Nine pitches, Four hits, One killer loss
September 10, 2014Swag Matrix: Dion Waiters
September 10, 2014By now, there’s one thing we know for certain about LeBron James. He’s his own man and makes his own decisions. We’ve seen him leave powerful men in Dan Gilbert and now Pat Riley almost in disbelief that they didn’t have as much sway on the superstar player as they would have hoped. At the same time, it does appear that even as he formulates his own plans, LeBron does seem to let his friends influence him. No matter how much I dislike Dwyane Wade, there’s no doubt of his influence in LeBron’s decision to go to Miami. So, did another F.O.L. (friend of LeBron) help guide him back home? Carmelo Anthony seems to think maybe.
In an interview with Michael Strahan posted at Adweek, he said the following.
Strahan: [On being a pro athlete in New York] Not only on the court, but off the court, you’re the leader. Everything you do is more scrutinized. You have to be more careful than anybody else. And watching LeBron [James] go back to Cleveland, did that affect your decision on staying in New York, and did you learn anything from watching LeBron go back home?
Anthony: No. Honestly, I think it was the other way around. I think he saw when I came back home to New York and saw the response and saw the reaction and saw how at peace I was when I came back home. … I’m pretty sure he looked at that moment and saw that that was a very special moment, and he had the opportunity to go back home himself and regain that love.
Regardless of how much of an impact that had on James, it probably didn’t go unnoticed. LeBron is filming a McDonald’s commercial in Akron today. He’s been on the sidelines for Ohio State and St. Vincent / St. Mary high school games. He even filmed some episodes of “Rehab Addict” fixing up houses with host Nicole Curtis in the Akron area. Even though Cleveland isn’t technically his home, he seems to be relishing every moment of being back in his home region and home state.
Unlike Carmelo though, LeBron’s impact can be far greater. That’s not a knock on Anthony as much as it is a realization that pretty much nobody can have an impact on New York the way LeBron can on this region. While LeBron is about as big a fish as there is, this pond is much much smaller. Not worse, mind you. Definitely smaller though.
(Image Issac Baldizon/NBAE)
6 Comments
Oh, I don’t know, sounds more like Carmelo’s fantasy. The post-Letter stories pretty thoroughly cover how long LeBron was considering this, how he was monitoring the Cavs. I’m guessing the way the creaky and thin Heat roster was exposed by the even older Spurs was much more important than any Carmelo role-modeling. If Carmelo and LeBron are tight then LeBron knows Carmelo was always going to follow the largest pot of gold, no matter where home is.
Didn’t Carmelo basically copy LeBron and his letter when he stayed in New York?
I agree sounds like ‘Melo is reaching to be relevant in what has become LeBron’s world. Good luck ‘Melo!
carmelo is more narcissistic and/or delusional than i thought possible.
I don’t even consider Lebron a man at all. He had to join other players to win and when he realized their luck (yes, they got lucky with both wins) had run out he left as fast as he could. Carmelo, on the other hand, has shown that he is willing to carry a team and his loyalty is something Lebron will never have. Cleveland fans are some of the stupidest fans I’ve seen…he made a big spectacle when he left and now they welcome him back with open arms?! Come on!
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