LeBron James is the villain now, but it won’t last for long
It all comes down to winning. When the going’s good, everyone is a fan. When the times are tough, it’s easy to pile on. This was once, and is yet again, the case for LeBron.
Before winning his first title in Miami the narrative was “can he come up big in the big game?”. Every final possession, whether he shot or passed, was broken down like the Zapruder film. He was 0-2 in the Finals and the world was on his shoulders. And yet as soon as that final horn sounded against Oklahoma City, it was all gone. Nobody can take away a championship. Any talk about mental midgetry goes out the window.
Now 2-4 in the Finals, the dam of pressure is mounting. The ghosts of Bird, Magic, Jordan and Kobe are tossed around. We in the media love comparisons almost as much as we enjoy dissecting history as it unfolds in real time.
How does LeBron stack up?
If/when he wins a title in Cleveland every criticism disappears forever. He vanquishes 50 years of futility from a tortured fan base. He brings a championship to his home state. He does what God put him on Earth to do: topple the demons of Cleveland’s past. Poof goes The Fumble, The Drive, The Shot – they still hold significance, but a lot less.
America loves a great redemption story. It’s inconceivable that fans and media stay angry at an individual whom they’ve watched grow up from talented teen to prophesied champion – especially when he’s never made a major misstep (no Tiger woods moments as of now).
Once the public cockiness and defiance are replaced by a fun-loving player. And when pretty basketball starts leading to wins, prepare to start liking LeBron James again. It’s only a matter of time. It’s all part of the wheel.