Do You Finally Respect LeBron James?

[DM72]

Winning a championship means you, and your team, deserve respect for your athletic achievement.

It does not suddenly make you a better person who now deserves more respect outside of the sport.

Exactly. And I'm not even gonna say that LeBron is a bad person. I don't know him. But with "the decison", the celebration afterwords and the mocking of Dirk in last years finals, along with Wade, all of that rubbed me the wrong way.

[AsiaticSkinsFan]

I'm not sure guys wouldn't want to come to Cleveland to play with the best player in the league, but you could be right and if you are, that's why the NBA is perhaps the worst sports leagues there is. If you're not LA, NY, Chi, MIA, Dal, S.A or Bos, forget about winning a championship.

Bron wanted Bosh to come with him to Cleveland, and Bosh said no

In the NBA its big city or serious contender. DC could be that but we have inept management. A lot of guys love playing in Atlanta because they love Atlanta. And before some old guy wants to talk about this being a new phenomena, its always been like this.

---------- Post added June-25th-2012 at 04:46 PM ----------

I didn't like how ESPN pretty much gave Cleveland a backhanded slap by calling that show "The Decision," just like "The Fumble," "The Drive," "The Shot," etc. I thought that was pretty unnecessary on their part, as it was pretty clear to most people at that point that there was no way in hell that he was going back.

or that ESPN are the ones who aired it and indulged it

---------- Post added June-25th-2012 at 04:47 PM ----------

Not just "the decision" but the celebration where LeBron james said "not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4, not 5, not 6, not 7" and "the games will be the easy part." These guys were celebrating as if they had already won. Did Shaq have that type of celebration when he went tothe Lakers? Did Moses Malone have that type of celebration when he went to Philly? Did Garnett and Allen have that kind of celebration when they went to Boston? It's not hating, people just were put off by it.

Shaq had a parade before he arrived in Miami too. An actual parade with floats and stuff. People forget this.

[Mr. Sinister]

Shaq had a parade before he arrived in Miami too. An actual parade with floats and stuff. People forget this.

It's forgotten because everyone loved Shaq and his personality, and everyone hated Kobe.

[AsiaticSkinsFan]

Because there is a backlash. "The Decision" drew millions of viewers, sold a lot of advertising, and raised money for Boys and Girls Clubs, but how much did it affect LeBron's ability to raise money for charity over the next few years? Can he even show up to Cleveland-area fundraisers anymore? I am not sure that it was a net positive for LeBron's lifetime charity fundraising abilities. Moving to Miami and winning a championship has certainly raised his profile, but I think he would be better off if he had made that move without pissing off most of the country on national TV.

a month after the decision, Lebron had his annual bikeathon through Akron. I dont think "The Decision" had much of any effect.

---------- Post added June-25th-2012 at 04:53 PM ----------

It's forgotten because everyone loved Shaq and his personality, and everyone hated Kobe.

which is also a big crock of crap considering that Shaq ha shown himself to be a DBag over the years as well.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

I think it was more Pippin than MJ. I think it was Pippin who said he didn't think Kukoc could play in the NBA.

Pippen was pissed because Kukoc was already making more money than him.

Pippen is arguably the most underpaid player in NBA history.

But Jordan went after Kukoc like a maniac in that game too.

[DjTj]

a month after the decision, Lebron had his annual bikeathon through Akron. I dont think "The Decision" had much of any effect.

Is 90% fewer people an effect?

In previous years, more than 1,000 riders participated in the bikeathon, which included an 8-mile ride. This year only about 100 signed up to ride with the kids who received bikes. Because of the diminished interest, the longer ride was cancelled.

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010...by_hometo.html

[Kosher Ham]

Pippen was underpaid for quite a while, but the Bulls did finally give him a stellar contract if I recall, and then once he was traded he continued to get paid in Portland.

[DM72]

But Jordan went after Kukoc like a maniac in that game too.

And?

[EBoz]

Lebron is a hell of a player but a total douche. I don't care how good a player he is. His arrogant attitude makes it difficult, hell impossible to respect anybody like that.

Correction, it makes it impossible for ME to respect him.

[Sticksboi05]

Bron wanted Bosh to come with him to Cleveland, and Bosh said no

In the NBA its big city or serious contender. DC could be that but we have inept management. A lot of guys love playing in Atlanta because they love Atlanta. And before some old guy wants to talk about this being a new phenomena, its always been like this.

---------- Post added June-25th-2012 at 04:46 PM ----------



or that ESPN are the ones who aired it and indulged it

---------- Post added June-25th-2012 at 04:47 PM ----------



Shaq had a parade before he arrived in Miami too. An actual parade with floats and stuff. People forget this.

So what? He didn't go off guaranteeing 7 championships. The Miami Big 3 party was detestable. The video comparing the Celtics/Miami Big 3 joining is great. Humbleness vs. arrogance. I'm sad they finally won. I really am for that. I wish they'd had to wait a few more years.

(Plus Shaq is the man).

[stevemcqueen1]

My only problem with The Decision was how boring and unimaginative it was.

I mean it's LeBron James. Come on. His heel turn should have gone like this:



---------- Post added June-25th-2012 at 07:26 PM ----------

Why LeBron? Why?

[Mr. Sinister]

wtf, HBK wrestled Hogan? When was this?

[spjunkies]

wtf, HBK wrestled Hogan? When was this?

They had an awful match at Summerslam 05 in D.C. that I went to. Shawn can't stand Hogan so he was overselling like crazy

[Mr. Sinister]

I always thought he left and never came back after the weird Mr. America storyline.

[Rdskn4Lyf21]

Deal with the bandwagon douchebags down here and then try to answer that.

**** LeBron