Amar'e Stoudemire has Madison Square Garden rocking again. For the first time in more than a decade, the Knicks are the subject of a positive buzz and good basketball. Still, Knicks’ fans can’t stop thinking about how much better the team would be if LeBron James joined Stoudemire this summer. After years of flirtation, James decided to join the Heat leaving Knicks fans bitter and spurned.

They will finally have their chance to share their feelings with James when the Heat travels to New York to face the Knicks on Friday. James doesn’t think the response will be the worse he’s seen.

“It can’t be any worse than when we went to Cleveland,” James said. “I’m all downhill from here.”

Sure, dealing with the fans will get easier over time. New York, however, is a different animal. The fans in New York can be crueler than most. Failing to meet their expectations often results in nasty nicknames and harsh responses even for guys that are playing on the home team.

The Knicks have been bad for a long time and James was believed to be the guy that would bring the Knicks back to life, perhaps take the franchise to levels they haven't reached since the early 1970s. Carrying the Knicks, however, wasn’t in James’ plans.

“I’m not about saving franchises,” James said.  “It’s about me winning and that’s what I said this summer. When I decided to come to Miami I felt it was my best chance to win. It’s all about winning. It wasn’t the fact that New York wasn’t the right fit for me. I just thought Miami was the best fit for me.”

When he announced that his decision wasn’t New York, Knicks fans immediately felt that James – who once wore “Big Apple” red shoes in a game against the Knicks – led them on. The decision to go to Miami was an act of betrayal to the people of Cleveland; it was a slap in the face to New Yorkers.

He was now “Queen” James and “LeQuit,” which is a drastic change from a guy that, many times, received louder cheers than the players with New York across their chest. The dramatic change in opinion raised an interesting question for James and many others.

“Does that mean they didn’t really love me?” James asked.

Despite that hostile crowd that’s waiting for the star-studded Heat, James’ love for playing in Madison Square Garden hasn’t changed.

“It’s the mecca of basketball,” James said. “As a player that’s one building that you would love to play in before your career is over. I’m blessed that I’m in the NBA and get a chance to play there.”

James’ opinion of the fans also hasn’t changed. In fact, he understand the passion that has fueled the backlash he's received.

“I understand how passionate fans are about sports,” he said.  “I’m not surprised by some of the reactions we’ve got and myself individually. All I can do is control what I do on and off the court and be the person I am.”

The recent trip to Cleveland has prepared James for the overwhelmingly negative reaction he’s sure to get in the Garden. Winning 10 straight games since his return to his old home, the team has grown from the experience.

“We all came together as a unit,” James said. “They supported me and Zydrunas (Ilgauskas). It’s definitely helped us get to where the point we are today.”

One thing James isn’t concerned with is his safety. While many people think he may not want to face the fans hurt by his decision, James isn’t allowing hurt feelings to scare him or prevent him from enjoying a city he loves to visit.

“I’ve been in New York since I signed here (Miami), a few times,” James said. “I’ve been in Cleveland after I signed with Miami.”

“Nobody is actually going to come up to me and try to hurt me. Nobody is going to come up to me and say anything to me. They may wait until I walk down the street and yell after they walk passed me; I’m not worried. I’m there Friday night to get a win. I’m not worried about anybody, nobody’s going to do anything to me; I’m a big guy, man.”