LeBron James says race played role in backlash to his decision

[duncan228]

LeBron James says race played role in backlash to his decision
By Kurt Helin

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.

"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 (something he said with a smirk after saying the word heat).

There certainly has been a lot of LeBron hate. The numbers back up what James and Carter have said about race.

Among blacks, LeBron's positive Q rating among dropped from 52 percent in January to 39 -- however his negative Q rating barely changed, going from 14 percent to 15. Blacks seemed to change what they thought of him, but to a more neutral stance.

Among non-blacks, LeBron's negative Q rating went from 24 percent to 44 after the decision.

Why different races reacted to the situation in very different ways would make an interesting study in race relations in America.

[BadOdor]

LeBron James says race played role in backlash to his decision
By Kurt Helin

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.

"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 (something he said with a smirk after saying the word heat).

There certainly has been a lot of LeBron hate. The numbers back up what James and Carter have said about race.

Among blacks, LeBron's positive Q rating among dropped from 52 percent in January to 39 -- however his negative Q rating barely changed, going from 14 percent to 15. Blacks seemed to change what they thought of him, but to a more neutral stance.

Among non-blacks, LeBron's negative Q rating went from 24 percent to 44 after the decision.

Why different races reacted to the situation in very different ways would make an interesting study in race relations in America.

Harlemheat = lebron?

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Why different races reacted to the situation in very different ways would make an interesting study in race relations in America.

Black people are bandwagoning front runners who root for the best team, naturally they'd react positively when they see the fellow black man front run and hop on the Heat bandwagon.

If Lebron worked it so he ended up with the Lakers, his coon approval rating woulda jumped from 54 to 99 percent, the other 1% being s in Cleveland.

[HeatTheBestEver]

's just mad at my Heat cause we stylin on hatas

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

's just mad at my Heat cause we stylin on hatas

proves me point

[Daddy Ignorant]

Black people are bandwagoning front runners who root for the best team, naturally they'd react positively when they see the fellow black man front run and hop on the Heat bandwagon.

This makes no sense, just because I'm a Saints/Lakers/Yankees/UNC/ and Bama fan doesn't mean I'm a bandwagoner!

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

This makes no sense, just because I'm a Saints/Lakers/Yankees/UNC/ and Bama fan doesn't mean I'm a bandwagoner!

[elbamba]

Perhaps people didn't like that he took a huge crap on the Cavs and the people from the city in the way he announced he was leaving. I don't know of anyone outside of the Heat that think that his decision was a good move.

James could just write a check for 3 million dollars to the charity. That even had nothing to do with charity and everything to do with selling his crap. The charity was the excuse to try and cover up a very bad public relations mess.

The race card is stupid. Farve catches the same crap for his antics. People don't care about race when it comes to millionaires and billionaires being stupid.

[Latarian Milton]

the hatred against s still exists in nooks and crannies on the american continent tbh, which you rich white dudes can never empathize.

[SenorSpur]

Black people are bandwagoning front runners who root for the best team, naturally they'd react positively when they see the fellow black man front run and hop on the Heat bandwagon.

If Lebron worked it so he ended up with the Lakers, his coon approval rating woulda jumped from 54 to 99 percent, the other 1% being s in Cleveland.

You just made a blanket, racist statement against an entire ethnic group. I've got news for you. There are a lot of bandwaggoning, frontrunning fans - and they're made up of various races of people.

[HarlemHeat37]

It's always funny how White people react to somebody playing the race card, TBH..

In addition to the stats that are provided, there's also the obvious factor that Dan Gilbert treated LBJ like a slave..

I'm still shocked how somebody can get so much criticism for doing something that raised 3 million $ for the B&G, and then another 3 million $ for other charities..the kids benefited, other various charities benefited, Akron still got their yearly bike-a-thon(despite the dangers involved of Lebron coming back to the Cleveland area..

Isn't that all that matters?..

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

There are a lot of bandwaggoning, frontrunning fans - and they're made up of various races of people.

I don't disagree, bandwagoning is like sickle cell anemia. It's an epidemic that affects all races, but black people more so than any other race.

[TimDunkem]

Black people are bandwagoning front runners who root for the best team, naturally they'd react positively when they see the fellow black man front run and hop on the Heat bandwagon.

If Lebron worked it so he ended up with the Lakers, his coon approval rating woulda jumped from 54 to 99 percent, the other 1% being s in Cleveland.

lol So ing true.

[Latarian Milton]

s are the loyalest sports fans tbh they love sports exactly as much as they love their country, whereas it's the rich white dudes who often oscillate between two rival teams and finally end up on the bandwagon of the winning team. IMHO about 99% of posters here who claim to be Heat fans were not truly Heat fans before Bosh and James joined Miami.

im a native Floridan i only love two things in my life- the Miami Heat basketball team and hoodrat stuff.

[J_Paco]

I don't disagree, bandwagoning is like sickle cell anemia. It's an epidemic that affects all races, but black people more so than any other race.

Dude, your use of the word "coon" was way over the line. LeBron did what he did, even though I don't agree with the special, and people of varying races had a negative at ude toward it. He's a black man and in most circles considered the best player in the world, so I'm sure plenty of African-American men would root for wherever he ended.

I don't disagree, bandwagoning is like sickle cell anemia. It's an epidemic that affects all races, but black people more so than any other race.

No, one is a serious disease that effects many individuals. The other is just a game followed by individuals.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Dude, your use of the word "coon" was way over the line.

Thank you for your opinion. I'll think about that before I use the word coon on the internet again.

[J_Paco]

Thank you for your opinion. I'll think about that before I use the word coon on the internet again.

Cute little sarcastic comeback, but I'm sure you wouldn't say that bull to a black man or woman in real life.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Cute little sarcastic comeback, but I'm sure you wouldn't say that bull to a black man or woman in real life.

Depends. If I'm at a Suns Lakers game and some punk black guy with a Kobe jersey won't shut up, I might crack a joke about how every black American is a Lakers fan. I wouldn't use the word "coon", but I'd be more than willing to ruffle feathers.

[Booharv]

harlemheat is approaching lakaluva levels in terms of the obviousness of his schtick.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

No, one is a serious disease that effects many individuals.

Tbh, they both are. Bandwagoning is frowned upon by most, yet it seems blacks are genetically prone to blatant front running and cheering for teams they have no connection to whatsoever.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Race is still a serious issue in America.

I admit, I do view a black person differently than someone who is white. It's more a 'my kind, their kind' at ude. I find that I've gotten more tolerant as I've grown older, but the progress is not fast enough for me to have any pride in that.

Two summers ago I was mugged by two people (black) in Franklin, IND. I spent the rest of my time there afraid of men and afraid of African American men in particular. I was aware of this, but my emotions were still getting the best of me. I would often find myself in tears, similar to what happens when I think about the brawl that destroyed the hopes of my Indiana Pacers.

I would flinch walking down the street. I felt the obvious emotional turmoil a crime creates, but I also discovered that when I was pushed to the edge, I had latent tendencies to evaluate solely on skin color.

With the economy as bad as it is here in Hawthorne, IND, I fear I am not the only one who will be subject to a crime that deepens racial tensions. It has made me more vigilant on things like racial issues. I don't want to hand racist tendencies to my future children, and that means we have to even out our society, and do it quickly before we revert to the traditional American view on skin color, as I sadly did 2 summers ago.

You'll have to excuse me, I always feel like a blubbering child when I write on this topic. It's the same way I feel when I write about the Pacers-Pistons brawl that left me in tears of rage.

[HarlemHeat37]

harlemheat is approaching lakaluva levels in terms of the obviousness of his schtick.

Really isn't comparable, TBH..

I always back up my Lebron arguments, as you can easily find by looking up the history..lakaluva's trolling about Duncan is very obvious, poorly researched, and hypocritical, as I pointed out in his latest Duncan thread..

I genuinely don't see how people can be so angry about what Lebron did..I don't think I've ever seen somebody get more unwarranted hate than Lebron has received these last few months..

[That's Funked Up]

Black people are bandwagoning front runners who root for the best team, naturally they'd react positively when they see the fellow black man front run and hop on the Heat bandwagon.

If Lebron worked it so he ended up with the Lakers, his coon approval rating woulda jumped from 54 to 99 percent, the other 1% being s in Cleveland.

if lebron jumped to the lakers he'd have the coons and the ks. His would be the number one stolen jersey of all time

[4>0rings]

This makes no sense, just because I'm a Saints/Lakers/Yankees/UNC/ and Bama fan doesn't mean I'm a bandwagoner!

[HarlemHeat37]

Race is still a serious issue in America.

I admit, I do view a black person differently than someone who is white. It's more a 'my kind, their kind' at ude. I find that I've gotten more tolerant as I've grown older, but the progress is not fast enough for me to have any pride in that.

Two summers ago I was mugged by two people (black) in Franklin, IND. I spent the rest of my time there afraid of men and afraid of African American men in particular. I was aware of this, but my emotions were still getting the best of me. I would often find myself in tears, similar to what happens when I think about the brawl that destroyed the hopes of my Indiana Pacers.

I would flinch walking down the street. I felt the obvious emotional turmoil a crime creates, but I also discovered that when I was pushed to the edge, I had latent tendencies to evaluate solely on skin color.

With the economy as bad as it is here in Hawthorne, IND, I fear I am not the only one who will be subject to a crime that deepens racial tensions. It has made me more vigilant on things like racial issues. I don't want to hand racist tendencies to my future children, and that means we have to even out our society, and do it quickly before we revert to the traditional American view on skin color, as I sadly did 2 summers ago.

You'll have to excuse me, I always feel like a blubbering child when I write on this topic. It's the same way I feel when I write about the Pacers-Pistons brawl that left me in tears of rage.