By John McMullen
In an artsy, thought-provoking 90-second Nike commercial first aired in October called "Rise," Miami Heat superstar LeBron James asks repeatedly, "What should I do?"
The rhetorical question is James' most candid response to the enormous criticism he received after publicly announcing his divorce from the Cleveland Cavaliers in the much-hyped ESPN special "The Decision" back in July.
That's when James spurned the Cavaliers in favor of South Beach and the chance to play with fellow "superstars" Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in an effort to win his elusive first NBA championship.
Of course a return to Cleveland had to happen eventually but I'm not so sure Maverick Carter clued The King into that fact he would have to deal with the subjects he deserted in a most unflattering manner this summer.
Barring a mysterious tweaked ankle, sore hamstring or balky back, James will make his first appearance back in the Forest City since "The Decision" on Thursday when his rudderless Miami Heat face a plucky Cavaliers club that has had the gall not to completely fall apart without the services of basketball's chosen one.
While James readies the dagger for the back of his new head coach Erik Spoelstra, the Cavs have quietly gone about their business under new mentor, Byron Scott, and remained competitive.
Although a pedestrian 7-9 heading into Tuesday's action, the doomsday predictions that had the Cavaliers challenging the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers for futility have been unfounded and Cleveland is currently holding down the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.
James' Heat, meanwhile, aren't much better at 10-8 and those 70-win predictions are about to be rendered meaningless by the science of mathematics.
James was clearly no chemistry major at St. Vincent - St. Mary High in Akron but he did learn how to pass the buck.
In Cleveland, the supporting cast that was good enough to help LeBron garner 66 wins in 2008-09 and another 61 in '09-10 wasn't good enough to help him win a championship. In South Beach, Spoelstra is about to become the scapegoat for the fact that neither James or his All-NBA co-star, Wade, can't figure out how to play without the basketball in their hands.
So I'm not really interested in what LeBron should do. I'm wondering what the fans of Cleveland should do when the King returns to the Q?
Should they admit they have made mistakes?
Should they remind you that they have done this before?
Should they give us all a history lesson?
What should the fans of Cleveland do?
Should they tell you how much fun they had?
Should they really believe LeBron ruined his legacy?
Should they remove LeBron's tattoo?
Should they notice his shiny new shoes?
What should the fans of Cleveland do?
Should they regard The King as a role model?
Should they call LeBron a championship chaser, a guy who did it for the money, the rings?
Should they expect LeBron to be who they want him to be (the villain)?
Nah, the Fans of Cleveland aren't listening ...
They are rejoicing in the fact James is now the pariah -- an overrated fool that couldn't get things done when it got tough in Cleveland so he fled for an easier life in Miami.
An easier life that is turning into anything but.
A "Rise" that is all about a fall from grace.
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