| 11 May 2010
While everyone else is on the edge of their seats talking about the coaching search (relax, it's gonna take at least another 40 days), I got something else interesting for you. I got an email yesterday from a guy named AJ Barthold. This guy is a die-hard Bulls fan and apparently started the website www.sendlebrontochicago.com. The site is very well done. Honest. It looks good. And I like the spirit. Nothing excites me more than fellow Bulls fans being passionate about this franchise and wanting it to succeed. So I support this website wholeheartedly, despite my feelings about LeBron, which I'll discuss shortly. But please keep in mind this is all still a pipedream, my friend. Should it be a pipedream? No, it shouldn't. And I don't really know why it is. But it is. I'll explain below. And yes, this pic below is real and I got it from AJ's website.
I hate LeBron. Hate him. Okay, hate is a strong word. I dislike him very much. His personality, not his ability. He makes weird faces, he dances on the sidelines, he dances on the court, he fistpumps after every and-1...it's all super annoying. However, that being said, I can't in good conscious actually say that I do not want to see him become a Chicago Bull. And this is simply because I care much more about this team having the best shot at winning a title rather than the personalities that exist in the locker room. That's why I don't care what Joakim Noah says or who he insults...he helps this basketball team win, so I love him. I don't think I can ever have that kind of feeling toward LeBron, since he started his career on the Cavs and he's been a Bulls enemy for 7 years now, but if he ushers in a new dynasty here, I'll tolerate him.
Also, I don't buy the theory that LeBron will come to the Bulls because he's a "Bulls fan." First of all, I don't trust any "Bulls fans" outside of Chicago who were only fans because the Bulls were winning. Especially LeBron. The kid is from Akron, Ohio. Why is he a fan of the Bulls? And since when is it okay to be a fairweather fan? AJ...you seem to support LeBron's being a fairweather fan on your site, but I do not support this. What kind of kid from Akron, Ohio is a fan of the Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees, and Chicago Bulls in the mid 90's. All of these teams were in the midst of dyansties. THAT IS NOT OKAY. Can't you see, AJ? LeBron is not a true fan of anybody. He was never a true fan of the Chicago Bulls. He is only a fan of anybody that's winning. That doesn't make him a Bulls fan. And that certainly doesn't make him secretely loyal to the Bulls and longing to join their franchise. He's a frontrunner. Not a Bulls fan.
So do I think he'll come here? No. Sorry AJ. There are too many people "in the know" who would have hinted that Chicago is a serious option by now if it actually were a serious option. And no one has hinted at this. I just feel like Chicago would be being taken more seriously if LeBron was serious about coming here. Then again, what city really is being taken seriously? None, other than Cleveland. For some reason everyone is convinced he's staying there. So I guess Chicago might be as good a guess as any.
So...
Let me give you a different theory. A real theory. A theory that I was discussing with one of my buddies earlier today. A theory that you can actually hang your hopes and dreams on as a Bulls fan. LeBron James is changing to #6 next season. He even encouraged the league to completely retire the #23 completely. Why would he do this? Well, what if he actually is strongly considering joining the Bulls (and it's not because he's a Bulls fan)? Well then he knows he won't be able to wear the #23, so he has to change his number. And we all know LeBron. If LeBron can't wear the #23, then no one should be allowed to wear the #23. And once LeBron stops wearing it, no one will want to wear it anymore either way. He will be known as the last one to wear #23 after Michael Jordan. It kind of makes sense doesn't it?
Yet that's all thoughts and theories. Let's talk about facts. The Cavs are in a battle with the Celtics right now. The series is tied 2-2. Last year the Cavs swept through the first 2 rounds easily. This year, not so much. Rajon Rondo is tearing the Cavs to shreds. Mo Williams is playing ball like Moesha. Meanwhile, Rondo had a monstrocity of a triple-double in Game 4. So AJ got one thing right up on his site. He asked this question: Is it gonna be D-Rose or Mo Williams, LeBron? How many titles are you going to win with Mo Williams running your point. Maybe...just maybe...he's seeing what a dynamic point guard can do for a franchise. Mo Williams is good, but he's not Rondo, and he's certainly not Rose.
Yet Rose isn't Rondo. Both players are spectacular, which I admit even though my hatred for Rondo parallels my hatred for LeBron. However, they have different things to offer. Derrick Rose is a LeBron James-esque player. He is the fastest, strongest, most prolific player at his position. No one can keep up. No one can out muscle-him. The same goes for LeBron James at his position. Rondo is more of a finesse player. He's not a good shooter, and he really isn't a prolific scorer. However, when it comes to reading passing lanes, only LeBron compares. The kid just has a nose for steals. And he can rebound. Yet Derrick is more versatile. He can do what Rondo does on the offensive end. He can distribute...if he had someone to distribute to. But Rondo can't do what Rose does offensively, i.e. get to the hoop at will and shoot the jumper consistently.
Bottom line, LeBron knows what a good point guard has to offer. He's witnessing it first hand through Rajon Rondo's current dismantling of his team. And he knows Derrick Rose is a good point guard. He witnessed it first hand in the 1st round of the playoffs, where Derrick did incredible damage with only Joakim Noah as a true supporting cast member. Rondo has Pierce, Allen, and Garnett. So it's quite clear what Rose brings to the table. And Mo Williams doesn't bring it. Derrick Rose is 21. LeBron James is 25. These two can own the league together for the next 12 years. We're talking serious dynasty. THAT IS WHY LEBRON HAS TO CONSIDER THE BULLS. If he doesn't consider the Bulls, then he's foolish. It's that simple. If he doesn't think about the fact that him and Rose can own this league for the next decade and a half, then he's a moron. What other team has that to offer? None. And let's not forget about Joakim Noah either.
There's your reason. If LeBron comes, that's why. Not because he's a Bulls fan. Not because he's been holding in his loyalties for all this time because of politics and the NBA business.
So like I said...do I think he's coming? No. Do I understand why? No. There isn't a team out there who can offer more of a long-term winning dynamic than the Bulls. Definitely not the Cavliers. But we don't really know these guys. Maybe he doesn't really have a rational reason. Maybe he just doesn't feel like it. Maybe he's scared of stepping into Jordan's shadow. Would you really blame him? (Well, yeah, I would...kinda). Who knows? Let's hope he takes a look at www.sendlebrontochicago.com and realizes that this is a place with incredibly passionate fans and a place he can win the most games for the longest amount of time.
Check out the site for yourself here. Good lookin' out, AJ.
