A Love/Hate Relationship

I hate Johnny Damon. I always will.

He went from being a member of the Red Sox to being a member of the New York Yankees. That is an unforgivable baseball sin.

But Johnny Damon will always occupy a space in the baseball wing of Red Sox fans’ hearts. He helped bring Boston a World Series. He helped lead the “idiot” era. He contributed. He may never be a Hall of Famer and he will not be mentioned in the top five or maybe not even in the top ten outfielders in Red Sox history. But I respect him a lot and as much as I hate him for leaving, I will always love what he helped do for my team.

It’s an intriguing and utterly confusing coinciding of feelings but it helps me understand the complexity of the Lebron James universe.

Lebron James is one of the best players I have ever seen play basketball. Ask anybody who they would pay to see and Lebron will be near the top of the list, if not number one. Yet Lebron is one of the most hated figures in sports. And it doesn’t seem fair to me.

I am not the type to buy into the idea that the hatred was birthed around the time of the now infamous “Decision” and subsequent pep rally where he promised a number of championships. No no. I remember hearing detractors when he was in Cleveland. I’ve heard that he gave up on a series against Boston. He can’t finish a game. He disappears in the fourth quarter. Etc. Etc.

But you know what. He is one of the best all-around players ever. Period.

He can play a mean, mean defense. There are times where ESPN plays montages of his ability to chase down the opposing fast break and swat the ball away on what would normally be a routine lay-up or dunk. Rajon Rondo will alter the shot because he knows Lebron is hot on his heels. And even then it doesn’t always work.

That is the ultimate in “transition D” and it shows another of his qualities: his effort. He seems to give 100% of himself at all times. I don’t care what the numbers say or what the critics claim, when the game is on the line, I would be elated to have the ball in his hand because I know that he will try. And he can make almost every shot on the court. I have seen him hit a three in a half-court set from about half-way between the three-point arc and the half-court line. And he is an above-average free throw shooter.

Sometimes he drives the lane and kicks it out to an open teammate (an open, OPEN, teammate). If the teammate misses, it’s the teammate’s fault in my book. You’re an NBA player and you should be able to make an open shot. No points off for being unselfish.

I have argued for years that the forgotten role of a leader is knowing when to step back and let someone else lead for a bit. Lebron has this quality in that he is as much about getting his teammates going. Basketball is one of the few sports where one player can greatly impact the outcome of the game. But it is still a team sport and one player cannot beat five others by himself. Not even Michael Jordan *coughs*Pippen*coughs*.

Lebron made Cleveland basketball worth watching. That takes an other-worldly ability. He was so famous that millions watched an hour-long show just to see where he would sign! Would people hate that way he handled it if he said “I am taking my talents back to Cleveland” ? And heaven forbid he tell his fans that he plans on winning a myriad of titles. What analyst or fan wasn’t thinking that themselves? So what is the big deal that Lebron said it?

And you know what, he made good on the beginning of that promise. They won. Finally. The King has a ring. And it is well-deserved. And what is scariest and most reassuring about the Finals win is that the Heat played well, but they did not play as well as they could. I know it sounds crazy when you think of the big games for Shane Battier and Mario Chalmers and Mike Miller. But Dwayne Wade wasn’t playing his best basketball. Chris Bosh didn’t play the entire playoffs.

There is every reason to believe that the Heat will win again next year. And the year after. And the year after that. So long as they all stay healthy. And all of the reasons that people give for hating Lebron should be dissected to show what they are hiding. There is one reason to hate Lebron. One big reason to hate Lebron.

He is as good as advertised. If Jordan is the best player ever Lebron is on pace to eclipse him.

Yes, I said it. If he stays healthy, Lebron James will be better than Michael Jordan. And if you want to hate him for that, that’s fine. But while you continue to hate, take a moment to recognize that you love to watch him play at his best. And you need him to play his best. And as much as it may feel like enabling the enemy, you love Lebron. You just hate what that means.