What, you haven’t heard that the Lebron/Wade/Bosh trinity in South Beach is being called the ‘Miami Thrice?’ I would say reading this little cheese nip made me vomit a little, but the fact is my nausea was in full force way before. And yet, there are still some things I love about this mammoth move of NBA juggernauts. Things we can all learn from.
What I Love About the Miami Thrice
- Importance of Chemistry. So the rumor is that this trio so enjoyed playing together in the 2008 Olympics that they decided then to find a way to play together in the NBA. They created a little chemistry, and they wanted to keep it going. Some all calling this conniving and greedy, but I’m digging it. I believe chemistry between coworkers is just about the most important thing to have in place. We talk often about the power of synergy, but without chemistry between the separate parts, there is no such thing. So I applaud Lebron James, Dewayne Wade and Chris Bosh for recognizing its importance, too (supposedly, Chris Paul was in on the conversation, too). These days, when I ask someone to come in for an interview to join my team, I’m analyzing chemistry potential more than anything. Their resume or portfolio or online presence can tell me just about everything I need to know about their work. I need to know if they can fit into the current mix and add to it.
- Not Making the Money Priority #1. So some if not all three of these guys are agreeing to lower contracts than they could’ve had. Yes, I know that between the lack of state tax and all the endorsement opportunities that none of them will be crying over the difference. But it’s still rare in today’s free agency market. Being a Dallas guy, it would’ve been great if Steve Nash had stuck around for a little less money to take on the world with Dirk. But he went to the highest bidder in Phoenix. All three in the Thrice realize they’ll be rewarded both monetarily and in championships to make up whatever lacks in their salary.
What I Hate About the Miami Thrice
- Lebron Tainted His Brand. Lebron was an awesome brand before all of this. A brand of high integrity (relatively speaking, at least). I loved watching him play and listening to his speeches because I felt he epitomized true leadership. But now he’s been shady with us. He’s actually gone against so many of the things his brand promised. The hometown hero, the superhero leading the Cavs, of all teams, to a championship, the NBA’s best (arguably). With his recent antics, his no longer trustworthy, he’s turned his back on his hometown, and he’s admitted he’s not good enough to be the clear leader of a championship. Kobe’s stock has actually risen even though he’s done nothing, only because Lebron’s stock has lowered so much.The funny thing is I keep hearing about the “Lebron brand,” but I think Lebron is actually going backwards. I think Lebron had the brand thing down before, and now, like so many brands, he’s lost his way and become something he’s not supposed to be.
- Enough with the hoopla. The ESPN special made me sick. The celebration in Miami where they all rose from the ground in fog made me laugh, then it made me sick. And the whole charade of how they all courted Chicago and the Clippers and the Knicks, blah, blah, blah, blah …. does anyone really believe that was legit. And this is the whole problem: the Thrice are clearly concerned with the hoopla. They can say that winning is all that matters, but so far it’s the spotlight that’s really mattering.
So what’s the point here? Try this one: How you do something is ALWAYS as important, if not more important, than what you do.
I’m cool with what the Miami Thrice did; I hate how they did it. Because of that, I’ll be rooting against them at every turn.
What’s your take on the whole mess?
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I have so many conflicting thoughts about all this.
- I think LeBron is extremely narcissistic through this whole thing, making such a big deal about where he was going to sign. Up here in Wisconsin, we had to deal with our own narcissistic superstar (see Favre, Brett), but LBJ put his whole drama to shame.
- Then again, as a PR guy, I have to admire how he’s done it, and the fact that he used it to benefit Boys & Girls Club (and himself, but that’s okay).
- I think all they hype is dangerous for them. I think it’s far from certain that this arrangement will yield multiple championships. Local radio guys here hilariously compared it to Batman & Superman teaming up, with Superman getting annoyed at riding in the Batmobile, asking why they could simply just fly.
- Then again, I’m glad he went to Miami, as opposed to New York. That would have been so expected and made it clear that money was the motivating factor. I also like Dwayne Wade.
- I am not an NBA fan at all, so I kept telling myself I couldn’t care less.
- Then again, here I am commenting about it.
Chris
- First, I appreciate the bulleted comment. Very handy.
- Don’t even get me started on Favre – I’ve been out on him ever since he left Green Bay. And again, it’s the way he did it.
- I’m loving the Superman/Batman analogy. It will definitely be interesting to see what happens when the egos collide, and when the stats aren’t as high for all 3 of them as they were when they were each clearly the top dog on their team.
- I applaud the fact that you said “Couldn’t care less,” rather than “could care less.” It’s a pet peeve of mine to say the latter.
bd
You know they only took a few million less to play together. Bosh and Lebron both did a sign and trade where on the surface it looks like they took 15 million less over the life of the contract. But the way the contracts are written gives them an out clause after 4 years and most of that 15 million is in the 6th year of the deal if you compare the numbers cleveland could offer Lebron vs what Miami gave him. So in 4 years we will have this all to do over and he’ll make up the difference in whatever new contract he signs.
Money was a huge priority and why they went to Miami which doesn’t have a state income tax. You can’t compare the situation to Nash who was much older and only wanted the 5th year in his deal. Cuban wouldn’t give it to him. The yearly money was the same.
OK, so maybe they’ll still make good money, but I still don’t think it was THE priority. My point is that winning, and probably fame, seem to be THE priorities. And then the money is there regardless of who they signed with.