LeJudas

I'm not one to normally chime in on a news story that absolutely EVERYONE is clamoring about, but I wanted to cement a few things in cyberspace about LeBron James. I almost made this an "open letter to LeBron" post, figuring that there was a chance that he would actually read it, being that he is probably the most self-indulgent man alive such that he would even google himself and spend the rest of his summer vacation reading everything written about him. But, he may also send his entourage after me for not bowing down to the "King".

So even I had to find a bar last night to watch the "Deception", errr, I mean, the "Decision". I actually wanted to see how far he (and his cohorts at ESPN) would take this display of spotlight-hungry arrogance. It was nauseating, to say the least.

LeBron is well within his right to orchestrate an all-star team in one city to make championship-winning easy. His agents actually did a pretty slick job. But calling the press conference, scripting this "interview", and showing up every other major market in the country that didn't win his services is self-indulgence at its worst. LeBron isn't about team, organization, humility, or sharing the spotlight... he is about LeBron, and he sees winning only as a means to serving himself. He wants transcendant legacy, immortality, fame that surpasses any entertainer.

LeBron now has a bounty on his head, particularly in Cleveland. Without the press conference, I'm okay. But this was a massive "screw you" to a city that has served him well for his ENTIRE LIFE.

For all of you who don't take a Biblical view on pride and self-centeredness, here's the message: if you think LeBron has earned the right to play the game of life by grabbing all he can, leaving a trail of other people's blood behind him, and to PUBLICLY show them all up, fine. Good luck living that way. But then everyone else burned by his childishness also has the right to throw their weight around and try to burn him, too.

Yep, it would have been a great story if he had remained loyal to his city. Or if he had taken on a team like Chicago or New York that had solid pieces and climbed to the top with them. But his pride has invited a declaration of war, and so every other team has the right, according to this disgusting game of life that most people in America play, to put the smackdown on him.

"Me-first" has served NO ONE well, particularly when you look in terms of both this life and the life hereafter. I doubt the Cleveland Cavs' owner Dan Gilbert is a theologian, but he said something interesting in the aftermath: "Some people think they should go to heaven but not have to die to get there." Then he made a statement about karma, so that's where my intrigue ends. But he is right, sort of.

We are all fallen, imperfect creatures. The culture of entitlement in America is sickening. Too many believe they are entitled to a good job, nice house, easy life, and to do stupid things for a quick thrill or for personal glory without consequences. And we wonder why, deep, deep down, so many people are miserable. They are slaves to money, fame, booze, sex, popularity, drugs...

Entitlement leads to slavery. No one living under the auspices of that culture of entitlement is truly free. You are a slave. A slave to yourself. LeBron is a slave to his addiction to personal glory. And just think, one motorcycle accident, one mix-up, whatever, and his ability to play ball is gone. And off into obscurity he goes. Then what? Who is LeBron James then?

I'm sickened by the display, but I'm at least comforted in knowing that I am living for something more eternal, free of the self-addiction that is leading LeBron around like a hungry puppy.