second round. Something about that situation was becoming toxic.
The Cavs have very little flexibility with their salary cap options moving forward, so if LeBron were to stay with that franchise, he might be facing the same frustrations for the remainder of his career.
As good as the playoffs were, as entertaining as Lakers-Celtics Game 7 was, I was always preoccupied by July 1.
I’ve been lucky enough to see a number of Knicks games at Madison Square Garden. I’ve never been to another professional sporting event where the tenor of the crowd was so palpable. If Knicks fans are behind their team, the building becomes an absolute powder keg.
During the Isiah era, the keg was completely kicked.
But if LeBron were to show up, the electricity it would create could eliminate our dependence on foreign oil.
Which is why my following statement will probably seem ridiculous:
I hope he stays in Cleveland.
I know. I’m wondering if I’ve developed some sort of weird Stockholm Syndrome where I long for the days of Shandon Anderson and Howard Eisley. But I don’t think that’s actually the case.
And no, this is not just me getting mentally prepared since many of the latest reports have the Knicks out of the running. I don’t trust any of these rumors until a contract is signed.
The truth is, now that the free-agent period has finally arrived, I’ve taken more time to think about what he means to that city.
He was a kid from Akron who put his hometown on the map as ESPN rolled into town to televise his high school games.
He became the savior of the Cavaliers before he even donned an NBA jersey, as Cleveland won the lottery for the right to select first in the 2003 Draft.
New York fans have watched him with astonishment.
Cleveland fans have watched him with pride.
New York fans want him so that we can feel relevant again.
Cleveland fans need him to remain not just relevant, but even solvent.
We wouldn’t love him like the Cleveland fans love him.
Neither would Chicago. Or Miami. Or New Jersey.
Ours is an infatuation. We see the possibilities and our minds race.
Cleveland fans have a deeper connection with him. Losing him would be devastating to a point that I can’t accurately comprehend. None of my teams have ever faced this circumstance.
This would be Wayne Gretzky leaving the Edmonton Oilers for the Los Angeles Kings, only instead of being traded, Gretzky had been the one making the decision to leave.
My head says that the smart move for LeBron would be to leave. He seems to have taken the group of players surrounding him as far as they can possibly go.
He’s outgrown his current professional situation.
But in my heart of hearts, I’ll be happier for the people of Cleveland if they are able to hold on to him than I would be for myself if the Knicks were to pry him away.
