OK, finally the drama is over. In front of a national and international audience of millions, Lebron James has decided he will … take his game to Miami as had been speculated and reported. There he will join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in search of an NBA championship.
In the hours before his choice was revealed, the sports world spun out of control with speculation and rumors, including some reports that he had told his inner circle he is leaning toward the Heat.
James, Bosh and Wade entered the pros in the same year, the respective Nos. 1, 4 and 5 picks in the 2003 draft. They went their separate ways: James to Cleveland, Bosh to Toronto and Wade to Miami, where he won a championship partnered with center Shaquille O’Neal in 2006. That year, James, Bosh and Wade all signed matching contracts to make sure they were all unrestricted free agents at the same time. They also won gold medals together at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Season-ticket sales for the Heat’s coming 41-game season were suspended Thursday afternoon after the entire supply of available seats were sold out. Not every seat has been released for sale yet and some will be held back for single-game purchases at the 19,600-capacity arena.
ESPN televised James’ decision live from a Boys & Girls Club in Greenwich, Conn., a group with which James has a relationship. Frank Sanchez, the vice president for corporate and partner relationships for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, said James approached the organization last weekend about using its location for his big show, titled The Decision.
