Friday, July 6, 2018

On the Road Again


LeBron James has left the building known as Cleveland, yet again.  James is moving to LA to become a Laker, for four years and $154 million, with an out-clause after year three.  What can you do but wish the man well, and advise him that such moves have consequences.

Even Cavaliers’ fans must know that NBA stars rarely stay put for long; Cleveland had James, lost him, got him back, and now he’s gone again, saying very nice things about northeast Ohio on his way out.  I wonder, though, if what James the athlete has done will affect his chances for public office.  How to put this?  You move around enough, and eventually you turn into Hillary Clinton, who tried to sell herself as both a Cubs’ and Yankees’ fan.  Oh, that went over well on the South Side.

If James had stayed in Cleveland, that would have solidified his standing in the community.  He could’ve taken over as a player-coach or dictated who should be on the roster, and no one would’ve cared.  What would have mattered was his commitment to place, now, not at some point after his playing career ended.  Maybe he still has an Ohio voice and perspective on issues, but it will come with a West Coast accent that not everyone in the vicinity of Lake Erie will appreciate.

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