After cramping up in the deciding moments of the NBA Finals’ first game–and suffering a deluge of online attacks by wannabe tough guys–LeBron James needed something to clear his mind before Game 2. Something normal. Something the average person would do to cleanse the mind and purge the body of its demons.
Such a quest was obviously difficult because James is perhaps the most recognizable person in the sporting world. And he was in hostile territory, among San Antonio Spurs fans. But those impediments didn’t stop the Miami Heat star from venturing out in the world.
So that’s why, without anyone else with him – no security, no friends, nobody, and that almost never happens – James quietly showed up at a theater a couple miles from where the Miami Heat were staying for a 5:40 p.m. showing Saturday of ”Maleficent.” And it’s also why he and his regular massage therapist joined two strangers for a yoga class at 8 a.m. Sunday, where he focused on his breathing.
That’s right. The best player in basketball pumped himself up by watching a fairytale movie. Little known fact: Michael Jordan only watched Sylvester Stallone movies and brought his own red meat into the theater. LeBron is clearly not a winner.
James’ enormous body was unable to escape detection from other moviegoers, one of whom snapped a paparazzi-like photo at the ticket window.
The real-world diversions paid off as James dropped a cool 35 points in the Heat’s crucial Game 2 victory.