Not saying LeBron James was right … but I understand
LeBron James didn’t congratulate the winning Magic or speak to the media after Cleveland was eliminated Saturday night. This was neither gracious nor professional from someone who takes pains to be both. But I’m willing to give him a pass.
Nobody in the NBA — maybe nobody in the history of the NBA — has done more to lift his team than LBJ, and LeBron and his Cavs and all of Cleveland had reason to believe this was finally the year. Turned out the team wasn’t as good as the regular season and the first two playoff rounds made it seem. Turned out the Magic was simply better. (Indeed, Orlando came within one second of sweeping the No. 1 seed.)
Let’s say LeBron had addressed the press after Game 6. The questions wouldn’t have been about his performance — he’d been great — but about those around him and whether or not he can win a title with this supporting cast. And that’s a slippery slope. Indeed, as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar complained to reporters as his Milwaukee Bucks were losing the 1974 finals to Boston, “You’re trying to get me to say my teammates aren’t any good.”
LeBron finally spoke in Cleveland on Sunday and was diplomatic, which he might not have in the been in the immediate aftermath. He might have done as Peyton Manning did after the top-seeded Colts lost to Pittsburgh in the 2006 playoffs — faulted others and made himself seem both snooty and petty in the process.
Being a media person myself, I’m never thrilled when someone deigns not to share his thoughts. But this one I understand. He and his franchise were better served by letting LeBron sleep on it.
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112 comments Add your comment
warhorse
June 2nd, 2009
12:21 am
Mark your giving him a pass makes no sense. You can hardly write an article about Florida without dropping in the phrase “Urban Crier” because a guy who lost a tough one, and had the guts to face the media, shed a couple of tears. Yet you let a guy slip cowardly out the door and say it is a good thing for him and his franchise. Nobody ever said a sportwriter must be logical.
scottbravesfan
June 2nd, 2009
2:00 am
No one from ESPN will criticize the NBA because ABC shows the NBA and the finals. Disney owns both ABC and ESPN so they will never criticize it again. Just how they talk about the NFL all the time now ever since they got Monday night Football on ESPN. If ESPN got the hockey rights they would start showing NHL stuff just like they did with NASCAR. They never mentioned NASCAR now that they show the races on ESPN they talk about it a good bit. ESPN is biased as hell.
Ed
June 2nd, 2009
6:06 am
It’s refreshing to know tht LeBron is the first NBA player to hate losing.
joshua
June 2nd, 2009
8:04 am
The taste of defeat is a bitter one. Especially when you have felt destiny awaited you. The shrill of inevitability crept up on LeBron. He had hoped that within himself he would be able to carry the team to finals because he had seen that there wasn’t enough skill in his house to finish the job. When it was all over, he knew. And it frustrated him to no end. The words that came to mind were not words that he could speak. And his anger was not one that was easily suppressed.
At this age I would say that he has been here before. But when you want something as bad as he has to want this Championship it is understood that emotions do flare. However, I will not give him a pass for not going to congratulate the Magic. If it was the briefest insincere thing that he had ever done he should have swallowed it up for even a millisecond and said congrats and then headed to the locker room to sulk.
Oldschool
June 2nd, 2009
9:05 am
Has this so-called king ever a won finals championship at any level, since he calls himself a winner? His actions were what i anticipated from him. I am upset because i just wanted to see the tears flowing down his cheeks at the post game interview of the nike phenom’ .
Peadawg
June 2nd, 2009
9:17 am
I lost a lot of respect for Lebron when he did that. That’s up there w/ other sore losers like Bellichek, Kyle Busch, etc.
Stacy
June 2nd, 2009
9:29 am
Disagree with you on this Mr. Bradley. I have played sports all my life and hate losing with the worst of passions (don’t believe me, just ask those on my team), but after every game, I begrudgingly if after a loss, will go shake the hands of the other team. Some can say that the intensity is different, but it is all relative. Lebron has been playing at that level for years and I have been playing at mine for years. Just because I play in a lesser league, does not mean I play with less intensity, just less athleticism.
John Smith, when you say you are not going to criticize others, do you mean by calling them “hypocrites”? Seems like the pot calling the kettle black here.
Mark Bradley
June 2nd, 2009
9:31 am
You’ll not receive an argument from me on that point, Scott.
Felt
June 2nd, 2009
9:43 am
This down right disrespectfull this guy has millions of YOUNG fans watch his every move what kind of example is he setting for them heck even his on boys…sending a message its okay not to have sportsmanship when “YOU” fill your the best thing to ever lace up a pair of basketball shoes (still remains to be proven to me see number 24 purple an gold 3 rings)not to congrat the other team is selfish a bi
NBA Fan
June 3rd, 2009
12:46 pm
Lebron should never get a handshake in the future from someone he has “beaten up” in a Basketball game. He should never get a congratulations if he has “beaten up” others to get an MVP award, etc.
ATL_LOVE
June 3rd, 2009
3:44 pm
Taking imaginary taunt pictures before each game: Free
Throwing chalk up in the air for pregame intensity: $2
Hitting THE SHOT of your life to prevent getting swept: $25 (as in bet)
Having your 2009 campaign remembered for how you LOST: PRICELESS
There are some things money can’t buy…
Lebron James Fan
June 10th, 2009
9:31 am
The magic isnt a good team they got off that win with luck.Lebron dream is to do the best in the nba and the nba is his life.He grew up on it and depended on it to led him to a better life than he had.I think Lebron James deserved to win the NBA finals and to be showed as the best player in Nba.He gave a lot to be here and is going to in the future to take home the NBA FINALS TROPHY.