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Context. Everyone in every sport has been a poor sport to some degree. But there is a time and place to do it. During the game & after the dust has settled on your own time.
Jam must have never played sports, especially at a high level. There is an unwritten rule that no matter what happens, it stays on the field. You always congratulate and if you do not, you deserve to be chastised. I could understand if there was a lot of bad blood or really bad fouls and dirty play. But there was not.
Trust me, as soon as Lebron dunks next year, no one will care. People will get over it. He will lose a lot of respect from his peers, especially when he and the Cavs are doing the excessive celebrations, but no one really cares that much. He is a superstar and if he wants to take on 90M dollar contracts and allow himself to be named the King, he must take the criticisms when he messes up.
He compounded the mistake by acting like an oblivious idiot when asked about it. So he has never shaken hands after a loss? If he has, even once then he is a hypocrite. Because that would mean he does not truly believe what he said, but that he is too prideful to admit he was wrong.
Context. Everyone in every sport has been a poor sport to some degree. But there is a time and place to do it. During the game & after the dust has settled on your own time.
*paging Ducks*
I haven't played college or professional sports before but I have played sports before. I don't see how it would matter either way aside from you trying to throw a random insult. I do think what LeBron did was wrong. My whole thing is that there are some people who are trying to make LeBron the devil because of this. I'm just talking about people who are he'll bent on condemning him like he murdered someone. He didn't shake hands. He didn't congratulate. He didn't talk to reporters. That's all. LeBron gets paid, gets attention, gets hype for playing basketball, not for being a good sport.
I am sure Lebron will still be in the top of jerseys sold and he will still be revered and loved. If it is just people like Ducks who will use this ammo non-stop, who cares? The majority of pundits will be status quo.
Not an insult at all. It is a credibility issue. You are the only one arguing this for the most part. If you have not played at a high level, you do not understand what it takes to get there and all the hard work it entails.
When you have been through that, you understand that doing what Lebron did was unacceptable. He had a chance to man up, and instead he did not.
Once again, has he ever shaken hands after a loss? If so, he is a hypocrite and it proves he was to prideful to admit he was wrong.
No one at all is acting like he has "murdered" someone, you are taking it way to far. He gets paid to represent the game. The game gives you many things (like all of his wealth), so you do owe respect to your peers.
Who cares about the children, it is his peers to whom he owes an apology. You just do not get it.
I've played sports compe ively. And you've misconstrued what I've written if you're arguing that I think what LeBron did was ok. I said it was wrong. I'm saying some people who have been extremely harsh on him should get over it and let it go. Playing compe ive sports or not does not change that opinion and it has nothing to do with credibility to have that opinion.
Someone in this thread mentioned his two kids seeing it. LeBron owes no one an apology. If he wants to be an ass, let him be an ass. People worry too much about who athletes are as people. There are assholes in pro sports. Surprise. You watch for their play not their character.
Nobody should let it go. Sportsmanship is THE most important message the NBA can send out.
Yes it does. People who played compe ively (and I am not talking just through H.S.) are pissed about it because most would never do such a thing. When you work that hard and you reach a certain level, you deserve respect because of the work you put in to achieve your success. Lebron showed great disrespect by doing what he did.
You are saying you know it was wrong, then you say it is not a big deal. That is talking out of both sides of your mouth. It is a credibility issue because you cannot understand this unless you have been through it. You are more than en led to have your opinion, but everyone can have an opinion. Is it a valid one, that is the question.
People would have left him alone if he would have apologized, but he messed up again. Why are you not addressing this? You showed your credibility by trying to pawn off Jordan's antics and say Lebron is "keeping it real". To which I replied has he ever congratulated someone after losing? If so, was he a sell out then or a liar now?
Then perhaps you should stop watching pro sports and stick to little games.
If that's true, there should be no screaming, flexing, chest pounding at all.
Instead of just assessing technical fouls or fines, if a player shows poor sportsmanship just ban them from the league for life. That would be great. The NBa would have two players, Shane Battier and Chauncey Billups playing one on one for 82 games.
You missed it again. There is a time and place for bad sportsmanship, that is kind of an unwritten rule. You can do stuff in the game, in the heat of the moment and get away with it.
As soon as that buzzer sounds, you show respect. There are a few times when it is ok not to do it, such as if there was an egregious act by another player. But in Lebron's case, there was no such incident.
Swearing is wrong too but I'm not going to demand people to apologize for it. Saying it's wrong and saying it's no big deal is not talking out of both sides of my mouth.
I don't care that LeBron didn't apologize because I don't watch basketball for the players' character. I already know a lot of pro athletes are obnoxious, eogmaniachal assholes. Why ask for an insincere apology? Did Kobe crying and apologizing for adultery make you view him differently? I don't want insincere, disingenuous, image driven apologies. It's pretentious. It's fake. And I don't care enough about who these athletes are as people. I'm a fan of Kobe the playerbut I think he's a huge asshole. I watch because of his play not his personality.
Actually you missed it again. It was wrong. I keep saying that. But people need not dwell on it.
He does not owe you and I an apology. An apology to appease his fans is one thing that I do not care for either. But he owes the entire Magic team an apology, and that should be sincere.
If he cannot do that, or he has to fake that, then that is what people take issue with. People will get over it (especially the fans), but his peers will continue to lose respect for him if he continues down this path.
He won MVP correct? So you are saying it would have been ok if Kobe and Wade and Dwight said: "I don't see why I have to congratulate Lebron for winning MVP. I lost to him and he got the le, isn't that enough? I do not like losing and I think I am the best player, so why would I congratulate the man who beat me and took my MVP award?"
You still have not answered my question about Lebron ever shaking hands in the NBA after a loss.
You keep saying that, but then your justifications (pointing out other cases) show you really do not think it is a big deal.
I agree to a certain extent, but if he continues to disrespect his peers, it will be a huge deal.
I hate the "he is an athlete, he is paid to play..." argument. You know very well there are such things as honoring the game and being a good sport even though there is not an explicit rule defining it.
I did not miss that you said it was wrong. You saying what I highlighted shows that you missed my point about there being a time and place for acceptable bad sportsmanship in the unwritten rules of sports that are played at a high level.
Absolutely.
I would be ok with that as well. Being emotional is fine but too many players take it over the line, IMO.Then perhaps you should stop watching pro sports and stick to little games.
If that's true, there should be no screaming, flexing, chest pounding at all.
I would like to see suspensions and higher fines.Instead of just assessing technical fouls or fines, if a player shows poor sportsmanship just ban them from the league for life. That would be great. The NBa would have two players, Shane Battier and Chauncey Billups playing one on one for 82 games.
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what bothers me mostly is not that he did not shake hands
but he left without taking to the media
he should have manned up and said he let the team down in the 2 quarter credit the magic and not let the other players have to address the issue.
I can relate to feeling absolutely ty after a loss and not wanting to congratulate your opponent. The Magic don't care if Lebron comes up to them after the game, only the media and fans do.
This isn't a big issue, and doesn't lessen my respect for Lebron. He's the best player in the world, whether he shakes Dwight Howard's hand or not.
I really wish he congratulated the other team. He, nor CP3 did the same thing last year, too. I am a big fan of both of these guys. Hopefully they both shake hands next year.
My ass it isnt a big issue. I'm sorry but not doing that is flat out unacceptable. Sportsmanship is a vital part of the game. This just shows Lebron is a nutless coward when it comes to losing. It makes me sick to have say that but it is the truth.
Cp3 is a so it's expected of him.
"When asked about LeBron’s disappearing act, Howard said he received a congratulatory, late-night e-mail and didn’t sound too vexed.
“I just thought he would have said something to me, or said something to the team. He’s probably upset, probably hurt and understand that, respect it. One day we’ll see each other,” he said, “and I’ll have to wait until then.”
But in the next moment, asked whether he was surprised, Howard barely hesitated.
“Real surprised,” he said."
Agreed. His behavior was deplorable; very immature and selfish. I hope in time he outgrows that and show good sportsmanship in winning & losing.
He didn't have a great game 6 but I wouldn't knock his play overall through this series. He was the main main reason his team was "in it" to an extent.
When I say something is "not a big deal," of course I do not think it is a big deal. For me, I can say something is wrong but also believe it's not a big deal. How are you not understanding that? Do I need to keep giving you simpler and simpler examples? I think it's wrong to eat candy snacks before dinner because it may spoil your dinner. I do not think it's a big deal. I think it's wrong for fat women to wear bikinis. I do not think it's a big deal.I think it's wrong for Bruno to teabag Eminem. I do not think it's a big deal.
LeBron can do whatever the he wants, as long as it's not a crime. He's his own man. You're talking about sportsmanship, manners, and the "honor" of the game. What is this? Etiquette school? He was a punk for not congratulating the Magic and shaking their hands. It's. Not. A. Big. Deal.
Shouldn't it also be an unwritten rule for Olympic participants to respect the Olympics and not call it re ed or stupid? Oh, but it was a "good" time and place for Duncan to be a poor sport, right?
People harping on sportsmanship and unwritten rules of conduct is what makes pro sports so fake these days. The business of calling every hard foul a flagrant foul. The fining of players and coaches for the slightest displeasure over officiating. The need for every playoff match-up to have a personal interest story so you can cry about a kid that is the best Nuggets fan ever or how this player or that player hadn't talked to his father in 20 years until this playoffs. like that.
As fans, we're soft. We get butt hurt over every little thing a player says or does. It doesn't even have to be basketball related. It's pathetic. It truly has become more like the WWE than a real sport. OH MY GOD look how LeBron isn't the best guy ever!!! That's absurd!!!! Again, I'm not even a fan of LeBron and I think it gets carried away.
That's the thing. It wouldn't have been sincere. And, that's why it's better that he didn't. I'm sure the Magic players aren't losing sleep over it. And, moreover, if they are upset about it, they're bigger pussies than us fans.
No they won't. They don't care. Those players that do care are asses.If he cannot do that, or he has to fake that, then that is what people take issue with. People will get over it (especially the fans), but his peers will continue to lose respect for him if he continues down this path.
I wouldn't care if any or all three of them thought and said that. Don't you know by now most pro athletes are obnoxiously y SOBs? I would think it's funny. I even half expect it from a guy like Kobe. That's part of what irks me about Dwyane Wade. He wouldn't say that even if you knew damn well he thought it. What's the point of being politically correct if it's disingenuous. That's the exact reason why Charles Barkley is so loved as an analyst. Right or wrong, he won't bull you. He'll mean what he say and he'll say what he means. But, when he was a player, people criticized him too. Now more people appreciate the fact that he is who he is and doesn't put up a front. And people love him for that. LeBron has a moment of realism instead of putting up a front, and people bash him. Again, I say it's fine to have a problem with what he did, but at this point, just let it go and leave him be about it.He won MVP correct? So you are saying it would have been ok if Kobe and Wade and Dwight said: "I don't see why I have to congratulate Lebron for winning MVP. I lost to him and he got the le, isn't that enough? I do not like losing and I think I am the best player, so why would I congratulate the man who beat me and took my MVP award?"
You should have deducted how I would respond to it from everything I've written already. I don't know for sure, but I would assume LeBron has shaken hands after losing a playoff game before. He most likely has. Ok? So he's a hypocrite. That doesn't change my opinion. He's a sore loser, a punk, and a hypocrite. All things I won't argue if that's what you're claiming. My bottom line is I don't care enough for me to hate on him to the degree some people are. Not all of you in this thread, probably not most of you. But, for those who think that it's this huge ordeal of him disrespecting the Magic and dishonoring the game and losing respect from players around the league and him being a horrible role model for kids, I just think it's too much. I think sentiments like that are born out of some desire to bring him down for whatever reason. He gets overhyped. I agree with that too. But, that's more on ESPN and Nike than on him. Does he allow it to happen? Sure. Pay me $100 million and I'll allow it to happen to me too and I wouldn't give a about being a hypocrite or a sore loser.You still have not answered my question about Lebron ever shaking hands in the NBA after a loss.
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