When it comes to LeBron James, we were all witnesses once again.However, this time for a different reason.
Following the Cavailiers game six loss to the Orlando Magic, which eliminated them from the NBA Playoffs, James headed directly to the locker room. He showered, he dressed, he was out of there. No hand shake. No words for Olympic teammate, Dwight Howard. No words toward the press. Nothing.
Some have excused James' actions, and have chalked it up as a fierce competitor refusing to accept losing.
However, the truth is, after the loss to the Magic, James' took his ball and went home. He finally cracked what was once a perfect image, and showed his age.
James is phenomenal, period. There is no way around it or any other word to precisely describe how good he is. Let's face it, the dude is sick. Nonetheless, what makes him more amazing is his maturity and poise off-the-court at the age of twenty-four. James handles himself like a seasoned veteran with a savvy know-how for interviews, fan-interaction, showmanship, marketing, and business. He is the complete package. The second coming. One of the faces of the National Basketball Association.
All the reason why James' actions are unreasonable.
James stated the following day regarding his actions:
Does it not make any sense to show a sense of sportsmanship towards your opponent?
Mixed Martial Artists, Boxers, and Fighters hug and congratulate one another after destroying one another.
Are you exempt from addressing the media, your league, and your fans because of your competitiveness?
Mariano Rivera, Joe Torre and others congratulated the Arizona Diamondbacks in their clubhouse, after they defeated the New York Yankees in the 2001 World Series. Both Rivera (Who blew the game) and others from the Yankees addressed the media as well. Tom Brady answered every question with out quarrel after his Super Bowl loss.
Would any athlete in a large market be able to get away with the same action?
How about if Kobe Bryant pulled the same stunt if he were eliminated?
Despite the leniency and favoritism he receives due to his like-able image, what LeBron James did was indeed a selfish act. For the first time in his already great, and promising career, he slipped up. He forgot about his responsibilities to his teammates; his coach; the Cavalier Organization; the NBA; the city of Cleveland; and his fans worldwide. He put himself, and his emotions first.
All of it, a tremendous amount of responsibility for a twenty-four year old. One that we often forget is indeed only twenty-four years of age. Although he will eventually learn from this, for the first time ever, LeBron James acted his age.
Following the Cavailiers game six loss to the Orlando Magic, which eliminated them from the NBA Playoffs, James headed directly to the locker room. He showered, he dressed, he was out of there. No hand shake. No words for Olympic teammate, Dwight Howard. No words toward the press. Nothing.
Some have excused James' actions, and have chalked it up as a fierce competitor refusing to accept losing.
However, the truth is, after the loss to the Magic, James' took his ball and went home. He finally cracked what was once a perfect image, and showed his age.
James is phenomenal, period. There is no way around it or any other word to precisely describe how good he is. Let's face it, the dude is sick. Nonetheless, what makes him more amazing is his maturity and poise off-the-court at the age of twenty-four. James handles himself like a seasoned veteran with a savvy know-how for interviews, fan-interaction, showmanship, marketing, and business. He is the complete package. The second coming. One of the faces of the National Basketball Association.
All the reason why James' actions are unreasonable.
James stated the following day regarding his actions:
"One thing about me you gotta understand; it is hard for me to congratulate somebody after just losing to him. I'm a winner, that's not being a poor sport or anything like that. If somebody beats you up, you are not going to congratulate them beating you up. That doesn't make sense to me, I'm a competitor and that is what I do. It doesn't make sense to me to go over and shake somebody's hand."Oh really?
Does it not make any sense to show a sense of sportsmanship towards your opponent?
Mixed Martial Artists, Boxers, and Fighters hug and congratulate one another after destroying one another.
Are you exempt from addressing the media, your league, and your fans because of your competitiveness?
Mariano Rivera, Joe Torre and others congratulated the Arizona Diamondbacks in their clubhouse, after they defeated the New York Yankees in the 2001 World Series. Both Rivera (Who blew the game) and others from the Yankees addressed the media as well. Tom Brady answered every question with out quarrel after his Super Bowl loss.
Would any athlete in a large market be able to get away with the same action?
How about if Kobe Bryant pulled the same stunt if he were eliminated?
Despite the leniency and favoritism he receives due to his like-able image, what LeBron James did was indeed a selfish act. For the first time in his already great, and promising career, he slipped up. He forgot about his responsibilities to his teammates; his coach; the Cavalier Organization; the NBA; the city of Cleveland; and his fans worldwide. He put himself, and his emotions first.
All of it, a tremendous amount of responsibility for a twenty-four year old. One that we often forget is indeed only twenty-four years of age. Although he will eventually learn from this, for the first time ever, LeBron James acted his age.