Sera and I got caught up in the ESPN hype over which of the six teams on LeBron's list would win his services and which would be jilted. Sera rightly predicted Miami would be his choice because of the chsnce to play alongside Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, numbers 2 and 3 on the free agent megastar list behing King James. I thought LeBron would go back to Cleveland, his home turf where he could compete against the best.
LeBron's special on ESPN was a spectacle, but, of course, we tuned in, commercials and all (liked the Bing spot with Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson look-a-likes on choppers just like in the movie. The Thelma and Louise bit was so-so).
When Cleveland lost in the Eastern Conference finals this year and Lebron took off his shirt, Sera was convinced he was not coming back to the Cavaliers.
Yes, James, Wade and Bosh are immediate title contenders, even if the roster is filled out with nine minimum-salary guys, but it will be interesting to see how they co-exist when all three are on the court together. Sure, they won gold in the Olympics as a trio, but the other players on the team weren't chopped liver even if we can't remember who they were.
So I looked them up on a Google search, and some pretty impressive stars popped up: Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Carlos Boozer and some guy named Dwight Howard.
Yes, that Dwight Howard, with the Orlando Magic and the NBA's best big man. If LeBron gets by Howard's Magic or Chicago's Boozer or Boston's Big three and Rajon Rondo, he'll still have to get by that snarling player with the Los Angeles Lakers, whose first name is as well known as LeBron's.
Kobe. That's right. Kobe Bryant, who has five rings. And Kobe is fresh off two consecutive titles with a few supporting stars of his own in Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom. Their role players are pretty good, too, led by Derek Fisher, with five rings as well.
Sera believes the Miami Heat with LeBron, D-Wade and Bosh will win three titles in the next six years.I say they come up empty.
The Cavs organization didn't get the courtesy or a call. Cleveland fans may not have been right to burn LeBron shirts after he snubbed them by announcing his decision on ESPN, which sold out legitimate sports journalism in favor of hype.