'The King' has spoken

Did anyone happen to catch that robbery of a city's soul last night? Turns out a man that was once so revered and loved had ruthlessly ripped Cleveland, Ohio's heart out on live television Thursday night. LeBron James' decision to leave the Cavaliers for the Miami Heat shifted the landscape of the NBA, rewrote the destiny of the most talented basketball player in the world while simultaneously inspiring and shattering optimism in two major American cities.

LeBron James and Ohio was a romance born straight out of a predictable Hollywood movie script. Stop me if you have heard this one before. A basketball prodigy grows up in a small town in the heart of America and his talent is beyond human status. Next thing you know ESPN is broadcasting his high school games, the local NBA franchise happens to be just bad enough the previous season to "earn" the number one overall pick in the 2003 draft; against all odds he actually lives up to and easily exceeds the insane hype and pressure put upon his 18 year old grown man shoulders. Pretty typical right?

James has been anointed many things in his basketball career; two-time NBA MVP and five-time NBA All-Star as well as prodigious nicknames like 'The Chosen One' and 'King James'. There is one title James has never achieved in his storied professional career: NBA Champion. He carried the Cavs to the NBA Finals two seasons ago only to lose to his greatest rival, Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron spent seven great seasons in Cleveland but the man is desperate for a ring or seven (Jordan has six) and he wants them now.

Enter Dwayne Wade. Wade has been Miami's megastar for the same time frame LeBron spent in Cleveland. Wade won a NBA title after only a couple seasons but since then the team around him has played pathetically. In spite of the Heat's other eleven players, Wade has willed that franchise into wins night in and night out just like LeBron up north. It must be terribly exhausting to know you are way better than your teammates every season when all you want is multiple championships.

Enter Chris Bosh. Even further north in Toronto, Canada stands a fantastic big man who's talents go wasted each night just like the others because the team around him just isn't good enough. Bosh has tasted even less success than James or Wade, reaching the playoffs once in seven years.

Notice how seven years is a common theme so far? That is because these three were drafted the same year. The 2003 NBA draft was amazingly talented. Cleveland took James first, Miami selected Wade fourth and Toronto grabbed Bosh fifth overall. This is relevant because they all eventually signed contracts that expired June 31st, 2010. They built tight friendships via the USA Olympic team and enjoyed success playing on the same team which allowed their minds to wander and consider what if they could translate that to the NBA? As of last night, the dream became reality.

James, Wade and Bosh all agreed to sign with the Heat and rule South Beach in hopes of dominating the NBA for years to come. The pressure to win will be very intense but the talent running up and down the court each night will give opposing coaches and defenders waking nightmares. I'm not sure a championship comes to Miami this year but I can't say there will be a more feared team in the Eastern Conference.

As for Cleveland, I can't help but feel empathy for their loss. It must feel similar to how Seattle fans felt about the Sonics being stolen by the mustache-twisting; evil cowboy, Clay Bennett. Even though the Cavalier franchise still technically exists, I don't think it does in the eyes of it's fan base. Barring some unforeseen trade for talented players, the current Cavs roster for this season went from formidable to funny. Not funny "haha" but funny like I wish my favorite NBA team played them every night.

Many barbs will be heaved LeBron's way and none more pointed than Cavs Majority Owner Dan Gilbert releasing a public statement in which he says Cleveland was "betrayed" and he said in all caps, "I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER 'KING' WINS ONE".

Wow. I love the passion in sports. That's the kind of statement Gilbert had to make in order to keep a sliver of hope alive in Ohio. Meanwhile in Miami, hope and optimism has no bounds. With so much loathing emanating from a city LeBron must now visit twice a year as an opponent and joining a city where he is immediately beloved but holds the weight of the world, one thing is for sure:

The Heat is on.