Here we are, T Minus 12 hours until the inmates will no longer run the prison. The summer of 2010, the long awaited season that hijacked nearly two full basketball seasons will promptly come to an end. We know the ancillary signings, even the major ones. The faux-royalty, he who makes us witness, grants his final decision tonight. Will the landscape of the league change? Does teaming the self proclaimed monarch with second fiddle drama queens Wade and Bosh guarantee us a super team that will shatter not only the ‘96 Bulls 72 win record, but leave the mighty Bill Russell gazing from second place amongst ring bearers?

Boston’s Big Three are now reunited. Orlando has made no changes to date, but this by no means makes them anything less than a lock for a 60 win season and a trip to the Eastern Conference semi-finals. Even if the abundance of talent that are the stars of the free agent class unite on south beach, does this cause Mr. Bryant to lose any sleep on the other coast? Nuzzling up with his five rings should comfort any concerns he may have. The triumvirate of Wade/James/Bosh is a recipe for a regular season bonanza, something all have achieved. The ring? The O’Brien trophy? Wade claims one in what is widely considered to be the most corrupted finals in history. Not to diminish his efforts, a blemished title is still a title. James has sniffed it, getting swept in the ‘07 Finals by the final charge of the light brigade in San Antonio. He’s come close the following three seasons, two of which he was named MVP. Losing to Boston twice and Orlando in the late rounds of the playoffs, James and his inferior teammates could never make it back to the games in June. Bosh is on an island in this group. Widely considered second fiddle at best throughout his career, how he managed to wedge his name amongst the top free agent class is a mystery. Injuries, mainly knee problems, have allowed him to play in over 70 games only twice in his seven year career. The talent – undeniable. Instant titles – highly unlikely.

It’s a disgrace to the game. Watching the fans bark and banter with each other day in and day out about who’s going where. True, it has managed to spark an interest in the NBA that I personally haven’t seen for years, though I’m still unsure if it will ultimately be worth it. The dog days of the post Jordan era seem to be a distant memory. The instant riches of high schoolers ill prepared for the NBA lifestyle are fading from the minds of fans. We’ve even been rejuvenated by a harkening to the days of old with two Lakers/Celtics finals in the past three years, likely a third had the knee of Kevin Garnett held strong until the summer months. And what does the future hold for those recently invigorated by the most beautiful game in America? Cancelled free agent tours, teams presenting ideas on how to become billionaires instead of role models and winners. Have the agents finally won? Has the all powerful iron fist of David Stern softened to a paw? This summer has put the phrase “There’s no such thing as bad press” to the test.

At 9:00 p.m. tonight, his heinous reveals to the world in an hour long special on the worldwide leader where his final destination will be. If it is anywhere other than Cleveland, it is an abhorrent display of society’s current state. The heartbreak felt by Cleveland fans and Ohio residents in general will be the strongest in the history of sports. It puts the Browns leaving for Baltimore, Colts leaving for Indianapolis, and the Sonics leaving for Oklahoma far on the backburner. LeBron and the rest of us have been waiting for this moment for nearly 30 months. We all understand sports are businesses, and with a business comes tough choices. Leaving town for greener pastures or true pursuit of a championship will never be frowned upon. Those facets of the business aspect fans understand. Public humiliation and the abasement of families who have supported you since you were a teenager excite only those with insatiable egos. As we wrote here, we still believe he’s staying home and that the last minute rumors and hoopla are only for the materiality he cares about most.

Michael Jordan played the game with a pernicious intent to somehow achieve vindication from his self-instilled belief that he was not good enough. The irony, of course, is that he is widely considered the finest basketball player to ever walk the earth. James plays for a different reason. A hubris, an undying need for attention. In twelve hours, the announcement will be made and hearts will be broken somewhere in the country. Jordan never needed the attention, it’s not why he played. We all need a fuel for our motivation, and for James, this is his championship.

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