The last few weeks of my life have been almost entirely consumed by the NBA’s free agency. I have lost sleep, lost friends, picked up smoking, picked up drinking (…more), yelled at my mother, yelled at my boss, got yelled at by my boss, and nearly ended my life (accidentally). All over speculation and hype, and my naïve willingness to believe anyone with a blog that would say “LeBron is coming to CHICAGO!”.

You see I grew up in the Chi, and like most kids my age and even much older, we watched Michael Jordan. We idolized him. However it wasn’t just the Chicago fans that adored Michael, he sold out arenas in competitive cities. Where M.J. would play, people would swoon. I have even traveled to Costa Rica once, wearing by Bulls proudly in public only to be confronted by a young gentleman that said to me in broken English; “Michael Jordan is number 1!” He then lifted his pant leg to expose a big (and sloppy) tattoo of the man dunking, on his calf. My sentiments are deep rooted in my childhood, and some of the fondest memories of my family all plopped on the couch watching Jordan, Pippen, Rodman and the Bulls championship after championship. I don’t remember Christmas’s as well as those games. But that was a decade ago.

Gods.

I won’t, and don’t want to, get into the technicals of this free agency and how my hometown Bulls have a chance at acquiring the man many call ‘King James’. No, this is not about that. This is a love to letter to Basketball as a whole. I don’t watch TV dramas, or follow many political debates. I don’t care much for celebrities having babies and Gossip Girl. My drama is basketball, and the free agency of 2010 delivered! So anticipated is this summer for the game, many have already forgotten that the Lakers won a championship. And come tonight at midnight, fans all over will have their eyes peeled while holding their collective breaths. What will LeBron James do?

This is what!

There are many options for the man, but something tells me none of them look as exciting as Chicago. The city the Jordan built! The only city that can truly crown the King and give him what he most desires…. A ring. Aside from that, he will bring the sparkle that a little boy had in the 90’s back into his eye. The eager anticipation of catching the game, but only after finishing your homework. The family again reunited sitting on the floor, watching their hometown Bulls get not 1 but 2 three peat’s!  That little boy is me. I don’t want LeBron in Chicago just for the Bulls to rake in Championships again (although that is a good part of it). I want LeBron James in Chicago so I can feel like a kid again.