MVP

LeBron receives 116 first-place votes
AP

AKRON, Ohio -- LeBron James looked out at the sea of faces from his past and present. There's no knowing if they'll be in his future.

Scanning an audience which came to celebrate his second straight runaway NBA MVP award, James pointed out his former high school coaches and best friends. He praised his mom, Gloria, who somehow raised him after giving birth when she was just 16. He had a special message for his girlfriend, Savannah, and their two young sons, LeBron Jr. and Bryce.

Dominating the voting just as he dominated on the floor all season, James became the 10th player in league history to win consecutive MVP awards, and he made sure to share it with the people closest to him, the ones who can never imagine him playing anywhere but Cleveland.

"Since I was a kid, I always said I'd find a way to put Akron on the map," James said. "It will always be my home and it will always be my life."

James' comments seemed slightly ominous for a player on the eve of a big decision. He has given few clues about his intentions for when free agency opens on July 1, but James almost sounded as if he was preparing to say goodbye.

"Akron, Ohio is my home," he said. "Akron, Ohio will always be remembered. Akron, Ohio is my life and I love this city."

Later, he was asked how he could leave "all this."

"This is home for me," he said. "I love this place to death. Every day I wake up I understand that I'm not just carrying myself but I'm also carrying this city to bigger and better heights. No matter where life may head me, I'm never gone from here."

I wasn't the least bit shocked to see King James take home his second MVP award. The Cavs had the best record in the NBA this season, Lebron had quite possibly his best season ever and every other candidate had a flaw against. I would have honestly been shocked had he not won.

That's why I was surprised when the news was "broken to" me by a few different people. I know I blow smoke up my own ass about the Lakers pretty often but if I'm pretty sure I gave noone the impression that I thought Kobe Bryant had a good shot of winning the MVP Award this year. Plus, I deal with a lot of people who assume that lakers fans dislike Lebron. These two may be battling it out in the minds of NBA fans as to who is the best player but there isn't any animosity between the Cavs camp and the Lakers...yet. Any attempt to manufacture that just seems like a ploy by the NBA and Nike to make money. Kobe and Lebron aren't going to channel Bird and Magic anytime soon in terms of this prospective rivalry. So quit trying to force it.