LeBron James = no class

[mr.jameswoods]

The true test of character isn't how one handles success but rather how one deals with loss. I understand LeBron is human and was justifiably upset. I understhand that he is young. However, it was his job to take questions from the media. It was his job to publicly acknowledge the success of the Magic and to congratulate them. It doesn't make him any less of a competitor to do so. A true competitor is a warrior and one who battles with honor. He demonstrated no honor. Instead of addressing the media and accepting the difficult questions, he let his teammates do it. That is a sign of a coward and a person with no character. And to make matters worse, he wasn't apologetic the next day about the issue and instead rationalized his behavior. I'm sorry but LeBron demonstrates everything that is wrong with today's athlete. Today's athlete is criticized for being selfish and that's exactly what LeBron exemplified: selfishness. Instead of showing class and giving his opponent his just due, he fled to the lockerroom and didn't want to deal with the stress of the media. He acted like a spoiled brat!

I lost respect for LeBron James yesterday and I know I'm not the only one. At a time in which we are trying to teach our children sportsmanship and professionalism, "King" James acted like a self centered and spoiled child.

 

[Bleu Star]

The true test of character isn't how one handles success but rather how one deals with loss. I understand LeBron is human and was justifiably upset. I understhand that he is young. However, it was his job to take questions from the media. It was his job to publicly acknowledge the success of the Magic and to congratulate them. It doesn't make him any less of a competitor to do so. A true competitor is a warrior and one who battles with honor. He demonstrated no honor. Instead of addressing the media and accepting the difficult questions, he let his teammates do it. That is a sign of a coward and a person with no character. And to make matters worse, he wasn't apologetic the next day about the issue and instead rationalized his behavior. I'm sorry but LeBron demonstrates everything that is wrong with today's athlete. Today's athlete is criticized for being selfish and that's exactly what LeBron exemplified: selfishness. Instead of showing class and giving his opponent his just due, he fled to the lockerroom and didn't want to deal with the stress of the media. He acted like a spoiled brat!

I lost respect for LeBron James yesterday and I know I'm not the only one. At a time in which we are trying to teach our children sportsmanship and professionalism, "King" James acted like a self centered and spoiled child.

He lost many cool points immediately after they went down to Orlando. Many..

 

[Rampage]

wow is this really that big of a deal.

 

[Joe Realist]

wow is this really that big of a deal.

Rampage, what NBA team do you root for?

 

[greatdane1984]

who gives a ****? He doesn't want to shake hands with the opposing team, or give interviews who cares?

Its not that big of a deal.

 

[Avaj]

I think he owes his fans a couple of words at least

 

[greatdane1984]

I think he owes his fans a couple of words at least

not really, do all football players shake opposing teams hands after each game? I've seen Romo just jog right to the tunnel after a loss a couple of times.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I've never understood this whole idea that someone has to shake hands, or congradulate, someone who just beat them in an athletic contest.

I mean I know it's the right thing to do, and I always did because I had no problem doing it, but I never hated on anyone for not wanting to. I mean i can completely understand the feeling of not wanting to shake someones hand right after they beat you in a football game.

There were plenty of times when I really didn't want to shake hands with people after a game. Sometimes I only did it because the coaches required us, but those feelings usually only happened after a particular tough loss to a rival or something like that.

I can imagine that losing in the conferance finals of a professional league only makes that hurt much worse.

 

[Avaj]

not really, do all football players shake opposing teams hands after each game? I've seen Romo just jog right to the tunnel after a loss a couple of times.

I said fans.....

 

[SLATEmosphere]

Your MVP and your team is rolling through the season and playoffs. Who cares if he doesn't shake hands or talks to the media. He probably took the loss really hard and just wanted to be alone for awhile. There's nothing wrong with that.

 

[greatdane1984]

Your MVP and your team is rolling through the season and playoffs. Who cares if he doesn't shake hands or talks to the media. He probably took the loss really hard and just wanted to be alone for awhile. There's nothing wrong with that.

agreed, I've seen Tony Romo jog right into the tunnel after a loss before, and nobody really cared.

 

[Rampage]

Rampage, what NBA team do you root for?

Rockets

 

[Bleu Star]

Rockets

That explains it... haha... j/k

 

[Bleu Star]

wow is this really that big of a deal.

Yes. IMO it is. It's basic sportsmanship. At the very least show up to the post game PC and answer every freaking question tossed at you for completely underwhelming a fan base that had huge expectations based upon your flawless record up until you ran into the big Orlando Magic machine. I'm not all about the whole handshake bit after the game personally. Actually I think football players on the pro level are a bit too friendly with opposing players during the game nowadays... but, at the very least, answer your critics. There's something to be said for standing up and taking it like a man/woman.

Lebron ran like a lil *****.

 

[NextGenBoys]

wow is this really that big of a deal.

When you proclaim your want to be "the biggest and most marketed athlete in the world" and you want to be the face of the NBA, you have to set a good example and be man enough to take defeat, not act like classless baby who thinks he deserves to win every game because the media and everyone else want to suck his **** just because he's a freak on the basketball court.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/9634478/Hey-LeBron,-it%27s-time-to-grow-up

A fairly long excerpt from the article:

"It's hard for me to congratulate somebody after you just lose to them," he said.


I'm with you on that, LeBron. Absolutely, it is hard. Not as hard as, say, putting in 12-hour days at a manufacturing plant, and certainly not as hard as getting laid off from the aforementioned manufacturing plant, but it's hard.


"I'm a winner," James continued, and I'll let that one slide, because he played like a winner even if his team did not. But then he said this:

"It's not being a poor sport or anything like that. If somebody beats you up, you're not going to congratulate them. That doesn't make sense to me."
Well, it does make sense to me. And you know who agrees with me?
Michael Jordan!

''I think Isiah did a heck of a job leading his team,'' Jordan said in June 1990 after he lost to his least favorite team (the Pistons) and one of his least favorite players (Isiah Thomas) in the Eastern Conference finals. ''He initiated things and that's what he needed to do."

LeBron also said, "It doesn't make sense for me to go over and shake somebody's hand," but actually, it makes plenty of sense. And you know who agrees with me?

Magic Johnson!

"You hear so much talk about him as an individual player," Magic said in 1991, after Jordan's Bulls beat his Lakers, "but he's proved everyone wrong with this championship."

If you gave Jordan the choice between complimenting Isiah and having his tongue removed without an anesthetic, he would have asked you for a pair of pliers. And Magic, one of the most competitive athletes ever, surely did not like Jordan knocking him off his throne.

You're not supposed to like it. But you are supposed to do it.

LeBron needs to understand that.

In 1991, Jordan said the two-time defending champion Pistons had been bad for basketball with their overly physical play. The Pistons took offense, and after the Bulls swept them, several Pistons walked off the floor without shaking the Bulls' hands.

Media across the country ripped the Pistons (and rightfully so). Well, James deserves some heat, too. At least the Pistons had the excuse, however weak, that Jordan had denigrated their championship runs. The Magic did not come close to insulting LeBron.

He wasn't being competitive. He was just being a sore loser. And nobody likes a sore loser.

 

[peplaw06]

Marion Barber never talks to the media. Is he less of a man because that's what he chooses to do?

 

[Bleu Star]

Marion Barber never talks to the media. Is he less of a man because that's what he chooses to do?

Marion Barber doesn't run around tossing chalk into the air while vocally proclaiming to be the next big thing. He goes about his business quietly. That's a stark contrast to the way big baby conducted himself before he had to swallow that big pill a few nights ago.

 

[Bleu Star]

When you proclaim your want to be "the biggest and most marketed athlete in the world" and you want to be the face of the NBA, you have to set a good example and be man enough to take defeat, not act like classless baby who thinks he deserves to win every game because the media and everyone else want to suck his **** just because he's a freak on the basketball court.

 

[Bonecrusher#31]

When you proclaim your want to be "the biggest and most marketed athlete in the world" and you want to be the face of the NBA, you have to set a good example and be man enough to take defeat, not act like classless baby who thinks he deserves to win every game because the media and everyone else want to suck his **** just because he's a freak on the basketball court.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/9634478/Hey-LeBron,-it's-time-to-grow-up

A fairly long excerpt from the article:

Nothing else needs to be said....

 

[SLATEmosphere]

Of course Laker fans call it a classless move. Anything to help separate Kobe from LeBron..At least LeBron didn't get caught cheating on his hot wife. Ya that story kind of got swept of the rug..

Lets see..a poor sport VS a cheating husband..hmmm which would I want my kid to be more like..