LeBron Gives Big to Boys & Girls with 'The Decision'

LeBron James is holding the NBA hostage. He's turned free agency into a circus. Where's the superstar's hometown pride?

Hold up. Are fans really complaining about a high-flying NBA trapeze act at a time when, during any non World Cup year, all that's on sports bar TVs is pinstriped players with sun in their eyes and dip in their lips lazing through meaningless midseason games?

The LeBron sweepstakes is fun. Yes it's contrived and overhyped and maybe narcissistic, but you'd be lying if you said it wasn't dramatic. Even better, on Thursday, during LeBron's hour-long announcement special, that drama will be parlayed into a damn good deed.

In a press release issued on Wednesday, ESPN announced that proceeds from The Decision will go toward supporting Boys & Girls Clubs of America. It's unclear how much advertisers Bing, Vitaminwater, University of Phoenix and others paid for spots during the hour-long show, but there's no question that the programming will generate more for one of America's most effective charities than World Cup Primetime, which originally belonged in the 9-10 p.m. ET slot, ever has or ever will.

Roxanne Spillett, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, says in the release: "We were thrilled to hear from LeBron's organization over this past weekend with this most generous gesture. Taking time out of what I am sure is a most difficult decision, and creating an opportunity for our Clubs and members to benefit, is just tremendous."

She's talking about more than 4,000 clubs and over 4 million kids, most underprivileged, who play at Boys & Girls Clubs rather than on street corners.

Still, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports sneers at James' deed. "James is throwing a few foosball tables at Boys & Girls Clubs," he wrote on Wednesday, "an empty gesture out of the empty superstar."

It's unclear how much revenue Woj's column makes for charity, but until it pays for a few foosball tables, he might be wise to keep quiet.

Photo via ESPN.