The Re-Heat Index - LeBron, ESPN, and... Wayne Rooney?
In case you've been hiding out in Bora Bora for the last 4 months, you may have heard that LeBron James signed with the Miami Heat. What you may not be aware of is the ridiculous lengths that ESPN (and others, but mostly ESPN) has gone to cover the story and become the story. The self-proclaimed worldwide leader has thrown out all sense of integrity, honesty, balance, and impartiality when it comes to the 2010-2011 Miami Heat. We saw it with THE DECISION, we've seen it in moving SportsCenter to Heat training camp, and most of all, we see it in The Heat Index. What is the Heat Index you ask? It's basically ESPN's 24/7 promotional machine featuring several writers and features dedicated to the Heat and the Heat alone (including ex Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter Brian Windhorst). So, it's up to fair-minded folks like us to call out ESPN (and other offenders) periodically throughout the season for their embarrassment to sports and brutally cover LeBronapalooza the way it should, with bitterness, fairness and mockery. Let's call it our Re-Heat Index!
First comes a feature ESPN story about LeBron's popularity that features a bright outlook for LeBron's popularity including quotes from Oscar Robertson, interviews with marketing experts, and impressive numbers about Heat tickets and merchandise. Ironic that this largely redemptive piece would come just before the new season. Online, the glowing coverage isn't that much different. There was an extended article from Benedict Windhorst about LeBron's Twitter interaction here from a couple days ago.
*A quick note about Windhorst. He's basically followed LeBron for his entire career since high school. It is no surprise to see him follow the King and his $$$ to ESPN. He deserves this big break because he's a great reporter. However, what's troubling is that Windhorst was highly critical of James' departure and seemed to feel empathy towards the Cleveland fans... then left for the yellow brick road to Miami himself.*
Let's be clear about a couple things before we go any further - the racist, bigoted tweets need to stop. There is absolutely no excuse for that kind of behavior and people need to find the decency to separate calling out LeBron and pointing out hypocrisy in the media with actually hating the guy and wanting him to be ran over by a semitruck. What is interesting is the new words being used to describe LeBron by Windhorst. LeBron is now "hurting," "driven," and "changing." Evidently we're seeing a more business-like LeBron instead of the one that goofed off all the time and one that is motivated by the haters. Again, flipping the script and the narrative to one largely pro-James.
Naturally though, we still see the same stubborn egotistical King James - last night's news of LeBron telling Cleveland fans to "get over it" fit a new narrative that ESPN is pumping about James. In the post-DECISION world, LeBron has been a victim of negative fan backlash and is undeserving of the criticism (actually valid) and vile hatred (actually invalid) coming his way. His latest comments will surely go over well. Seriously, how does this man have the nerve, lack of common sense, and denseness to make these statements repeatedly? Anyways, ESPN's focus has been on humanizing LeBron and giving him a platform throughout the process while marginalizing fans that have turned against him and ignoring his own mistakes has been stunning. The headline for his "get over it" article now says "LeBron sympathetic to fans." Puh-lease. Look at the humanizing aspects of Benedict Windhorst's latest article, ignoring the clear editing mistakes:
James said Thursday he can relate to why many fans, especially from his home state, continue to be angry at him. But he also said people upset with his decision to sign with the Heat need to move on.
Yes, it must be easy for him to relate in his new South Beach mansion playing with the Super Friends and betraying your hometown fans. I would be able to get over it as a Cleveland fan if only my starting wingman wasn't Jamario Moon.
James is an avid sports fan who regularly attends football games from his old high school to the NFL. As a supporter of the Yankees, Cowboys and Ohio State, he's actually having a tough week with all three having troubles lately.
Tough week? Hmm... let's think about sports fans that have had a tough week. Indians fans are watching their two former aces pitch against each other in the ALCS for Texas and New York, Browns fans are rooting for a team that's 1-5 starting a rookie QB, oh, and the Cavs just put this lineup on the floor in a preseason game last night. But hey, those Yankee fans have it rough.
That is why he says he can understand to the backlash he's received. But he is not about to apologize for it.
He understands... and yet he wants people to get over it? That... doesn't make sense?
That brings us to another worldwide sports superstar that was following a similar path to LBJ - Manchester United's Wayne Rooney. You see, Rooney was dissatisfied with the debt piling up at Man U and the lack of big-time players arriving. He saw Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Man City spending gobs of cash and didn't think United could compete on that level and win EPL/Champions League titles. Out of contract at the end of the season, battling infidelity rumors and accusations, and dealing with injuries - Rooney made it clear he wanted out.
Rooney's situation is similar to James in that the player holds all the power. He could have walked away from the Red Devils at the end of the season and forced a midseason transfer. He had hijacked Man Utd's season by going public and painted Alex Ferguson and the club into a corner. To put this controversy in perspective, if Rooney showed up at Old Trafford wearing a Man City shirt, it'd be like Jim Tressel leaving Ohio State to coach Michigan midway through the season, then coming to Columbus to cost the Buckeyes a Rose Bowl berth with a maize and blue vest.
The star striker was the subject of negative taunts and chants from United fans in a Champions League game this week and news broke yesterday about a mob of dozens of fans protesting outside his mansion with one banner reportedly reading "If You Join City, You're Dead." I guess America has better mansion security. Ignoring these idiots and psychopaths, one theme runs in common from Cleveland to Manchester - a feeling from fans of betrayal (at least United has won plenty of titles though). For Clevelanders, it's LBJ being supported by a sports media monopoly and holding a primetime TV special to leave his hometown team and for United fans it's Rooney following the money trail to rival clubs Man City or Chelsea. Of course, that all changed when Rooney signed a new 5 year contract with Manchester United this morning.
Rooney is far from a perfect example, but I wonder if LBJ could learn something from this statement. Not necessarily from the aspect of staying or leaving, but a sense of public awareness...
"I'm sure the fans over the last week have felt let down by what they've read and seen. But my position was from concern over the future. The fans have been brilliant with me since I arrived and it's up to me through my performances to win them over again."
