LBJ on Broadway - Chris 'Preach' Smith

Let the LeBron James Sweepstakes begin.

Ever since the Cleveland Cavaliers lost in Game 6 of the Eastern
Conference Semi-Finals, the biggest topic out of everyone's mouth
is, where is LeBron James going to play next season? And truth be
told, I'm getting a bit tired of hearing about it.

It wasn't so bad at the outset of the season. Even James took it upon
himself to vow not to talk about it during the regular season. But it
hasn't stopped him from teasing the general public. From rocking a
Yankee fitted cap at Jacobs Field to the way he ripped off the Cavaliers
jersey after the loss, LeBron has had some fun tweaking the media and
if he says that's not the case, he's about as believable as a Vatican
representative these days. LBJ has an ego; look at his post-game
press conference for the umpeenth time as confirmation. And he's
in a prime position for a handsome deal, maybe GNP money. There
are sources that claim a team from Moscow will give him 25 million
a year to play for them. The big issue I have is, can we please not
have LeBron dominate almost every sports conversation? I don't see
how a 'sighting' in midtown Manhattan even belongs on such a
blog as The Huffington Post. It obviously bothers Kobe Bryant, so
much that on his way to a possible 5th title, he drops 40 points in
last night's game against the Phoenix Suns. I don't need to hear a
LeBron James angle in a NASCAR SHOW. There's no need to go so
overboard in newspapers.

That being said, I'm not against him coming to play for the Knicks
if he chooses. James is a franchise player and would be a dynamic
change from the free agents we're used to getting. He's worked
with Mike 'Never met a defense I liked' D'antoni and would lure
other free agents to the Garden. We could even see Shaq in the
blue and orange, a good upgrade over Eddy Curry when Betty
White might have done better in the post. There are those folks
who will sit and say that they don't want LeBron on the squad due
to them feeling like he quit in the last series. And to those people
I say...the cheese has slid off of your cracker a minute ago. This
city deserves the chance to land someone who could possibly get
us back to the Finals, and maybe win the first championship for
the Knicks since men and women wore platforms. And other
cities have their appeal, but they don't fully compare. Chicago
would be the main competition, but remember Bulls fans, your
ownership is screwy. They almost ran Jordan out of town and
have fired two coaches in the past couple of years, one of which
got Milwaukee, MILWAUKEE to the playoffs this season. The Nets?
Look, I know they're going to Brooklyn...but he's not going to
want to play in Newark until they move especially when all they
have is Devin Harris and Robin Lopez. And Jay-Z as your boss is
hit or miss...ask Tierra Mari or The Roots.

Truth is, if LeBron wants all the pressure, if he wants to be the
best, he should come to NYC. Because we can filter BS like no
one's business around here. We will let you have it if you mess
about and we will treat you like a son of Olympus if you win a
title here. And if Scores is going to give you free lapdances for
life, the money saved could actually help balance the MTA's
budget. Wishful thinking on that last sentence. We've got a long,
long way to go until July 1st. For LeBron, it's even longer. That's
the only thing comforting me as I hear about him for the millionth
time on Sportscenter.