Lebron James manager says race played a role in negative press

[Mediocre Man]

And there it is. It was only a matter of time before the race card was played

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5633199


Or maybe it was because Lebron decided he was bigger than the sport, and left his hometowm city up the river. Or maybe it's because proplr finally found out he is a fraud, and not one of the greatest players ever because none of them have hitched a ride on the coat tails of a "lesser" player

 

[blazerboy30]

And there it is. It was only a matter of time before the race card was played

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5633199


Or maybe it was because Lebron decided he was bigger than the sport, and left his hometowm city up the river. Or maybe it's because proplr finally found out he is a fraud, and not one of the greatest players ever because none of them have hitched a ride on the coat tails of a "lesser" player

Wow. I keep losing more and more respect for this fool. (Lebron, not his manager)

 

[Jayps15]

I think I read something claiming as much before from a writer before, but I think his manager lending credence to the idea won't help with the negative rep Lebron's gotten from all this (especially not months after the fact)

 

[BGrantFan]

The Decision was what inspired the negative reaction. He should man up and accept the reaction that came with his amusing and surreal foray into self-adulation. I mean, I like over-the-top events, and even that was a bit cringe-worthy for me. It didn't make me dislike the guy, but what did he expect from the people of Cleveland? The only bigger fuck you would have been to pour oil on the Cleveland River, light it on fire, announce his decision in Tubbs and Crocket garb, and then fly away on a private jet. to a South Beach party held in his honor.

 

[Wheels]

riiiiiiiight. And Race was a factor when a couple articles talked about how Durant and Kobe signed extensions without all this BS fanfare and Specials.

Just when I think I couldnt hate Lebron anymore... I couldnt care less what skin color someone is, you could be black, white, green, purple, or yellow... if you are a douche, you are a douche.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

And there it is. It was only a matter of time before the race card was played

Jesse Jackson already played it and made me sick then as well.

I believe it was a GQ interview afterwards that gave me no hope of the Lebron camp ever getting it. He said that it was a no brainer for him because of the money it raised for the Boy and Girls Club plus he never liked the people from Cleveland anyway. I can see holding a grudge while in high school, but you are supposed to grow out of these things. Lebron is the same now that he was back then. Pretty sad he will never grow up.

 

[RoyToy]

At this point I'm moving on from hating LeBron to just not even caring what he does/says anymore. He's not worth my time to think about.

 

[HailBlazers]

He said that it was a no brainer for him because of the money it raised for the Boy and Girls Club

Such BS. He could raise the money in a sec a million other ways without alienating his hometown and loyal fans

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

cracka azz crackaz

 

[Nhawz]

riiiiiiiight. And Race was a factor when a couple articles talked about how Durant and Kobe signed extensions without all this BS fanfare and Specials.

Just when I think I couldnt hate Lebron anymore... I couldnt care less what skin color someone is, you could be black, white, green, purple, or yellow... if you are a douche, you are a douche.

^^ WELL PUT!

 

[BlayZa]

didnt really think it was possible for LBJ's camp to look any worse in this whole debarcle, but hey presto - here it is.

 

[hasoos]

The facts are when you treat people like shit, they get pissed and treat you badly back. He treated the city of Cleveland like shit. The fans are repaying him now. Welcome to the real world. You can't treat people like shit and not expect to have it come back at ya.

 

[Ed O]

Race is a factor in EVERYTHING, I personally believe. Whether it is/was more of a factor in how LeBron is treated is more important... and claiming race as an issue without getting specifics shows irresponsibility or a lack of careful consideration.

I don't mind that James had his special--he's the biggest star in American team sports and maybe sports in the USA all around, and I think that it's smart to try to push the envelope when you're in a unique position like that--and while I'm sad for Cleveland I don't mind that he made the decision he did.

What I can't understand is how he and his handlers don't understand why people don't all feel the same way that I do...

Ed O.

 

[Sex Panther]

Such BS. He could raise the money in a sec a million other ways without alienating his hometown and loyal fans

What made it funny was that it was for the Boys and Girls club in Connecticut. I go to school in Connecticut and I can tell you right now, this state is the place that needs it the least.

 

[mook]

What made it funny was that it was for the Boys and Girls club in Connecticut. I go to school in Connecticut and I can tell you right now, this state is the place that needs it the least.

lol. Hadn't occurred to me that he didn't even pick the CLEVELAND Boys and Girls club.

It's funny that for all the comparisons to Michael Jordan, LeBron hasn't 1/10th of his media savvy. I wonder if LeBron is still cashing in on major endorsements a decade after he stops being relevant on the court....

 

[Sex Panther]

Trust me, here in CONN, there's old wealth and millionaires everywhere.

Cleveland needed the money so much more.

 

[Eastoff]

lol. Hadn't occurred to me that he didn't even pick the CLEVELAND Boys and Girls club.

It's funny that for all the comparisons to Michael Jordan, LeBron hasn't 1/10th of his media savvy. I wonder if LeBron is still cashing in on major endorsements a decade after he stops being relevant on the court....

You know I feel like Lebron missed out on something MJ didn't... Like Lebron skipped some part of his growth as an overall person.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

So, LBJ AND his agent are morons, check.

 

[KingSpeed]

LeBron owed Cleveland nothing. He fulfilled his contract there. This summer, he was free to choose where he wanted to work for the first time in his life. He chose Miami. If he had made the announcement in a small way, Cleveland would've complained then too, saying they deserved more. And that's where the race card comes to play. The city of Cleveland and Dan Gilbert especially felt that they owned him. What exactly did LeBron owe these people?

As for ruining his legacy because he joined other superstars, that is ridiculous. Magic had Kareem and Worthy. Jordan had Pippen. Bird had McHale and Parrish. Kobe couldn't get out of the first round without Shaq until Pau Gasol came around. Ray Allen, Pierce, and KG had all taken their respective teams to the conference finals as The Man before joining forces in 2007. No one bitched about them.

Bosh, Wade, and LeBron want to win. It was their choice about where they want to play. They chose to play together. What on Earth is wrong with that?

How was LeBron going to win in Cleveland? Do you really think Bird,Magic, or MJ could've won with their next best player being Mo Williams? Ha!

 

[BengalDuck]

i dont dislike lebron because hes black.

i dislike him because hes a douchebag. his entire summer didnt create a whole bunch of hate for him... it just reinforced a lot of feelings that many of us had.

in contrast, i dont have the same feelings for Wade (who just fished two really good players for his city/team) and Durant (who just reupped with his team) because those guys are classy.

 

[Minstrel]

Like Ed, I think race (and gender, at the very least) plays a factor in almost everything, when it comes to perceptions. How much and to what effect is very much up for debate. But if you're going to drop a powder keg like that, you need to have some pretty solid reasoning/evidence for how much and to what effect.

I thought his special was ill-conceived. Rightly or wrongly, sports is not just entertainment for everyone. It's important to some and James knowingly and purposefully hurt the fans he had built up in Cleveland in order to focus the spotlight more solidly upon himself. It may or may not have been a good business decision...I can't evaluate that.

I don't think there was anything at all wrong with joining two other very talented players. Games and championships are won by total team talent. If you want to win championships, you should maximize your team's talent, not just your own. There was nothing cowardly about it...it was an intelligent decision that maximized winning and fun playing basketball without giving up any cash.

 

[44Thrilla]

Like Ed, I think race (and gender, at the very least) plays a factor in almost everything, when it comes to perceptions.

Agreed also, but the NBA is one of the only places I think you can't say that about. Well, at least for black players. The only time I think of race in the NBA is when people compare every decent white player to Larry Bird, whether they play like him or not.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

The NBA and most things that have anything to do with it are more racist towards white people.. sooo....

 

[VanillaGorilla]

LeBron owed Cleveland nothing. He fulfilled his contract there. This summer, he was free to choose where he wanted to work for the first time in his life. He chose Miami. If he had made the announcement in a small way, Cleveland would've complained then too, saying they deserved more. And that's where the race card comes to play. The city of Cleveland and Dan Gilbert especially felt that they owned him. What exactly did LeBron owe these people?

As for ruining his legacy because he joined other superstars, that is ridiculous. Magic had Kareem and Worthy. Jordan had Pippen. Bird had McHale and Parrish. Kobe couldn't get out of the first round without Shaq until Pau Gasol came around. Ray Allen, Pierce, and KG had all taken their respective teams to the conference finals as The Man before joining forces in 2007. No one bitched about them.

Bosh, Wade, and LeBron want to win. It was their choice about where they want to play. They chose to play together. What on Earth is wrong with that?

How was LeBron going to win in Cleveland? Do you really think Bird,Magic, or MJ could've won with their next best player being Mo Williams? Ha!

You think they thought they owned him more than a white player because he's black?

 

[BGrantFan]

Race is a factor in EVERYTHING, I personally believe. Whether it is/was more of a factor in how LeBron is treated is more important... and claiming race as an issue without getting specifics shows irresponsibility or a lack of careful consideration.

I don't mind that James had his special--he's the biggest star in American team sports and maybe sports in the USA all around, and I think that it's smart to try to push the envelope when you're in a unique position like that--and while I'm sad for Cleveland I don't mind that he made the decision he did.

What I can't understand is how he and his handlers don't understand why people don't all feel the same way that I do...

Ed O.

Well, in that case, him being rich is a reason, him being male is a reason, him having kids out of wedlock is a reason, him talking in the 3rd person is a reason, what his political persuasion is a reason ... I mean, this is the NBA we're talking about, not the PGA Tour. If people are so irate at LeBron in part because of his race, why didn't people have those same feelings for Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and to be current, Kevin Durant? It was a stupid thing to say, and given the fanbase he is criticizing, I find it lacking in any intellectual merit.

 

[MARIS61]

It's a black league that idolizes, caters to, and excuses the personal shortcomings of any player who is black.

If anyone has been overly criticized for seeking to control his own destiny simply because of his race/nationality it is Rudy Fernandez.

 

[THE HCP]

I hate Rudy because he's MEXICAN!

 

[Shooter]

I haven't heard anyone provide one example of racism in the coverage of "The Decision." It amazes me that James can make this accusation and not have the balls to back it up.

 

[BGrantFan]

I haven't heard anyone provide one example of racism in the coverage of "The Decision." It amazes me that James can make this accusation and not have the balls to back it up.

No. James is saying that he is being criticized right now in part because of his race. I find that charge hilarious. I backed him after The Decision on this board to great length, but injecting racial victimhood to excuse his douchebaggery has made me flip on him. Initially, the sheer brazenness of taking an hour of ESPN air time to announce where he was playing made me respect him. I figured he didn't give a shit about what the reaction would be, and donating the money to charity was solid. Now, to criticize him is to be a racist, at least in part. Fuck him, and anytime he wants to stop talking in the 3rd-person would not be soon enough.

Dude needs a PR person and not his HS buddies advising him.

 

[44Thrilla]

No. James is saying that he is being criticized right now in part because of his race. I find that charge hilarious. I backed him after The Decision on this board to great length, but injecting racial victimhood to excuse his douchebaggery has made me flip on him. Initially, the sheer brazenness of taking an hour of ESPN air time to announce where he was playing made me respect him. I figured he didn't give a shit about what the reaction would be, and donating the money to charity was solid. Now, to criticize him is to be a racist, at least in part. Fuck him, and anytime he wants to stop talking in the 3rd-person would not be soon enough.

Dude needs a PR person and not his HS buddies advising him.

Reminds me of the Obama supporters that said people who don't like him are racists.