« MEMORIAL DAY… | Home | BRIAN BRUNEY’S GLASS HOUSE… »
EASE UP ON LEBRON…
By Anthony | June 7, 2009
Greetings,
It’s been a little more than a week since LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers were eliminated from the NBA playoffs, and when, in his team’s conference final round loss to Orlando, the anointed “king” chose not to shake the hands of the victorious opponents afterwards and skipped out on the press.
Let me first say that I’m not one of those over-the-top supporters of the 24-year old man child – you won’t see me wearing his jersey - as I tend to lean toward the underdog and view a lot of the hype for so-called superstars as just noise.
Yet, there are things that I really admire about the way he’s handled himself from the day he stepped onto the Arco Arena hardwood at the age of 18 against Sacramento back in November of 2003 – and overlooking the on court prowess, he’s still with his high school sweetheart and very much in the lives of his two children - nevertheless much like myself, anyone or anything else there are things that I wish were handled differently.
For example, last February he was issued a $259 speeding ticket (I’ve had one or two) for going 101mph (would never try to reach that level, but there’s no such thing as slightly pregnant either) in a 65mph zone on interstate 71, and on the court there’s that silly act they do when the team is announced.
However, LeBron’s actions after the Cavs’ dream season - a 66-16 regular season and franchise best record, odds on favorites to reach the finals and a first MVP award – came to an end do not cause me to get all hot and bothered, while once again crushing the hopes and dreams of an economically ravaged fan base that held out hope that this year would be different from “the drive”, Ernest Byner’s fumble, “Michael double pumping over Ehlo” and Jose Mesa against the Marlins in the bottom of the 9th.
Surely, sportsmanship has its place and whether a highly compensated idolized athlete wants to admit it or not they are viewed as role models, yet in this robotic, heavily image-protected and politically correct age we’re living in it was somewhat encouraging to see LeBron err in this fashion.
It should be noted that he’s not required to shake the opposition’s hands after a loss, for unlike the team sport of hockey and the individual competition of tennis the NBA along with the NFL and major league baseball consider it arbitrary to congratulate the victor after one’s season has come to a disappointing end.
So, all the talk about no congrats afterwards should be chalked up to what some would’ve liked to have seen, as oppose to a character flaw.
Now, as for the post game press conference snub, as a fan I would’ve liked to have heard what he had to say after such a loss, yet I do realize that even pampered athletes are human beings and there are times when a humbling setback forces humanity.
Besides, it is quite conceivable that after doing all he could to will the team to victory, and witnessing (pun intended) he and his teammates falter on the big stage, LeBron couldn’t address the media honestly as undoubtedly many of the questions would’ve been presented in a divisive way juxtaposing his performance vis-à-vis that of the other members of the Cavaliers. So, perhaps he thought better of publicly outing management, his guys and also fielding questions about his future as he enters what could be his last season in Cleveland.
Furthermore, there’s a very fine line between competing and giving your all against an opponent (especially in a best of seven series that could last two weeks, where it is drummed into you to defeat them, win or go home at all costs) and flipping the switch, accepting defeat graciously and with the aplomb of a saint in a matter of moments.
Yes, it has been done, and in hockey’s playoff war to attain the Stanley Cup we’ve witnessed some of the worst acts of outright violence that would have the MMA crowd jealous, but for the most part they’ve followed the exemplary tradition of congratulating the opponent.
For balance in this discussion there was no furor similar to what we’ve seen with LeBron when overall nice guy Joe Thornton and his San Jose Sharks were eliminated from the postseason a month earlier.
Sure, I know who is really watching hockey? And there’s no comparison between Thornton and LeBron, for which I’ll grant you, but even in the tight-knit boys will be boys world of the NHL there was no media storm. Actually, there have been quite a few hockey players that have gone against the handshake tradition.
In fact, to further illustrate the humanity of this issue, 13 years ago Colorado Avalanche forward Claude Lemieux rearranged the face of Detroit’s Kris Draper in many places with a very questionable blindsided hit in their hotly contested playoff series. Teammate Dino Ciccarelli, after the customary handshake, said that he couldn’t believe he shook Lemieux’s hand because of what he did to Draper. So, not to suggest there was anything similar in the Cavs-Magic series, but perhaps LeBron just couldn’t do anything after the loss.
Moreover, where was the “sportsmanship” crowd, displaying the same vigor for LeBron, when Denver Nuggets guard Dahntay Jones purposely tripped Kobe Bryant? James has never displayed that kind of behavior, and though I can do without some of his actions we should also remember the way he hustles on the court as no better example is the fear he puts in players when they are alone on seemingly uncontested dunks and try to showboat only to get their ego and shot rejected, just ask Phoenix guard Jason Richardson.
This whole “sportsmanship” argument comes off as more like a do as I say and not as I do discussion or better yet picking on a bigger name and not looking at other examples.
If true, no one wins.
I remember roughly a decade ago when Patrick Ewing showed up at a Miami Heat playoff game after they and his close friend Alonzo Mourning bounced his Knicks from the playoffs.
The outrage from fans and even those in the media who were appalled by this gentlemanly gesture was noteworthy. For what harm could’ve been done by wishing to see a friend succeed? Isn’t that sportsmanship?
Every now and then, there are moments now when I hear and read comments that some would like to see less fraternizing with the enemy before a big game, as they look back to the “good old days” when you wouldn’t dare talk to the opposition during battle.
To that, and this whole LeBron topic, I just ask for balance in the observations as oppose to the proverbial sportsmanship angle that fails to address the complete humanity of the situation, for we’ve all spoken when we should’ve just waited.
PEACE
Topics: Videos |