And then there was one...

Nine seasons. 689 regular season games. 114 playoff games. Countless words, billions of pixels, millions of column inches.

Taken together, they can be rolled up into the simple question, “when?”

When would LeBron James, the greatest, most complete basketball talent of his generation, make good on his promise and win a championship?

He finally realized his dream last night -- in his 115th career playoff game -- leaving behind the possibility that he might play an entire career without an NBA championship and thus carry with him the title, “best ever never to win a ring.”

Even from the fan’s chair, it seems the hardest thing there is to do in sport, to win a championship. The athletes at the top of their respective professional sports in North America – James, Peyton Manning, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Tom Brady, Albert Pujols, Kobe Bryant – all have their rings. Even in the NHL, Sidney Crosby has his ring.

And that leaves one.

And the question…”when?”