Resurrection of "The Land"

Queen James.

Man Child.

Flopper.

Complainer.

Choke Artist.

Scared of the Spotlight.

Joey Crawford's favorite player.

Bitch ass Nigga.


LeBron James has been called everything on this list, and some that aren't fit to retype here, for years. Long before Michael Jordan's Hall of Fame speech immortalized him (again), LeBron's tears were the gold standard of professional failure.  It wasn't as widespread as MJs meme (another way his haters can say he doesn't measure up to His Airness) but every time James' teams were eliminated in the Finals, the memes came.

At least he can say this meme is something he started before MJ...

"The Decision," no matter how much he tried to downplay it, was the worst decision of his career.  It  turned the local-kid-does-good narrative into that arrogant ex-best friend you loathe because he ditched you for cooler friends in high school.

"He took the easy path!"

"Michael would never join Magic!"

"Miami bought their Championship!  They didn't build it the 'right way'!"

And there goes Cleveland's economy

Clearly not prepared the level of vitriol he received, some of it outright racist, James tried to turn the tables on his critics and embrace the villain role.  Unfortunately, instead of thriving on the hate like Reggie Miller once did, he buckled, his play suffered, and there was much joy in Whoville when the over-hyped 2011 Miami Heat fell flat on their faces, losing to the Dallas Mavericks in 6 games. James eventually did win championships in Miami but they both seemed hollow.  His first title came in a lockout-shortened season against an upstart (a nice word for inexperienced) Oklahoma City Thunder squad. Arguably, he only won his second because Ray Allen decided to take his talents to South Beach too.  The 2014 Finals, a rematch with San Antonio, would be an absolute disaster.  It seemed as if  even Father Time joined the ranks of LeBron haters as he battled cramps (no seriously), a diminished Dwayne Wade, and Ray Allen's shot leaving him at the worst possible time (9-22 on 3pt in the series). The formerly "ancient" Spurs exposed the Heat's inability to replenish their roster with young talent. LeBron decided falling in 5 games to a team they'd barely beaten the year before was writing Shakespearean sonnets on the Heat's locker room walls.  If he wanted to leave a lasting legacy, it wasn't going happen in Miami.

Announcing your return to Cleveland while wearing a Miami Championship ring?  Oh LeBron, you never learn.

By some miracle, Dan Gilbert and LeBron James decided to try again.  James knew he owed Cleveland (the people not the franchise) for putting them through hell both on and off the court. Never has one man been so instrumental in the revitalizing of a city's troubled economy as LeBron has been to Cleveland, which is why this relationship between player and city is so special.  He's more than just a sports figure in Ohio, a responsibility he now seems to understand and embrace.  He realizes what he'd done and was going to put everything he could into making amends.  However, they say you can't truly go home again, and while most Cavs fans embraced the return of Akron's prodigal son, many Cleveland fans still carried the sour taste of his exodus in their mouths.  Many still weren't convinced that he would stick around this time either, considering he only signed a 2-year contract that expires after this season.  Nevertheless, the Cavs front office picked up right where they left off with James, allowing him to once gain have input on personnel, forcing the trade that sent  Andrew Wiggins to Minnesota in exchange for Kevin Love.


Queen James.

Man Child.

Flopper.

Complainer.

Choke Artist.

Scared of the Spotlight.

Joey Crawford's favorite player.

Bitch ass Nigga.

Now you officially can add "Legend" to the list.  His performance in the last two NBA Finals (his 5th and 6th consecutive Finals, by the way) ends all doubt about his place among the greats of the game.  The promise of the St. Marys High School phenom that was going to change the game?  Fulfilled.  The debt owed to the city of Cleveland for taking his talents to South Beach?  Paid.  Those crying memes?  Jordan can keep those.  The only crying pictures about LeBron that matter will be these...

From one championship-starved franchise to another, this one's for you Cleveland!  Even if you did use 4 ex-Knicks to do it :)