Amuseddaysleeper
04-11-2007, 04:45 PM
LeBron James: I’m going to pass on that Kool-Aid.
I don’t really like LeBron James all that much.
And I know with that comment alone, I am opening the door for a mild to severe verbal assault from any and all LeBron backers. It’d be impossible to hide from LeBron nation. They have his back, they’ve got his cover and they protect and serve the entity that is LeBron James.
However, before you get ahead of yourself and seek retribution in the form of launching the crusade against my meager opinion, please read the fine print. I don’t like LeBron, but that doesn’t mean LeBron is a not phenomenon in not only Basketball, but also in terms of culture relevance, nor does it imply he sucks at Basketball.
In fact, LeBron James is quite good at basketball. It’d be a disservice to you, the loyal readers of this fine blog, for me to preach otherwise. Also, I’d look like a complete an utter jackass with absolute zero credibility. Moving forward though, that certainly doesn’t mean I have to like LeBron.
To me LeBron is a product. To which he cares more for, his marketed image or his actual NBA career has been left a little unclear these days. Take a deep breath; I’m not questioning LeBron’s passion for basketball. However, I’m just curiously opening the thread…does LeBron care more about the business corporation that is LeBron James or does he care more about winning an NBA title?
Finding balance between both spectrums is what separates superstars from great players. Shaq and Jordan are and were the best at finding that special balance. And I only call into question LeBron’s intentions, based on what many a casual observer has seen this year. LeBron coasted through most of the regular season and attempted to put on the jets full steam a little over a month ago.
However, there was everything right in front of the “self-proclaimed” or “chosen one” this past weekend. LeBron wilted under the pressure against both Miami and Detroit. His typical fade-away three point attempt that misfired and led to an eventual overtime loss against Miami wasn’t his entire fault. He’d carried the Cavs to that point and Mike Brown really had no semblance of a play developed for the final shot (more on that in just second).
Yet, LeBron made a crucial mistake on a pass late in overtime and once again his refusal to attack the basket and shoot fade-away jumpers cost his team. Fast forward to Sunday in Detroit, and LeBron appeared a little disinterested to say the least. The Pistons frustrated him with their defensive looks (yeah, really a staple of the Flip Saunders era), but I saw the haunting fade-away jumper all over the place…again.
LeBron still could’ve extended the game; trailing by 4 points (under 30 seconds) with two free throw attempts, but they both clanked out. Could we get plastered with the headlines of “another round of LeBron being non-clutch?” Of course not, because seldom do people openly criticize LeBron for these situations.
It’s not like it’s an everyday plague, we all know LeBron was about as clutch as clutch can be in the playoffs last year against the Wizards. Yet, there are more instances than just this past weekend where Cavs fans have probably wondered to themselves “fuck, when will LeBron finally just take over and be clutch?”
LeBron wants to be mentioned in the same breath as Michael Jordan and/or Kobe Bryant. In fact, LeBron wants to obliterate both of them off the fucking map in terms of relevance. He also probably wouldn’t mind blasting past his buddy Dwayne Wade. That’s just how I view LeBron in terms of arrogance. Anybody building themselves a castle in rural Ohio deserves such suspicion.
He can’t defend or shoot like Kobe or Michael. He doesn’t exemplify the will that Dwayne Wade has, enough at all. Let’s face it, the guy is a specimen and when he wants he can dominate. Yet, something seemingly holds him back from dominating or maybe there is the old saying “either you have it or you don’t.” I’m not necessarily saying that, but --- moving on.
What nobody feels safe admitting; is that maybe LeBron is simply just a great player/superstar level, but not the “god” we’ve all anointed him to be. Perhaps, he really doesn’t have that passion or fire that Jordan, Kobe and Wade all seem to possess. I can hear the gasps from LeBron Nation, but relax I’m not saying he is no more than a glorified Vince Carter.
I have nothing, but respect for LeBron’s actual game. My whole point is that LeBron has become such an entity that it is hard for me to respect him as a person. He is force fed to the consumer as this perfectly polished product. In essence I feel as though he has bought into his own celebrity. In simpler terms, I think he is a prick.
He wants to be known as a “Global Icon.” He got into a petty argument with Stephon Marbury about shoes. And can you believe it, but he made Marbury, yes Stephon “freaking” Marbuy, look like the good guy in the whole situation. He essentially knocked “Starbury” shoes as a cheap inferior product to his $130 Nikes.
Sound like a superiority complex to you? How many times this season have you seen that look to his teammates like “seriously you fucking suck”? He’s not afraid to kick a chair in a timeout after his teammate misses a critical bucket. He claims all he cares about are the W’s, but I am just not buying it.
A good argument that always seems to surface in regards to his current situation is that his team and his coach generally suck. And I couldn’t agree more. They aren’t exactly doing LeBron any great service, but does he need to show them up? Michael Jordan never showed his teammates up. And Michael Jordan never, ever walked off the court on his team even if the game was out of reach.
Sure, the Cavs are fucking him over a little. There aren’t enough hours in the day for me to explain how Mike Brown is a moron, Eric Snow shouldn’t be in anybody’s top 7 rotation players and how they still don’t have a legit point guard. Yet, debates like that are better suited for actual Cavs fans…not me.
I’m not saying this is LeBron James, cut and dry…take it or leave it. I am simply giving you my opinion on the man we call a King. I envision LeBron to be someone who has read too much into his own press clippings and prophecy. I’m not trying to attack or tear down LeBron, but I can no longer stand to watch his ego swell.
Before you begin the backlash, just think about who LeBron has become this year. I’m not saying I’m right or wrong, but just think about it. Granted, he is only 22 years old so for him to change would be no less drastic then a young prick named Kobe Bryant years ago. Either way, I’m just not buying into this whole LeBron-mania.
And I am certainly not drinking the media sponsored LBJ Kool-aid.
:tu
I don’t really like LeBron James all that much.
And I know with that comment alone, I am opening the door for a mild to severe verbal assault from any and all LeBron backers. It’d be impossible to hide from LeBron nation. They have his back, they’ve got his cover and they protect and serve the entity that is LeBron James.
However, before you get ahead of yourself and seek retribution in the form of launching the crusade against my meager opinion, please read the fine print. I don’t like LeBron, but that doesn’t mean LeBron is a not phenomenon in not only Basketball, but also in terms of culture relevance, nor does it imply he sucks at Basketball.
In fact, LeBron James is quite good at basketball. It’d be a disservice to you, the loyal readers of this fine blog, for me to preach otherwise. Also, I’d look like a complete an utter jackass with absolute zero credibility. Moving forward though, that certainly doesn’t mean I have to like LeBron.
To me LeBron is a product. To which he cares more for, his marketed image or his actual NBA career has been left a little unclear these days. Take a deep breath; I’m not questioning LeBron’s passion for basketball. However, I’m just curiously opening the thread…does LeBron care more about the business corporation that is LeBron James or does he care more about winning an NBA title?
Finding balance between both spectrums is what separates superstars from great players. Shaq and Jordan are and were the best at finding that special balance. And I only call into question LeBron’s intentions, based on what many a casual observer has seen this year. LeBron coasted through most of the regular season and attempted to put on the jets full steam a little over a month ago.
However, there was everything right in front of the “self-proclaimed” or “chosen one” this past weekend. LeBron wilted under the pressure against both Miami and Detroit. His typical fade-away three point attempt that misfired and led to an eventual overtime loss against Miami wasn’t his entire fault. He’d carried the Cavs to that point and Mike Brown really had no semblance of a play developed for the final shot (more on that in just second).
Yet, LeBron made a crucial mistake on a pass late in overtime and once again his refusal to attack the basket and shoot fade-away jumpers cost his team. Fast forward to Sunday in Detroit, and LeBron appeared a little disinterested to say the least. The Pistons frustrated him with their defensive looks (yeah, really a staple of the Flip Saunders era), but I saw the haunting fade-away jumper all over the place…again.
LeBron still could’ve extended the game; trailing by 4 points (under 30 seconds) with two free throw attempts, but they both clanked out. Could we get plastered with the headlines of “another round of LeBron being non-clutch?” Of course not, because seldom do people openly criticize LeBron for these situations.
It’s not like it’s an everyday plague, we all know LeBron was about as clutch as clutch can be in the playoffs last year against the Wizards. Yet, there are more instances than just this past weekend where Cavs fans have probably wondered to themselves “fuck, when will LeBron finally just take over and be clutch?”
LeBron wants to be mentioned in the same breath as Michael Jordan and/or Kobe Bryant. In fact, LeBron wants to obliterate both of them off the fucking map in terms of relevance. He also probably wouldn’t mind blasting past his buddy Dwayne Wade. That’s just how I view LeBron in terms of arrogance. Anybody building themselves a castle in rural Ohio deserves such suspicion.
He can’t defend or shoot like Kobe or Michael. He doesn’t exemplify the will that Dwayne Wade has, enough at all. Let’s face it, the guy is a specimen and when he wants he can dominate. Yet, something seemingly holds him back from dominating or maybe there is the old saying “either you have it or you don’t.” I’m not necessarily saying that, but --- moving on.
What nobody feels safe admitting; is that maybe LeBron is simply just a great player/superstar level, but not the “god” we’ve all anointed him to be. Perhaps, he really doesn’t have that passion or fire that Jordan, Kobe and Wade all seem to possess. I can hear the gasps from LeBron Nation, but relax I’m not saying he is no more than a glorified Vince Carter.
I have nothing, but respect for LeBron’s actual game. My whole point is that LeBron has become such an entity that it is hard for me to respect him as a person. He is force fed to the consumer as this perfectly polished product. In essence I feel as though he has bought into his own celebrity. In simpler terms, I think he is a prick.
He wants to be known as a “Global Icon.” He got into a petty argument with Stephon Marbury about shoes. And can you believe it, but he made Marbury, yes Stephon “freaking” Marbuy, look like the good guy in the whole situation. He essentially knocked “Starbury” shoes as a cheap inferior product to his $130 Nikes.
Sound like a superiority complex to you? How many times this season have you seen that look to his teammates like “seriously you fucking suck”? He’s not afraid to kick a chair in a timeout after his teammate misses a critical bucket. He claims all he cares about are the W’s, but I am just not buying it.
A good argument that always seems to surface in regards to his current situation is that his team and his coach generally suck. And I couldn’t agree more. They aren’t exactly doing LeBron any great service, but does he need to show them up? Michael Jordan never showed his teammates up. And Michael Jordan never, ever walked off the court on his team even if the game was out of reach.
Sure, the Cavs are fucking him over a little. There aren’t enough hours in the day for me to explain how Mike Brown is a moron, Eric Snow shouldn’t be in anybody’s top 7 rotation players and how they still don’t have a legit point guard. Yet, debates like that are better suited for actual Cavs fans…not me.
I’m not saying this is LeBron James, cut and dry…take it or leave it. I am simply giving you my opinion on the man we call a King. I envision LeBron to be someone who has read too much into his own press clippings and prophecy. I’m not trying to attack or tear down LeBron, but I can no longer stand to watch his ego swell.
Before you begin the backlash, just think about who LeBron has become this year. I’m not saying I’m right or wrong, but just think about it. Granted, he is only 22 years old so for him to change would be no less drastic then a young prick named Kobe Bryant years ago. Either way, I’m just not buying into this whole LeBron-mania.
And I am certainly not drinking the media sponsored LBJ Kool-aid.
:tu