An elephant never forgets. And when it comes to Lebron James, it appears that Ohioans don’t either.
On Monday, Ohio Governor John Kasich (R) issued a declaration lauding the Dallas Mavericks for winning this year’s NBA championship by defeating the Miami Heat, and naming the entire Mavericks organization and their fans honorary Ohioans. But that declaration was less a commendation for Dallas as it was a snide dig at James, the Ohio-born phenom who conducted a giant press circus last summer to announce he was jumping ship on the Cleveland Cavaliers and taking his game to Florida.
“The Dallas Mavericks displayed the loyalty, integrity and teamwork essential to victory before the entire country, affirming that these admirable traits are as crucial as talent and athleticism,” Kasich wrote in a statement.
The statement also knocked James for abandoning Cleveland, noting that Dallas’ superstar, Dirk Nowitzki, forewent free agency last year, instead, “keeping his talents in Dallas, thus remaining loyal to the team, city, and fans for whom he played his entire career.”
Kasich’s foray into the realm of basketball politics is a reversal from last year, when he actually attacked his rival in the gubernatorial election for taking about James.
“We’ve lost 400,000 jobs out here and the last guy I worry about is LeBron James, Kasich said last year in an interview with Fox News. “You know I mean, we all hope he’ll stay in Cleveland. We think we’ve got a great guy there that can turn everything around, but we got some serious problems.”
But now with the election behind him, and with his approval rating heading south fast, Kasich readily waded into the debate less than 24 hours after the final buzzer sounded on the NBA season.
