Miami Vice

Sports media loves a story of redemption, see this year model, one Michael Vick, slayer of dogs, ex-con and now poster boy for the forgiveness that pro sports provides and a serious candidate for MVP of the National Football League. So with the concept of redemption on my mind, I can only sit here waiting and wondering if King James and his Miami Heat will become the second great story of redemption this year before the current NBA season ends next spring. I and many others were more than a little disgusted by LeBron's over the top ESPN broadcast of "The Decision" that sent Cleveland's best to south beach to be paired up with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh to form the uber team designed to win in James' words,"6 or 7 championships". From the announcement of his new team to the spectacular pep rally in Miami days later sports media mouths echoed the sentiments of many that seeing this team falter, even fail outright would provide moments of sick satisfaction. Fast forward to December and the Heat are failing by many accounts, even though an 11-8 record to the date of this post puts them 5th in the conference heading into tonight's mega-game versus the Cavaliers. Sports media personalities have delighted in taking the "I told you so " position in regards to the Heat's failures to date arguing that they alone possessed the vision and insight to see this coming and opining on the gravitas of player only meetings and the inevitable demise of Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. It is gleeful, exuberant and the topic du jour for more than one phone in show or column. So perhaps with all this media intellect at play we should not be surprised by where the team and its superstar roster sits but we should also remember that 19 games do not a season make and the humble pie of a rough autumn could easily be replaced by a monstrous winter and spring as the Heat get their act together.If they win, will it be because they have seen the error of their ways in terms of ego and effort and have found glory with hard work, desire and commitment to the cause of winning it all? Mail it in now- if, come mid June, Miami becomes NBA champ at least one sportscaster will consider it a championship earned because they redeemed themselves from the sins of their off season and early season trials. They will swear the salvation gained from perspiration and perseverance was key in getting to the promised land and they will delight in the notion that redemption, not talent made them winners.