Thursday, June 21, 2012

SouthBeach Redemption



The buzzer has finally sounded and it has changed one man's life forever.  He is no longer a loser.  He is no longer a choker.  He is no longer without the ultimate prize.   

He is now a brand new man.  He is a champion.  

LeBron James has silenced his biggest critics.  He has exercised the demons.  The pressure that has weighed on his shoulders in the 9 years he has been in the league has been lifted away.  He can finally smile! 

It is his South Beach Redemption.

His third finals has definitely been the charm for LeBron as the previous two appearances left him without his biggest want in life.  The finals against the Spurs, his first time, he was too young and inexperienced to take on the challenge.  The finals against the Mavs last year he was too passive and left critics wondering where his head was at as he watched Dirk Nowitzki raise the championship trophy. 

This playoff run has been nothing short of amazing.  He as been bound and determined to deliver at all costs.  He has been attacking each game like it was his last.  He finally has shown he has a killer instinct and took the ball when the games best player should have.  His triple double tonight says it all. 

He also has been given a tremendous amount of help from his supporting cast.  The run his cohorts have been on during the NBA Finals from behind the three point arc has been a God send from heaven.  Shane Battier, Mike Miller, and Mario Chalmers shot threes like lay-ups and have been key and stepped up when "The King" needed help from his people.  Each time James passed the ball he had confidence in his guys they would hit the shot without him having to do it alone.

 
 Trifecta you betcha from these two league vets.

This has been a gift for LeBron as his past seasons have made him feel he was all alone and couldn't to it by himself.  This is why he went to South Beach.  He was smart enough to realize staying in Cleveland he had little to no chance of gaining his main goal and leaving and teaming with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh was the answer. 

"The Decision" which was aired to millions on ESPN may not have been the best way of gaining additional fans but it was the right choice for him long term.  He had great years and some really good teams in Cleveland but they were not GREAT enough to win the title.  Eastern Conference Champs is nice but NBA Champs is much, much, nicer.


Hmmm...I think I made the right choice!

So watching LeBron clutch that Larry O'Brian trophy just like his idol Michael Jordan did reminded me just how much pressure and angst LeBron has endured.  Jordan had to go through those Detroit "Bad Boys" and tons of physical abuse before gaining his throne as the leagues best.  LeBron had to go through Boston's "Big Three" and OKC's "Young Guns" to claim his rightfully earned spot. Jordan won his first title in 5 games.  LeBron won his first title in 5 games.  Are they on similar paths?  Only time will tell.  He is going to have some fearless and talented foes in the years to come and will most likely battle OKC plenty in the years to come.

It could very well be another run like Magic versus Bird in the 80's.  It will be a war on the floor like non other but LeBron has been there and done that. 

Shawshank Redemption Quotes

LeBron James, not unlike Andy Dufresne, in his career has crawled through a river of sh*t and came out clean on the other side.  And now as NBA champion.





    Shawshank's Andy Dufresne




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