Ben Brugler: I’ve Ben Thinking...

Allow me to get this blog in just in time for kick-off. All marketing-related posts will have to wait.

 

As we kick off what could be LeBron's last season in Cleveland - saying that is kind of like uttering the name Voldemort - I want to make one thing very clear: I will not be stressing over this throughout the year.

 

I won't be analyzing every little thing. I won't be wondering what his Yankee's hat means. And I'm not going to worry about his relationship with Jay-Z. (I was at the Jay-Z concert last week and when LeBron joined Jay-Z on stage for Empire State you would've thought he signed a contract right then and there.)

 

I don't plan on doing any of this because no matter where he plays, I will still be a die-hard fan. People, the day of rooting for the uniform is over. It really pains me to say that, but with all the talk about players having no loyalty, it seems to me we can look at the owners and make the same claim. 

 

In fact, if you want to point the finger, I would start with the owners. We root for a baseball team that decided to not be loyal to their fans, opting to cut costs rather than build a team around the previous TWO Cy Young winners - who will now battle it out on a national stage as they represent their teams in game one of the World Series. Meanwhile, we were given salt to rub in these wounds, in the form of new manager Manny Acta - the manager with the fourth worst record in the last 50 years (with at least two years experience) and head of the worst team in baseball last year. So, yea, we have that going for us.

 

So, I say again, I will be rooting for the Cavaliers this year. And [insert name of team] next year. LeBron has kept his word. From day one he's been the most consistent super star the league has seen in years. He's true to his city, true to his friends and has more than delivered. It's not his fault the team didn't put a super star caliber coach at the helm. It's not his fault the front office pulled a John Hart and decided to hold onto the nucleus and existing talent last year rather than trade for the one player that could've helped them in the Orlando series.

 

I don't care if he's wearing number 23 for the Youngstown Pride - oh, wait, they folded. I don't care if he's wearing number 23 for the Israeli national team, working with the Rabbi to calm the coach down. I will buy the NBA package - or the whatever league it is package - and witness LeBron. 

 

Go Cavs! (For one more year, anyway!)

 

 

August 02, 2010 08:50 AM

July 25, 2010 02:15 AM