The King has never been one to downplay his arrival.

No matter where LeBron James ultimately ends up in this, his second free agent tour since his NBA debut, he’s certainly proving he’s not one for going about things in a traditional manner. 

Last time, James brought us The Decision, the controversial ESPN special that saw him announce his signing with the Miami Heat and, in the process, publically execute professional basketball in Cleveland, Ohio. 

Now? He’s brought the NBA to its knees by simply doing nothing at all.

James isn’t even in the country right now. He’s got tickets to attend Sunday’s World Cup final in Brazil. His representatives are taking the temperature of what the market will bare for him (re: the world and everything in it, to quote Tony Montana). But NBA free agency has slowly bled out a few role player signings with none of the big fish changing teams yet. 

None of the good landing spots with money are going to spend it while a chance at landing the best player in the world is still pending. Nobody’s settling on Carmelo Anthony unless they’re New York or they have to. Meanwhile, James’ “brand name” just benefits from all of this. He is the lone name anyone truly cares about or talks about in basketball currently, and talk of his future has dominated TV and radio. 

If he returns to Cleveland, it would restore much of the luster lost for those who refuse to forgive him for The Decision and, simultaneously, would launch one of the biggest mainstream crossover sports stories of all time. Which means, to me, there’s probably little doubt where this thing ultimately ends up. James is far too savvy to let this chance slip through his fingers. 

James and his Miami team may have eaten a KO punch from the Spurs last month, but when it comes to the shine of his star, LeBron is showing he’s still King. 

 

Soccer is just trolling us. 

For the first time in my life, I’ve been actively seeking out World Cup games to watch. I enjoyed the heck out of Brazil and Columbia in the quarterfinals. Compared to most matches, it looked like a pinball machine; when two high-level teams play, everything develops so much faster. I want to see more, now that we’re down to the elite of the elite.

But it’s never on!

Every day, the competition rages on — while we’re at work. No games at night.

I went to watch the action on Sunday. My day off, why not take in some soccer? It ain’t on: that’s why not. Why would we ever play on a Sunday? LOL!

Pfft. 

Yes, I know timezones, schmimezones and Brazil and yadda, yadda, yadda. 

But now that I’m finally ready to love you, soccer, you’re playing hard to get. It’s infuriating. 

Luckily, the World Cup final IS on Sunday. So perhaps I’ll be able to sit back and watch it before waiting four years to levy the same complaints. 

But at least I’m further along as a soccer fan than last time. 

Hey, it’s progress, right?