LeBron GQ Article (or, the downward spiral)

[ralaw]

The league already has Kobe, easily the least likable elite athlete not named Barry Bonds.

Nobody would be spewing Lebron hate, had he simply signed with Miami without doing it on ESPN like a out of control megalomaniac. THE DECISION was his downfall, not exercising his right as a free agent. He owed Cleveland nothing.

I don't know....Kobe certainly had his haters, but I'd say he equally (if not more so) had people who support him. Now that he's won 2 championships without Shaq I'd say hate directed at him has gone down considerably.

LeBron now has the full support of Miami Heat fans and scattered fans here and there, but I'd say his haters certainly exceed his supporters now. There always was those groups that didn't like James, because he was hyped so much, but with all of that hype he still lived up to expectations and did so while seeming to understand "the spotlight." However, with one decision that has all changed.

IMO there are people who had a problem with the way he made his decision, but also those who have a problem with the actual decision. I was more considered with the actual decision, because I felt he should have considered his legacy more; however, its his legacy. As far as how he made the decision.....I don't care. We live in a world where some Italians make millions off of acting like idiots, where teens make money off of being pregnant or where no talent fools get on stage and make fools of themselves. Yet, we want to complain when a superstar athlete wants to go on TV and make a decison, while millions of people watch? Who cares....

 

[Sportsbuck]

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

He wasnt the first big time athlete to change teams via free agency, but he was the first to cast a spotlight on himself & broadcast his announcement on national TV. It makes him come off as selfish, arrogant, and self centered. It turned him into the typical modern athlete stereotype.

If the world learned of his choice via bottom line scroll like every other sports transaction, the backlash is from Cleveland, and Cleveland alone. He made this bed with the ridiculous television circus he turned the process into.

 

[FedEx227]

Also his mom getting a tat that says, "Queen James"

:ice:

 

[ralaw]

He wasnt the first big time athlete to change teams via free agency, but he was the first to cast a spotlight on himself & broadcast his announcement on national TV. It makes him come off as selfish, arrogant, and self centered. It turned him into the typical modern athlete stereotype.

If the world learned of his choice via bottom line scroll like every other sports transaction, the backlash is from Cleveland, and Cleveland alone. He made this bed with the ridiculous television circus he turned the process into.

I understand that people have a problem with how the decision was made....I've never stated otherwise. However, my point is that for me I really don't care about how it was made.

 

[FedEx227]

There was just no scenario outside of saying he was staying with Cleveland that would've made The Decision seem like a good idea to the majority of the public.

It's breaking up with your girlfriend on live TV. There's just no damage control to it.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

For the record, I'm rooting for the Heat to win about 10 straight titles. First of all, so Kobe doesnt win anymore. Secondly, to quiet the "you cant build a superteam" crowd.

 

[ralaw]

For the record, I'm rooting for the Heat to win about 10 straight titles. First of all, so Kobe doesnt win anymore. Secondly, to quiet the "you cant build a superteam" crowd.

I'm actually rooting for the Lakers to win about two more, so Kobe has more than MJ.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I'm actually rooting for the Lakers to win about two more, so Kobe has more than MJ.

Well then, sir, we can not be friends. Here's hoping you mix your colors with your whites on your next load.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

What's with this caring shit? Who expects their boss to care about them? All they have to do is pay you.

LeBron's really going down in my eyes.

LeBron's mentality and true personality is more and more coming to light with this, and it doesn't look good on the man...

It is becoming more and more obvious to me that LeBron would have never won a thing in Cleveland...he doesn't have the balls for when it counts to do it by himself or to make everyone around him better to do it like the great ones have and do.

Going to Miami was the best thing for him, because teaming up with DWade and Bosh will give him the rings he wants, because he couldn't do it without them.

He surely is no Jordan or Kobe...real men of the NBA.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Also his mom getting a tat that says, "Queen James"

:ice:

You sure it doesn't say "Mrs. West"?

 

[stevsta]

For the record, I'm rooting for the Heat to win about 10 straight titles. First of all, so Kobe doesnt win anymore. Secondly, to quiet the "you cant build a superteam" crowd.

:jimshake:
</3 how could you say that

 

[FirstTimer]

LOL at James saying Gilbert showed his true colors or never cared about "Lebron". This coming from a guy who barely returned the Cavs phonecalls during free agency and barely even wanted to entertain the thought of returning there or signing a long term deal.

Gilbert's reaction was overboard but it's not like Lebron didn't do anything to deserve negative reaction and responses in the first place.

 

[dave]

The line he had about fans being spoiled by his play tells you all you need to know about James.
An egomaniac to the highest degree.
Sports superstars need to learn to take the example of Wayne Gretzky.
When asked about the Hall of Fame while still playing, Gretzky replied "If I make the Hall of Fame."
Roger Clemens replied: "When I make the Hall of Fame."

Of course James has surrounded himself with a bunch of enablers who would be McDonald's workers if they didn't work for him ... so clearly he's behind the eight-ball.

Does even one of James' management guys have a degree?

If James really wanted to rehabilitate his image, he'd immediately tell his posse they're fired, and hire a professional management company like IMG.

 

[ralaw]

LeBron's mentality and true personality is more and more coming to light with this, and it doesn't look good on the man...

It is becoming more and more obvious to me that LeBron would have never won a thing in Cleveland...he doesn't have the balls for when it counts to do it by himself or to make everyone around him better to do it like the great ones have and do.

Going to Miami was the best thing for him, because teaming up with DWade and Bosh will give him the rings he wants, because he couldn't do it without them.

He surely is no Jordan or Kobe...real men of the NBA.

I agree with paragraphs/sentences 1 and 3. Lets not forget James brought a dead franchise into contention pretty much every year. Obviously, they didn't win the championship, but the fact that they were in the discussion says a lot about his ability to lead and carry a team. Take a look at the roster when they went ot the finals....take a look at the roster now. There is a reason people don't expect more than 20-30 wins this season. With James they're a 60+ win team. I know they lost in the playoffs, but can anyone say they ever lost to a team they were better than?

I'm all for hating on the guy for how he made the decision or that he's acting like a little girl now, but lets not forget or throw away what the 2 time MVP has accomplished.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

lol @ anyone expecting any better from him.


This is the first time LeBron has ever had to deal with people hating him. Of course he comes off as immature, up until this point everyone he's ever known his entire life has told him he's the greatest thing to walk the earth since jesus.

Like I said in an above post...this saga is showing the character of the man...and it is obvious he has never faced an ounce of criticism or adversity in his life.

The adversity he has seen on the court...he never overcame.

He has largely been given a pass on the criticism on the court as the blame was passed from James to the cast of characters he surrounded himself with in Cleveland.

However, now...well, he is being taken to the cleaners by the media and fans and he acting like someone who didn't have a childhood.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

I agree with paragraphs/sentences 1 and 3. Lets not forget James brought a dead franchise into contention pretty much every year. Obviously, they didn't win the championship, but the fact that they were in the discussion says a lot about his ability to lead and carry a team. Take a look at the roster when they went ot the finals....take a look at the roster now. There is a reason people don't expect more than 20-30 wins this season. With James they're a 60+ win team. I know they lost in the playoffs, but can anyone say they ever lost to a team they were better than?

I'm all for hating on the guy for how he made the decision or that he's acting like a little girl now, but lets not forget or throw away what the 2 time MVP has accomplished.

You and I both know there is a difference between bringing a team to the playoffs and winning a championship. Winning a championship takes a certain edge LeBron hasn't shown yet.

 

[Argath]

that's fine lebron, head on down south. We all know your mother is riding west :smug:

 

[ralaw]

You and I both know there is a difference between bringing a team to the playoffs and winning a championship. Winning a championship takes a certain edge LeBron hasn't shown yet.

That is true, but IMO it's an unfair argument, because it takes away from what he accomplished while having the Cavs in contention every year. That's why I don't like this era of championship or bust era we live in now, because it so closed minded. I understand "we play to win the game," but everything shouldn't be if you lose (regardless of the circumstances) you're a loser. This sort of mentality puts pressure on these athletes and is probably why James went to Miami. Again, check out the roster and compare it to the leagues elite teams (Lakers, Magic, Celtics, etc.) You take the best player off of each of those rosters and you still have a 40-50 win team. James made every single one of his teammates better.

Now the issue is that he could lead the Heat to multiple championships while averaging 20/10/10 and it still won't be good enough, because he's playing with Wade, but that's something he'll have to deal with.

 

[Miami Flash15]

LOL if LeBron did all this drama while coming to your team, you wouldn't be mad.

It's okay, hate the Heat and LeBron, just like the rest of the league. We'll be popping champaign in June quite often in the next decade.

Do I support and approve of what LeBron did? Of course not. I am no where near happy about what he did, I am actually upset about how he did it.

But am I going to support him? Of course.