Eyes on Me
On Friday, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were kind enough to grace Team USA with their presence. Hands were kissed. Feet were washed. Artists gathered to depict — impossible though it may be to capture either player’s divine essence — both players in grand murals, each welcomed hero complete with a nimbus to signal their divinity. What a privilege it is for the members of this year’s national team to even stand in the same gym as Wade and James, blessed be their names.
Both living legends took time out of their busy summers to remind Team USA of what, or who, they’re missing. Missing not because Mike Krzyzewski and Jerry Colangelo deemed it so, but simply because James and Wade can’t be bothered with the FIBA World Championships. They’re obviously a bit preoccupied with having their cake and eating it, too.
No player is mandated to be a part of Team USA. If James, or Andrew Bynum, or Dominic freaking McGuire want to refuse the program, they’re entitled. There’s also nothing wrong with LeBron choosing to celebrate during the off-season instead. Completely his call. I do have but one humble request for LeBron and Wade, though. Don’t pretend that this is still your team. James claimed to be the leader of the American squad in 2008, and even if that was a reasonable claim at the time, it’s now almost ridiculous. His talent may be undeniable, but is this really LeBron’s (and Wade’s, too) idea of leadership? Ditching out on a commitment to the national team to work on a movie that didn’t happen, and subsequently go from city to city on a party hardy world tour? Again, live it up, ‘Bron, just don’t claim to be the 2012 team’s selfless general, fighting the good fight for the good of the program and the country.
Team USA has fallen into the capable hands of Kevin Durant, and while it’s easy to praise his commitment when KD has yet to even suit up for Team USA in a real game, he actually seems to be the most suitable face for the program going forward. Team USA’s renaissance has always been more about Kobe than LeBron, and it’s Durant that shares Bryant’s ridiculous drive, obsessive focus, and incredible will. The Durantula is humble and hungry, and though he never asked to be the leader of this team — and he won’t, ever — it just makes too much sense for him not to be.
Oster-Tags: americafyeah, kobelove?impossible!, lebronjamesiskindofajerk, Team USA, thedurantulawillgivebirthtodozensofdurantulaeggsthatwillbecometeamusashopesanddreams
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[...] And finally, Team USA is no longer LeBron’s: “Team USA has fallen into the capable hands of Kevin Durant, and while it’s easy to praise his commitment when KD has yet to even suit up for Team USA in a real game, he actually seems to be the most suitable face for the program going forward. Team USA’s renaissance has always been more about Kobe than LeBron, and it’s Durant that shares Bryant’s ridiculous drive, obsessive focus, and incredible will. The Durantula is humble and hungry, and though he never asked to be the leader of this team — and he won’t, ever — it just makes too much sense for him not to be.” [Hardwood Paroxysm] [...]
[...] KD handle supplanting Kobe and LeBron for Team USA? Rob Mahoney looks: ‘Team USA has fallen into the capable hands of Kevin Durant, and while it’s easy to praise [...]