‘The Decision’ will always be a part of LeBron James career. It doesn’t seem as awful now that James is a back-to-back MVP, NBA Champion and Finals MVP.
But three years ago, it was just awful. Courtney Cox, a Los Angeles-based writer and editor, was working at ESPN at the time of ‘The Decision.’
Monday, she wrote a detailed account of what it was like behind the scenes working one of the most panned sporting events in a generation.
Oh, and apparently, Kanye West was in the building. The West cameo is probably one of the only things we don’t already know about the ESPN special where James declared he was “taking his talents to South Beach.”
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Cox writes that her boss at ESPN was very secretive about the entire thing, only revealing to her that it was a “remote event.” The Kanye West appearance and the fact that there was no seats available for him at the time added stress to an already stressed out environment:
“Mind you, this is not long after the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, where Kanye gave Taylor Swift the business in his infamous “I’mma let you finish” speech. All I can think about is ‘Ye approaching the set, snatching the mic and saying, ‘Yo LeBron. I’m really happy for you. I’mma let you finish, but Michael Jordan had one of the best careers of all time.’”
And perhaps the funniest thing of all? Ye didn’t even stay for James’ announcement and couldn’t stay awake:
“I spend the first 15 minutes or so honed in on ‘Ye’s every move. He seems chill, he’s wearing his glasses indoors, and he’s not making sudden moves. I forget he’s there until one of the camera operators says, ‘I think Kanye West fell asleep.’
At the biggest non-sporting sports event in a while, Kanye West fell asleep before anyone announced anything. He was doing the church/school head nod and everything. ‘Wake up, Mr. West.'”
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Of course Kanye fell asleep. It makes perfect sense.
LeBron and ESPN’s TV special raised some $2.5 million for the Boys and Girls Club of America. It’s a point that doesn’t get nearly the amount of credit it should. Cox’s account over at Fansided.com is well worth a read.
Two titles later, it’s clear LeBron made the right decision. But just don’t ever do it like that again…
Follow theGrio’s Todd Johnson on Twitter @rantoddj