Gloria. G-L-O-R-I-A

K-Sea and Lisa have been very kind to this blogger and my rooting interests in this second round of the NBA series.  I live and die by the Red Sox,  but I take the Cavs over the Celtics?  After last night, it's time to explain that it's not  the Cavs that I'm pulling for, but rather LeBron James, despite his rather inexplicable affinity for the (gag me) Yankees.  I believe that the entire state of Ohio wants LeBron James to succeed because for him to do so defies so many odds. Gloria James throwing elbows at Paul Pierce last night is nothin'.....it's just one more thing to put down as part of the Legend of Gloria James.   

LeBron has been the wonder kid of Ohio since he was in seventh grade. We all knew about this kid from Akron who was going to be the next Michael Jordan.  My brother-in-law saw him play in the first round of the state tournament against Ashland Hillsdale (not our alma mater, but a county school full of short farm kids, more suited to football that hoops). It was LeBron's junior year of high school. Rob called on his way home from the game to tell me that he saw LeBron dunk the ball---a Hillsdale kid set up just inside the free throw line to take the charge. LeBron left his feet at the free throw line, went OVER the kid, literally, jumping up and clearing him, legs splayed and put down a dunk.  Rob could not believe what he'd seen. This kid was that GOOD. 

As the Legend grew (Akron St. Vincent/St.Mary High School was on ESPN and started flying all over the country to play ball), so did LeBron's mom's antics.    There was a game his senior year when she showed up in a fur, carrying large portrait of LeBron and paced the sidelines during warm-ups, saying "Bronie's in the House. That's my son, King James."  Rumor had it she might have had a couple of cocktails before the game.  There was the Hummer she bought him for his 18th birthday, paid for by a loan she took out based on his future earnings.  There were aways stories about Gloria James.  There was the night she showed up at his game in a fur, driving a Cadillac. She refused to say where she got the money to pay for these things.  The portrait became an every game deal, as well as the pacing and trash-talking at those who asked her to sit down.   LeBron loved his mom and Sure, Sure, he graduated with a solid B average and sure he kept himself out of any kind of trouble with the law all through high school....but Gloria James kept the entire state just waiting for the next thing. She needed attention and it seemed that she didn't care whether it was positive or negative. 

No one wanted to judge or borrow trouble, but we all knew of so many stories of kids from tough circumstances who couldn't handle instant wealth and the constant pressure of celebrity and expectations.  And LeBron had more wealth, more expectations, more pressure than any of them.  Then, just as we all wished, he was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers.  The King of Ohio would stay in Ohio.  Who would advise him and help him navigate the NBA as a teenager?    Surely, with a $90 million Nike contract at 18 years old  he would behave like a teenager and blow it, just like Maurice Clarett.  But he didn't.  Oh no, he didn't.

Through it all, LeBron has shown maturity, poise and wisdom far greater than his years and in measures much greater than his mother. He handles the press, his neighbors, the fans, with grace.  At 23, he is the face of Cleveland and it's a face the city is proud of.    And when LeBron moves to LA, or Chicago, I'll still be a LeBron girl. If he becomes a Knick, he's on his own, though.

Comments

[Lisa]

Kobe may be the MVP, but I don't think there's any doubt that King James is the best player in the NBA.

But showing up at the Jake in the Yankee hat during a playoff series? I still don't know how the city of Cleveland forgave him that. (Yes, Tom Brady may tool around in a Yankee hat when he's in the Big Apple, but he's not New England born and bred, and will never be shot for his brains.)

[K-Sea]

You support the Sox and that is most important. I do have a list of teams/athletes that I must run by you for the kindness to continue. If you support any of these I may have to reevaluate.
Teams:
NY Yankees
NY Jets
Miami Dolphins
Dallas Cowboys
LA Lakers
Montreal Canadiens
Notre Dame
Portland Trailblazers

Athletes:
Jason Kidd
Roger Clemens
Charles Barkely
Carmello Anthony
Derek Jeter
Dan Marino

As for Mrs. James....before the incident pictured above she caught my eye several times (waving and screaming). I was thinking to myself (before the incident) "Who is this lunatic". At half time I was FLOORED when I found out it was Mrs. James. I noticed in the second half she was sitting behind the Cav's bench. Hey..You can't pick your family…..

As for the game…I think the C's should let LJ have his way. Let him score 40-45 and take their chances with the rest of the team. If LeBron is scoring I am convinced he won't play the type of D he is playing on Paul Pierce. I remember in the early Jordan days MJ scored 68 points against the C's in a playoff game and LOST.

[Melissa]

We're in good standing. I am firmly against all named on your list, but most especially the Yuckees, Notre Dame, Derek Jeter, and Roger Clemens. I do, however, wonder why a guy with your name would put ND on the list????

Gloria James is LeBron's cross to bear and always has been, but he's always been very good to her.

I still think the Celtics win in seven.....The Cavs just don't have enough fire power to keep up with them. But then again, I thought that about Detroit last year.

[Lisa K.]

Ummm...K-Sea?

I don't hate Charles Barkley...but can Roger Clemens count twice for him since I hate him twice as much as almost everyone?