Cleveland: Nothing More Than "Sticks And Stones...." for LeBron

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”

Almost all of us have heard that expression since we were at a very young age. There is a reason. The principle will apply throughout all of our lives. I think that many of us enjoy sports because of the many ways in which sports world parallels the real world. LeBron James gave us all a sample of life imitating art.

Unless Cleveland does THIS to LeBron, they aren't lowering the Heat Index! 1

James, of course, turned the sports world on its ear via prime-time, national television on ESPN with “The Decision,” which is difficult to describe as anything other than a marketing fiasco for James. Clevelanders burned his jersey on television. Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert released a scathing statement (which may have elicited a few threads of sympathy and/or empathy for LeBron), throwing James under the bus and backing him over with it. Many accused LeBron of throwing the 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinal series with the Boston Celtics (possibly the first player, ever, accused of “lying down” after recording a triple-double in a playoff game). The Miami Heat immediately became the most polarizing team in professional sports, a difficult feat in a world containing the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Yankees, and Dallas Cowboys (and the 2010 New York Jets, for that matter).

James played his first game in Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena, last Thursday. James was clearly emotional about the return, seeming eager to get in, play, and get out of town quickly. Reported by ESPN, the Cleveland Police Department beefed up security to a level similar to that of a heated rivalry game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns of the National Football League.

To add insult to the latest of Cleveland’s many scarring, painful sports injuries, LeBron James performed his ritual of tossing his hand powder into the air, a trademark of his home games in Cleveland, to a smattering of boos. The ball was tipped. The game was on. LeBron dropped 38. The Heat blew the Cavs to smithereens.

LeBron: "Man's game, BITCH!" 2

So much for “sticks and stones”…. So much for LeBron cracking under pressure…. In fact, so much for the Heat looking “overrated”. Prior to the game in Cleveland, the Heat's record had fallen as low as 9-8, just above .500. Depending on one’s point of view, basketball fans were either pushing the panic button or saying, “I told you so.”

Since LeBron’s homecoming, the Heat have extended their winning streak to 5 games – including a win over the division rival Atlanta Hawks, have a 14-8 record, and are only a game and a half back of the Southeast division leading Orlando Magic. If anything, it could stand to reason that the intense pressure brought on by the hostility of the Cleveland fans and media did not kill King James, but made him, and his team, stronger.

Because The King is losing SO much sleep over your tricked out, 30 year old Cutlass

Don't forget to vote in today's fan polls!

1) Image from thewastelandblog.com
2) Image from espn.com
3) Image from nba.fanhouse.com