SPORTS’ HOT TOPICS with Shannon Miller

We all know about Lebron James leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers, but there are many different ways people view this move. I’m here to give my perspective on the situation. As a fan of the NBA, I would have loved to see a superstar like Lebron stay in one city for his whole career. We’re all looking for the next Michael Jordan and would love to see the old rivalries that made this game great. We would all love to have the new Bulls-Pistons rivalries again, the Lakers-Celtics rivalries.  If Lebron James would’ve stayed in Cleveland he could have made a new chapter in history by making a new rival in either the Orlando Magic or Boston Celtics. Those potential rivalries could have been what the Bulls-Jazz were for me as a child watching professional basketball.

Lebron probably didn’t think of that and I don’t blame him. There is a long history of NBA greats that never won a championship. Karl Malone, John Stockton, “Pistol” Pete Maravich, to name a few people, and he doesn’t want to be on that long list whenever his playing days is over. That is where as an NBA fan I would have to put my selfish reason for entertainment on the back burner. I’m sure Lebron James grew up wanting to win a championship ring just like his idol, Michael Jordan, and he felt this was the chance to do it. For many years now Lebron has been saying that his number 1 goal is to win a championship and he needs the team around him to help bring a ring to Cleveland but it became clear that the Cavs themselves wasn’t able to make that possible for Lebron or themselves so Lebron seized the opportunity and took the chance to play with two possible Hall of Famers in Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh.

I think it’s clear that Lebron wanted a relevant chance at a ring and he felt that this was his best option. They have proven chemistry by winning a gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In conclusion, Lebron has to do what’s best for him in the long run. He knows he is the next generation of Hall of Famers and he wants to be considered as one of the best of all time, and the only way that can be possible is win two or more rings. As much as I don’t like the move to Miami, he has put himself in position to win rings for many years to come and the only things I can say to him is good luck and let’s see what the future holds for you. But remember the Championship is always won with a great bench. Hopefully Pat Riley can fill out a reasonable bench to bring Lebron his 1^st ring. ~~~~~