LeBrenius

This was a historic summer for the NBA. This was the summer of historically idiotic moves by NBA general manages. The Knicks and Nets got what they deserved for selling out for an elite free agent during the previous season-nothing (you can argue that the Knicks got Amare, but guess who they didn't get...Steve Nash...the reason Amare got his 100 million). The Blazers spent 33 million for an untested player that will play 10-15 minutes a game. The Hawks spent 120 million on Joe Johnson. They should have spent that 120 million giving away free tickets and hoping that 40 games were packed full of crazy Southerners that drank enough booze that they made a profit. Why is this a better idea? Joe Johnson's career is a result of the Nash Theory- the idea that Steve Nash is so good that he makes everyone not just better, but great,220 million dollars great. I just nope that Nash is asked to be a pallbearer at each of those guys funerals, that is the least that they can do.

Do you want to know what was NOT an idiotic move? "The Decision".

Lebron is a genius, or for the sake of this column, LeBrenius.

First I should explain my biases, I don't like Lebron. I never have. He showed me anything but squandered potential as an elite athlete. He cared too much about being better than MJ, and having friends than he did about winning. Did Lebron not realize that MJ had no friends and that winning was the only way he could get his kicks. Lebron finally put it all together this summer. Here is why going to Miami via "The Decision" make him the LeBrenius.

MJ is the only MJ. Do you see how pissed Kobe gets in press conferences when he gets asked about or compared to MJ? No one in a 24/7 media culture can ever be MJ. While no one can be MJ, someday someone will be as big of an icon as MJ is. It will take a long time, but it will happen. Lebron has no time to become this icon. MJ is still relevant. He is always in the news. This year he became the majority owner of the Grizzlies. Two weeks ago he graced the cover and is the primary theme of NBA2k11. Until MJ is exiled to the back of our memories, no one can beat him as the icon he is. Lebron's style of play will limit his career. He is half way through with his career. MJ will still be relevant in 8 years. It was this realization that forced Lebron to take a page out of the Kobe playbook...make people hate you.

Kobe lost millions of dollars in sponsorships during his rape trial. He settled out of court and his wife stayed with him. He became the most polarizing figure in all of professional sports at the time. King James now wears this crown. What made people change their minds about Kobe? He won, not only did he win, but he lived in a city full of "Fair Weather Fans" that were willing to ignore his mis-deeds because he gave thousands of middle-aged men an excuse to bring their augmented, mistress/nannies to a sporting event that the mistress could tolerate because in only LA can your order an appletini from a traveling stadium vendor. LA has no past, only a present and a future.

NBA fans tune in to watch Kobe win, or to watch Kobe lose. For Kobe, this is a win-win situation. Kobe has the best selling NBA jersey on the planet despite his troubled past. He takes a helicopter to games and is going to be making 30 million dollars a year for the next 3 years. All in all, he currently is the closest to MJ.

Does Kobe's situation sound all that different from Lebron's? Lebron alienated a city and fan base to move to a city of "Fair Weather Fans" that instantly accepted him and forgot completely about "The Decision". Think of all the press that they received in training camp? Imagine what will happen when the Heat lose? Is this the first time in history that a team will get more press for losing any game than for winning a championship? It might just be.

I hold out hope that someone, someday, will upstage MJ. Not because I don't appreciate what Jordan did for basketball, but because I know that his memory will fade and I hope that my children get the chance to watch basketball history and basketball magic for themselves.