LeBron James: Three are better than one
By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 07/13/2010
Over the July 4 holiday weekend, I was in Chicago for the Taste as usual with family and celebrating my mom’s birthday. She was born on July 4 when our nation celebrates Independence Day.
I was having a nice breakfast Saturday morning in downtown Chicago at Trump Towers when our waiter told me that Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were having breakfast in the next room in a private area. They were being recruited by the Chicago Bulls as free agents.
The waiter then took me over to where they were. Both players know me and asked what I was doing in Chicago, and I explained I was born and raised in the city.
I asked them if they were really going to sign with the Bulls. Wade gave me a thumbs-down signal.
That indicated to me that Wade had convinced Bosh that teaming up together in Miami was the place to sign. Early last week they announced they were signing as free agents with the Miami Heat. That meant that LeBron James had even more pressure on his impending decision.
James, possibly the most coveted free agent in NBA history, announced Thursday in a prime-time made-for-TV special that he had decided to join his good friends and ex-Olympic teammates in South Beach and was signing with the Miami Heat. James, Wade and Bosh would become the NBA’s new Big Three.
You talk about star power! I asked ESPN analyst and former Vikings great Cris Carter, a Miami Heat season ticket holder, about the NBA power shift.
“What we are starting to see is a new breed of athlete,” Carter said. “I think the athletes are starting to be far more savvy than they have ever been.
I think that athletes are communicating better and using all the technology.
“When Magic Johnson was in LA and Larry Bird was in Boston, they did not talk,” said Carter. “It’s not like that anymore. We live in a new world, and you really have to change your judgment of champions.
“I like the fact that that I live in South Florida and every team is trying to win, but Pat Riley pulled it off. We’ve been getting ready for 2010 free agency for two years, but Pat Riley won — he won the lottery.”
Indeed, to get all three superstars is a big win. James is 25, Bosh is 26, and Wade, the veteran with a championship ring under his belt, is 28.
I wish James had not turned his big decision on where he was going into such a production. The ESPN special had to be humiliating to many fans in New York, Chicago, New Jersey, Los Angeles, and especially to Cleveland, the big losers in the James sweepstakes. I have never seen a scene like that of people burning a player’s jersey on national TV with the player watching it.
And Cleveland’s owner Dan Gilbert — his reaction and blistering comments to James’ leaving, calling it a “cowardly betrayal” and James a quitter, was pathetic. It crossed the line; it was mean-spirited and very damaging.
He should draw a sure fine or suspension from NBA Commissioner David Stearn.
You expect more from an NBA owner. James gave Cleveland everything he had for seven years.
Fitz notes & quotes
LeBron James’ economic impact decision will clearly hurt the city and state of Cleveland, Ohio, but for him it was not about money, because he could have made at least $30 million more had he re-signed with Cleveland. But he will make it back over time once he becomes a resident of Florida, because he will not have to pay state income tax.
According to Forbes, in 2003, James’ rookie season in Cleveland, the Cavs franchise was valued at $298 million. Last season the franchise was valued at $476 million.
Michael Jordan, the six-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls, is the only player in league history to make a salary of $30 million or more in one NBA season. Back in 1997 Jordan was paid $30.14 million, and in ’98 $33.14 million.
Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers is currently under a seven-year $136 million deal, a league record. Jordan, during his 15-year career, earned just $92 million in salary.
Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:20 am, and on WDGY-AM 740 Monday & Saturday mornings at 7:50 am and Fridays at 3:50 pm; he also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Larry welcomes reader responses to lfitzgerald@spokesman-recorder.com , or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com .
