Me, Roland Martin and Lebron James

Roland Martin wrote an interesting piece on Lebron James, but being that I live in Akron, Ohio,  I decided to write a response:

Hey Roland, my name is Kevin Lockett I'm from Akron, Ohio.

All of us here watched Lebron grow up as ball player become a father, MVP and one most beloved atheltes in Ohio and around the world. But here's the thing. I understand there is no loyalty in sports and just because we watched play him in Ohio, doesn't mean he owes us anything.

However, if you are a true business man, you have to man enough to talk to your boss, especially if he was calling you all day to talk to you before "The Decision" on ESPN and weeks prior to the show.

Better yet, after the Boston Celtics series, if LBJ knew he was leaving Cleveland, he should've told the Cavs "Hey man I enjoyed my seven years, but I'm out", then proceed to show up to his free agent meetings wearing a T-shirt and backpack fooling the Bulls, Knicks, Nets, and Clippers into thinking they had a shot.

I like Lebron as a player, outside of Kobe Bryant, he's the best player in the league, but he had these teams fly in talk to him, when it now it seems like the a plan along was to go to Miami with Wade and Bosh. I can't hate him for going to Miamai, but I don't think billionaires,(i.e the Nets owner who flew in from Europe) don't like being played. By creating this hoax, LBJ might've killed chances of becoming a billonaire.

Do I hope LBJ gets a ring, sure. But what in the process of chasing the ring, what is he going to sacrafice? Legacy? Family? His own soul?

Although Cleveland looks bad for burning his jersey, (we all are not like that, we're just disappointed) and Cavs owner Dan Gilbert might have hurt the team with his open letter, you have to understand Roland, people in Ohio really loved this cat. He was like was President Obama or the Pope in Nikes...but that's all gone now.

(LBJ still hasn't even put out PR friendly move of saying, "Thank you Cavs fans for your support" in the local papers or even say Thanks Cleveland fans on twitter @kingjames (even Allen Iverson would thank the fans of Philly!?!)

So here's to Lebron james on his quest of winning a title on the court, but in the long term, he and his crew still has a lot to learn about the game of business off the court to be truly respected.

Kevin Lockett
www.twitter.com/kevinlockett