Breaking News: LeBron James Speaks Out!

[Lipoli390]

So here's the latest from LeBron:

Clutch Points: "I went to Miami that first year and everything was still about what everybody else thought. Then I was literally just like, I don't give a fuck what nobody think."

I got a good chuckle out of this quote. Two thoughts immediately came to mind when I read this:

First of all, I don't give a hoot what LeBron thinks. So I guess that makes two of us. :)

Second, LeBron might want to remember he's in the entertainment business. That means his livelihood ultimately depends in part of what people think of him. Yes, he's a great basketball player and that's been enough to make him incredibly wealthy. But unlike MJ, Magic, Larry, Dr. J, our own KG and others, that's where his appeal and earning power end. That's also where his NBA legacy will end. He'll always be remembered as one of the two or three greatest NBA players of all time. But he'll never achieve the iconic stature of the others I mentioned and he will never be viewed as one of the few who substantially advanced the perception or success of the League. He's a arrogant, boorish dude with incredible physical gifts but an unappealing style of play and a remarkably uninteresting personality.

Does anyone think MJ gave (or currently) gives a F about what people thought about him? At 25 Lebron decided he was gonna live his life and not worry about what other people thought and now he gets roasted? Seems like just another reason for people that already dislike him to take a shot at him. I'll really never get the high level of hate this guy gets. I get people don't like him or whatever but it's kinda weird.

Also we all know everyone (unless they have some sort of legit personality disorder or something) still does to some extent (even if they claim not to act on it) still cares what people think.

Come on Monster, MJ absolutely cared what people thought of him. That's why he refused to take partisan political positions, which he explained with his famous (or infamous) quote that Republicans buy shoes too (or something like that) when he refused to publicly oppose a Republican Senate candidate in North Carolina (Jess Helms). He was roundly criticized for his refusal to take a partisan stance in that campaign. I understand the criticism of him at the time, but you can't say MJ didn't care what people thought of him.

MJ (like Magic and others) understood he was a basketball player and in the entertainment business, not a political or thought leader with any special expertise or insight into political or international affairs. And even though MJ was known to be a demanding dick to some of his teammates, he never disrespected or dismissed the fans with stunts like "The Decision." Unlike LeBron, MJ never tried to pass himself off as anything more than he was, namely an athlete and entertainer. Don't get me wrong, I'm fine with professional athletes expressing political opinions just as I'm fine with those like MJ to choose not to. But neither MJ nor any other player I can think of ever labeled an entire city racist while hypocritically going out of his way to overlook the obvious and despicable human rights violations of an entire nation's government. Oh, and even though MJ probably was the "chosen one," he never tattooed that moniker on his body.

Like all of us, MJ was far from perfect to say the least. Same for Magic and the others. But most were pretty easy to like. What I'll never get is why there is anyone who doesn't dislike LeBron.

Well...it turns out you did care what Lebron thinks. :)

Lol. Good one, Monster.

[WallyBall]

So here's the latest from LeBron:

Clutch Points: "I went to Miami that first year and everything was still about what everybody else thought. Then I was literally just like, I don't give a fuck what nobody think."

I got a good chuckle out of this quote. Two thoughts immediately came to mind when I read this:

First of all, I don't give a hoot what LeBron thinks. So I guess that makes two of us. :)

Second, LeBron might want to remember he's in the entertainment business. That means his livelihood ultimately depends in part of what people think of him. Yes, he's a great basketball player and that's been enough to make him incredibly wealthy. But unlike MJ, Magic, Larry, Dr. J, our own KG and others, that's where his appeal and earning power end. That's also where his NBA legacy will end. He'll always be remembered as one of the two or three greatest NBA players of all time. But he'll never achieve the iconic stature of the others I mentioned and he will never be viewed as one of the few who substantially advanced the perception or success of the League. He's a arrogant, boorish dude with incredible physical gifts but an unappealing style of play and a remarkably uninteresting personality.

Does anyone think MJ gave (or currently) gives a F about what people thought about him? At 25 Lebron decided he was gonna live his life and not worry about what other people thought and now he gets roasted? Seems like just another reason for people that already dislike him to take a shot at him. I'll really never get the high level of hate this guy gets. I get people don't like him or whatever but it's kinda weird.

Also we all know everyone (unless they have some sort of legit personality disorder or something) still does to some extent (even if they claim not to act on it) still cares what people think.

Come on Monster, MJ absolutely cared what people thought of him. That's why he refused to take partisan political positions, which he explained with his famous (or infamous) quote that Republicans buy shoes too (or something like that) when he refused to publicly oppose a Republican Senate candidate in North Carolina (Jess Helms). He was roundly criticized for his refusal to take a partisan stance in that campaign. I understand the criticism of him at the time, but you can't say MJ didn't care what people thought of him.

MJ (like Magic and others) understood he was a basketball player and in the entertainment business, not a political or thought leader with any special expertise or insight into political or international affairs. And even though MJ was known to be a demanding dick to some of his teammates, he never disrespected or dismissed the fans with stunts like "The Decision." Unlike LeBron, MJ never tried to pass himself off as anything more than he was, namely an athlete and entertainer. Don't get me wrong, I'm fine with professional athletes expressing political opinions just as I'm fine with those like MJ to choose not to. But neither MJ nor any other player I can think of ever labeled an entire city racist while hypocritically going out of his way to overlook the obvious and despicable human rights violations of an entire nation's government. Oh, and even though MJ probably was the "chosen one," he never tattooed that moniker on his body.

Like all of us, MJ was far from perfect to say the least. Same for Magic and the others. But most were pretty easy to like. What I'll never get is why there is anyone who doesn't dislike LeBron.

Well...it turns out you did care what Lebron thinks. :)

I can understand where lip and others come from, but I tend to agree with monster. He may not do things the way I would do them, like "The Decision," but the man was 25, so I'll give him a pass. I do appreciate what he does to speak truth to power, even know some of his takes could be much more informed....but who hasn't had that happen to them in the past?!? He also backs it up with things like the I Promise School. I think he does want to be a roll model for the African American community, I do think he cares about that a great deal. I realize he is not the only male basketball player that contributes to his community, but there are many that do not. I think he will leave the "place" better than he found it.

Comparing him to Michael or Larry is a bit unfair, as they were separated by a few decades, thus culturally hard to compare.

Popular song from Larry's Rookie year in 1978: Rolling Stones Beast or Burden

Popular song from MJ's rookie year in 1984: wake me up before you go-go by wham!

Popular song from LeBron's rookie year in 2003: where is the love by black eyed peas and 21 questions by 50 cent.

Also those players didn't have the same level of scrutiny as players today, and it is easier to see cracks in the porcelain when the lights are always on and everyone has access to your every word...when before you had to pick up a newspaper. Everyone knew stories about the showtime lakers, but was it really that common knowledge back then? I feel like players and famous people may have been able to get away with more things.

Loyalty to team is one quibble of mine, but think of his perspective...and dare I say Kevin Durant....would you rather be Bill Russel with 10 rings or Karl Malone with none? I know it's not the greatest example as Bill stayed with his team, but in that day in age, did he really have a choice? This is the era of player empowerment, not team control, and as a consequence not team and/or fan loyalty....which as a fan I don't love.

I guess I see both sides of the coin, but I choose tails on this flip Lip!

[AbeVigodaLive]

So here's the latest from LeBron:

Clutch Points: "I went to Miami that first year and everything was still about what everybody else thought. Then I was literally just like, I don't give a fuck what nobody think."

I got a good chuckle out of this quote. Two thoughts immediately came to mind when I read this:

First of all, I don't give a hoot what LeBron thinks. So I guess that makes two of us. :)

Second, LeBron might want to remember he's in the entertainment business. That means his livelihood ultimately depends in part of what people think of him. Yes, he's a great basketball player and that's been enough to make him incredibly wealthy. But unlike MJ, Magic, Larry, Dr. J, our own KG and others, that's where his appeal and earning power end. That's also where his NBA legacy will end. He'll always be remembered as one of the two or three greatest NBA players of all time. But he'll never achieve the iconic stature of the others I mentioned and he will never be viewed as one of the few who substantially advanced the perception or success of the League. He's a arrogant, boorish dude with incredible physical gifts but an unappealing style of play and a remarkably uninteresting personality.

Does anyone think MJ gave (or currently) gives a F about what people thought about him? At 25 Lebron decided he was gonna live his life and not worry about what other people thought and now he gets roasted? Seems like just another reason for people that already dislike him to take a shot at him. I'll really never get the high level of hate this guy gets. I get people don't like him or whatever but it's kinda weird.

Also we all know everyone (unless they have some sort of legit personality disorder or something) still does to some extent (even if they claim not to act on it) still cares what people think.

To be fair, I'm nearly certain that this "I don't give a fuck" attitude is as carefully calculated as every other off-court move in James' career. He's one of, if not MOST, marketed athletes of all time at this point. And when doing that... you most definitely care what other people think.