NBA free agency is king and LeBron a mere jester

Jester (Jest"er) n: a professional clown employed by a king or nobleman.

My July 1 was dominated by one LeBron James. Everywhere I looked, I couldn't escape it. Where will he go? When will he decide?

I've got a better question -- who really cares?

While LeBron and many throw the label "King James" or "The Chosen One" around a lot, what has he shown us thus far? Zero championships. I'll be the first to defend a player who is a top performer and isn't able to win a championship (i.e. Dan Marino), but this whole talk of LeBron being the best of all time is getting a little out of hand.

What I hope doesn't happen is James becomes the clown of some team with a lot of dough to throw around and forgets the reason he's in the league in the first place -- to compete. Your stage is the world, so don't play up to those willing to toss trinkets and gold your way.

Money is fine, but it's rings that make you a legend.

I admit James has the talent, I admit he's one of the best we have today, but the simple fact is the only time he made it to the finals, his team was swept. No one man is a team, but this is the king we're talking about remember?

Where do I want to see LeBron land? I would like to see him stay in Cleveland for another three seasons or so and see what he can bring to the city. After that, all bets are off.

The best situation for James would be in Chicago. With Derek Rose and Joakim Noah, James would have a young core of athletes, and if the Bulls were able to make a run at Chris Bosh, this would be a team of destiny. Hear that LeBron -- destiny. Exactly what you're hoping for.

Sure, it's been reported New Jersey Nets new owners, billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov and Jay-Z, have the marketing savvy to put James into the stratosphere. Jay-Z has even proposed a possible clothing line and a new fragrance fit for a king.

They do know he's a ball player too, right?

Other teams clamoring for James' services include Miami, the Knicks and even possibly the L.A. Clippers. Wouldn't that be something if James and Kobe inhabited the same house (Staples Center), in the same town at the same time? It would be like a semi-interesting episode of Big Brother.

So as all sports fans around the globe are held hostage by ESPN and every sports network's coverage of LeBron's free agency, remember this -- one man doesn't make a team, but he can become one heck of a joke.