(CLEVELANDPLAINDEALER) Today’s the day, Cleveland.
It’s the day we have been waiting for since July 8, when LeBron James snubbed us on national television and announced he was taking his talents to South Beach.
With James and his Miami teammates/co-conspirators Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade set to make their first appearance against the Cavaliers since then, tonight has the potential to be New Year’s Eve, the Super Bowl and the apocalypse all rolled into one.
With all due respect to that infamous commercial, now it’s our turn to ask: What should we do?
James’ return is problematic on so many levels, not the least of which is that both teams need a victory. But after the disgraceful ending to last season and the indignity of his departure, adding to the ignominy of Cleveland’s sports history, we’re left wondering exactly how to react upon his return.
Uncontrolled fury? That’s what everyone expects. That’s why The Q will be packed with media from around the world.
Remember how fans “welcomed” the Baltimore Ravens on their first visit to Cleveland Browns Stadium after owner Art Modell moved the team from Cleveland? That will sound like Sunday school compared to the greeting James likely will receive.
But what about those who remain his fans? Or those who want to thank him for seven years of memories — most of them good? Are they taking their lives in their hands if they dare to cheer him again?
It might have been easier for everyone to move on if it hadn’t taken him a month to thank Cleveland for all those years of adoration, dating back to his days at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. Before expressing his gratitude to Cleveland at his bikeathon in August, he took out a farewell ad in the Akron Beacon Journal that didn’t mention Cleveland and granted a magazine interview in which he explained that he and other kids grew up in Akron hating Cleveland.
Finally, there was that retrospective commercial that supposedly was a step toward restoring his reputation but felt strangely like another kick in the teeth.
With our national reputation at stake, we decided to solicit opinions on how to react from some “experts” and others with a stake in the outcome.
