An open letter to the media. RE: Lebron James

Dear sports journalists, sports casters, game reporters, radio show hosts, and other media outlets,

Isn't Lebron James awful!

I mean look at the guy. He came out of high school in a blitz of fame and glory. We were told he was going to be the greatest player of the new era. He was dubbed "King James" and we were told we would "Witness". He dove right into the NBA. To his credit he remained in a struggling Cleveland for seven years, hogging all the credit and the ball. He went with the Cavaliers to four playoff games including the finals against San Antonio. He received the NBA MVP award back to back years. He made the Cleveland Cavaliers (and essentially the city of Cleveland) dependent on him. Little did they know he was about to flip everything around.

He became a free agent. He visited other teams during the course of the off season and at least 5 other organizations were in serious consideration. He spent the whole summer in decision of where he would go. America was beat over the head with where he was at every particular day. He was visiting New York. He just left New York. I wonder what he was talking about with New York. This went on for 2 months. Sports center had nothing but Lebron coverage.

Then he made his decision. In a glamorous fashion. He went on television to stab Cleveland in the back and take a short cut to get a ring, by joining with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in South Beach. And long story short, he lost in the big finals. He just couldn't cut it.

Now he'll never be the same player and he doesn't deserve any of our respect. Or so the media has so told us.

Don't quit your 7-months-a-year job: Athletes turned musicians

After hearing Tennessee RB, Chris Johnson's new single, "Act on Deck", it got me to thinking. Why would any successful athlete ever want to ruin his image by making music too. Athletes are athletes, musicians are musicians. Very rarely should anyone cross that line.

Or at least that's what I thought. Then I did a little research. Turns out there are a few exceptions to this idea.

Next Steps for Terrelle Pryor

It has now been a few days since the Ohio State controversy reached its boiling point (or at least they hope its as bad as it will get). Jim Tressel resigned after a catastrophic attempt at cover up after cover up. Terrelle Pryor, the central character in the continuing Ohio State investigation, decided he would not return for his senior season for the best of the University. This was just days after Pryor claimed he would do just the opposite and stay. That was before more information leaked about Pryor breaking even more NCAA rules than was originally thought.

  Was this the right decision? I am not sure. I don't know Terrelle himself and I cannot judge him. The only thing I can look at is what he has done. I understand him leaving. It is the easier way out. He buried himself very deep (with the help of his head coach and former/current teammates) and would need a bull dozer to dig himself out (hopefully not one paid for by OSU). When all you want to do is play football, why should you worry about a huge distraction if you don't have to? Based on this we now need to look at his future options.

My Underdog Affections

Throughout the NBA Finals, I convinced myself I wanted the Miami Heat to win it all (after they beat out the Sixers of course). I, however, am a minority, along with the city of Miami. A couple of things have led to this decision.

• I like Lebron James. I don't know what it is about him. It's not like he's ever been described as a likable guy. Lebron James hate tops even that of Bernie Madoff in many places. I just think he carries himself very well and is a very articulate and intelligent speaker. He seems like he really thinks his thoughts through in press conferences. After Miami's win in game 3, a CBS reporter asked Lebron about "shrinking" in big moments of the fourth quarter. Lebron, calmly and intellectually proceeded to tell the reporter that his cohort, Dwayne Wade, had a hot night so they got the ball to him. He also informed him that he had a great night defensively and instructed the reporter to rewatch the game tape and "ask a better question tomorrow". I even find myself cheering for Lebron at press conferences!

• Another reason I've become an interim Miami fan is because of the legacy i think it could lead to. My uncle is a Chicago Bulls fan. He got to witness his team 3-peat...twice! He is one of those guys who knows Michael Jordan is the best player in history and no player will ever compare. I don't completely disagree (because disagreeing with that fact is punishable by a pair of cement shoes and a dip in the Chicago River). The problem is, I'm jealous of this. I want to see a legacy like this. The closest thing I have seen in any sport would be the Lakers 3-peat and follow up repeat. But the teams of Michael's and Kobe's are far different. Kobe was his team. He had Shaq and Fisher for his first run and then added Gasol, Bynum and Odom for his second. No player can be great without a supporting cast but Kobe was the only common denominator (aside from Phil Jackson) and the only way they got to their title. And in either run, he couldn't compare with the dream team of the Bulls. Some people may say this is an unfair and erroneous argument. I only have one other point. It was Kobe's team. Kobe's legacy. And for whatever reason, I don't like Kobe. I feel like Lebron and D Wade (and even Bosh if he doesn't end up getting traded) have made the Heat great and therefore it will be their legacy. And I will witness it.

• My final reason is a little simpler than my others. The Heat struggled in the regular season against good teams. They were highly criticized for coming together in such an extravagant manner and getting pummeled in big games. People said they weren't ready and that they would be great but it was going to take some time playing together before they could be actual contenders. They were booed in every major arena they entered. No one wanted them to succeed. They became underdogs. And there is nothing I love more in sports, than a good underdog story.