The Heat won.
For a week it was so warm that we humans couldn’t function properly.
The Heat beat us down. It took away our desire to be outside. It made sleep impossible for those without AC. It reduced exercise time, dog walking time. It stained armpits. It even made patios less desirable!
Then the Heat beat down the NBA. And fans in many cities across North America. The Miami Heat that is.
We all know by now the Heat was successful in securing the “Three Kings”…Le Bron, D-Wade, and Cowboy Chris Bosh.
But did the Heat win? Their franchise value jumped $40 million. Their season ticket prices jumped 50%. Their road games instantly became sold out. Maybe.
Did the NBA win? Boffo interest in the league during a typical downtime. Unprecedented media coverage. A prime time special on ESPN.
Did Chris Bosh win? A chance to play in South Florida with two of the best players in the game. Under the slick watch of the legendary Pat Riley. With South Beach and all its attractions right out your front door.
Did D-Wade win? A chance to stay loyal to his team and also have two stars join him on center court.
Did LeBron win? A bigger market to showcase his skills. A chance for him to be part of the cool, South Florida lifestyle. An escape from Cleveland, which seems perpetually cursed to win nothing. Ever. Never.
I don’t think the league won this week. Not because the players exercised their rights and in unprecedented fashion three star free agents all chose the same destination. Not because I think the league was manipulated. With the current CBA about to expire, these players knew what they were doing. It was more than that.
The league lost because some of its biggest names put themselves first. And not the customers. The NBA is an entertainment business. It’s about t-shirts. It’s about tickets. It’s about TV ratings.
Who pays for those souvenirs? Who buys the duckets? Whose eyeballs support the advertisers?
The fans, pure and simple.
Throughout this whole process, not one word was mentioned about the customer. Not one team owner, not one coach, not one player said, “We have to do what’s best for the fan.” Uh-uh. Natta. Nil.
All the talk was about winning championships and sacrifice. Sacrifice… are you kidding me? The fact that Bosh may only made $90 or $100 million on his deal versus $120 million is a sacrifice? Get a grip.
But the good news for the NBA is that there is a bigger loser. LeBron.
He lost an opportunity to be a hero. An icon. Jordan could have left Chicago early on, but he stayed and willed out a champion.
Dan Marino could have fled the Dolphins, but he stayed and never won a title. He was loyal. He fought.
Steve Y could have left the Wings, but instead he built a dynasty.
Stay and deliver. When Gretzky got traded, he was bitter and it was a business thing. But he poured his heart out for Edmonton.
When LeBron said FUC… (as in FU Cleveland!)… he turned his back on his home state and the team that had done cartwheels to build a champion around him.
LeBron has yet to put in a courtesy call to “Cleveland” to give thanks. He is off preening with Bosh and Wade.
Let him.
He has damaged his brand. He has lost his chance to be immortal. He is chasing some hardware, when he should be chasing immortality.
I hope he never wins a championship. I hope he and Wade fight over the ball. I hope the Heat piss teams off so much they rise up and clobber them. Every game of the year.
All the guy had to do was do it with class. Take out full-page newspaper ads. Thank the fans. Admit that he knows they will be pissed off with him. Say he is sorry and yes he is being a bit selfish and maybe he is making a mistake.
But be a man.
The NBA under David Stern has become a marvelous league. It has amazing talents and long standing rivalries like the Lakers and Celtics. Most of its teams are on solid footing, and unlike hockey, many of its expansion markets are thriving.
The NBA deserved better from its alleged biggest star.
It’s not what happened. It’s how it happened.
Many many people should have known better. Treat your customers with respect!