Why we Love and Hate LeBron

Mention LeBron James name these days and you get opinions from everybody from all walks of life. Everyone has an opinion. Opinions from two opposite spectrums. People that wouldn't identify themselves as basketball fans have an opinion.

James has quickly become the most polarizing public figure in America. Moreso than Sarah Palin. Moreso than Tiger Woods. Even President Obama takes a backseat to LeBron's lightning rod effect.

How is this all possible? The best player in the league isn't even the most important player on his team or the leader atleast in these Finals. Dwayne Wade has that title. If the Heat do go on to win the Finals, it'll be because of Wade's brilliance not LeBron's. His detractors will say, "He didn't win the Finals MVP" like winning one is supposed to validate him.

Larry Bird won 3 NBA Championships, he won 2 Finals MVP. Magic Johnson won 5 NBA Championships, he won 3 Finals MVP. Kobe Bryant has 5 NBA Championships and owns 2 Finals MVP. LeBron at 26, will get his chance in the years to come to win the Finals MVP as the Heat look like they're going to be accustomed to playing basketball in June.

Where did this all start? The mania surrounding, "The Summer of LeBron" was nauseating. Every day there was a new rumor. A new theory. Where is LeBron going today? He ultimately decided to form a super alliance with the 2 other prized Free Agents in the Free Agent class with a horribly, mismanaged and narcissistic 1 hour infomerical called, "The Decision."

He's since later apologized for the way he handled it. http://www.nba.com/video/channels/playoffs/2011/05/12/0041000215_mia_james_post.nba/

If he was sincere about it, only he knows. Look, I wouldn't consider myself a LeBron fan but I'm able to give credit where credit's due. We're talking about a kid who grew up in a rough, broken down neighborhood, without his father. A mother who was in and out of trouble and his record is squeaky clean. There's something to be said about that.

We're talking about a guy who took a paycut, minimal as it was and decided to share the spotlight with two of his best friends in a fun city at the height of his career. 

We're unfairly comparing him to Michael Jordan. Scottie Pippen has a little to do with it with his comments in recent weeks (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Scottie-Pippen-LeBron-may-be-the-greatest-play?urn=nba-wp3977) but the comparisons are unfair. He's not Michael Jordan. Newsflash, no one is.

Mainly because Michael Jordan is the greatest player of all time and partly because we mytholigize him and make comments like, "Michael would've never done that" refering to James stinkbomb in Game 4 of the Finals. Which is true. Jordan was prone to off shooting nights but he wouldn't have been detached from the action like James conspicuously was.

To criticize LeBron for not living up to Jordan's legacy is like criticizing Basquit for not living up to Warhol's.

The other contemporary we lump LeBron's name with is Kobe Bryant. It's fascinating but we dislike LeBron and Kobe for two totally different reasons. One for being a team player and the other for not which is totally off base and unfair to Kobe.

Look, I admire Kobe Bryant for being ambitiously stubborn enough that he's chased Michael Jordan his whole career, wanted all the pressure, good or bad that comes with being the #1 guy. I admire LeBron James at 25, for realizing he isn't Michael Jordan and decided winning championships is more important to him than being considered the GOAT or attaining individual accolades.

Both are going to end up Top 10 players of all time. What's funny is LeBron will get closer to MJ's #1 ranking than Kobe ever will.

Beyond all the hoopla and hype, love or hate you have for James, take the time to realize you're watching one of the most unique athletes in the history of sports who plays the game we love the right way.

Cherish it.