When LeBron James entered the NBA in 2003 he took the basketball world by storm. The same also can be said when Hulk Hogan began his career in the then WWF. Like Hogan, James was the big ticket that fans paid top dollar to see and they both had cult-like followings. James didn’t enjoy championship success like Hogan in the early years, but his impact on the sport was similar to what Hulkamania brought to wrestling.
Hogan gained mainstream popularity in the 80’s and 90’s as James popularity picked up prior to playing in the NBA, while he was a high school hoop star at Akron St. Vincent St Mary High School in Akron, Ohio.
In the early years Hogan and James could do no wrong, and fans worshiped the ground they walked on. With Hogan arenas were filled with red and yellow, and basketball fans dawned the No.23 on the back of their jerseys to pay homage to King James. With Hogans’ fan craze it was something that wrestling never seen before. Arenas were covered in red and yellow and with James it was something that hasn’t been seen since the days of Michael Jordan.
In James and Hogan you had two iconic stars that had the sports and sports entertainment world in the palm of there hands at early stages in their career.
Comparing Hogan’s 1995 year of wrestling to James’s 2008-2009 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers were pretty similar. Hogan lost his belt at Halloween Havoc by DQ, after a clause in his contract. During that NBA season James was in a contract year, but he failed to win a championship after winning his second MVP at the time.
The following year became historic and uncharacteristic for both as they turned heel. Hogan joined forces with wrestling stars Scott Hall and Kevin Nash to form the New World Order. James followed suit by teaming with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to create a new look Miami Heat. As both entered uncharted territory the fans turned on them, and it took the world by storm as James and Hogan turned their back on the fans that looked up to them.
With James and Hogan on the opposite end as the “bad guy” they flourished in the role. James added two MVP’s and two NBA championships as he played for the hated Miami Heat, and Hogan continued his championship prowess with the NWO.
Both James’ and Hogans’ impact were bigger than basketball as many wrestlers and NBA players did what ever it took to be a member of the Miami Heat and the NWO. Despite winning championships and having a lot of success something still seemed a bit off.
The NWO and Miami Heat had their dominate runs, and they were eventually dethroned, but James and Hogan still had unfinished business despite reaching the pinnacle of their success.
Hogan returned as the beloved Hulkamania as James recently announced his return to the Cavaliers. Both James and Hogan leg dropped their fans by turning to the dark side, but they returned to familiar territory to help patch the wounds of their once beloved fans. Hogan eventually won more title belts as the new
Hulkamania, and James’ new journey with the Cavs has just begun. James has a big challenge ahead of him in trying to bring a championship to a city that hasn’t had one since 1964. There will be a lot of pressure to do so, but if anyone can live up to it is LeBron James.
It seems like a flashback moment as you see King James Cavs jerseys roaming the streets, and wrestling arenas filled with Hulkamaniacs. James and Hogan are both iconic figures, and they both understand what they mean to their sport. With James returning back to his home roots of Ohio he can help mend the relationships that he once flustered. It was great to see them enjoy success in unfamiliar roles, but it’s nothing better to see them return to the roles that captivated fans, sports and the sports entertainment world.
Welcome back from the dark side LeBron, and I hope you win championships for the state of Ohio, as Hogan did for the Hulkamaniacs that were heart broken.
