Whether you play sports, have played sports, watch sports or could care less about sports, I think you’ll have an opinion about this. And rightfully so… An incident by Cleveland Cavaliers star, LeBron James, had the sports’ world divided today. Now you get to be the judge. Is he a fierce competitor and a “winner” (as he put it)? Or is he nothing more than a sore loser?
The Cavs lost the Eastern Conference Finals in six games to the Orlando Magic. The series ended this past Saturday with Orlando’s 103-90 victory. Whether you follow professional basketball or not, I’m sure you know who LeBron James is. He’s only one of the most famous athletes on the planet… But even with his name recognition, I’m not sure that his superstar status justifies King James’ actions.
After the Cavs lost, while the rest of the players from both teams were shaking hands (to congratulate each other on a good series), LeBron walked off the court, got showered, put on his headphones, walked to the team bus and skipped the post-game news conference. This was out of routine for several reasons. First, like I said above, typically at the end of a series, win or lose, the players congratulate each other. Second, LeBron is typically the main spokesman (to the media) for the Cavs after games. Third, it was the final game of the season - during which, the Cavs played very well. Fourth, it was a series the Cavs should have won.
As a fan, I realize losing frustrated him, as the Cavs were touted as possibly winning the NBA Finals this year. But instead, LeBron sourly left the court and his teammates to answer the media’s questions after the game.
However, on Sunday, LeBron made the following statements to the press:
- “I didn’t have much to say.”
- “One thing about me you’ve got to understand is it’s hard for me to congratulate anybody after you just lost to them.”
- “I’m a winner. That’s not being a poor sport or anything like that. When somebody beats you up, you’re not going to congratulate them for beating you up.”
That’s funny LeBron… What about when the Cavs swept the Pistons and Hawks earlier in the playoffs? The Cavs won those series pretty convincingly and he was out there shaking hands with everyone and congratulating them after those. In a few of those games, Cleveland blew-out the opposing team. I’d be willing to bet that some players on those teams were extremely disappointed, but yet they still shook hands and conducted press conferences at the end of the series.
Maybe he skipped the press conference because he didn’t want to hear the media ask him about next season - when his contract expires, or why management didn’t do a good job getting him the support on the bench that he needed, or why he was literally having to carry his team against Orlando. I can understand that, but leaving his teammates to hold the bag, I think, is poor sportsmanship.
Nobody wants their team to lose their superstar, but I don’t think LeBron did himself any favors (with the fans of Cleveland) with his behavior. His contract is up for renewal next year after all…
The bottom line is this - whether it is professional sports, recreation league softball or children’s t-ball, the unwritten rule in the end, is being a good sport. And when you’re a superstar, you sometimes have to suck it up and deal with tough situations. But whether you’re enjoying a victory or eating crow during a loss, you can’t abandon your team - and later chalk it up to being a “winner.” Sorry LeBron, you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Good luck in NY or LA.
There is no debate here Don because you’re not offering up anything to the example you originally asked me to come up with. I offered up two examples and all you could say was “That’s stupid”. And yes, I said if we’re going to get political here I’d see ya later, but I’m still here waiting. As far as I’m concerned all there is here is failure to communicate. It’s like I’m talking to an elephant…
Well, let’s look at it very simply:
1. Conservatives are against gay marriage. So much for not seeing people by their sexual preference.
First off, I don’t know a single conservative against gay marriage. Most are against re-defining the word marriage. The vast majority of America is against redefining marriage including the President, the Vice President, and EVERY demographic except gays. Even the citizens of California are against redefining marriage…I’m also against redefining marriage to include being able to marry relatives, pets, and multiple people. Marriage is between one man and one woman…Wow, nothing political there…
2. Conservatives are all about keeping the haves and the have-nots separate. Money belongs to the upper class and to hell with everyone else.
perhpas you’d like to come up with an example of this…??? I can come up with multiple examples of how conservatives like to get gov’t out of the way of business so they can create jobs increase incomes and raise the living standards of everyone, but I can’t come up with a single example of how what you said is anything but untrue. I’d could also argue that Obama wants to steal money from the few wealthy (to beat them down), and give it in very small amounts to the least among us to prevent them from bettering themselves. It’s the way the libs beat down the poor to keep them poor and dependent on gov’t. You can’t tell me that Obama isn’t doing cart wheels with all the jobs he’s getting rid of…
Any example you can give would be great, but there is no way you’ll ever find a single one where conservatism singles anyone out by their race, color, religion, gender, or sexual preference….it just doesn’t exist….except when you make thinks up.
Conservatives are against gay marriage. You’re all homophobes. You just claim the issue is about “Redefining” the term marriage so that you don’t actually have to come out and say that you don’t think gays should have equal rights with marriage.
Personally, I don’t see the big freakin’ deal in calling up Webster and saying that we’d like to change the definition of marriage to man and woman, man and man, and woman and woman. NOT THAT FREAKING DIFFICULT. It is NOT a big deal and all of you idiots know it. The only reason you claim its a big deal is so you don’t have to admit the real reason you don’t want gays to marry. It disgusts you, you don’t agree with it, and you don’t think they deserve to have the same opportunities you have.
The reason most people don’t want the word redefined is…GET THIS…BECAUSE ITS NOT THE REAL ISSUE.
You can spin it any way you want, or I should say that you can continue to regurgitate everything Limbaugh says, but it will never change my mind that conservatives are mostly elitist jerks.
This thread has been derailed. I’m not “Taking my ball and going home”, but I am pausing for new material. And there’s nothing new about me and Don arguing.
I feel pretty good though, maybe you should take a vacation too Don and hopefully find a doctor to remove that stick from your…
Um, yeah, I think this post got slightly derailed. LOL. But I’m loving the 100+ comments. You guys rock!
On a side note, ESPN.com is reporting that LeBron James was fined $25K for snubbing the media last Saturday night. The story also says that he apologized to Commissioner, David Stern, for his actions.
I think it’s safe to say that this post is now dead.
You’re painting a very wide ignorant brush, Libby by calling conservatives homo-phobes, especially when you consider that conservatism is blind to those things. With you and Perez Hilton as the spokesmen for the gay marriage movement, I’m sure there will never be a state that approves it. And I’m still trying to understand why all of you libs think that conservatives are the rich elitists jerks…all of the rich elitist jerks are in the democrat party. The wealthy conservatives are self made, flannel shirt wearin’ good ole boys clinging to their guns and religion…but we pay or taxes,want gov’t out of our lives and don’t expect everyone else to pay our mortgage.
Wow, did you expect that fire storm? It’s great to see the passion that everyone has in regards to this topic and how it’s spun, I actually had to cut the comment reading into two parts haha.
I can play Devil’s advocate for both sides on this and probably stay in this post all day. Instead Ill stay short.
1) It was a bitch move on Lebron’s part. Period.
2) Do I think it’s worth getting the boot or being hated? Not so much.
3) This is the main reason I never looked to Sports Athletes to mentor me, handing someone a bag of money doesn’t change who they are.