Unless you've tuned completed out of all sports media outlets in the last few days, you've been bombarded with stories, talking-heads, and banter about LeBron James and his possible departure from the Cleveland Cavaliers. I suspect that we will continue to hear about this for weeks, probably months especially during this dead period, when even his own league's playoffs and championship can't out play it in the media.
I have to admit, while I'm pretty indifferent to the NBA and don't follow Cleveland sports in the least, it is somewhat of an intriguing story because its the mega version of a classic sports theme that we've probably all experienced with one of our sports teams. Does a hometown hero stick it out with where he began, in a seemingly good and lucrative situation. Or does he leave for all the potential of greater riches, wins, but also risks?
On the other side of that equation, there seem to be fewer and fewer examples of premier sports athletes or coaches who are sure fire bets to never leave their teams. You probably know one of them.
After all the LeBron-athon it was pretty refreshing to come across an article over at bleacherreport.com on the 10 sports stars least likely to leave their current team. It ranks them, and while some are no-brainers like Joe Paterno at #10 (though as a coach, he's a bit a fish out of water in this list), others are more interesting picks.
9. Alexander Ovechkin - he's locked up for tons of money in Washington and is the face of a franchise. But I just watched his Caps end their frustrating season, and who to say after 3-4 similar seasons of being the 'best player never to win a Stanley Cup' Ovechkin wouldn't leave Washington?
6. Tom Izzo - I would never, ever rule out a high-end basketball coach from leaving anywhere. Even Izzo, Gary Williams, or Mike Krzyewski could bolt one day for a ton of NBA money.
5. Derek Jeter - ditto baseball players. There's no salary cap, always more money somewhere else, and who says when Jeter is old and past his prime some team won't bring him on when a new young Yankee shortstop has taken his position.
2. Carol Hutchins. Who is this and who cares.
When you think about it, there really are very, very few sports players or coaches in which you can't come up with some scenario for them to leave their current team. Yes, its a long shot for some, but in this day in sports and the amount of money involved, anything is possible. Its yet another thing that Joe Paterno's situation at Penn State so unique.
There really isn't any scenario you can come up with that involved JoPa leaving Penn State. None.
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