• by David Goetzl , July 8, 2011

Believe it or not, there may be some people who think "The Decision" last summer was where their kid would attend college or how to handle an elderly relative. But not within the sports world and indeed the broader media sphere.

That moniker is reflexive. Controversy continues to roil about the ESPN show, which aired a year ago today, and had free agent LeBron James announcing he would leave Cleveland to go to the Miami Heat. It may stoke debate in perpetuity.

With at least some distance, it's important to provide answers on where things stand. Maybe this will thwart a Ph.D. thesis or two.

James unveiled his decision in an interview with Jim Gray. Gray has been panned for asking the star multiple questions before "The One": where he would be playing next year. So, James' announcement didn't come until 22 minutes into the show. Does Gray deserve the evisceration?

No. Would it have been better had he gotten to the point up top? Maybe.

But his lead-up questions were good ones. The answers provided some insight into LeBron's decision-making. Most of all, Gray was able to evince that James had just informed Cleveland he would be leaving as the show was getting going -- an act James has been pilloried for.

To be sure, all of Gray's pre-announcement questions could have followed James' Miami declaration. Yet, James may have been in a different mindset then.

Gray's questions after the Miami decision came down were strong. He got James to effectively concede there was more than a recent desire to pair with future Miami teammates Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. And his questions about the reaction in Cleveland led to responses that clearly showed James' conflicting emotions.

Does ESPN deserve criticism about the James announcement coming 22 minutes into the show?

Absolutely. It seems as if the network has skated by on this one, and Gray has absorbed most of the castigation. But, once Gray began his interview, the announcement came about five minutes and 40 seconds in. If ESPN wanted to move the news up, it should have started with Gray-James and not with the lengthy build-up with its commentators before. If ESPN is unfairly criticized sometimes for being a hype machine, not this time. If James' people had insisted on some build-up, it should have said nope.

Was the show an ego trip for James?

No. James erred by coarsely informing Cleveland about his decision right before the show. But, he came off as a thoughtful, introspective, ingenuous guy. He basically said I want to win, that's why I'm going south. He wants to succeed in his chosen profession, what's wrong with that?

James was keenly aware of the negative impact his decision would do to Cleveland and that visibly wore on him. While announcing his decision, he said, "This is very tough" and was nervous. There was hardly any joy. He probably shouldn't have said, "I'm going to take my talents to South Beach." But the feeling is that wasn't egotistical, he thought it was an easier way to deliver an answer that would hurt Cleveland.

Now, James must take responsibility for advisers who encouraged him to do the show. He is the boss, but the bet is they are more responsible for its performance and backlash than he is.

Did ESPN abdicate its journalistic responsibilities by allowing James and his team too much control over the content, and the chance use the show to raise money for the Boys & Girls Club?

Yes. It has admitted such.

In the new oral history of ESPN, the network's content chief John Skipper said, "Look, I did the deal, this is a fault of mine. I was responsible for putting it together and then I turned it over and let those other guys (James' team) execute it." 

Even though the advertising money went to charity, ESPN allowed James a chance to build a brand a benevolent superstar -- that's paying for news. Also, what some missed is James' people slid promotions for Vitaminwater - which James endorses - into the content of the show. There was a fully stocked fridge with the stuff visible and a bottle next to James on a table.

As it turned out, no one remembers "The Decision" raised money for a worthy cause.

Who should have gotten some criticism for the show's abysmal production quality, but didn't?

How about the powerful Hollywood agent who advises top writers, producers and directors on what projects to undertake -- a person with allegedly good creative tastes. That would be Ari Emanuel, the head of William Morris Endeavor, who helped mastermind "The Decision." He may have turned things over after doing the deal to others, but he deserves some blame.

Besides the actual content, there was something weird about the show. Even for neutral observers, it didn't meet ESPN's standards and had the feel of a politician being interviewed trying to salvage a reputation.

Who should reporters go to for scoops?

The Greenwich PD. An SI.com report details some of behind the scenes of "The Decision" and how former William Morris Endeavor partner Mark Dowley helped engineer the show be filmed in Greenwich, Conn. Dowley wanted the locale to be a secret, but because of its high profile felt, he needed to inform the Greenwich cops that the event would be in their midst.

He did so the day before. "Within a half-hour, Newsday had it and everyone was calling," Dowley said. "I was very disappointed. I love the Greenwich Police Department, but at that point, it went outside of a tight circle where I knew everybody and trusted everybody."

Even with all its criticism for the show, did ESPN benefit?

Yes. ESPN did keep the show away from another network that may have snaped it up. The ratings were good and it did reinforce ESPN's image as the maypole in sports culture.

And, over time, the James saga has lifted NBA ratings. 

Will "The Decision" always be a thorn in James' side?

Probably. Some say the fallout will fade if he wins a championship. Yet, an image of James as exceedingly insensitive, cocky and self-serving will be difficult to shed. Like Tiger Woods and his tainted behavior - admittedly more troublesome - it's fair to wonder if the backlash has negatively affected James and will it always?

Sad, because beneath any veneer is a sensitive guy.