I admit to having mixed feelings about the entire LeBron situation, but I believe that the media contributed the most to LeBron leaving.

Why did so many media members tout the Cavs as the prohibitive favorite to win the title at the beginning of the playoffs (Bill Simmons included, since he is so widely followed)? All this did was put the entire weight of the world on LeBron to win the championship in Cleveland. He already had so much responsibility to carry the team and then the media put all the pressure on him by labeling them as the favorites.

I think that's why he decided to leave Cleveland. He knew that he couldn't carry that team by himself to the title. This is just another example of the media building someone up so high, so they can tear them down.

Because they had the best record in the NBA?

It's a lot easier to dominate the regular season, especially when LeBron has been healthy. Other teams have not been at full strength the entire season (i.e. Lakers, Celtics, Spurs). Cleveland should have been considered one of a group of contenders, not the favorite.

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Why did so many media members tout the Cavs as the prohibitive favorite to win the title at the beginning of the playoffs

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the media hypes teams all the time. Look at this cover and read the headline for the 2009 season

That's my point. Unfair expectations have been placed on him alone. He had to get away from that.

Unfair???

He wants to call himself "King" & be the "Billionaire Athlete" & prostitute himself out to any endorsement that lives, etc, etc, but he can't handle the media saying his team (who as DC pointed out already won plenty) should be the favorites?

It was tough to add talent the last couple years when LBJ is wearing NY Yankees caps, spouting about how great it would be to play in MSG, and not willing to commit. What F.A. would want to sign a long term deal to play in Cleveland without LBJ?

Was the talent around Hakeem that much better for his first championship?

If you're going to tout yourself as "The King" you deserve all the negative consequences of the media - that includes pressure. He certainly doesn't mind all the positive aspects of the media like 1-hour specials dedicated to his team decision.

You can't have it both ways. It's impossible to be the media darling and a world icon without shouldering a heavy burden of pressure.

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You can't have it both ways. It's impossible to be the media darling and a world icon without shouldering a heavy burden of pressure.

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Brittney Spears agrees with you.

Well you guys make good arguments about him bringing it on himself. I think everyone involved is to blame. It's just another product of the American society and oversaturation of media coverage.