“Marginalized groups in America should employ the LeBron James Free Agency Model. The model being, never be predictable, make all moves in accordance with what you want, and have said moves impact the course of others.”
It’s very fitting that Superstar LeBron James has made the Los Angeles Lakers his possible career-ending landing spot. The Lakers are the most storied franchise in professional basketball, and Los Angeles is easily the most glamorized city in America. LeBron, since high school, has been the most covered sports star in America, if not the world. Only Tiger Woods could cough in the room to express a disagreement. With that being said, the NBA free agency frenzy that is “What will LeBron do,” has received more coverage than even the NFL offseason and all of their off the field issues. (Follow up article on the NBA going head to head with the NFL is for a future date.)
It got me to thinking about how LeBron has made his decisions regarding his career, and how those seeking political power should take notice. I’ll explain.
LeBron has independently orchestrated all his unpredictable career moves to the beat of his Akron, Ohio drum. His moves have been calculated and unorthodox, those same moves caused other teams and players to change their course of action. Case and point, in an effort to make the Cleveland Cavaliers younger and possibly retain Lebron’s talent and keep it in Ohio for good, the Cavs front office made an unorthodox move themselves by trading away their future to a team (LA Lakers) in which LeBron could be headed to. And whata ya know, LeBron is headed to LA, a move possibly not open without that trade during the regular season.
For the first time in the history of sports, one player in a sense, their sole actions impact every other team and every other player in their respective league. Power!
How does that work politically?
When a small social group is in a plight to be equal with a larger social group, the worst thing said group should do is become predictable. Their second worse move should be one of isolation. Instead, their moves should be unpredictable and felt by others. Think lawsuits for coffee being too hot and now all coffee cups cautioning you a hot beverage is actually hot.
Politically speaking, certain groups have become as predictable as they’ve become marginalized, and their actions have become isolated. For example, Black Americans are exclusively Democrat voters, even if not registered with the party. Though such a political force has force, it doesn’t have power. There’s a difference.
True power is leverage, leverage to be used to get what you want and how you want it.
LeBron James used his skill set as leverage to not only land a big paycheck, $154 million to be exact, but he also used his leverage to arrange the best situation at that time for him and his family. Why stay in Cleveland and lose, when you can go to Miami and win with friends? Certain social-political groups should question why they’re so vested and beholden to a party or platform that does not ensure what they want, let alone basic liberties.
Black Americans have dangerously hindered their own progress on key issues partly due to committing to only one political party. This has double ramifications. 1) The other party has completely shut them out because they know they’re never going to support them. And 2) the so-called party who’s supposed to have their back has to only do so much, why? Because they’ve have them under contract and they know they’re never hitting free agency for a better deal.
A double dribble if you will… a conundrum for Black Americans and other marginalized groups? Maybe.
I’m not suggesting all Black American’s flock to the Republican Party. But like LeBron, be unpredictable. If they left the Democratic Party like LeBron left Cleveland, if or when they came back, who knows, they just might make history and win a championship.
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On substance. I think the point about unpredictability as leverage is right. But not in this context. Lebron is one man making a unilateral decision. Black people are a group, not organized with no clear leadership. The group also doesn’t have all the same interests so it would be hard to organize unless we found a way to agree on a core set of issues.
Also, the idea that blacks would vote Republican is a false choice. Their value system ignores the presence of systemic racism and vestiges of slavery. They don’t believe in social safety nets. They are tough on crime and believe in that blacks should pull themselves up by their bootstraps when some are still without boots. It’s a nonstarter to say it’s even an option as it is now. And what’s to say when you vote them in they don’t turn their back on you?
Thank you for the reply.
I’m not advocating for black people to simply go to the Republican Party. That goes against my point.
My point is for black people or any group, that do not possess numbers nor will of the majority, to never be holding to one particular political group, mindset, etc.
Lebron is a great example for though one man, he represents a certain type of NBA athlete.
A star who doesn’t adhere to made up rules regarding his character and career moves. From his political advocacy to free agency decisions.
This is the same exact model that could be used politically.