homecoming

Like all sports fans, I am outrageously excited to watch LeBron James' return to Cleveland tonight when the Heat face the Cavaliers on TNT. Say what you want about The Little Diaper's (nickname courtesy of Jason Whitlock's twitter feed, @WhitlockJason) decision to take his talents to South Beach - and I will - but it's made the NBA, which I usually don't even realize started until December 25th, interesting and noteworthy in the midst of NFL and NCAA football seasons.

Personally, I don't care that LeBron turned his back on Cleveland by deciding to join the Heat and don't really feel that he did. What did he owe Cavs fans? He made their team relevant again and strengthened their fan base. The way he went about announcing his signing was appalling, though I've never been a James fan so I can't say it changed my opinion of him much. However, I do see James' decision to join Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in South Beach as a referendum on his career.

James is without question the greatest athlete and most physically gifted player to ever step foot on a basketball court. But I've never thought all that talent and ability translated into him being a great player, and certainly not one of the greatest of all-time or the greatest in the league that so many proclaimed him to be. For all his talent, James lacks the fundamental basketball skills and intelligence necessary to be a great player, and starting with his emotional collapse/quitting/call it what you want in last year's playoffs, it started to look as if he lacked the competitive edge to lead a team to championships. That's why I found his decision to sign with Miami so intriguing - it confirmed my belief that he is not the once-in-a-lifetime player so many thought he was.

Much has been written about the Heat's struggles this season and James' immaturity over the summer and fall, and I think there is definitely something to that. He's essentially a teenage phenom who has never been told no. But the guys who aspire to greatness - Jordan, Russell, Kobe - are relentless on and off the court. They're hyper-sensitive in that any and all criticism fuels them to be better. James is sensitive too, but not in a good way (in the way that people like me are sensitive, sadly). The greats work on refining their games and finding new ways to win when the old ones become less effective. This is the first time in Lebron's life that he is being pushed in this manner, and so far people are still waiting to see when, and if, he is going to respond.

But tonight is more about Cleveland than it is about James. Tonight is a city's and a team's opportunity to remain relevant, to release their frustrations and potentially ease their pain while the rest of the nation watches with fascination. I'm sure some will cheer for LeBron, and rightly so. But I know there will be plenty of boos and, in an era when fans regularly display wit, many interesting and amusing chants. Like others, I hope that the Cleveland fans use only their voices and do not resort to disruptive behavior. And I hope that their team earns a victory against their fallen hero, and I think they will. I expect LeBron to play a decent game for which Skip Bayless will criticize him mercilessly, but with Wade still struggling physically, I think some of their teammates, especially Bosh, will crumble under the weight of the moment.

Fan up Cleveland - tonight is your night!