Alex Rodriguez Could Have Been LeBron James

Alex Rodriguez had the goods as a baseball teenager.  Five tools is what you heard.  Talent through the roof.  And the smile and good looks to make him a TV superstar.Oops.  Just about two decades later, we have nothing in terms of A-Rod.  His lies and deception and silly acts and steroid use are tireless at this point.  What could have been?  A lot more.  A lot more as in baseball's LeBron James.

LeBron has delivered, unlike A-Rod.  He was the most hyped athlete of all-time.  High school to the NBA.  Led a Cavaliers team to the NBA Finals with no-name players.  He has won two titles in Miami.  He has turned into a King.  He has four league MVP awards and now relishes the postseason and has shown he can dominate in the NBA Finals.  James is now clutch.  He's the league's best passer and fast break player and the toughest match-up in the land.  He is a good teammate and gets the best out of his Heat outfit.  He gives back to his high school and Pop Warner teams and rides a bike with regular people for a good cause and poses pictures on jury duty.  James doesn't fake a thing about it, unlike A-Rod, who commits to a charity named after a young man who committed suicide due to his lack of control off steroids, and then A-Rod himself lacks control and gets linked to Biogenesis.  Talk about different athletes here.

We have the guy who gets it and the guy who is clueless.  But they could have been one in the same in different sports.

But instead, there is LeBron James the good in basketball and A-Rod the bad in baseball.

By:  Mike Lindsley, "Mid-Day with Mike," M-F 1-4, Yankees pre/post game host on 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio.  Follow him on Twitter at Twitter.com/MikeLSports.