It’s natural for any athlete worth his or her salt to want to be on a championship team, to earn a championship ring. It’s called having a competitive spirit.

Whether or not LeBron stays in Cleveland after next season, he still will have a special place in the hearts and minds of Cleveland sports fans and has left an indelible mark on the history of the Cavs and the Cleveland sports scene. He’s one of the best, if not the best, athlete to ever play for a Cleveland professional sports team, up there with other icons such as Jim Brown and Jim Thome.

I hope fans don’t lambaste LeBron James if he chooses to leave the Cavs – and appreciate that someone of his rare talent was able to have a lasting impact on the Cleveland sports scene. He’ll always be a “hometown athlete” in the eyes of many Cleveland sports fans, myself included…