LeBron James Should Stop Trying to Be Like Mike

Filed under: Bulls, Cavaliers, Heat

King James is Air Jordan, and Air Jordan was King James, but not in the way that you think.

Here's how you should think: Deception.

More specifically, you should think the fine art of deception. Which, if you believe the Scriptures, always leads to the perpetrator getting exposed at some point with a heavy dose of ugliness.

Exhibit A: Most of the universe didn't know Michael Jordan's public image was a fraud until years after his second Three-Peat with the Chicago Bulls in 1998. The truth dribbled into view -- somewhere between his $168 million divorce settlement and the insufferable (or shall we say insulting?) speech he delivered last year during his induction ceremony into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

No question, much about Jordan was well-crafted fantasy. The lovable superstar no matter what. The everyman with the perfect family. The African-American version of Ed McMahon who wasn't so much into pocketing millions, but who just wanted everybody to have a good pair of underwear and some nice-fitting sneakers.

There is a difference between King James and Air Jordan, though, and it's actually huge. Jordan's image went unblemished on and off the court throughout his playing career. LeBron James continues to dribble with authority in his prime, but when it comes to that self-proclaimed King James, he already is an emperor with no clothes.

Speaking of nakedness, the lengthy campaign by James and his handlers to make King James the next Air Jordan (without the baggage) has flopped, because it suddenly is bare of substance and credibility.Yankees Angels Cubs White Sox