Decision 2010

I am a big fan of both the Black Keys and Lebron James. Two great things to come out of Akron Ohio... However, personally I am not a big fan of Lebron's decision to leave the Cavs and go to MIA. This is not because I am a huge Cavs fan but because I hate the HEAT and am not a D. Wade fan. But I must say that what Patrick Carney, the drummer for the The Black Keys, sent The Wall Street Journal helps to make since of Lebron's decision and makes me not be that mad at him. Enjoy. By the way Carney wrote this little piece in third person...

LeBron James is from Akron, OH as are Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney of The Black Keys.

It’s a hard place to be from. There are very few jobs, the economy has been struggling for years and most of Patrick Carney’s favorite places growing up have since closed.

In fact, it became so hard to be there Patrick Carney left. Patrick Carney moved to New York City last August and embraced a new city where everything is at Patrick Carney’s fingertips. However, leaving Akron doesn’t mean Patrick Carney doesn’t consider it home and not a day goes by that Patrick Carney doesn’t miss certain things about it - the people mostly.

The difference between Patrick Carney moving and LeBron James is obvious. Patrick Carney just moved. The band will always play shows there - The Black Keys will always be an Akron band. If LeBron leaves he will never be able to be as close to his fans as he is in Ohio–he is one of the few bright things to come from a struggling town.

Patrick Carney is writing this from Dublin, Ireland on tour hours before the announcement is made. LeBron–if you choose to stay you just made a whole state have a reason to feel proud. If you choose to leave, you just made a few salesmen at a Ferrari dealership in Miami wet their lips.

Either way, these decisions are hard. He is 25 and has spent his whole life in one town. No college. No Peace Corps. Maybe he needs to explore the world, and you can never fault someone for that.