2012 seems awfully different from 2011 for LeBron James. He’s entered this season different in a lot of ways. There’s less arrogance. He and Wade are no longer taking questions at a podium after every regular season game. He’s no longer fixated on the negative forces wishing him ill will for “The Decision,” which he has openly admitted to regretting. He’s working in the post more, he’s working as a distributor more, he’s making smarter plays and playing harder. And on Saturday night, he made some changes to his personal life, too.
Word spread like wildfire Monday morning that James had proposed to his long-time girlfiriend Savannah Brinson Saturday night at a lavish birthday party for James a day after turned 27. Chris Paul and Heat owner Micky Arison both tweeted their congratulations.
Happy for my brother @KingJames and sis @SavannahRB on their engagement!!! Extremely happy for them and the good times to come #HappyNewYearSun Jan 01 06:06:50 via UberSocial for BlackBerry
Chris Paul
CP3
Congrats to Lebron. @KingJames and Savannah so happy 4 u guys.Sun Jan 01 06:07:30 via UberSocial for BlackBerry
Micky Arison
MickyArison
So that’s about as official as it gets.
I’m going to pause and let you get all the jokes about how this is the only way LeBron gets a ring, and about how Savannah should be worried he disappears at the altar, and all that out of the way. I know you have a lot of them, just get them out of your system.
There will be a lot of talk about how this coincided with Kobe Bryant getting divorced. But there’s absolutely no reason to compare the two. Outside of the obvious differences (Kobe was much younger when he was married, James deliberately waited a very long time even after having two sons -- who his very much involved with as a father -- with Brinson), there’s this. Every relationship is different, every relationship is complicated, and every relationship is none of our damn business. These things are news, now, and that’s fine, here’s your post on it, we hope the couple has a long and happy life together. But beyond everyone’s favorite pastime of sniping at James, he’s an actual human being, and no matter how arrogant he may come across as, no one deserves to have as happy moment as the day you propose to someone you love be sullied by jokes and mean-spirited garbage. These things matter, yes, even more so than a ring for Cleveland or Miami or anyone else.
It’s a sign that James may be maturing, along with other telltale signs, but the truth is we don’t know. We’ve never known LeBron James and we probably never will.
But seriously, how big do you think the rock is?