Face of a Franchise: Traitorous Hero!

[face of a franchise presents two individuals that’ve fulfilled the same role. your task – choose the better of the two and defend your choice in the rancor pit that is the comments section]

Most us are nothing more than sacks of flesh feebly held together with some chicken-finger ligaments. We’re weak, cowardly, and directionless. The human condition, if you haven’t noticed, is not generally teeming with dignity. Consequently, we rely on those who manage to combine natural talent with hard work so as transcend the mundane. Whether into the realms of fiction or reality, we all venture forth in hopes of finding a hero.

So there’s really nothing more treacherous than when a hero turns his back on his admirers.

Unfortunately, there’re more than a few examples of our heroes failing us. No, these don’t include instances in which our champions fight on our behalves but fall short. Hell, dying for a cause might be the most heroic act of all. Instead, idols truly disappoint us when they disregard the joy and admiration we’ve afforded them, essentially spitting upon the very people who’ve forged the crowns adorning their heads.

So this begs the question – who is the most traitorous hero of all? Well, we’ve narrowed it down to two contenders: LeBron James and Hollywood Hogan.

What’s not to like about LeBron James? Since 2003 James has been wowing NBA audiences with his incredible feats of athleticism, routinely earning accolades that include Greatest Basketball Player on Earth. He was part of the Redeem Team, the all-star squad which reclaimed gold for the United States in the 2008 Olympics. He’s done some pretty hilarious advertisements. And he was a high school phenomenon unlike any other, a subject virtually engineered for a heartwarming documentary. In short, he had all of our hearts on the mantel about his fireplace.

But then he gave Cleveland the middle-finger and decided to help form the NBA’s equivalent of the Injustice Society.

With his announcement that he was taking his talents to South Beach, LeBron sullied his otherwise gleaming image. No longer was he a young believer doin’ his best to carve a name for himself in the annals of basketball history. Now, he was nothing more than a cynic, prematurely callused and determined to attain victory at any cost. Even if it means using a live press conference to embarrass the community that supported him  Even if it means compromising his personal legacy by becoming just another member of a stacked Miami Heat team. Even if it means becoming a villain.

Standing in the other corner of this squared circle is Hollywood Hogan. What’s that, you’re not familiar with that name? Oh, surely you’ve heard of the legend that is Hulk Hogan! As you know, Hogan stormed the realm of sports entertainment in the 1980s and 1990s, becoming arguably the most popular professional wrestler of all time. The Hulkster was an archetypal good-guy, standing up for those who couldn’t defend themselves, extoling the virtues of a disciplined diet, and promoting blind nationalism with an unparalleled fervor. With the red-and-yellow sea of Hulkamaniacs supporting him, it seemed as though Hogan was destined for a lifetime of unbridled veneration.

But at the the 1996 Bash at the Beach, Hogan atomic leg-dropped his way into villainy.

From the ashes of Hulk Hogan rose the wretched phoenix known as Hollywood Hogan. This heel no longer fought for the American way, but for his own way. He formed the nefarious nWo, undermined the hierarchy of the WCW, cheated as frequently as possible, and even dyed his beard black! With this transformation, goodness and vitamins and positive affirmations gave way to overindulgence and self-interest.

So who is the most traitorous of heroes? LeBron James or Hollywood Hogan?