Read the opposing argument from Bleacher Fan.
There’s no doubt that the NBA Finals has been a resounding ratings winner, with Sunday night’s game averaging nearly 13 million viewers. I must admit that I have watched the majority of all five games thus far at this writing, and I think it’s been a heck-of-a series to this point.
But there’s something coming, and I am not referring to the earthquake that hit California last night. Free agency begins on July 1, and the buzz is building. It is clear that the first few days of free agency could drastically alter the landscape of the NBA.
Take a look at the sports news from yesterday. I know it was a travel day for the two teams, and I know there are only so many times you can talk about Andrew Bynum’s knee. But other than the Texas deciding to stay in the Big XII (or whatever it’s going to be called now), and the usual World Cup highlights, what did the main sports story revolve around yesterday? It centered on Sports Geek’s man-crush Tom Izzo and LeBron James, specifically about whether or not the two are going to meet (which they are not, according to the all-important “person familiar with the situation”). As I type this, it is in fact the third story on espn.com, behind the two I mentioned.
Look at some of the other issues that have popped up since the end of the regular season. Free agency has caused a huge wave of momentum to build, something that is going to come crashing down on July 1 – the day free agency officially begins. James has had an exclusive sit-down interview with Larry King. Even though I am not necessarily the biggest fan of James, I TIVOed the interview that night and watched it later. How about that so-called “free agent summit” that was to be held by the league’s top free agents? Among others, this was to include James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Joe Johnson. It’s gotten so ridiculous that Wade and Bosh can’t even have dinner together without getting heavily scrutinized. Even Wade and his son couldn’t enjoy courtside seats in Boston Sunday night without having a camera stuck in their face.
Some of the heaviest water cooler talk this summer hasn’t centered on the Finals. I try to talk with co-workers and friends the morning after one of the games, and that conversation quickly goes to one of them asking, “Where’s LeBron going to sign? New York? Chicago? LA? Stay in Cleveland? Come on Loyal Homer, tell me!”
You know how you go to the beach and you sit by the water of the Atlantic Ocean (sorry no trip to the oil-ravaged Gulf of Mexico!)? You enjoy the day, with temperatures in the 90s. There is not a cloud in the sky, and a plethora of scenery to enjoy(Editor’s Note: Whatever do you mean, Loyal Homer??)! You enjoy it, even though in the back of your mind you know that there’s an 80 percent chance of strong thunderstorms tomorrow. That’s what is happening with the Finals. Many of us are enjoying the show, knowing full well that there’s a cloud of free agency on the horizon.
And, for the record, I have not the slightest idea where LeBron James will end up!
