You know you’ve become a hated sports figure when you get dissed by official state proclamation following your loss in the NBA finals.

Everyone expected that today would be a sweet day for Ohioans. After watching their former local hero LeBron James not only betray them by signing to Miami, but betray them so spectacularly, absconding from his teammates and fellow Ohioans on national TV and making a spectacle of his contempt for them, watching him fail unequivocally must been sweet mana for sports fans.

Emotions run high in sports fans—this was to be expected. But to get the Governor of Ohio to join in the gloating over your loss with what can only be called a legislative bitch-slap, you know you’ve really made yourself public enemy number one.

In a deliciously passive aggressive Official Resolution today, Governor Kasich honored the Dallas Mavericks as official Ohioans. As if this weren’t a bold enough statement in and of itself, the governor embellished his message with the following text:

“Whereas, NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Dirk Nowitzki chose to re-sign with the Dallas Mavericks in the summer of 2010, forgoing free agency and keeping his talents in Dallas, thus remaining loyal to the team, city and fans for whom he played his entire career.

Whereas, the proud city of Cleveland and the entire state of Ohio share in the excitement of Dallas Mavericks fans everywhere,

Now, therefore, I, John R. Kasich, Governor of the State of Ohio, do hereby name the Dallas Mavericks organization, friends, family and fans as honorary Ohioans, with all privileges and honors therein, for the day of June 14, 2011.”

Were the Governor able to legally disown LeBron James from Ohio, I’m sure he would have done it. Now real Ohioans can know their government is sneering at King James right along with them.

Since the Resolution includes Mavericks fans as well as actual Mavericks, if you were rooting against Miami this year, that includes you. According to ESPN polls, almost the entire nation was rooting against LeBron and the Heat during the finals, which means that—at least for tomorrow—Governor Kasich has united the entire country under official state resolution whose sole purpose is to denounce their b-ball traitor.

For Ohioans, true justice won’t come until Cleveland makes good on owner Dan Gilbert’s promise to win a championship ring before James does. But this is a hell of a start. Today, sports fans across America share in Ohio’s pride.
[via Deadspin]