I'm a 30 year old woman living in Los Angeles and at 5:58 pm, I step outside with my portable radio walkman nervously clutching to it, to hear the news. I'm probably the last demographic you would expect to be heavily anticipating the outcome of Lebron's "Decision", but until 6 years ago, I was physically a Clevelander, and at heart, I'll always be one. As I hear LeBron tell the world that he'll be taking his talents to Miami, my eyes well-up, I finally exhale, and I seek a corner hidden from my co-workers to grieve (ironically typical, but not really). The tears are coming uncontrollably as I continue to listen. He says that, It's not that Cleveland was missing anything, It's that Miami had something he wanted- to play with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. A classic, "It's not you, it's me" tale pulling at the heartstrings and breaking up with Cleveland on the national and world stage. But who cares?! It's just basketball! It's just business! It's entertainment and the preference of a 25 year old kid! To Northeast Ohio, LBJ is more than a 25 year old All Star basketball player. For 7 years he has unified Cleveland. Bringing hope, passion and love to all who followed the game. A 25 year old kid, who Cleveland/Akron has raised and who in turn, taught us to Rise Up together.
Cleveland is unique, in that concerning sports, its NEVER just business, and LeBron was NEVER just a great player. I don't think any city has a relationship with 1 single person that is so personal to each individual. Where it's citizens care and love a person so much, and it seemed to be reciprocal. LeBron created opportunities and uplifted and bonded the community. He gave the entire area a reason to truly be proud. Cleveland, often the butt of jokes, depressed economy, it's heartbreak history of getting so close to a sports championship - only to have the rug pulled out last second. I've always thought, that to be from Cleveland, you are either a sports FANATIC, an alcoholic, or both. And if you don't fit there, you are TRULY an exception.
We are obsessed! The unofficial gateway to downtown Cleveland has greeted Clevelanders and visitors with a 100 ft Nike billboard of the open outstretched arms of LeBron James. He is there protecting us, lifting us highe
r and promising something to us. LeBron has haunted my dreams in which I spoke to him, his mother, and even Dan Gilbert. My brother named his Dog after him, My other brother has countless upon countless jersey's and paraphernalia. My mother has his bobblehead! We attend games on Christmas, New Years, wherever there was family, there was CAVS BALL! During the press conference I was receiving texts to the tune of, "how could he?", but mostly, nobody wants to talk about it. It hurts too much. Perhaps we were co-dependent. As fans, we are unhealthy and desperate. We care so much. Giving, giving, giving all our support and expecting too much in return. But then again, we were promised so much we could taste it. And with our mouths agape as he announced his future plans, as a city we bit our tongues and cried together. Betrayed together. Making our little big city even tighter. Perhaps, It would not have hurt so deeply if we had acquired him from another team, if he grew up elsewhere, or if we hadn't heard him speak of loyalty and the determination to bring home a ring for Cleveland, so so so many times.
But here's what happened- The one person who we were all in love with, who made us love and take pride in ourselves, who made us better as a community and economy, who proposed to us, met us at the altar and in front of everyone said, "I met someone else". Now, we've all been broken up with, and can relate to that sort of pain within our lives, but with a basketball player? Unless you have the luck of being from Cleveland you cannot understand the devastation, humiliation, and honest to goodness grief we are all experiencing. We as a group are experiencing all 5 stages of grief.
I have felt that 2010 has been the year of change. Whether it be a relocation, a child, a career path, everyone seems to be making a move in their life. And perhaps this trend has not eluded Lebron as well. He has free will to make what choices he wants- But the way this unfolded- the ultimate betrayal on the national stage with an accompanying circus...- and any one of us, given his skill, would do everything possible to give that Ring to Cleveland. I compare LBJ to Frodo Baggins in Lord of the Rings. Frodo has a special gift, with which it is upon him to sacrifice himself to save the world. The responsibility is his, whether he wants it or not. LBJ was supposed to go all the way and save Cleveland. This analogy may sound hyperbolic, but in truth, it's what we expected. And perhaps it was too much for little LeBron.
As a group, we've been abandoned. We've been on this journey with him and with each other. We've rallied together, defended him together, cheered for him together, won and lost, together. Every season I've found myself with physical symptoms of this rollercoaster. Nausea, elated joy, doubt, hope, faith, fear and love. In fact, its been our religion. He's been our Savior and with his fellow Cavalier prophets have given us true pride and unity like I've never seen. We fear continuing our winless curse, falling back into depression and loserdom. Now we get to face our fear head on. Perhaps that was LBJ's fear as well. He couldn't stand the uncertainty and feared being the greatest loser among his peers. So clearly, he has lost touch with us- his Cleveland Cavalier family, as we are all Cavaliers. And as Cavaliers we will continue to fight together, without our Superhero and in spite of him. As a Cavalier, whether he won multiple championships, or without a single championship, he would have always been a winner, a legend and a champion to us. He has gone on another path to find the elusive Ring, but at what cost? We loved him together, and as Clevelanders we will resent him together.
Perhaps LBJ has underestimated the gravity of his decision, and perhaps Clevelanders have overestimated the gravity of his decision. You would think we'd be more resilient with heartbreak like this. It's just,
WE REALLY BELIEVED, that this was it.
Bless You Cleveland.
