When LeBron announced his 'Decision' to sign with the Heat it made me sick. Why did he have to ruin what could've been a great story? He gave up some cash to chase titles in Miami. There was nothing wrong with that. But why did he have to make such a big deal of the whole thing?

I've long ago given up on rooting for players because they're 'good people' outside of sports. It's too often we later find out they weren't such good guys. I try and contain my allegiances to what happens when they're playing. And by assuming that stance, I've thoroughly enjoyed watching LeBron play. He complains a little too often but he's unbelievable to watch. But I couldn't help but let 'The Decision' get to me and taint my image of LeBron. The reason it affected me so much was largely because of the overexposure.

I bring all this up again because I've recently found myself siding with LeBron for the exact reason I started to dislike him. This time though, it's the media that has caused me to move towards LeBron's side. In a recent interview on CBS's 'Primetime,' the interviewer asked, "Do you think there's a role that race plays in this?" 'This' referring to his image taking a hit since his decision to join the Heat. To which James replied, "I think so at times. It's always, you know, a race factor." And with that tame comment the media ran with it. It became a topic on 'Around the Horn,' many columns were written - some believing he's correct and others further lambasting him.

LeBron didn't expect this to blow up like it did. You might say that he should know better having been in the limelight for so long but I'd say you never know what the media is going to run with. This wasn't a locker room comment but a sit down interview in which LeBron didn't have his guard up the way he normally would. At practice the next day, LeBron said, "I'm not going to back on my words. ... I think people are looking too far into it." Exactly. Enough already. This is why athletes never share their true opinions. 

This is just the very beginning too. We're in the first week of training camp and the Heat are already making headlines. Many will hate the Heat's Big Three even more every time they are the lead-in to SportsCenter, whether for their play on the court or comments and actions off of it. For me though, it will just make my disdain for the 24/7 news cycle grow and force me to side with the athletes that are forced to answer inane questions and goaded into saying something controversial.