Once known as the world powerhouse of sports and sporting competitions, the United States has slumped in a mire of sludge and bitterness. So many disturbing factors and sequences of events has disrupted what once was so right.
In times of national and global turmoil you could tune into your TV or radio to sport for inspiration, for a hero to emerge. You could find a true underdog Cinderella story that could give you the determination to get through a tough season in your life.
These days you turn on your cable and internet and you read about the wide receiver from the Super Bowl who has shot someone in a night club. You can read about the prized player in prison for creating a dog fighting ring. You scroll down further on the internet sports page and you read about the Quarterback who allegedly has thrown text messages to women other than his wife of a lewd nature.
You see team owners locking players out due to a pay rise dispute. You tune into your local game and the stadium is a walking billboard for ISP, beer and insurance companies.
You read about players holding out on training camp in the off season until they receive a five million dollar bonus on a regular basis.
You scroll down further and you read about Lebron James. Once heralded as the "chosen one" of basketball, James was the most popular NBA player in the world, James was a story of rages to riches.
The son of a single mother in the small town of Akron Ohio, James learnt to play in the local neighbourhood Salvation Army gym. His game developed so rapidly his high school games were screened to the nation with huge anticipation and success. When James was drafted with the number one pick to his local team the Cleveland Cavaliers, it seemed his destiny to lead his town to glory and absolute greatness.
Five years later due to the void of instant gratification, James left the Cavaliers for his own selfish reasons. Already financially secure beyond his dreams, James paraded himself on the open market to possible franchises, seemingly leading them on without telling them he had already decided to go to Miami.
It all came to a head when James booked a one hour special event on ESPN to tell the world which team he had decided to play for. It was the ultimate insult to a city that had poured their unconditional sporting love to James. Even when James failed to make clutch plays in pressure moments and with a record of poor games in the playoffs the people of Cleveland had an affectionate undying love for their main man.
Lebron James had the opportunity as a once in a generation player to seize greatness and restore what was once so right about sport in America. Now the people of the United States lye in waiting for that next player that might come and restore pride, in what was once the glue that held society together.
