※ 全文取材編譯自《SI.com》的〈LeBron: I'm coming back to Cleveland〉

  我得老實說,我從來都不是 LeBron James 的球迷,以前不是、以後會不會是,我不能肯定,但至少從今時今刻開始,我會對他多了一分敬意,就因為他在現在,2014年的7月做了一個跟4年前「The Decision」截然不同的決定、選擇,以及他所公開的方式,讓我覺得他足以被尊敬,也足以為他紀錄下點什麼。

  這可能會是歷史的一刻,所以我還是動筆紀錄下來了。

LeBron James.jpg

Before anyone ever cared where I would play basketball, I was a kid from Northeast Ohio. It’s where I walked. It’s where I ran. It’s where I cried. It’s where I bled. It holds a special place in my heart. People there have seen me grow up. I sometimes feel like I’m their son. Their passion can be overwhelming. But it drives me. I want to give them hope when I can. I want to inspire them when I can. My relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball. I didn’t realize that four years ago. I do now.

在那個還沒有人會關心我會在哪裡打籃球的時候,我只是個來自俄亥俄州東北部的孩子,那是一個我曾走過、奔跑過、哭泣過、流血過,在我內心深處擁有特殊地位的地方,那裡的人們看著我長大,有時候我會覺得他們待我如子,他們的熱情有時讓人難以承受,卻驅使著我前進,我希望能夠盡我所能帶給他們希望,也希望能盡己所能激勵他們,我與俄亥俄州東北部的關係大過於籃球,四年前我不能理解這件事,現在,我懂了。

Remember when I was sitting up there at the Boys & Girls Club in 2010? I was thinking, This is really tough. I could feel it. I was leaving something I had spent a long time creating. If I had to do it all over again, I’d obviously do things differently, but I’d still have left. Miami, for me, has been almost like college for other kids. These past four years helped raise me into who I am. I became a better player and a better man. I learned from a franchise that had been where I wanted to go. I will always think of Miami as my second home. Without the experiences I had there, I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing today.

還記得我在2010年坐在 Boys & Girls Club 那裡做了什麼嗎?當時我心想,這真是個艱難的決定,我能感覺到它,我將要離開一些自己花了很長時間所構築起來的事物,如果時光倒流重來一次,也許我會讓作法變得不同,但我還是會選擇離開。邁阿密對我而言就像其他孩子去就讀大學一樣的體驗,在那裡的四年幫助我提升自我,我變成更好的球員和更成熟的男人,我在這支吸引我前去的球隊學到很多事,我以後也會始終將邁阿密當成我第二個家,如果沒有在那裡的經驗,我將無法做到我今日所能完成的很多事。

I went to Miami because of D-Wade and CB. We made sacrifices to keep UD. I loved becoming a big bro to Rio. I believed we could do something magical if we came together. And that’s exactly what we did! The hardest thing to leave is what I built with those guys. I’ve talked to some of them and will talk to others. Nothing will ever change what we accomplished. We are brothers for life. I also want to thank Micky Arison and Pat Riley for giving me an amazing four years.

我是為了 D-WadeCB 去到邁阿密的,我們一起做出犧牲而讓 UD 能留下,我也很喜歡成為 Rio 的大哥哥,我相信如果我們一直聚在一起能完成很多不可思議的事情,而我們確實做到了!離開我和這些傢伙共同創建的一切是最艱難的一件事,我已經告訴他們之中的一些人,也會告訴其他人,未來不會對我們之間造成什麼影響,我們將會是一生的好兄弟,我也同時要感謝 Micky ArisonPat Riley 給我如此驚奇難忘的四年歲月。

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh.jpg

I’m doing this essay because I want an opportunity to explain myself uninterrupted. I don’t want anyone thinking: He and Erik Spoelstra didn’t get along. … He and Riles didn’t get along. … The Heat couldn’t put the right team together. That’s absolutely not true.

我會寫下這篇文章是因為我希望有個機會,能在不被稀釋的情況下完整說出我自己的想法,我不希望有任何人是這麼想的:他和 Erik Spoelstra 相處不愉快......他和 Riles 不對盤......熱火隊沒有辦法讓他們在一起組建一支正確的好球隊,這些都不會是事實。

I’m not having a press conference or a party. After this, it’s time to get to work.

這次不會有直播Live或是慶功Party,在這個宣言結束後,該是時候來辦些正事了。

When I left Cleveland, I was on a mission. I was seeking championships, and we won two. But Miami already knew that feeling. Our city hasn’t had that feeling in a long, long, long time. My goal is still to win as many titles as possible, no question. But what’s most important for me is bringing one trophy back to Northeast Ohio.

當我離開克里夫蘭時,我有一個使命必須完成,當時我正尋求冠軍,而之後我們贏得了兩座,但是邁阿密已經嚐到冠軍滋味,我們的城市卻已經很長很長很長一段時間不知冠軍是何滋味,我的目標仍是盡可能的去贏得冠軍,這是毫無疑問的,但是對我而言更重要的目標是把冠軍金盃帶回俄亥俄州東北部。

I always believed that I’d return to Cleveland and finish my career there. I just didn’t know when. After the season, free agency wasn’t even a thought. But I have two boys and my wife, Savannah, is pregnant with a girl. I started thinking about what it would be like to raise my family in my hometown. I looked at other teams, but I wasn’t going to leave Miami for anywhere except Cleveland. The more time passed, the more it felt right. This is what makes me happy.

我始終認為自己會回到克里夫蘭去完成球員生涯,我只是不知道何時會發生,在這個球季結束後我其實沒有去細想過自由市場的事,但我有兩個男孩和我的妻子,Savannah 和她正懷著的一位小女孩,我開始想像如果能夠在我的家鄉扶養自己的家庭將會是何種模樣?我也試著聽取其他球隊的報價,但是沒有一個地方能像克里夫蘭一樣,能讓我有離開邁阿密的動力,經過一些時間和想法的沉澱後,我發現這是能讓我開心的決定。

LeBron James MIA.jpg

To make the move I needed the support of my wife and my mom, who can be very tough. The letter from Dan Gilbert, the booing of the Cleveland fans, the jerseys being burned -- seeing all that was hard for them. My emotions were more mixed. It was easy to say, “OK, I don’t want to deal with these people ever again.” But then you think about the other side. What if I were a kid who looked up to an athlete, and that athlete made me want to do better in my own life, and then he left? How would I react? I’ve met with Dan, face-to-face, man-to-man. We’ve talked it out. Everybody makes mistakes. I’ve made mistakes as well. Who am I to hold a grudge?

要做出這項決定,我需要妻子和母親的支持,這其實是有點艱難的,從 Dan Gilbert 的那封信、克里夫蘭球迷的噓聲以及燒毀球衣──那些事情都讓她們感到壓力沉重,我自己的心情其實也很複雜,我大可以讓事情變簡單,就說:「好吧,我再也不想要和這些人有任何瓜葛。」,但是當你換個角度思考,如果我是個孩子然後看著一位運動員長大,然後那位運動員讓我的人生擁有效法、向上變好的動力,然後他卻無情的離開,我該怎麼自處呢?我之前和 Dan 有過一次會面,面對面那種、Man to Man,我們已經談過一些話,誰都會有犯錯的時候,我也是個曾犯錯的人,我有什麼資格去指責別人呢?

I’m not promising a championship. I know how hard that is to deliver. We’re not ready right now. No way. Of course, I want to win next year, but I’m realistic. It will be a long process, much longer than it was in 2010. My patience will get tested. I know that. I’m going into a situation with a young team and a new coach. I will be the old head. But I get a thrill out of bringing a group together and helping them reach a place they didn’t know they could go. I see myself as a mentor now and I’m excited to lead some of these talented young guys. I think I can help Kyrie Irving become one of the best point guards in our league. I think I can help elevate Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters. And I can’t wait to reunite with Anderson Varejao, one of my favorite teammates.

我不會承諾一定要拿到總冠軍,我知道那是很困難的,我們現在還沒準備好,時機不是現在,當然,我還是會在下個球季積極求勝,但我同時也得實際些,這會是漫長的一段過程,可能遠遠超過2010年的距離,我的耐心會遭到測試,我知道這些,我將加入一支年輕的團隊和全新的教練,我會是裡面的資深球員,但是我會試著引導他們成長,然後幫助他們抵達自己從未想像能見識的境地,現在的我把自己定位成輔佐這些才華洋溢年輕人的導師,我想我能幫助 Kyrie Irving 成為聯盟中最棒的控球後衛,我覺得我能夠提升 Tristan ThompsonDion Waiters 的能力,而且我已經等不及要和 Anderson Varejao 再敘舊,他是我最喜愛的隊友之一。

LeBron James, Anderson Varejao.jpg

But this is not about the roster or the organization. I feel my calling here goes above basketball. I have a responsibility to lead, in more ways than one, and I take that very seriously. My presence can make a difference in Miami, but I think it can mean more where I’m from. I want kids in Northeast Ohio, like the hundreds of Akron third-graders I sponsor through my foundation, to realize that there’s no better place to grow up. Maybe some of them will come home after college and start a family or open a business. That would make me smile. Our community, which has struggled so much, needs all the talent it can get.

不過這一切其實和球員名單或球團沒有關係,我賦予自己的使命是超越籃球之上的,我在各方面都擁有必須承擔領導的責任,而我也是非常嚴肅在面對的,我有能耐讓邁阿密變得不一樣,但是我想這對我自己的家鄉更有意義,我想要俄亥俄州東北部的孩子就跟在 Akron 那些受我基金會資助,數以百計的孩子一樣,認識到沒有地方比他們成長的地方更好,也許他們會在就讀完大學後重回家鄉,繼續在此展開新的家庭生活或是新的事業,那會讓我微笑喜悅,我們的家園在經歷了這麼多之後,能夠擁有那些精英去做到更多事。

In Northeast Ohio, nothing is given. Everything is earned. You work for what you have.

在俄亥俄州東北部,沒有什麼是憑空賜予的,所有的東西都是付出得來的,你必須努力工作才能換取所得。

LeBron.jpg

I’m ready to accept the challenge. I’m coming home.

我已經準備好接受這些挑戰了,我,要回家了。



LEBRON JAMES: "I’M COMING HOME."


===== 後記 =====

  坦白說,無論這篇文章是不是出於公關或是代筆捉刀人之手, LeBron James 都已經用最質樸、但是卻擁有最多真摯情感的語句表達出他在「現階段」最想追求的是何事物,我覺得這篇文章寫的非常好,也是讓我想要把它給完整紀錄下來的原因,與4年以前,遭人非議至今仍很難忘的「The Decision」Live秀相比,我必須說我現在真的對於他充滿敬意。

  LeBron 把籃球回歸到「情感面」的選擇,騎士不一定是離冠軍最近的選擇,卻是他個人情感最棒、最能獲得救贖的選擇,我想這也許是大家都對他這次的選擇感到能理解的主因。我也得說,他的聲名稿跟這個選擇,真的讓我對他多了份認同。

  不論你認不認同他的「決定」,會不會覺得他像是棄船逃離熱火,就像之前所聊過的,這些都是個人的選擇問題,只要你願意去承擔後果和負責,旁人其實是沒有什麼好置喙的,畢竟那些都是屬於個人的人生;我們無從得知 LeBron 在追求冠軍的過程中是否有感到後悔或是不愉快,或者他現在重新回到騎士的「真正理由」為何,但我們可以肯定的是他做出自己在「現階段」覺得最好的決定。

LBJ.jpg

  我們每個人都很公平的只能在世界上活一次,沒有人知道該怎麼活才是最好、最棒,最適合自己的,因為大家都有自己的價值觀跟人生,旁觀者看起來或許會覺得他換來換去,一下要冠軍一下要救贖,好像把球隊們耍著玩,但是重點在於他兩次的選擇都是「自由球員」,他有他自己的「自由意志」去選擇自己想要什麼,也許他上回想要的是贏球,現在想要的是回家鄉的心安和快樂,或許狀況並不如外人所想的那麼複雜,只是人生本來就會有很多選擇是牽一髮動全身的......

  第一次他離開時,我也很不能認同,但最主要的原因還是在於他弄得太難看的「轉隊Live秀」以及轉隊後馬上開的「慶功Party」太過招搖而惹人閒話,但是隨著時間過去,自己在社會上、工作上的經歷也多了,其實我大概也能理解 LeBron 究竟在思考和選擇些什麼,他不是聖人只是個跟你我一樣的凡人,只是他很有名、而且可能是當今最具優勢的籃球員,但在選擇工作上,其實跟你我的凡人不太相同。


  有些事情真的是需要時間和年齡來思考想通的。
  我相信我自己是這樣, LeBron James 可能也是這樣。


  (最後怎麼好像有自抬身價之嫌?)



LeBron James: I'm Coming Home


LeBron James- "I'm Coming Home" Cleveland Mix



編譯:泰瑞克斯
圖片來源:Sports Illustrated、ZIMBIO
影片來源:Sports Illustrated
參考資料:LeBron: I'm coming back to Cleveland
延伸閱讀:LeBron,何處去?
     LeBron James──NBA賽場上的Anakin Skywalker

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