The title of Scott Raab’s new book, The Whore of Akron: One Man’s Search for the Soul of LeBron James, is no marketing gimmick — it captures Raab’s loathing of James quite nicely. Here’s Raab describing the scene surrounding the abdicating king’s debut in Miami:

By God, it is a party: The arena itself is nearly vacant. I find my seat, an excellent seat, and study a two-page spread in the front of the program — FAN UP, MIAMI! — devoted to instructing Heat fans how to act like actual fans. Beginning with a Rileyesque us-versus-them taunting — ” ‘They’ say that Heat fans are fickle fans,” that “Heat fans don’t deserve to have a team like this,” and that “it’s time to prove the naysayers wrong” — it promises freebies and discounts to fans who get to their seats for tip-off and stick around for the whole game.

Lord. This is where LeBron James wants to play basketball, in front of sun-dried cretins who must be bribed to act as if they care about the game and the team. Where another superstar already is the Man in the locker room and on the court; where nobody in the media will ever mention his collapse against Boston, his phantom elbow pain, and his steadfast refusal to hold himself accountable for his team’s big-game failures.

For as long as I’ve been a fan, I’ve rooted hard against certain teams and players, but never have I hoped to see a career-ending injury — until tonight.

Read more here.

IZRAEL

RAAB

For Raab’s first book-tour appearance in Cleveland, we’ve asked him to debate The Decision and LeBron’s legacy with journalist, author and OCW board member Jimi Izrael, who had a very different take on the athlete’s high-profile departure (“Cleveland is a town that hates its heroes and hates its villains with the same kind of vitriol”). Mike McIntyre, PD columnist and WCPN morning show host, will moderate.

Watch “The Derision” live at Happy Dog, West 58th Street and Detroit Avenue, on Monday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. The event benefits Ohio City Writers. Admission is free but we will be passing the hat, so be generous — it’s for all you Cavs fans and CLE boosters that we’re blowing any chance of a donation from James.