We in the sports media can be shameless when it comes to promoting the “next big superstar.” We find somebody young that does amazing things and we become obsessed with their “potential.” We’ve done it with Tiger Woods, Andy Roddick
We in the sports media can be shameless when it comes to promoting the “next big superstar.”
We find somebody young that does amazing things and we become obsessed with their “potential.”
We’ve done it with Tiger Woods, Andy Roddick and even now with 13-year old Michelle Wie, the 2003 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links champion.
But our unhealthy obsession with LeBron James, who most likely will be the No. 1 player selected in tonight’s NBA draft, has been particularly ugly.
Not only do we report the news but we also double as his sports agent hyping him every chance we can get.
We’ve given him his own television show.
We’ve shown him dunking on other 18-year olds in high school games.
We report when he gets a new $50,000 SUV or when he appears at the local mall.
We like to ask him questions regarding his favorite video games and hobbies.
We basically pushed him out of high school and straight into the NBA without any regard for his life.
If this kid tore his ACL in a pickup game on Friday and had complicated knee surgery, how many times would ESPN or FOX report on his progress?
What if he gets nailed in a drive-by shooting in Cleveland, suffers severe physical problems and misses an entire season? How many times would CNN/SI lead in with LeBron’s battle to get back to the NBA?
As soon as it becomes apparent that he can’t cut it in the NBA, the sports media will discard him like yesterday’s news.
LeBron has an incredible amount of pressure to deal with.
He just received a $90 million endorsement deal and hasn’t yet played one minute of game action. He has to prove that he can hold his own against NBA players for seven months.
Worst yet, he has been told that he is the savior of a losing professional sports franchise.
He not only must compete but he must dominate like not other player coming straight out of high school and into the league.
In Cleveland, he isn’t going to get the chance to sit and learn. LeBron will start on opening night and be expected to lead the club in scoring and just abut every other positive statistical category.
With all of the expectations placed on him, if LeBron doesn’t average 25-30 points per game on his way to the Rookie of the Year award, he has had a disappointing season.
Only time will tell if he is a bust or the future of the league.
But for now, LeBron is just another NBA prospect about to get his shot in the big time.
He’s no different than fellow prospects Reece Gaines, Kirk Hinrich or David West.
Until he establishes himself as a force in the pros, LeBron is just another rookie.
Yes, he’s got amazing potential to be a star.
But potential has to be realized and this kid must now get it done at his new job.
