Look, I know its tough to lose. I hate as much as anyone to lose, no matter what it is or who I am facing. I admire anyones competitive spirit, whether it is when they win or lose. The most important aspect about being competitive is having great sportsmanship. Even if it's just playing a game of Madden or a game of trivia, congratulate your opponent and move on the best you can. But for Lebron to just walk off the court and not congratulate Dwight Howard and the Magic is just bush league. After you spent all summer with Dwight, going to battle with him on the biggest stage (The Olympics) and you can't even congratulate him? That is just not right in my eyes. Lebron, you are arguably the biggest basketball star in the world. You are the face of the league and of a franchise. You can't just pick when its convenient for you to address the media or your fellow Olympic teammates. Even Mo Williams had the class to address the media and the Magic. And even after Mo guaranteed the Cavs would win game 4 and win the series. He was distraught and upset as well, but he earned some respect on my end for coming out and laying it all out there. If the Cavs would've won game 6, we would've seen Lebron and his teammates celebrating and rubbing it in (like they usually do), waving their towels and holding each other back. Then with Lebron addressing the media and saying all the right things like usual. But when the situation gets tough, he just disappears. That tells me the King has not arrived yet. When everyone is gloating over Lebron and yelling "King, King, King", you bet your butt he'll be right there to embrace it. But when people start saying "No ring for the King", you bet your butt he'll disappear. Even Dwight Howard was surprised by this. In an interview with ESPN's Rachel Nichols after the Magic had won, Dwight said this "I just thought he would've said something to me (looking disappointed as he said it) or said something to the team". I mean these guys were with each other day in and day out during the Olympics and you, Lebron, can't even congratulate one of your so called closest friends, after going to battle with him for 6 grueling games. Just look at the other conference finals, where Melo and Kobe embraced each other immediately once game 6 was over. They gave each other one of the most genuine hugs you will ever see. You didn't see Carmelo storm off the court in disappointment, you saw him embrace his mentor and Kobe said some words right back at him. I am not doubting Lebrons will to win or him as a person, but I am doubting his sportsmanship. Hopefully Lebron will address the media sometime or at least give Dwight a call and congratulate him. For all the great things Lebron does on and off the court, this really bothered me a lot. And for anyone who is as competitive as I am (I know that's you Dave) this bothered you as well.
5 comments:
I agree Joe. Poor sportsmanship. LeBron has a long way to go before he lives up to his hype. The good news is that next year we won't see all the halftime celebrations from the global icon and his boys from C town. We won't see nearly the amount of towel waving and posing after big plays. Champions need to learn humility before they arrive. Champions need to learn how to give respect before they earn it. LeBron is not a champion yet; he's never been one. Skipping College robbed LeBron of growth opportunities. I'm sure he will mature, and it will be fun to watch him do so.
yeah man agreed, it just urked me watching him storm of the court like that
Totally agree and understand where your coming from Joe. I like to think I have to much sportsmanship sometimes. Hell, I texted you, Dave and Toveg after you guys beat the Nugs. I couldn't believe I even did that. That is how impressed I was with the Lakres in game 5 and 6. But about this blog. The only reason that I am not as upset and it didn't effect me in the slightest is because I am not the least bit suprised. I lost faith in professional athletes as being role models a long long time ago. Amungst all the steroids in baseball/football, all the screaming at the top of their lungs everytime a basketball player makes a shot (i.e. Pau Gasol), all of the stupid public arrests, and from my experience the last year at KTAR and KGUN in tucson..all of the ill will and sass towards the media. These guys (could actually learn something from female athletes so yes just guys) are human just like the rest of us. Yes even Lebron James. So that does not give them all the right to think their are higher then all other people that walk in this world. There is a cheesy but classsic scene that sums this all up in "Coach Carter" where Samuel L starts obnoxiously praising himself for coming up with a play on offense and then resorts to doing the same with tying his own shoe. Like I said, as cheesy as that scene was, it showed how dumb these shittalking, hotdogging, chest pounding, cell phone answering under the goal post after scoring a TD, and overal disrespectful players are. So Joe, very disappointed in Lebron, but not suprised or affected by it. I will still be a loyal sports fan and give praise to the few that dont fit this mold (Payton Manning). If you want to see a real role model, while its not nearly as entertaining as Lebron hitting his head on the backboard for a dunk, watch my father, who is a judge, in court. I have seen him change people's lives and I have seen him give homes to homeless, parentless children. And amungst all this you never ever see him talk down to someone, ignore or avoid, or pound his chest and scream after he makes a great ruling in court. Its literally just another day at the office for him and that my frends is a true role model.
thanks jared for the great feedback, really appreciate it!
Spoken like a true Kobe fan! Kidding
What Lebron did was stupid. I doubt he thought that what he was doing was a slight to Dwight and the magic, but that's almost as bad as purposefully disrespecting them. He didnt think. He's at the point in his career where everything he does is watched and analyzed and he knows that. Bron Bron needs to take a page out of Larry Fitz's book (or my uncle Bruce's it looks like). Fitz scored the biggest TD of his career (superbowl baby) and what did he do? He handed the ball to the ref and went back to the sideline to receive congratulations from his teammates. No throwing powder in the air. No taking fake photos, no towel waving, etc etc etc. Bron Bron is still real young and will learn from the dumb things he does. I guess Cavs fans can take solace that he hasnt had any rape allegations yet. Out.
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