Is LeBron James Hype Helping or Hurting Sports?

by

Jul 7, 2010

Is LeBron James Hype Helping or Hurting Sports? Let’s give this broken record another spin, shall we?

On Thursday evening, NBA star LeBron James will announce what team he will be playing for next season. The world’s most-talked about basketball player will sit down in an ESPN special titled "The Decision" in Greenwich, Conn., at 9 p.m. ET, and millions will be watching.

The 'Courting King James' scene has reached epic proportions, and just when we think we've had enough of it, LeBron throws out another tidbit of information, and before we know it we’re thirsty for more. It’s a sickening cycle, but it’s the truth.

All this hype for one basketball player. A guy who hasn’t even won a game in the NBA finals, let alone a championship. Millions of dollars are on the line for him, NBA organizations are stretching their purse strings to sign him. He’s a good player– okay a great player– but why are we paying such attention to an event that isn’t even happening on the basketball court?

There used to be a time when signings weren't a big deal. When what mattered in sport was what happened inside the arena, not out. The days of intense rivalries and fans rushing the court. When opposing players despised the sight of one another, and didn’t tweet pictures of dinner parties and conspire during the offseason about how they are going to create the next dynasty together.

With all this being said, how can we blame LeBron? He’s taking all this media hype and running with it, and why shouldn’t he? Members of the media and sports fans across the globe are clamoring for every breadcrumb James is dropping along his journey, and that intensity has allowed the hype to reach a level never seen before in a free agency period in any sports' league.

Aside from LeBron, there is another entity that is profiting from all the build-up, and that’s the NBA. Other major sports’ leagues would kill for this kind of publicity and attention during the offseason, and the NBA is reaping the benefits. Think about all the jerseys that are going to sell within the first few weeks of James' announcement. Casual and die-hard fans alike will want both the old #23, and the new #6 worn by LBJ. Ticket sales for his first game, wherever it may be, will be through the roof. Millions upon millions will be made from this event, but is it good for sports?

On the one hand, it is a good thing. It’s attracting hoardes of fans on a completely different level than ever before, and it will popularize the league in more ways than one. On the other hand, it takes away from what true sports fans love about watching a game. Screaming at the top of your lungs, eating junk food, refusing to change your socks while your team is on a winning-streak — whatever your calling card is — the media hype changes things. It takes away from the game in its' purest form, but it generates new fans and higher profits.

Tell us what you think. Is all this hype a help or a hindrance to sports?

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