Perspective on the Latest Controversy Involving LeBron James: Stolen Memorabilia

Remember when the biggest controversy surrounding LeBron James was his willingness to pass the ball to teammates at crunch time?

Yeah, me neither…although there was a time when that was seemingly true. Such is not the case anymore.

There is the constant speculation over his future destination, the furor over his refusal to shake the hands of the Orlando Magic last year, dunktapegate, his decision to “honor Michael Jordan” and change his number from 23 to 6, and on and on.

Luckily for fans of LeBron and of Cleveland sports, there are several great bloggers out there always willing to offer the perspective necessary for dealing with story after story about LeBron James.

We round up a few of them for you this morning.

LeBron’s Inner Circle, The Media, The Mural, and The Case of the Mad Mommies’ Missing Memorabilia — (Cleveland Frowns)

Anyway, we do agree with Windhorst that “behind the scenes fighting over memorabilia, or how much he tips a waiter, or which downtown apartment building he has a place in are the things usually saved for Page Six, not here in Cleveland,” but we aren’t at all sure that it’s a bad thing for Cleveland to take on some “Page Six” of its own.  Because LeBron facing unprecedented and increasing scrutiny here at home, even the kind from WOIO and the mad mommies, lends further proof not only to the notion that LeBron can become a singular global icon from right here in Cleveland, but that he’ll have to take all that comes with that right here in Cleveland too.**

Global icons need global perspective, and more than anything, the latest with the mural and the mad mommies leaves us again to wonder whether LeBron’s inner circle, by no fault of its own, isn’t working as a significant hindrance to that.

Less Than a “Mess” Concerning LeBron — (Waiting For Next Year)

Those things don’t get him off the hook if he misled these two women, or failed to live up to his end of any deals he made.  He should certainly have to do the things he says he is going to do.  That being said, I am not sure that a dispute over some memorabilia that would ultimately be settled in small claims court deserves three days of ratings-grabbing promotion in order to drag the good name of one of the greatest athletes in Cleveland sports history through the mud.  Simply titling this story “More than a Mess” is more than misleading.  They could have just as easily called this story “Less than a Mess,” or “More than Mountains out of Molehills.”

And a quick note about the number change that I found interesting:

Did LeBron file that request to change his number yet? — (Stepien Rules)

If Lebron truly decides to give up his number, he has to file his intentions in early March with the league office.  That is, unless, he plans to join another team next season.

….

Should be interesting to see what his play is come that time.  Does David Stern allow him to bypass that policy to keep the mystery?  Does he file with the league and say it’s because he truly doesn’t have his mind made up, ya know, just in case?

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