We were there

Disappointment doesn't begin to describe what I felt as the Detroit Pistons were eliminated in the Conference Finals by the upstart Cleavland Cavaliers, as the superstar persona yet again won out over the team mentality - just one more reason that college ball is better than the pros- and as, for the third time already this year, the hopes of all Michigan sports fans were gone without even a shot at a championship game.

But, I believe when the final buzzer sounded in Cleavland something much bigger than another Pistons loss transpired before our eyes. An event that may forever change the ebb and flow of basketball: the entrance of Lebron James onto the stage on which he was born to perform, the NBA Finals.

The King has arrived everyone. To me it felt much like the main character in a large-budget movie that has just made his first appearance. For some reason it just seemed right. Don't get me wrong, I would have loved to see my Pistons go for another title, but somehow this just seemed like the way things were supposed to go. Now, I'm not one for the Michael Jordan comparisons, but to me Lebron seems to fit here, just like Mike.

I think a lot have people have overlooked what is unfolding before our eyes. I mean, we were there when Lebron first took basketballs greatest stage. We were there when he scored his first Finals basket. We were there when he led the Cavs to their first game in June. And we were there at the start of an era.

I don't know if Lebron's career will end with six rings. I don't know if he will end up with a handful of MVP awards. I don't know if his will win this series - although I suspect he won't. I don't even know if he will ever see the finals again. But I have a feeling we're in store for quite a ride.

And one day we will tell the next generation: We were there.