Go Heat!

Even though I like to play basketball and it was my main sport growing up, I long ago stopped watching the NBA.  I probably watch one full game per year and that’s usually a game 7 some time in May.  All other matches are too low-stakes and therefore lack the drama to keep me engaged for a full 2.5 hours.

But this season I’m starting to get into it.  Part of it is the fact that there are so many young, future all-time greats that have just come into their own in the last two seasons.  Since last year, my favourite player has been Derrick Rose and this season he’s vindicated my fandom with a successful MVP campaign, and what I estimate to be a league-leading 4.5 highlight-reel plays per game.  Yet in spite of that, I don’t want him to win the title.  At least not this year.

I just finished watching the Heat eliminate the Celtics in game 5 of their second round series, and James and Wade both killed it.  What I was most surprised by was how gracious LeBron was in victory.  The first thing he did in the post-game interview was to big up the Celtics and their coaching staff and to thank them for a well-fought series.  It was totally antithetical to the egomaniac that the haters have made him out to be ever since he exercised his right to accept a more gratifying job with a different employer last July.  I have my own theories about what’s motivating a lot of the hate, which I discussed in this blog from last year.  (Hint: race is a factor), and I frankly believe that the hate is unwarranted.  If the criteria for NBA pariah-ship is being self-centred, which is the number one indictment against LeBron, then that sentiment should extend to 75% of the league.  These guys are multimillionaires in their mid-twenties, who most spent their childhoods as local heroes and minor celebrities, and are generally surrounded by a harem of groupies and yes-men.  Of course they’re gonna have high opinions of themselves.  But does LeBron’s ego ever translate into him being an asshole to other people?  Not that I’ve seen.

What I find most impressive about LeBron is his ability to remain cool and brush the haters off.  In the face of some vicious and, quite frankly, racist rebukes by NBA personnel, the sports media, and the fans, LeBron never lashed out once.  On top of that, he’s demonstrated that despite being one of the biggest stars in the league, he was able to smoothly negotiate the transition from team messiah to a co-star and occasional role player.  History has shown that this isn’t always an easy task as several other former franchise players have tried it and failed miserably.

This is the main reason why I’m hoping that James, Wade and Bosh go all the way this year.  It would be like just desserts for all the haters who said that going to Miami was a bad decision, or that LeBron was a jerk for even having the temerity to act in his own self-interest.  But there are still some other factors that have turned me into a Miami fan, not the least of which is the fact that Dwyane Wade is sick!  He’s one of the most underrated players in terms of skills, impact, and entertainment value.  Plus they have two Canadians on the roster, one of whom is from right here in Toronto.  But mostly I just want to see the haters stew in the thick broth of their own anger and bewilderment when their deranged version of karma breaks down right in front of their eyes.