LeTravel, LaQween, LaDouche - La Going to LA

[doclinkin]

With his huge ego, narcissim and King-like attitude LeBron is an easy and understandable target for posters' hate.

That's the spirit!

[keynote]

I thought everything was open to debate on a board like this. In fact, I find it kind of boring when everyone is "singing from the same songbook." Don't you?

I guess I wouldn't want you in my choir.
Anyway, don't make this into a referendum on free speech.
You're free to post pro-LeBron rhetoric in the Workout Thread, too, by the way. But you wouldn't. 'Cause it wouldn't make any sense. This, on the other hand, is a joke thread with a specific theme. If you don't want in on the joke, why post here?

[Kanyewest]

LeBron raised around $6 million and they gave $2.5 million to charity; so where did the other $3.5 million go. BTW, it's also funny that ESPN is not allowed to talk about Delonte West and his mama affair on Bill Simmon's podcast.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Here's another perspective on the LeBron, ESPN stuff. They're excerpts from an article on the website "The Root."

Blah Blah Blah
That's not how I saw it. A self-absorbed egomaniac wouldn't leave $30 million on the table; he'd grab every cent possible. He wouldn't leave to play on another superstar's team, with the likelihood of diminished stats and stature in return. And he certainly wouldn't give up the undying love and affection of his hometown, where fans burned his jersey in the aftermath.

Blah blah blah

This is the point where the article loses all credibility to me. The author clearly does not understand human psychology; being self-absorbed does not mean you value money. Personal security and wealth that lets you fulfill your desires and whims? Sure. But Lebron was getting that either way. Being completely self-absorbed does not mean you value family, friends, or fans; it means you do what seems like the best thing for you at any given time, and damn the consequences to others.

The ego component to Lebron is the most debatable, and the only idea I found in that article worth much of anything. If I was building a psychological profile of James I would probably conclude that he is much, much more insecure than he seems outwardly. The exterior displays of ego are contradicted by his actions - he calls himself the King, but frequently shrinks from the moment, evades responsibility, and lays the blame for failure on others.

I feel bad for Lebron, honestly. He puffs himself up so we won't see how terribly afraid he really is.

The author also doesn't consider LBJ isn't giving up 30Mil because he won't be taxed in Miami on the contract he signed for. He virtually breaks even to become a frontrunning, gravy train riding, Robin.

I do not feel bad for Lebron. I feel sorry for the fans who didn't realize he didn't have the decency to take the opportunity to consider how devastating the way he left Cleveland would be. "He wanted that show and that day to be about himself" to paraphrase, is how James put it.

At the end of the day he played and played brilliantly for 7 years and he earned the right to go. The commisioner fined Gilbert, and I thought it was an appropriate action by Stern. At the same time, the owner said what was on his mind and it tells you that if you work for someone 7 years and leave them like he did, that other person is NOT lying about calling him narcissistic.

James is a player that from this day forth I will love to hate. Strong word. I just can't help but admit that this guy has all the darn talent and all the drive to succeed and all the physical gifts a man could have; but he is a straight up d bag.

[Wizards2Lottery]

And I'm not trying to defend LBJ....just trying to provide a different perspective...kinda like Jesse Jackson did.

Jesse Jackson embarrasses himself and minorities whenever he opens his mouth. Sometimes different perspectives are better left unsaid.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

When Jesse came out with the slave/master analogy that would have been better unsaid.

[JWizmentality]

Nice thread title...but where's Bosharella?

[LyricalRico]

The Miami Heat announced today that guard Mario Chalmers has suffered a high left ankle sprain. He is expected to be in a cast for two to four weeks and will be re-evaluated following that time.

Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wireta ... ft_ankle/##ixzz0thfTNr8R

And so it begins...

[Benjammin]

I like Hoopalotta's (I think it's his) moniker, Le bon bon.

[DCZards]

Jesse Jackson embarrasses himself and minorities whenever he opens his mouth. Sometimes different perspectives are better left unsaid.

Yeah, Jesse should have probably left it alone. But I can assure you that a lot of other folks were saying and thinking the same thing.

[Hoopalotta]

Sheer awesomeness:

The Heat, of course, is on a lot of [ring chasers] lists, including that of former Heat guard Mike James, who played Wednesday in Wade's charity golf event at Doral.

"Because of my matureness of the game and my wisdom of the game, I would be able to fit any situation, especially a situation like here in Miami," James said.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miam ... 4104.story

Please make this happen!

I like Hoopalotta's (I think it's his) moniker, Le bon bon.

I did pen that one, yeah. Maybe my first semi decent nickname; pretty macho.

[Wizards2Lottery]

"Because of my matureness of the game and my wisdom of the game, I would be able to fit any situation, especially a situation like here in Miami," James said.

He had to have that sarcastically.

[verbal8]

"Because of my matureness of the game and my wisdom of the game, I would be able to fit any situation, especially a situation like here in Miami," James said.

He had to have that sarcastically.

Is this even a word? Shouldn't it be maturity.

By fitting in any situation, does he mean that he can sit at the end of the bench for any NBA team.

[keynote]

^ I think that was a typo. The correct spelling is "manureness."

[verbal8]

^ I think that was a typo. The correct spelling is "manureness."

lol

[montestewart]

"Because of my matureness of the game and my wisdom of the game, I would be able to fit any situation, especially a situation like here in Miami," James said.

He had to have that sarcastically.

Is this even a word? Shouldn't it be maturity.

By fitting in any situation, does he mean that he can sit at the end of the bench for any NBA team.

James: I'll play for free.
Riley: I think we can make a 16th space on the roster, as a super-secret sub.
James: 16th spot? Super-secret sub?
Riley: This will just be between you and I. Don't show up to games. I've been in trouble with the league before. If Dwayne goes down, you're on.

Four months into the season...

James: Hey, wait a minute!

[LyricalRico]

[Hoopalotta]

This things off and running!

[BanndNDC]

...he calls himself the King, but frequently shrinks from the moment, evades responsibility, and lays the blame for failure on others.

actually, that sounds just like how kings often acted (right before a revolution).

maybe he really is a king. he's never wrong (in his own mind), he can define words as he sees fit (humble), has a sheltered council of advisors to tell him how great and right he always is, snaps his fingers and powerful entities like espn and the nba do his bidding (the "decision" and the crab dribble), has a habit of berating, belittling and cowing into submission minor functionaries (officials), and has no loyalty (only accepts fealty). he's probably a hemophiliac too (why else is he always checking for blood?).

nay i say he is a king. a petty preening ponce like all the rest of them and miami is the new versailles. washington may not be the bastille but we are all hugeonots (except for 'zards). though it's a day late i say down with cake (even though it's quite tasty) and up with the good ole american pie (better to throw at tyrants and despots).

[AceDegenerate]

Finally tonight, a few words about championship rings. Just when did they become the all-important barometer of who does or doesn't count in sports? When did they supersede personal excellence or exemplary character as a standard of greatness?

I got to thinking about that the other night after the self-anointed chosen one, LeBron James, embarrassed himself as he tried to make his decision to seek rings in Miami sound like a search for the Holy Grail. It's when he essentially admitted to placing a higher priority on winning than anything else.

LeBron's decision is typical of our immediate gratification era, but it flies in the face of history. Even though he never won a title, Dan Marino is still the biggest hero in Florida. And in Boston, all those Celtics championships are dimmed by the unforgettable brilliance of Ted Williams, who never won anything. In Chicago, Gale Sayers and Dick Butkus have legendary status despite playing on losing teams. And even in the NBA, where guys seem obsessed with being viewed as "the man," real men like Barkley, Ewing and Baylor are ringless, but revered.

Despite such evidence to the contrary, LeBron James seems to think he needs a ring to change his life and secure his legacy. Maybe he'll get one, maybe he won't, but it's probable that no amount of rings will ever remove the stench he wallowed in last week. LeBron may yet find that in the court of public opinion, just as putting on a tux can’t make a guy a gentleman, winning a ring can’t make one truly a champion.