Greetings in that Divine and Most Precious Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
You know, this is a good moment for me. I have been enjoying LeBron James since he was an exploding youngster. I became ridiculously disillusioned after 2004 and especially the 2007 crooked refs leak, and so I became rather antagonistic to the NBA. After all, our Lakers had won three in a row, how many more did we really need? Then LeBron lured me back in with his great attitude and even better game. The brother is just fun to watch, and a fun guy to see, and an honestly good role model. When has been arrested? Accused of rape? Beat his wife? Get caught drugged out? Get his coach fired? Rag on is own teammates mercilessly? LeBron is what you call "a good sport" and that is what sports are about. LeBron is a BETTER role model then the Jordans and the Kobes, because while those brothers have sick game and an impressive legacy, both have bad attitudes and are publicly bat sports about losses. In the face of yet ANOTHER trainwreck end to an overhyped season for LeBron, I must reflect and admit that I still enjoy him, and I still enjoy the Heat. I like Haslem, I like Wade, I like Chris Bosh. So win or lose, so what? That is the problem with hype, it kind of ruins it. I am used to rooting for teams half the country hates, and half the country loves. In the 90s, half of America loved the Bulls, the other half hated their guts for ruining any chances for any other teams to win season after season. Same with the early 2000s Laker era. I was a part of both. I have been spoiled. Now the Heat put the shoe on the other foot. An over hyped team that everybody either hates or loves, but they DON'T seem to win it all every year. Now is the time to find out what it is all about? Its not all about rings. Only one team gets the ring. Are the other 29 worthless scumbags? What about the other 400 odd players? Do they just suddenly suck? Hardly..
So I'm not gonna let hype get to my head. So what if people are going to clown me up and down. I like the Heat. Big deal. And if we lose, I will still like them. But I have been way to into the NBA this season, and I need to kick back. It is fun, it is social with camaraderie, but it should never be serious, or personal. Its all fun, it needs to remain that way, and taking it to serious the past few years has taken the fun out of it. But then again, I am spoiled, because 4 of the past 5 years a team I follow has went to the Finals, and 2 out of 5 they won. That is not bad. Some fans wait an entire lifetime and never see a championship, and I've already seen 5 for my hometown since I was an adult (several more since I was born!). You can't win em all, and I've had a disproportionate share of wins as it is! So its time to be humble. To be a good sport. If the Spurs or Celtics get to the Finals, God bless them for real! The earned it.
Plus, my Thunder have been steadily climbing the ladder. I couldn't complain if they lost, because I am so ridiculously happy with our season. Heat's season wasn't bad, just didn't live up the hype, but we still had great moments, and we still have the potential for an even greater come back. I said it before in Indiana, if the Heat do not play at 97/98 Bulls level, they will not win it all, because simply nothing else will do in these Finals this year.
stay blessed,
habte selassie