Post by GuyF on Jul 8, 2010 9:19:41 GMT -5
Soon, the entire basketball universe will learn where a heralded star will play next season.
LeBron? Hell no. For Iona fans, I'm talking about Mike Glover.
Although LeBron's taken over headlines and radio and TV talk shows in recent weeks as he decides which NBA team will make him megarich, one can't help but notice the similarities between the choice of LeBron and the choice of Glover:
1. Nicknames! We have "King James" and "Optimus Prime". Both names suggest a leader of men, in this case on the basketball court.
2. Both LeBron and Glover are deciding whether to travel far from home to bigger stages, or to remain true to their roots and turn a "smaller market team" into a champion. For LeBron, it's the glitz of Miami or New York or the down-home loyalty of staying in Cleveland and bringing the Cavs to the national stage--the NBA finals. For Glover, it's the "glitz" of BCS conference suiters from the PAC 10 and Big 10 versus going to a smaller local school in New Rochelle and propelling them to the college hoops national stage, the NCAA Tournament.
3. Decision deadlines! LeBron's of course is a bit more formal, 9 pm, ESPN, at of all places the Greenwich Boys and Girls Club. Given enrollment issues and potential academic matters that Glover may need to address, one would think his timeline should conclude come tomorrow, as reported by the Post's Marc Raimondi on Twitter last night. Glover won't have any TV cameras on him, though; in fact, it's highly likely he will go through his "advisor" to spread the word re his decision to very select media outlets.
4. Both players' decisions have led to a "battle of sources", if you will. One only need to follow the highest level of sports/NBA columnists to see countless contrasting reports as to where King James will end up. (Side note: in the end, many will have it wrong--of course, there won't be repercussions for not "doing their jobs", but surely those who misfire will take credibility hits.) Meanwhile, we have Iona insiders digging away at their own sources, trying to find out where Glover will end up. Not surprisingly, Iona fans are hearing Iona and Hofstra fans are hearing Hofstra; I imagine a visit to PAC 10 and Big 10 boards would find discussions voicing similar takes from those bigger schools. So who's going to be right?
So, the country has the LeBron watch, and Iona fans have the Glover watch. Both have been interesting. And both had damn well better end up in New York when all is said and done.
LeBron? Hell no. For Iona fans, I'm talking about Mike Glover.
Although LeBron's taken over headlines and radio and TV talk shows in recent weeks as he decides which NBA team will make him megarich, one can't help but notice the similarities between the choice of LeBron and the choice of Glover:
1. Nicknames! We have "King James" and "Optimus Prime". Both names suggest a leader of men, in this case on the basketball court.
2. Both LeBron and Glover are deciding whether to travel far from home to bigger stages, or to remain true to their roots and turn a "smaller market team" into a champion. For LeBron, it's the glitz of Miami or New York or the down-home loyalty of staying in Cleveland and bringing the Cavs to the national stage--the NBA finals. For Glover, it's the "glitz" of BCS conference suiters from the PAC 10 and Big 10 versus going to a smaller local school in New Rochelle and propelling them to the college hoops national stage, the NCAA Tournament.
3. Decision deadlines! LeBron's of course is a bit more formal, 9 pm, ESPN, at of all places the Greenwich Boys and Girls Club. Given enrollment issues and potential academic matters that Glover may need to address, one would think his timeline should conclude come tomorrow, as reported by the Post's Marc Raimondi on Twitter last night. Glover won't have any TV cameras on him, though; in fact, it's highly likely he will go through his "advisor" to spread the word re his decision to very select media outlets.
4. Both players' decisions have led to a "battle of sources", if you will. One only need to follow the highest level of sports/NBA columnists to see countless contrasting reports as to where King James will end up. (Side note: in the end, many will have it wrong--of course, there won't be repercussions for not "doing their jobs", but surely those who misfire will take credibility hits.) Meanwhile, we have Iona insiders digging away at their own sources, trying to find out where Glover will end up. Not surprisingly, Iona fans are hearing Iona and Hofstra fans are hearing Hofstra; I imagine a visit to PAC 10 and Big 10 boards would find discussions voicing similar takes from those bigger schools. So who's going to be right?
So, the country has the LeBron watch, and Iona fans have the Glover watch. Both have been interesting. And both had damn well better end up in New York when all is said and done.
