LEBRON'S FOLLY

Even for those who are Sports Center -challenged the world of sport has captured much national attention these past 3-4 weeks. The World Cup has played across our television and computer screens from South Africa since the second week in June. High drama and thrilling heroics. Team USA, not generally included among the upper echelon of soccer powers, had several late-scoring victories that propelled them into the Round of 16, the so-called Knockout Round. Landon Donovan’s stoppage time goal was enough to propel the United States into the round of 16 today in Pretoria, South Africa. It seemed as though the USA was on the brink of elimination when Donovan scored off of a Clint Dempsey rebound during the first minute of added injury time. The USA came won their group for the first time since 1930 by posting a record of 1-0-2. As the final horn sounded the US cleared the bench and continued onto the field creating a huge pile of bodies all of which were celebrating on of the most important victories in US soccer history.

NBA Free Agency was the other dominant sports story. It grabbed center stage because such outstanding hardwood performers as Dirk Nowitski (Dallas), Dwayne Wade (Miami)Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City) were now "on the market." No one, however, was as prized and sought after as "King James," Lebron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers. No heroics this time. In fact, American competitive spirit and the "business" of sports at its worst. Lebron, Wade, and Chris Boche manuevered shamelessly to try and be together one on team, hopefully "stacking" it to insure an elusive NBA title for each - especially for LeBron James. With a city that adored him twisting in the wind, James negotiated intensely and finally negotiated a self-serving "special" on ESPN Thursday night to justify the greed and the manipulation.

Landon Donovan has gone relatively unnoticed in sports-sated America. James has visibility and endorses worthy of the moniker "King James." Today, Donovan is revealed as a hero. James? I think he has joined a long line of self-serving sports celebrities, whose reputation has taken a powerful beating because of his personal ambition.

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