I'm not sure if I can remember another time in any other sport where one athlete was so widely despised as LeBron James is right now in the NBA (subject for another blog: will or even has Miami turned on LeBron). The mass hatred started with his treatment of the Cleveland Cavaliers and telling a mass television audience that he would be taking his talents to South Beach. Shortly after that he promised the Miami Heat faithful that he would be bringing a championship to the city.
True to his word, LeBron James did bring a Championship to the city of Miami but it left almost as quickly to Dallas. I say almost because I did find a number of photos online of the Dallas Mavericks celebrating their first ever NBA Championship - complete with the Larry O'Brien trophy - at a Miami dance club. This is kind of where I want to start with all of the oddities that I saw with the NBA Championship Finals especially the last game.
Now I have no problem with athletes hitting the city and celebrating a hard fought battle after they emerge as champions ... in the home town of the team that is. Now maybe this is that something special about the NBA that I couldn't seem to see earlier in the evening. The game progressed as I would expect - two teams going up and down the court and dropping buckets. There were a few lead changes, but for the Dallas Mavericks led for the most part and when it matter the most.
At the end of the game, things just quietly came to a close. Dirk Nowitzki won his first league championship in thirteen years and immediately proceeded down the tunnel to the dressing room. Miami's big three did the same followed by the rest of their team mates. There were no congratulatory moments between opposing players and no handshakes.
Even the broadcast seemed to be missing that celebratory feel that I've become accustomed to over the years watching the NHL in Canada. There was no mass rush courtside to catch an athlete and his thoughts after the big win or even the big loss. I don't recall a quickly produced highlight package set to a statement piece of music. I waited for some of these things and instead watched as the broadcast went to commercial break.
On return there was a stage set up and bathed in the glow of a few bright spotlights. All the important people were up there crammed into tight quarters. The ESPN broadcaster introduced the NBA Commissioner who congratulated both teams. The rest is a bit of blur to me as it unfolded in an unbelieving order. Mark Cuban spoke, Dirk Nowitzki was awarded the Playoff MVP and the Championship trophy was handed to who? That wasn't the team captain and it certainly wasn't the team's owner - was that the coach?
Judging by a few of the tweets I saw, it should have been given to the owner; apparently there is something between David Stern and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. If this is the case, then I don't like it. Handing the League Championship Trophy off to the team owner screams of endorsing the money man and not the athletes that worked for it. Oh sure they get paid blah blah blah, but the owner should not be the first person to receive that honour.
Shortly after the trophy was handed over, the television networks went to another commercial break and here in Canada we went back to original programming. I suspect we didn't miss much as less than five minutes later I saw Nowitzki sitting at the post game press conference answering questions. There was no dressing room champagne shots, no scenes of players being congratulated by their family and close friends. It was just over ... it was just another NBA Championship game ... no big deal.
If that was it, I'm asking you to peek into the NHL Stanley Cup Finals that could potentially end Monday night with another road team winning the Championship. If not Monday, it will end for sure on Wednesday. No matter which game turns out to be the final game you will see the two emotional extremes of immense joy and devastating heart break. Through all of that there will be a push to find athletes to talk to on the broadcast, congratulations between opposing teams and coaching staffs.
After a few minutes there will be a commercial break, but before going to that break look for a highlight pack that will show the human side of the competition set to a contemporary piece of music. On return from the break there will be the obligatory boos for the League Commissioner, Gary Bettman. Then a few minutes the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophies will be at centre ice. The Stanley Cup will be presented to the winning team's captain. It will be to his discretion if he hoists it above his head or gives it to another player for the honours.
It doesn't end there as every player will have a chance to hoist the Cup above their heads as they skate around the ice dodging camera cables, reporters and other people that found a way onto the ice. Once everybody has had a chance to lift Hockey's Holy Grail it will be placed near centre ice leading to an impromptu gathering of the winning team for a victory photograph.
The celebrations will then head to the dressing room that will be covered in plastic in anticipation of champagne being uncorked and sprayed in joyous celebration around the room. Some players will have family members nearby including small children reveling in the festivities. The scene will carry on for at least an hour with no post game press conference forthcoming. If the winning team is a road team, don't expect to see them show up downtown ... that part of the celebration will be reserved for the hometown of the fans who will be anxiously waiting the team's arrival at the airport.
One last thought ... after reading LeBron's quote (courtesy USA Today) about "the haters" having the same personal problems in the morning, I can't help but chuckle knowing that he woke up this morning with his same personal problems and then some. He just can't seem to play it right when in front of the media eye, whether it be the "coughing" or the critiquing, he just seems to keep himself in that same spot where he is the most despised athlete in his sport.
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