Pictured are Ohio Governor John Kasich (R-OH) (wearing blue tie) and Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, who is known also in the basketball works as "King James"
By guest columnist (Spinelli is a political writer for Plunderbund.com). This article was edited by Cleveland Urban News.Com).
Cleveland Urban News. Com and The Cleveland Urban News.Com Blog, Ohio's Most Read Online Black Newspaper and Newspaper Blog. Tel: 216-659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio-When Lebron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers to join the Miami Heat in 2010, John R. Kasich, a former congressman representing Ohio, was running for governor. Then he was a little cool to James, and now that this talented African athlete is on the verge of leading his team to a historical NBA title, it is time for Kasich, currently in his second term as governor, to give the superstar his just due.
Called “King James” in the basketball world for good reason, James, born and raised a Buckeye in Akron, Ohio, a city some 35 miles south of Cleveland, got beat up by the former Fox News political talk show host, who pretty much dumped on him as he left Cleveland to venture to the Sunshine State.
James is arguably the best basketball player of the day, and his exploits on the court bring comparisons with Chicago Bull’s great Michael Jordan as the best basketball player ever. At age 30, the fan favorite is leading his hometown Cavaliers to what could be its first pro-basketball championship, as they now lead the Golden State Warriors 2-1 in the NBA Finals. Game 4 is Thursday, June 11 at 8 pm EPT, at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
How good is James? So far, he’s won two NBA championships with the Miami Heat, four NBA Most Valuable Player Awards, two NBA Finals MVP Awards, two Olympic gold medals, an NBA scoring title, and the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. James has been selected to 11 NBA All-Star teams, 11 All-NBA teams, and six All-Defensive teams, and is the Cavaliers’ all-time leading scorer.
Ohio’s Republican governor, at age 62, is likely running for president. He says he knows how to bring people together. He showed just how jerky and off-putting he can be when, in 2011, when “The King” was playing for Miami and battling the Dallas Mavericks, Pennsylvania-born Kasich issued a proclamation honoring the Mavericks for their victory over James and the Heat.
When James returned to Cleveland after opting out of the last two years of his contract with the Heat, Mr. Kasich told reporters when asked about the return of 'The King,' that “I have a lot more important things to do than worry about what LeBron is going to do.” Kasich then proceeded to champion the pick of second string quarterback Johnny Manziel by the Cleveland Browns as important for Cleveland’s economy. Though popular in hos own right, Manziel has been pretty much stagnant since the close of the NFL season, while James flies high with big fan support and great performances. A 2013 polling showed the King had higher approval ratings than the governor.
Now that he’s likely running for president, should Cleveland clinch the NBA title as many predict will happen, it would be a real show of compassion—and maturity—for Gov. Kasich to show that he doesn't harbor any ill feelings toward Mr. James for pursuing his god-given talents to help teams, be they in Florida or Ohio, win NBA championships. He’s done that already with the Miami Heat and appears poised to do it again with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Meanwhile, while one elected official, specifically Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge, a Warrensville Heights Democrat of greater Cleveland, has wagered a friendly bet with Democratic U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee of Oakland, California on which team might win the series, Gov. Kasich and California Gov Jerry Brown have not entered into any similar wager.
Mr. Kasich has long mocked Californians as “wackadoodles.” But when it comes to economic prowess, Gov. Brown and his majority-Democratic legislature are beating the pants off Kasich and his majority-Republican legislature in many categories, the most important being job growth.
Now that the GOP White House wannabe is seeking the national spotlight, the governor might want some of what the King has to offer and should laud his talent and leadership skills.
