YosemiteSam
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LeBron James says race played role in backlash to his decision
Did race play a role in the backlash -- both in the media and in the general public -- to LeBron James' decision to take his talents to South Beach?
LeBron James and his business partner and close friend Maverick Carter both said yes in an interview on CNN Wednesday night (hat tip to Jason Lloyd of the Beacon Journal, and we should note race was a very small part of this interview, discussed and everyone moved on).
"I think so at times. It's always a race factor," LeBron said as part of a segment that focused largely on Carter.
"It definitely played a role in some of the stuff coming out of the media, things that were written," Carter said.
A lot of the backlash seemed to be focused less on the choice itself -- outside of Cleveland, anyway -- and more on what came off as an egotistical way to do it. But both Carter and James said that "The Decision" -- the hour-long show on ESPN announcing his move to Miami -- may have had something to do with that.
"The execution could've been a little better and I take some of blame for that," Carter said.
But James noted that the event raised $3 million for the Boys & Girls Club and any "heat" he took was worth it.
Complete Story
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I would like to note that LeBron did raise $3 million for the Boys and Girls club of Greenwich. I would also like to note that Greenwich is probably THE MOST affluent city in the country. While all Boys and Girls clubs could use charity money, the Greenwich chapter was probably last on the list. On top of that, there probably isn't a single black member of that chapter. (don't hold me to that though)
Did race play a role in the backlash -- both in the media and in the general public -- to LeBron James' decision to take his talents to South Beach?
LeBron James and his business partner and close friend Maverick Carter both said yes in an interview on CNN Wednesday night (hat tip to Jason Lloyd of the Beacon Journal, and we should note race was a very small part of this interview, discussed and everyone moved on).
"I think so at times. It's always a race factor," LeBron said as part of a segment that focused largely on Carter.
"It definitely played a role in some of the stuff coming out of the media, things that were written," Carter said.
A lot of the backlash seemed to be focused less on the choice itself -- outside of Cleveland, anyway -- and more on what came off as an egotistical way to do it. But both Carter and James said that "The Decision" -- the hour-long show on ESPN announcing his move to Miami -- may have had something to do with that.
"The execution could've been a little better and I take some of blame for that," Carter said.
But James noted that the event raised $3 million for the Boys & Girls Club and any "heat" he took was worth it.
Complete Story
--------------
I would like to note that LeBron did raise $3 million for the Boys and Girls club of Greenwich. I would also like to note that Greenwich is probably THE MOST affluent city in the country. While all Boys and Girls clubs could use charity money, the Greenwich chapter was probably last on the list. On top of that, there probably isn't a single black member of that chapter. (don't hold me to that though)
I expect this.
