Lebron James – Not Wasting His Sports

The Monday feature of the Worldly Saints blog focuses on a story from the sports world – current or historic. The point is to recognize athletes who are using their sports and athletic abilities to further the kingdom of God or to show how some athletes are wasting their days by not giving God the glory.

Growing up as a child, I ALWAYS rooted against Michael Jordan. My favorite NBC team has always been the Los Angeles Lakers, but my second favorite team was whoever was playing the Chicago Bulls (and later whoever was playing the Washington Wizards).

I cheered against Jordan because he was – and probably still is – the best player in the world. He won all the time. If the Bulls got to the playoffs, you could almost guarantee he was getting to the Finals and smoking the opposing team (which was my Lakers one year, by the way). I loved cheering against him.

And there was part of me that loathed his success. I don’t know or have any logical explanations for why I cheered for his failure. At some level, I suppose I was inwardly bitter that the best player on the planet was not a Laker. I also am a fan of parody in sports and seeing teams and individuals defeat others they are not supposed to.

Fast forward to today … I am not a huge Lebron James fan. While I would not say that I outwardly or inwardly root against him like I did Jordan, I have found myself now and again cheering against the Heat and now the Cavaliers.

When Lebron left Cleveland to “take his talents” to Miami, I joined America to grow in my frustration with Lebron. I thought leaving Cleveland in the manner he did, over-publicizing his departure and then participating a rally with Dwayne Wade and newly acquired Chris Bosh in their new Heat uniforms before Miami fans was a little too hyped.

So the last few years I have cheered against the Heat. Until last week, I have not been a Lebron fan.

When Lebron announced he was returning to the Cleveland, the basketball fan in me thought, “Good. He is going to a bad team. No more championships for him.”

And then I read his letter he sent as an explanation and my respect and admiration for him grew exponentially. Here is a portion of his explanation:

“But this is not about the roster or the organization. I feel my calling here goes above basketball. I have a responsibility to lead, in more ways than one, and I take that very seriously. My presence can make a difference in Miami, but I think it can mean more where I’m from. I want kids in Northeast Ohio, like the hundreds of Akron third-graders I sponsor through my foundation, to realize that there’s no better place to grow up. Maybe some of them will come home after college and start a family or open a business. That would make me smile. Our community, which has struggled so much, needs all the talent it can get.

In Northeast Ohio, nothing is given. Everything is earned. You work for what you have. I’m ready to accept the challenge. I’m coming home.”

You can read the whole essay written by Lebron here.

What a courageous and loyal expression by King James. For Lebron to openly admit he is moving back from Cleveland for the bettering of his family and home above his personal accomplishments at a professional athlete is an admirable decision. I applaud his commitment to the city of Cleveland and his willingness to give back to a city that gave so much to him. Lebron … “highfive” to you brother. I love to see athletes put others before themselves.

I will always be a Laker fan, but if the Cavaliers return to the Finals with Lebron and do not play the Lakers, I might wear a Cavs jersey,