Chris Bosh decision provides defining moment in Miami Heat season, history

What are the parameters for a defining moment in sports? Is it always a grand juncture that transcends the games people play? Perhaps it can be something small-scale, an impact that is felt at a personal level but is no less powerful.

Sometimes it can be both.

I think of historically-significant moments like giving Jackie Robinson the right to make a living on a sun-soaked field of dreams. While it further eroded boundaries built on a foundation of ignorance, that instance inspired countless individuals to take up America's pastime or, more importantly, simply become better people. It works the other way, too, like when passions in the stands and on the court ignite into a fiery display of bad judgment, leading to violence like the "Malice at the Palace."

Take a step back, though, and think about defining moments for a particular team, specifically the Miami Heat. When Pat Riley assumed control of the franchise in 1995, he traded away a beloved future All-Star in Glen Rice for Alonzo Mourning, a defensive cornerstone that was just recently inducted this year into the Basketball Hall-of-Fame. When Mourning's kidneys began to fail him, the Heat expectedly tumbled in the standings and would wind up with the fourth pick in the historic draft class of 2003; they selected Dwyane Wade, the self-proclaimed #HeatLifer, and again transformed the franchise.

Wade's friendship with LeBron James led to another pivotal point along Miami's timeline when, on July 8, 2010, James announced his "Decision" to join Miami. The past four years produced some of the best moments in the team's - and the NBA's - history. And, of course, that all came full-circle this summer when James chose to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

While that may have been one of the lowest points in the team's 25-year existence what followed was a glorious moment for the franchise and its fans.

I've previously written about the impact that James' departure had on me personally but the flip side of that - Chris Bosh's choice to re-sign with the Heat - hasn't gotten the praise it so rightly deserves. A small part of it is how Bosh staying with Miami contrasts with James joining the Cavs. It had been a difficult few weeks leading up to both July 11 announcements; from being eviscerated in the Finals by the San Antonio Spurs, to the speculation that led to the start of free agency and finally, the constant rumoring that culminated in James' farewell letter via Lee Jenkins of Sports Illustrated.

With the biggest domino of free agency having toppled, many believed that Bosh would be next to leave Miami, as he entertained the idea of forming another "Big 3" era as part of the Houston Rockets. And while James' departure was like picking out the casket for this upcoming season, Bosh's leaving would have all but engraved the headstone.

You can't overstate how important Bosh's decision to stay was to this organization, to the fans and, I'll admit, to me. I'll lose all journalistic credibility (if I even had any) by saying this, but I was shocked and disappointed by LeBron's departure. I had been critical of him in the past but there's no denying that he was a big part of what defined the team over the past four years. Moreover, I never expected him to leave the team, not until the "feel-good" narrative of him coming home to end his career seemed more appropriate. Instead, he was gone too soon and with his departure - and Bosh's likely soon after - I had serious doubts about the team's chance to remain relevant.

Instead, Bosh stayed true to form and went against the grain, doing the extraordinary instead of the expected, and decided to remain with Miami.

I've always explained to anyone who will listen that my devotion to sports is about one thing; being able to overcome the lowest of lows to experience the highest of highs. Sport runs the gamut of emotions so completely and so frequently. Over the course of a single season, you can feel both extremes in mounting or being on the receiving end of a monumental comeback, in beating or losing to a rival or, as Heat fans have felt, in losing or securing a championship.

But rarely can you run that gamut as completely as I did on July 11 upon reading James' letter and then hearing that Bosh had chosen to stay.

As Miami prepares itself for an upcoming preseason contest against the Cavaliers, it's likely that this duality will be explored once more. Already, we've heard James downplay the significance of the matchup, regurgitating a variation of the all-too-common line of "just another game." Obviously, it's not, no matter how desperately James or players on either side stick to that tired script.

The game does matter, because sport is an important aspect of our lives - take away the business side of it and the common practice of exploiting athletes and fans for profit, and you're left with a game that inspires people to grow and improve and, if for just a little while, feel like everything is right in the world.

Those two-sides of the coin of fandom were seen clearly on July 11. As northeast Ohio cheered for the return of the prodigal son, Miami reeled from the loss of their adopted family member. Hours later, Bosh agreed to stay, gave South Florida hope and justified our trust in him, as he has before and will again for years to come.

This season, one filled with both promise and the excitement of mystery, began with that decision. It was truly a defining moment, for him and for us, and we are all just a little bit better because of it.