A Year after "The Decision"

LeBron James
Source: www.thewhitemamba.wordpress.com

Exactly, almost a year ago, LeBron James decided to bring his talents to South Beach. It was probably, one of the most talked about events ever. And most likely, during that time last year, Mr. James was enjoying himself very much because he knew everyone was watching him and was eagerly waiting for him to reveal that one major decision. One decision that ultimately changed his life and his status for good. 

As we all know, it wasn’t really the decision that we hated, but it was more of the process towards that decision that we didn’t like. What was the point of having a one hour show on National TV just to broadcast to everyone where he was going? It was insensitive and was very much uncalled for. To simply put it, it was one really BAD mistake on LeBron’s part. And then, to add insult to injury, LeBron, together with D- Wade and Chris Bosh, had a pre- mature championship celebration a day after in Miami. I was so shocked that they even had that party. I mean, the Decision in itself was terrible enough, but then, it became worse, when they followed it up with a championship celebration even before the season started. All I could really tell myself at that time was that they had just shown the whole world how to ruin your reputation in the fastest way possible.

LeBron went from being the two- time Most Valuable Player to being the all- time Most Hated Player. He went from being the most celebrated player in the league to being the most hated player in the league. He went from superhero status to ultimate villain status. He lost his friends. He gave up money. He threw away his legacy. He sacrificed his reputation. He broke the hearts of people who found hope in him. All because he wanted to win a Championship. A championship that he could have brought to Cleveland if he just wanted to. And yet, he gave up almost everything including selling out his soul just because he could no longer wait to win one.

And as we all know, when LeBron was so close at reaching his “ultimate” goal, a German named Dirk came along and shattered his dream of finally winning one. And how ironic that this German guy who schooled him, was once labeled as one of the ultimate losers of all time. What was even sadder for LeBron was that almost EVERYONE cheered their hearts out for this German guy to win it all just because they wanted to see him (LeBron) fail. And, we all WITNESSED how the so- called King failed.

It was one rough year for LeBron. And it all started with that one decision he made last year. If given a chance to go back, he probably would have changed the script and how he conducted everything. Yet, as we all know, that is not really possible.

So, what is the lesson here my friends? All of us, in one way or another can relate to LeBron James. I am a hundred percent sure that at one point in our lives we made a choice that we probably shouldn’t have made. And yet, as we all know life goes on period. One of the wisest Jesuits that I have encountered in my life was the late Bro. James Dunne, who was my teacher way back in 1^st year high school. He told me then that all of us in this world make choices. But what is really important is for us to always pay the price for whatever choices we make, whether they may be good or bad. And ten years later, I could really say that Bro. Dunne was right with what he told me then.

More than our decisions, the real test for us is on how we handle the decisions we make everyday and how we commit ourselves to paying the price for each one of them.

I am no longer a fan of LeBron, nor am I a hater, but I have to be honest that he has been doing his best in paying the price for one decision that has changed his life so much. At least, he has not resorted to doing anything really “crazy” that can really ruin him even more. He will never be able to go back in time to change what happened but at least, he has faced the music head on and has made the most of what was left of him after The Decision.

We all make mistakes and LeBron is no exception. He may not have won a championship and he may never regain everything he lost from that decision he made. But at least, after everything that happened to him this past year, I am very sure that he has become a “better person” in the process. And I just hope that he realizes that IT is actually, more than enough.