Not because we’ll finally know where LeBron is going.

Not because Knicks fans will find out what was true all along - that Santa Clause isn’t coming to town.

And DEFINITELY not because it is barbecue day at work.

Because at last, the most self-appreciative athlete in the history of American professional sports will stop his love fest with himself.

And ESPN.

(First, credit to Drew Magary at Deadspin, for writing this expletive-laden article. If you’re not easily offended, it’s worth a read. It will also carry a similar tone to what I lay out below - absolute disdain for the best player in the league. He touched on many of the points I’ll touch on, perhaps in a more insulting manner, but he got to writing his point of view before I got to writing mine.)

Up until May 14, 2010, my most hated professional athlete was Brett Favre.

Not because of what he did for the Jets. That season was a lost season in my book - the transition period from old Jets football (Parcells, Mangini, and everyone in between) to new Jets football (Sexy Rexy and the Sanchize).

And althought I HATED him while he was on the Packers - primarily because I didn’t like his gunslinger style, and thought his records were as much accumulation as they were skill - it had nothing to do with my ultimate hatred.

It was the retiring, then unretiring. Always conveniently getting his name on the ESPN ticker just when previous news was getting stale. Getting Chris Mortensen to follow him around like a lost puppy. Running the NFL show on ESPN into the ground, because of constant speculation over someone who, at this point, is merely a top-10 NFL quarterback.

The NFL had become the Brett Favre Show featuring the NFL in the offseason, and when it came to ESPN’s and ABC’s coverage, during the season as well.

On May 14, that began to change. Not overnight. It wasn’t as if LeBron’s postgame press conference turned the tide for me, and that I hated the guy. I still really liked James. I didn’t want to see him in New York, primarily because it reminded me of the New York Yankees mentality - buy championships, not that there’s anything wrong with that - except with a salary cap.

I wanted to see LBJ go to the Clippers or the Nets. Knowing that wouldn’t happen, I just wanted to see him stay out of New York. I figured that he’d cast a slight shadow over the NBA Finals, and that shortly after July 1st, he’d be headed to whatever town - I assumed Chicago - that the world’s most overrated man, Chris Bosh, headed to.

Boy, oh boy, was I wrong.

Keep in mind that today is July 8. Only seven days removed from the day free agency officially began this offseason. Has it not felt like a year?

And in those seven days, similar to how God created the Earth, LeBron James went from being the most beloved figure in the NBA - save your normal haters - to creating the most repulsive sports figure in the country.

Why? Two reasons. Two very big reasons.

First, he made the biggest mistake an athlete can make. He chose himself, over his fans.

No, I’m not saying the dude shouldn’t watch out for himself. I honor, believe in, and think he should exercise his right to make the best decision for he and his family, whether it be stay in Cleveland, go to Chicago or Miami, or - as much as I loathe this thought - come to New York.

But in the midst of all this, he manipulated fans, had his posse trigger faux headlines, strung along general managers, gave people false hope, and made the decision all about him.

It isn’t any longer the “Big 3,” or the exciting “Summer of 2010.” It’s the LBJ show. In fact, we might as well call the NBA the LBJ.

Remember, Dwyane Wade, a dude that’s a better scorer than LeBron, arguably as talented, who has played with a far worse supporting cast the few years, and has A RING, made his decision yesterday. Yea, it got airtime, and yea, it created excitement. But it was still about ‘Bron.

I know James’ decision comes with a lot more luster, more allure, and more excitement, but Wade made his decision, did the typical cocky athlete dance - Miami-Wade County - and turned the attention right back to LBJ.

Why? Because just prior, James had scheduled a televised special - HIS OWN TELEVISED SPECIAL - with ESPN - I’ll get to them in a second - to announce, essentially, to five cities:

“F*CK YOU.”

From Worldwide Wes, to all of James’ business managers, to his friends, to leaked reports by Chris Broussard, to Twitter postings … James has, behind the scenes, orchestrated one HELL of a puppet show. Suggesting the Knicks were the city he’d be headed to prior to the offseason, then making it seem like he’d re-energize the city of Chicago and bring it back to the days of MJ, then meeting with Nets - NETS! - brass, then suggesting it was Cleveland all along, now making it seem like it’s Miami …

Does the dude realize he has set himself up to turn this self-serving, egotistical one-hour special into the greatest back-stabbing in the history of sports?

(And no, it’s not Brett Favre to the Vikings. The Pack did kick him to the curb. Cleveland would collectively die for James.)

What he essentially did over the past couple of weeks, specifically the last week, is ally himself with one of the most corrupt facets of sports in America.

ESPN, the second reason James has gone, as Magary put it, from hero to villain.

Growing up, I was in love with ESPN. I, like many 10-year-olds, would watch back-to-back-to-back episodes of Sportscenter. Looking back, I don’t know if I was being manipulated then. Or in junior high. Or in high school. Maybe it took my defiant, “question authority” years in college to finally get through the red tape, or maybe ESPN just made a transition.

But ESPN isn’t as much a sports and news organization anymore, as it is a reality show.

As a reference point, I point to the Ben Roethlisberger sagas of the past few years. The guy has been accused of sexual assault on a couple of occasions. The first time, it barely made ESPN headlines, it got a mention on Sportscenter, and that was it.

Why? ESPN was allied with Roethlisberger. Instead of objective reporting, they chose to keep their interests first and foremost, instead of minding the interest of their readers and viewers - a very basic ethics code in journalism.

The second time, when Roethlisberger’s mis-step at a college bar broke in the Associated Press’ wire, again, at first, Roethlisberger avoided headlines. It was only when the allegations became serious that ESPN lent ample time to coverage. In essence, when Roethlisberger became a sexually-fueled villain to fans, ESPN realized an alliance wasn’t necessary.

Same thing happened with Kobe, when he, at the time, allegedly raped a woman in Colorado. ESPN waved it’s finger - no, not it’s middle finger, as it has with the coverage of James - let the issue get to bed, and now celebrates Kobe as a champion.

I’m not saying Bryant doesn’t deserve a second change. He made a mistake, he paid for it, he moved on. But ESPN postures as a public relations organization would posture, over and over again.

Fast forward to the summer of LeBron. Watch Chris Broussard’s reports. I’d love nothing more than for somebody to pull his analysis segments since July 1, and make a montage. He’s gone from suggesting Cleveland was in front, to Miami, to Chicago, to the Knicks being in the hunt, in a never-ending circle.

Instead of real journalism, Broussard concerned himself with ratings. And who else cared about “ratings,” albeit more in a marketability, fame standpoint than viewership?

LeBron.

That’s why the one-hour special was a match made in heaven. James approached ESPN, said you’ll put me on at 9 p.m. on Thursday and I’ll make your network the most watched channel in America for 15 minutes, no doubt. We’ll donate money to charity to make us each look like heroes, and for another hour, I’ll be the most talked-about man in America.

He wouldn’t just tweet it. Or tell a reporter. Or post it on his website. Or - heaven forbid - tell the TEAM he was signing with.

He instead manufactured a signing day of sorts, with ESPN, to make both brands the most-talked about entities in sports - and, arguably, America in general - for another few days.

James proved he didn’t care about his fans - he wanted to join ESPN to become ultra-famous - when both parties are, already, ultra-famous.

And ESPN didn’t care about journalism. As I tweeted yesterday, there is a very real chance that if Ric Bucher or Chris Broussard know where James is going, they aren’t going to report it.

Why? Again, two reasons.

First, ESPN can score some of the most eye-popping ratings in the history of television. In the sports world, it’ll be similar to a moon landing. And it will transcend sports. It’ll lead CNN, and the Times, and the AP wire, everywhere.

Second, ESPN doesn’t have to worry about being scooped. Do you think James’ posse is going to leak surefire information to a Newsday reporter? Hell no! That would mean not EVERYBODY would tune in to watch the self-anointed “King” break the hearts of millions of fans, and win over others.

After this saga ends, James will become one of the most-hated figures in basketball.

He’ll be the Knicks’ new Reggie Miller.

The Bulls’ new Karl Malone.

The Cavs’ new Michael Jordan.

And for those that understand what James did, and the ramifications of how he decided he was first, ESPN was second, and fans were 51st, they’ll end the LeBron-mania.

Sure, James’ jersey - wherever he goes, whether it be the recent reports of Miami, back to Cleveland, with Rose in Chicago, or somehow in New York - will be the best-selling. There are LeBron lovers that won’t waver, whether it be because they want to love the best player in the NBA, or because they won’t understand they were played.

And sure, James might win a title. Albeit not like MJ won his, or Kobe won his, or even Wade won his original title - with a team built around them, and with a hint of dignity.

But he won’t be looked back as the man that brought basketball to the forefront. He’ll be looked at as a self-serving, greedy baller that was more brand than basketball.

And didn’t care if he made the NBA more brand than basketball.

Here goes nothing …

Chris Bosh: Chicago Bulls
Bosh starts the free agent fiasco off by committing to Chicago

Dwyane Wade: Miami Heat
As expected, Wade re-ups in Miami.

Joe Johnson: New Jersey Nets
Following in the lead of the Heat and the Bulls, the Nets add their ‘Bron piece

Amar’e Stoudemire: New York Knicks
With free agent pieces falling, Walsh lures Stoudemire to play in the SSOL again with D’Antoni

Ray Allen: Chicago Bulls
Allen shocks pundits, signing in Chicago, fueling speculation that LBJ could be next.

Dirk Nowitzki: Dallas Mavericks
Nowtizki re-signs max contract with Dallas, leaving LBJ and Amar’e as the big available commodities.

LeBron James: Chicago Bulls
Ending the chase of LBJ, James signs with the Bulls. Seeing Deng, Rose, Bosh, Allen and Noah on the roster, he can’t turn it down. Bulls now East favorites. Time for the other chips to fall.

Let’s have some fun now …

David Lee: New Orleans Hornets
Chris Paul: New York Knicks
Knicks pull off a sign and trade, sending David Lee, Wilson Chandler, Eddy Curry, a 2011 2nd rounder and a 2012 first rounder to the Hornets for Chris Paul, Emeka Okafor and a 2012 second rounder.

Paul Pierce: Boston Celtics
Despite speculation, Pierce refuses to head to New Jersey, signs final extension with Celtics

Carlos Boozer: Miami Heat
After losing out on LBJ, Pat Riley settles for Boozer, Haywood and Reddick, aiming to create a hybrid of the NBA-champion Heat (big body underneath) and the now-successful Magic (outside sharpshooters). Heat fans not too happy. What else is new.

Rudy Gay: Los Angeles Clippers
Clippers lone splash is Gay, but the team still looks like a real contender

Carmelo Anthony: New Jersey Nets
Devin Harris: Los Angeles Clippers
Make the second offseason blockbuster, sending Devin Harris, a 2011 first round pick, and a 2013 first round pick to the Nuggets for Carmelo Anthony. Nets replace Harris by signing Felton.

Starting five of the five biggest movers:

Miami Heat

PG Mario Chalmers
SG Dwyane Wade
SF JJ Redick
PF Carlos Boozer
C Brendan Haywood

Chicago Bulls

PG Derek Rose
SG Ray Allen
SF LeBron James
PF Chris Bosh
C Joakim Noah

New York Knicks

PG Chris Paul
SG Bill Walker
SF Danilo Gallinari
PF Amar’e Stoudemire
C Emeka Okafor

New Jersey Nets

PG Raymond Felton
SG Joe Johnson
SF Carmelo Anthony
PF Derrick Favors
C Brook Lopez

Los Angeles Clippers

PG Baron Davis
SG Eric Gordon
SF Rudy Gay
PF Blake Griffin
C Chris Kaman

Winners:

Chicago Bulls
Add the big prize, get arguably the third biggest prize, and tack on a sharpshooting Allen.

New Jersey Nets
Land the prize of 2011, have a starting five arguably as good as the Bulls.

Los Angeles Clippers
They only add Gay, but look an awful lot like the 2009-10 Thunder. Young, deep, and a great rookie (Aminu) off the bench.

Losers:

Miami Heat
They keep Wade, but adding an overrated Boozer won’t help. Haywood and Redick make the team a top five team in the East, but not a championship contender.

New York Knicks
The starting five is serviceable - a four-seed in the East behind the Nets, Bulls and Magic - but they are worlds behind the four teams above them, and fail on landing LeBron. Additionally, any shot at Anthony in 2011 is taken away by New Jersey.

Will any of this happen? I’m not counting on it. Still, the pieces fit, and best of all, it sets up a quiet 2011.

Now, more than ever, we’re looking at life after the National Basketball Association, and life with the National Benjamins Association.

Today’s report from ESPN’s Chris Broussard that Carmelo Anthony might be dealt from the Denver Nuggets in preparation for the summer of 2011 could signal the beginning of the end of the NBA as we like it.

Or, maybe, just the continuation of the end.

While dishing Knicks basketball with a buddy of mine over GChat the other day, the following roster came up as a possibility for opening night:

PG - Chris Paul

SG - Joe Johnson

SF - Bill Walker

PF - Amare Stoudemire

C - Emeka Okafor

This would take signing Johnson and Paul, and dealing Chandler, Gallinari, Curry and picks to the Hornets for Paul and Okafor.

Yes, that’s a starting five with just one 2009-10 Knick, and zero - that’s right, zero - opening night 2009 Knicks.

LeBron James might bounce from Cleveland, Bosh is leaving Toronto, Wade could leave Miami, Amare is headed out of Phoenix, Dirk may leave the Lone Star State, JJ is out of Atlanta, Boozer is leaving Utah …

Is this really a professional basketball league any more, or a real-life fantasy basketball league?

Listen, I’m all for the players exercising their rights. If I was an NBAer, I’d look to sign a contract at the spot that netted me the most cash, or the best chance to win a championship. There’s nothing wrong there.

The system as a whole, though, is crumbling at the seams.

Seven of the league’s 25 best players - and, maybe, five of the league’s 10 or 15 best players - could jump ship next year.

The Nets just dealt Yi for some guy that nobody has ever heard of to score $3M in cap space.

Draft night was equitable to a volatile night at the NYSE.

And not, ‘Melo, who isn’t going to be a free agent until next summer, might get dealt by the Nuggets in anticipation of his declaring to be a free agent.

I love the NBA, perhaps as much as I love the NFL. The pace of the games, the superstars, the slam dunks, the playoffs, the All Star game, the three point contest, (not the slam dunk contest), the Finals. But I HATE how much players move, and I don’t think I’m alone.

Look at the 90s. Stockton and Malone WERE Utah. Jordan and Pippen WERE Chicago. Ewing WAS New York. Reggie WAS Indiana. The Glove WAS Seattle. Not until late in their careers, when this new climate started to come about, did these aging stars venture to destinations unknown to pick up a few more paychecks.

Again, the capitalistic - albeit halted by a socialistic cap - nature of professional sports is in the best interest of the athletes. And for the NBA, up until a few years ago, it was enticing part of the game. And free agency hasn’t always left such a black mark on the league.

But I can’t be a fan of a sport where free agency is BIGGER than the sport. Where offseason excitement is BIGGER than postseason excitement. Where a team (the Knicks) punts THREE SEASONS in anticipation of having the chance to SIGN a few guys to BUY a championship.

I won’t stop watching. I won’t stop analyzing. I won’t temper my excitement if the Knicks win big tomorrow.

But if the NBA turns into a carousel of players trading jerseys every three or four years, I’ll look back at July 1, 2010, as the day that basketball died.