This was almost like an early Christmas.
ESPN had been heavily promoting this game for weeks. The
Miami Heat versus the Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron James
versus Ohio. Even though Miami had gotten off to a rough
start and Cleveland was owner of a sub-.500 record, it seemed
like this was Game 7 in the playoffs. Hype brings in viewers
and makes money. So I grabbed some limoncello fresh from
Italy, turned on TNT to catch the game and observe.
From the start, the Cavaliers came out hyped up. You've
got the TNT crew in the house, Eminem as the backdrop
for your intro, and 20,000 fans booing D-Wade and LeBron
and the rest of the Heat the moment they stepped out of
the tunnel. The crowd did what was expected. I have to
give them some props 'cause they came prepared. (That
dude with the 'Lyin' King' t-shirt will soon be a millionaire.
Trust.) And they even had the chant..'AKRON HATES YOU!!'
But the team itself seemed too...well...cavalier.
I saw a little bit of fight in the beginning up until the second
quarter. Then Miami pretty much took over. No, strike that..
they put their foot on Cleveland's neck. It was a bit of a
shock to see the crowd, which was booing lustily from the
moment Bron Bron and Miami stepped on the court look
absolutely dejected in the third quarter. Then again seeing
your former star drop 30 on you and his team lead by 40
at one point will do that to you. That and Terrell Owens at
courtside. Even some of the Cavs players were talking with
LeBron during the game, which ticked off Reggie 'Black
Nosferatu' Miller and Charles 'Sir Po'Boy' Barkley to no end.
I actually flipped the channel to watch a bit of Centric just
so I could wake up, the game had gotten that bad.
Cleveland, I feel your pain. I agree LeBron handled the whole
thing badly. It's another dagger in the heart after everything
you've been through with the Indians, the Browns(both
versions)...but I hope that tonight, at last, you can leave it
all behind. Because ultimately, LeBron leaving was a grown
man's decision. He spent seven years with you, took you to
the Finals. He gave. Leave all of that venom for your owner.