LeBron said repeatedly when asked where he might end up after Miami that he would never move back to a cold climate again. His response always included some comment like, “anywhere it’s not cold”. And I believed him. A lot of people did. Even the handicappers in Las Vegas.
However, it’s hard to argue with ‘home ties’. Impossible to put a value on family and lifelong friends. Fans in Cleveland wept when LeBron left town for Miami. Now they are weeping with joy at the news of his return.
Representatives from the Heat even chased James all the way out to Las Vegas in a belated attempt to keep him in Miami, but it didn’t work. Ohio’s prodigal son is on his way back up North to play for the Cavaliers of Cleveland.
James will be joining a youth oriented group of players in Cleveland including Kyrie Irving and the Cavs first round pick in the NBA 2014 Draft, Andrew Wiggins. LeBron has expressed his desire to reunite with Anderson Varejao and to play ball with Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters.
Cleveland fans are already expecting a playoff caliber team right off the bat, in 2015! And they just might get it. One thing for sure, with LeBron doing his thing and Johnny Manziel doing his thing, Cleveland, Ohio will be ablaze with sports action in 2015.
LeBron spoke of his birth state with Sports Illustrated’s Lee Jenkins, “Before anyone ever cared where I would play basketball, I was a kid from Northeast Ohio. It’s where I walked. It’s where I ran. It’s where I cried. It’s where I bled. It holds a special place in my heart. People there have seen me grow up. I sometimes feel like I’m their son. Their passion can be overwhelming. But it drives me. I want to give them hope when I can. I want to inspire them when I can. My relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball. I didn’t realize that four years ago. I do now.”
Since leaving Cleveland for tropical Miami at age 25, LeBron James has grown to be generally considered the ‘best basketball player on the planet’. He could have written his own ticket with any NBA team in the land, but he didn’t forget where he came from.
Ever since LeBron declared his free agency, speculation has roared about the country as to his next destination. Wagers were won and lost. Many people did not believe there was any way for him to go back home again. However, King James is Ohio bound!
