Flag man

 LeBron James will be the male flag bearer for the Olympic opening ceremonies in Paris, and I can already hear the haters tuning up. Or maybe, blessedly, this time they won't.

If not, it wouldn't be because their litany of complaints about the man -- virtually all of them petty or (inevitably these days) political -- have magically disappeared. It's because LeBron is such a "well, duh" choice not even the fiercest of his critics can make a coherent argument against him.

I mean, why not LeBron?

First of all, this is likely his final Olympics, so being picked to carry the flag in Paris is a wholly appropriate auld-lang-syne gesture. Secondly, no male American basketball player has ever been granted the honor, so it's well past time. And, thirdly, LeBron certainly has the resume to be the first, given that this is his fourth Olympics and he's represented his country with distinction in the previous three. 

He was a mainstay on the Redeem Team in 2008 that won the gold and removed the stain of the Lost Games of 2004, when the U.S. men's basketball team stumbled to a bronze medal. Then he was a major cog again in 2012, when the Americans repeated their gold medal performance.

Twelve years later, at 39, he's already saved the U.S. team twice in its pre-Olympic tuneups. First he made the game-winning layup with eight seconds left to help the Americans avoid a stunning upset by South Sudan; then, yesterday, he scored the last 11 points to haul the U.S. past Germany in another narrow escape.

All of which means he comes to Paris not only as a four-time Olympian and two-time gold medalist, but as the unquestioned leader of a U.S. team seeking its fifth straight gold -- a streak that began with LeBron and the Redeem Team in 2008.

Elder statesman for U.S. men's basketball he may be. But hardly a ceremonial one.

Except, of course, on Friday, when he will carry the American flag in Paris. As well he should.