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The day LeBron James announced his second exit from the Cleveland Cavaliers, I’m certain a collective groan murmured across the murky waters of Lake Erie. And I was one of them, although hours away in the nation’s capital, I felt for my friends and family who would have to endure years of not enjoying quality professional sports in their backyard. Goodness knows I’m secretly hoping the Browns will surprise me!
Realistically, it’s not the worst thing that could happen and I don’t expect most people to understand. Cleveland sports is special and in the case of LeBron James, it carries a lot of weight as his stature not only led his team to multiple NBA Finals but a city through public strife when all they could ever wish for was a little respect.
LeBron’s departure stung at the thought of a new-look fan base whose experience of hardships is a foreign concept. Los Angeles is the place where legends are made. They built Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, and “The Black Mamba” himself, Kobe Bryant. In spite of all this, to dislike the Lakers wouldn’t be right and not very Cleveland of me because they earned their bragging rights.
My heart is heavy for the city who feels left behind with no site of another bright day in sports coming their way. So I grieve like never before and come to terms with the truth that LeBron continues to give in ways we never imagined. To the dismay of many hoping their negative opinion of LeBron would hold true, he delivered on another promise, The I Promise elementary school in Akron, Ohio.
As a Clevelander, it can be hard seeing the silver lining in anything when history has a way of punching you in the face. We want high-fives, winning streaks, and most of all – championships. But as hard working people with a never give up mentality, we live for comeback stories and a reason for hope.
The LeBron James Family Foundation along with Akron City Public School planted 240 reasons for us to continue our championship ways. In its inaugural year the I Promise School will teach 240 selected third and fourth graders from underrepresented backgrounds.
These students are the future and a reminder that opportunities can surface at any moment. They will go on and after graduating from the elementary school become eligible to enroll at the University of Akron for free! This bunch is winning in life and so are we. We are winning because we get to witness history unfold before our eyes. We should be grateful for living proof that you can defy the odds of what people tell you if you stay the course.
It’s going to be difficult to stomach watching LeBron in Laker colors. I have no doubt he will add hardware to his trophy closet and give pundits reason to question why they continue to doubt his ability. We’ll see Los Angeles relish in the glory of having reason to fill their arena like the good days and smack-talk on Twitter faster than the guy in The White House. It’s going to happen and if we’re lucky, maybe another ring will find its way to him.
Cleveland, on the other hand, will have phases of ups and downs and no shortage of miserable winters from the lake effect. They may never experience the decade-plus long ride like they had with their local Phenom for another generation. It may be unbearable to fathom what life is like after LeBron James. The good news is Cleveland doesn’t have to worry because LeBron’s story, legacy, and promise is the beginning of a new chapter in Cleveland, the city of champions.
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Photo: AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez