Northern Ohio, along with much of the state, was frantic over the possibility that the superstar of the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team might leave for Miami, Chicago or some other city.
A radio interviewer, Alan Colmes, on Fox, asked former Rep. Kasich if he would join “the chorus for keeping James in Cleveland.”
A member of the chorus in good standing was then-Gov. Ted Strickland. He had participated in a video aimed at persuading Mr. James to stay.
Mr. Kasich said, “I’m not singing in any chorus for LeBron James.”
The host was taken aback. Question: “You’re not?” Answer: “No, I’m not.”
Earlier in the interview, he had said, “Alan, we’ve lost 400,000 jobs out here, and the last guy I worry about is LeBron James.... We think we’ve got a great guy there that can turn everything around, but we’ve got some serious problems.”
Exactly who thought Mr. James could turn everything around — by simply not leaving — the candidate did not specify.
Since taking office, of course, Gov. Kasich has been involved in every high-profile situation that might involve jobs, as many people thought the James issue did. He got money for the Bob Evans restaurant company to move within the state, so that it wouldn’t move out. He has a list of such intercessions.
And now he’s willing to engage the James issue (though, in truth, that certainly isn’t going to bring any jobs to Ohio at this stage).
Specifically, the governor has issued a declaration making the Dallas Mavericks “Honorary Ohioans” in the wake of their victory in the National Basketball Association finals June 12 over Mr. James and the Miami Heat.
The declaration doesn’t mention Mr. James, but it’s all about him.
“Whereas the Dallas Mavericks displayed the loyalty, integrity and teamwork essential to victory ... affirming that these admirable traits are as crucial as talent and athleticism” — a reference to the departed Ohioan — “the proud city of Cleveland and the entire state of Ohio share in the excitement of Dallas Mavericks fans everywhere.”
The governor also mentioned Mavericks’ star Dirk Nowitzki, who kept “his talents in Dallas, thus remaining loyal to the team, city and fans for whom he played his entire career.”
(For those who don’t follow this sports stuff: Mr. James had gone to Miami saying that he really wanted an NBA championship — or several — and that he didn’t see one coming his way in Cleveland.
(The lifelong Ohioan joined two other megastars on a vaunted team that has now failed to win the championship. His own play and on-court behavior have come in for a remarkable barrage of criticism.)
Rooting against people has always been part of the sports experience, here and around the world. It may not be the most attractive human characteristic, but it’s not the worst, either.
And if a governor wants to join in an emotional experience that’s unifying Ohioans, well, that’s as natural for politicians as was Gov. Strickland’s effort to get Mr. James to stay.
If Mr. James didn’t accomplish his most obvious goals, he did bring the last two governors of Ohio together on the gubernatorial relevance of basketball. Las Vegas would have given odds against that.
Cox News Service