Baskin’s Blog: LeBron vs News

CLEVELAND - 12:01 Thursday morning is D-day for sports departments all around the country. It is the moment LeBron James is a free agent.

What LeBron can do as a basketball player for any team is the true story. What has happened is a horrible side effect of the, “what have you done or said for me” mentality of instant “news”.

Let me make this bold statement: LeBron James will play on an NBA team next year. When LeBron makes his choice, I want it to be said that I was right. The breaking news, isn’t breaking because Andy Baskin told you this days ago. Tell your friends, no doubt about it. Baskin broke the news first.

This is where we are : Last week, a member of our management team told me we need something on LeBron, everyday. I responded by saying, “You know unless LeBron decides to stay with the Cavs, no other team can sign him until July 8th. So if you are expecting something on LeBron everyday, it’s going to be opinion.”

I don’t blame our management team for placing this request. After all you are reading this. The point of what we do is to drive web hits, viewership, and tweeters, right? I’m sure that I got the same request all the other sports departments did too. This is why you are reading and hearing about nothing. We all know the old saying, “Opinion’s are like ___ (you can fill in the blank), everybody has one”.

So I am at the point that I don’t care what anybody has to say about the story until LeBron makes up his mind. But, we in the media are being pushed to make up news that really doesn’t matter. We are all in this race to be first. I know I am old school, but I would rather be right than first.

We have all spent the past few weeks talking about what LeBron is not saying, rather than what he is saying.

Today, there was a story on thelakecountysentinel.com that looks legit. The writer who has covered pro sports teams says he has two credible sources, one from the league office in New York. He writes that LeBron made up his mind over the weekend and he is staying in Cleveland. The story could be right. But, the e-mail I get from another person that says Dan Gilbert is moving the team to Pittsburgh. I guess that could be right too. (The person says Dan Gilbert is moving the Cavs to Pittsburgh, and trading for the Pens. He is going to move the NHL team to Cleveland). It is the most flawed story I have read. But, it makes me laugh so I figured I would let you enjoy what I get to read every day.

So listen up Clevelanders. LeBron may leave or not. The team is not moving. Forget about the drive, the fumble, the shot, Albert Belle, Jim Thome, Manny Ramierez, and C.C. Sabathia. (If you thought C.C. was going to stay when his contract ran out, you are dead wrong). They don’t count here. Don’t let ESPN, Yahoo Sports, or Fanhouse change the way you feel. You are allowing your emotion to ride the highs and lows of this story. If that was the case, we all would have been 6-feet under after ESPN’s coverage before game 6 against the Celtics.

Just remember this, writers in Chicago, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, ESPN, and Cleveland all need something to write about. LeBron staying in Cleveland is not a sexy story and doesn’t feed the rumor mill.

So let’s talk about the only thing that is really true in the LeBron James free agent story: LeBron is the only person that knows what contract he will put his name to.

Sorry I need to run, I need to figure out what LeBron’s story will be tomorrow.