Lebron's Culture Club

I like to change my mind, a lot to be honest with you. Luckily, I know most of you, and you know me, so this is not a surprise. I have come to terms that Lebron James is leaving Cleveland. I have even accepted Bill Simmon's theory that a late night game of poker during the 2008 Summer Olympics resulted in a pact between Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh. This pact would then result in all three superstars playing for the same team staring in 2010. Why may you ask have I pulled a 180 on this theory? Because it makes too much sense when you think about it.

I have been thinking a lot about Lebron James and his need to become a cultural icon that transcends basketball. I keep going back to Michael Jordan. How does one transcend MJ? The man had the talent, the endorsements, the six championships, and even a silhouette of his body that became a symbol for everything him. What does one do to blow that performance off the stage? How about taking a cue from another performer. Not a basketball player, but a performer. How about the greatest rapper alive?

Jay Z and Lebron have been linked for years. They are great friends and members of the mutual admiration society. At one point, a theory had Lebron going to the Jay Z owned New Jersey Nets, after Jay moved the team to Brooklyn. Lebron could live in his favorite city New York and Jay Z could bring an NBA franchise to his hometown. Considering the Nets current state, this seems unlikely. However, Jay's career might be a blueprint (pun seriously intended) for Lebron's takeover (again pun so important) of the NBA. As an artist, Jay ran the rap industry. He became the CEO of rap's original monarchy Def Jam, while becoming bigger than the art form in which he existed. His talent allowed him to not just be an artist, but an icon that controlled not only his career, but the career of many others.

This will be Lebron's legacy. A man who's talent allowed for and him and his friends to control their own destiny and control the balance of the NBA. The only reason it won't be in Cleveland has nothing to do with the town's "woe is me" sports history or lack of nightlife. It is simply because the Cleveland Cavaliers won't have the salary cap space to pull off such a move. Just think of it, Lebron and his boys dominating the league while becoming bigger than the association in which they work. An NBA who's commissioner let the league spiral out of control and then came down hard to overcompensate his own failures. A commissioner that imposed dress codes and gave season long suspensions. Who brought the league back to the "artists?" Lebron and the boys, sounds like iconic status to me.