"The Decision" was simultaneously the most painful and most hilarious television show I've seen in a long time. Its entertainment value rested almost entirely in its scope -- the same way a person goes to the Niagara Falls or to the Grand Canyon for that take-your-breath-away moment when the heretofore unimaginable vastness of the vista is first perceived, I watched "The Decision" in breathless awe of the sheer scale of the narcissism involved.

By any measure it was a landmark moment in the history of human self-involvement, eclipsing previous peaks in the narcissism Himalayas (Nero's impromptu fiddle concert as Rome burned, the career of the prophet Mohammed, Kim Jong Il publishing "The Popularity of Kim Jong Il") mainly because it was a collective effort. You can understand the citizens of Tsaritsyn cheering the decision to rename their city; if they didn't like "Stalingrad," they were getting lined up and shot.

But what was our excuse? The weird thing about this Lebron story is that seven or eight years ago, he seemed like a nice kid. All he did was step into a media machinery deisgned to create, reward, nurture, and worship self-obsessed assholes. He was raw clay when he went in, and now he's everything we ever wanted him to be -- a lost, attention-craving narcissistic monster who simultaneously despises and needs the slithering insect-mortals who by the millions are bent over licking his toes (represented in The Decision by the ball-less, drooling sycophant Jim Gray). 

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But there’s still one thing that sticks out for me. It’s one of the quotes James offered in that sham of an ESPN thing. He was asked if we would see the same LeBron James on the floor even though he was now sharing that floor and the basketball with the brilliant Dwyane Wade. James said, oh yes, we would see the same LeBron. And then he said this:

“We don’t have to have the pressure of going out, scoring 30 every night, or shooting a high percentage or logging long minutes and worrying about our team suffering because of that at times.”

LeBron James is 25 years old. He’s the most remarkable talent in the NBA. He is an unstoppable offensive force who can drive and create and pass and rebound and score. Is he REALLY looking to relieve the pressure of scoring 30 a night? Can you think of a great scorer who EVER wanted to relieve that pressure? Is he REALLY worrying about not having the chance to rest a bit more because his teammates would suffer? Is the man who calls himself King that eager to have the expectations lowered, to get more time to rest, to become the first global brand who can abdicate the starring role when he doesn’t quite feel up to it?

Maybe he just misspoke… there was a lot of that during the night. The whole television thing was a grotesque miscalculation — ESPN got some ratings, and LeBron got some face time, but both were diminished by the partnership.

But I don’t think he misspoke. I think that was as honest as anything LeBron James said. I think he has grown tired of the pressure and the blame that goes along with being the biggest star on the court. If he wanted to win a championship, Chicago seems a better fit. If he wanted to have the biggest stage, New York seems the better fit. If he wanted to be loyal and face the challenge, Cleveland seems a better fit.

But he went to Miami, to see if he could help Dwyane Wade win his second championship (and possibly third and fourth and so on). What seems so curious to others — that LeBron James would so willingly go to be A-Rod to Dwyane Wade’s Jeter — may have in fact been at the very heart of why he went to Miami. Now either one of them could take the last shot! And maybe Chris Bosh, too! LeBron James doesn’t have to score 30 anymore. He doesn’t have to play all those minutes anymore. He can relax. He can be ordinary if the mood isn’t quite right.

Very insightful comments in this post. In his own words, LeBum went to Miami to avoid the pressure of carrying a team by himself. This is as Un-Michael-Jordan-like as you can get. Fascinating.

Orlando Magic general manager Otis Smith said Friday he was surprised James went to Miami because he thought the two-time MVP was "more of a competitor."

He said the "great ones" do it on their own and "usually stay in one location."

Yo mama so fat when her beeper goes off, people thought she was backing up.

LeBron James had another deal in the works leading up to last night’s now infamous "The Decision:" He paid the person hired to "grill" him during the one-hour ESPN special.

Jim Gray, the former ESPN and NBC reporter, was paid by an entity set up by reps for James, according to CNBC. It also paid for Gray’s travel to the Greenwich, Conn., Boys & Girls Club where James announced he would play for the Heat this season.

ESPN said the deal was presented to it as a package, including the stipulation that Gray would have the first chance to interview James and its analysts would follow.

Can you call this an interview when the person you are interviewing is the one that is paying you?

James, who just a few weeks ago was roundly considered a laudable, trouble-free superstar with otherworldly talent and a not-too-offensive ego, has been transformed into Exhibit A on why civilization is doomed.

It is incredible how quickly LeBron has fallen from grace.

Angered and betrayed by LeBron James' decision to leave for Miami, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert accused the NBA's MVP of quitting during the playoffs.

Gilbert, who posted a letter to Cavs fans on the team's website shortly after James announced his plans to sign with the Heat, told The Associated Press late Thursday night that it's "accountability time" for James.

"He has gotten a free pass," Gilbert said in a phone interview with The AP. "People have covered up for [James] for way too long. Tonight we saw who he really is."

“

It's not about him leaving. It's the disrespect. It's time for people to hold these athletes accountable for their actions. Is this the way you raise your children? I've been holding this all in for a long time.

” -- Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert

Gilbert said James quit on the Cavs during their second-round series against the Boston Celtics, who rallied from a 2-1 deficit to eliminate Cleveland.

"He quit," Gilbert said. "Not just in Game 5, but in Games 2, 4 and 6. Watch the tape. The Boston series was unlike anything in the history of sports for a superstar."

OUCH!! The last thing any athlete wants to be called is a quitter.

LeBron did great damage to his reputation with his move to Miami. The recriminations and anger will continue well into next season.

LeBron James has rented six cabanas at the W Hotel South Beach this weekend to celebrate his team decision, two sources confirm to UsMagazine.com.

If this is true then the dream is over.