LeBron raises 'prima donna' status

By Bob Herman

When LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers lost to Orlando last year in the playoffs, his mostly squeaky-clean image finally took a hit that it deserved.

He walked off the court (please ignore the annoying pop-ups) without shaking the hands of any Magic players who had so deservedly taken down he and the Cavs.

Lack of sportsmanship aside, this seemingly small act really showed LeBron's personality: When something doesn't go his way--and it should go his way, naturally--his constantly fluffed ego gets offended and takes it out on others.

Well, LeBron has now officially filed paperwork to change his number from 23 to 6, and this reinforces what I hope has become brazenly apparent during his NBA tenure: He needs that constantly fluffed ego to be, well, constantly fluffed.

This jersey change is under the guise of it being a tribue to Michael Jordan. That rationale takes a big shot as he's changing his number to that of Julius Erving and Bill Russell, two players who were of Michael Jordan-value before Michael Jordan even sniffed the pros. If LeBron really wanted to pay homage to an NBA great, he should've acknowledged all of the greats, not just one.

But that's small potatoes. Again, this goes back to his ego, which is unfortunately growing every time someone grovels over one of his dunks.

LeBron is about to be a free agent this summer; he's one of the most recognizable players in the NBA today; and he's profitable. Therefore, it's asinine and, honestly, stupid to think that this jersey number switch is anything other than a marketing ploy--and it's working. What kid who only sees LeBron as the high-flying scorer rather than the sulky ego-maniac wouldn't want LeBron's new jersey? And why wouldn't LeBron (and his ego) want to see his image spread even farther among NBA fans, perhaps as he's about to jump ship for another team this summer?

No one can stop the guy from changing his jersey, a seemingly commonplace task. But to say the reason for the switch is a tribute to Michael Jordan--and then change the number to that of two other NBA greats--is simply misleading. Don't fall for this marketing trap; it's just another act showing how LeBron has become one of the most annoying prima donnas in the league.