LeBron’s Big Crime? He’s More Like Other ‘MJ’
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By DERON SNYDER
The folks at Nike were amazingly prescient in November 2005 when they unveiled a 110-foot high by 212-foot wide billboard to introduce their new ad campaign for LeBron James – “We Are All Witnesses.” Yet they couldn’t have imagined how much the proclamation would evolve over five seasons, twisting and turning as James morphed into arguably the NBA’s best player and sports’ most-hated superstar.
Along the way, it has become difficult to determine exactly what was being seen, especially by the legions of newly minted “hostile” witnesses. Their account differs sharply from sympathetic observers, which is only natural. But the venom and vitriol from those who would testify for the prosecution is so acute, neutral onlookers can be pushed into the defense’s camp. It’s enough to make you sound like an apologist when you’re not even convinced there’s been any wrongdoing.
That’s the position I keep finding myself in, baffled by the level and extent of criticism heaped on James since he joined the Miami Heat. Previously, I enjoyed James as a player but was neither a fan nor a detractor. When he left Cleveland to team with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, I figured there’d be championships in their future, though I didn’t want them to enjoy instant gratification by winning it all this season.
But now, I’m virtually rooting for James and the Heat, simply to spite all the haters against them.
