Watching sports is arguably the most popular way for people to spend their free time and disposable income in this country, and it is just as much a part of the American fabric as the flag itself.
When it comes to the Big Three of American sports (football, basketball, baseball), the height of their respective popularity is usually driven by an evil empire.
You know...when a team or player rises to a certain level of success that it irks the casual fan, who in turn, will tune in to (hopefully) watch that evil empire lose.
We saw it with the Dallas Cowboys throughout the early 90's, and to a certain extent, this season when they were steamrolling opponents en route to the best record in the NFC.
We saw it in baseball with the Yankees, and in the collegiate ranks we've seen it with the Duke basketball program and Alabama football program.
The NFL's evil empire, the New England Patriots, are in Houston right now preparing to capture their fifth Lombardi trophy. And most people outside of Boston are predictably rooting for the underdog Atlanta Falcons who are seeking their first championship.
The NBA had that in LeBron James and the Miami Heat when he, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh teamed up to form the Big Three in 2011.
But the vitriol toward James and the Heat disappeared when he elected to return to the lowly Cavaliers two years ago.
I thought that Durant to the already stacked Warriors would draw equal ire from the casual fan, but to date that hasn't happened. As a result, we have what amounts to a "meaningless" regular and post season as fans await Warriors-Cavs III this June.
And just as we were about to hit the snooze button on the rest of the regular season, the usually politically correct and brand-conscious James does an about face...and becomes his own evil empire once again.
Already at war with his front office, and clearly frustrated with the Cavalier's woes in 2017 (7-8 record in January) James pulled out a flame thrower and aimed it at Hall of Fame player and basketball analyst Charles Barkley last night.
His personal attack on Barkley was ether-like, but his closing remark last night spoke volumes...saying...
"I'm tired of biting my tongue....there is a new sheriff in town".
Translation..."To hell with being liked...I was hated in Miami".
And I think that is great for the NBA.
Case in point, on the morning following the NFL's annual Super Bowl media day coverage, LeBron and his remarks led every major sports show today...regardless of market. And that's not hyperbole, I actually bounced around to different markets throughout the day and everyone was talking about LeBron...mostly in a negative light.
Oh, and just in time for the NBA to take center stage following Sunday's Super Bowl.
Angry evil LeBron forces the casual fan to take sides, and by doing that, they are more likely to stay engaged during the dog days of the NBA regular season.
I know I'll be watching Cleveland's next nationally televised game, if for nothing more than to watch the train fall off the rails.
It's just how it works with polarizing players and teams.
If we know anything about the media, we know they become unified when one of their own comes under attack by a player...and that was the sentiment on sports talk radio across the country today.
The media will be watching and dissecting LeBron's every move now, and will no doubt look to bait him into more controversy.
My message to King James? Take the bait...make the regular season interesting again.
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