Lebron James Interview with Rachel Nichols

[diablerouge]

He didnt say he needed to be loved to play well, he said he needed to play with joy and for the love of the game to be at his optimal level. Thats a huge difference. He doesn't want to play the villain role because he doesn't feed off negativity. Neither did Magic and he got 5. Whats dumb about that?

[CablexDeadpool]

He didnt say he needed to be loved to play well, he said he needed to play with joy and for the love of the game to be at his optimal level. Thats a huge difference. He doesn't want to play the villain role because he doesn't feed off negativity. Neither did Magic and he got 5. Whats dumb about that?

Lebron emotions go with how much people loved him. Him being hated, made him mad, then made him play angry, the made him not play at an optimal level.


he just needs to stop talking to the media period and gets a sports psychiatrist and a mentor.

[Harry_Seaward]

Pretty benign interview. Only conceding what we all know.

He regrets the decision...no duh.
He isn't comfortable being the bad guy, but likes being jovial, smiling and loose...everyone knows that.
He played bad in the finals and acknowledges he didn't make the plays the team needed....yep.

Great. Hardly hard hitting, and didn't really need to be said, but clearly he is ready for YEAR 2.

[jwise44]

I for one enjoyed the interview. I always thought that last year Lebron was forcing the villain role. I felt like he had no choice but to say that he didn't care. Now that the season is over, he has had time to reflect and make it known that there are things that bother him too. We, as fans, get caught up in seeing these players as property, but we don't stop and think about what they go through. Imagine if every time you left your home city, you got nothing but hate spewed your way. Everywhere you turned you had to keep your head down and your mouth shut.

Listen, Lebron is a highly paid high profile athlete, but that doesn't mean he isn't a human being. The guy obviously likes doing the right thing, and he made one miscalculated error. Now, he has to live with unwarranted hate for the rest of his career and possibly the rest of his life. None of you will ever know what that is like. You will never experience what it is like to be hated by people you don't even know. Nobody deserves that. Not even Tebow. And certainly not Lebron.

You don't broadcast it on TV.

It's just stupid, he needs to be quiet, you don't go on TV and air out every little thing you feel.

And he did it to himself, he thought people would like him more or like him the same. He obviously thought that it would be okay to go on tv and leave the Cavs.

Then he badmouthed the city of Cleveland.

Tebow is different, he not some gloryhound and wants people falling at his feet and praising him.
He just wanna play football. He's not badmouthing people who hate him. He's being quiet and showing that he is a playmaker and he can play in the NFL.

Lebron is a diva that is just got hit with reality that not everybody will like you. And Lebron couldn't handle people not like him and it affected his game. Lebron did it to himself. Lebron doesn't know how to be quiet. Lebron doesn't know how to just stfu and let it go.

The season is about to start and he just wanna put another target on himself. He still looking for acceptance from a bunch of people that do not matter to him, and are not personally involved in his life.

That's the thing, at the end of the day, when I go to sleep, Lebron doesn't matter. When Lebron goes to sleep, I don't matter.

He needs to get over himself.

1. LeBron wished the team luck in the future and hoped they did well

from an outsider looking in...remember during the game the cavs got blown out and he tweeted something about how they got what they deserved? and then tried to act like he didn't even know that game was going on when it was obvious what he was talking about

so he did bad mouth cleveland and that sounds aimed at cleveland fans not just the owner

but oh well i don't care really what he says or anything, not a fan of him but if y'all do get battier and we don't make the playoffs i will be rooting for y'all so battier can get a ring

[Sc0pe92]

Something about Rachel Nichols that makes her fine. On other things, Lebron is Lebron hes gonna get criticized in any way shape or form. I actually like the villain role. But oh well hopefully Lebron will turn things around this season comming.

[DWadeno3]

Something about Rachel Nichols that makes her fine. On other things, Lebron is Lebron hes gonna get criticized in any way shape or form. I actually like the villain role. But oh well hopefully Lebron will turn things around this season comming.

Yeah, I kinda like her too.

[CablexDeadpool]

Lebron James pt. 2 convo

Sparknotes: Says he is a better player now. Says he worked out with Hakeem. Said he thinks the Heat was a success to the point. Said Cavs fans deserves better and will never be able to redeem himself. Said that he watches the Finals all the time. Said he hopes to win multiple championships and that is his goal. Said he hears the whole "not 1, not 1, not 3" all the time. Said that the Mavs didn't beat the Heat, but just loss to the Mavs. Said he hears all the jokes about himself, the whole 3 quarters thing, if there were 3 quarters in the basketball, he would've won 5 championship. Said that he doesn't get mad anymore and now laughs at the jokes. Said he's not trying to prove anything to anybody this year. Wish to have training camp and preseason games because they are a 1 year team.

Bottomline: He's in a better place this year, that's good. He seems like he sat in a cave with a Buddhist Monk and let everything go.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=7326185

[nyk_buc]

OP is stupid.

Kobe was hated for something he did OFF THE COURT. He was hated b/c he was accused of "raping" somebody. Remember when Kobe was criticized for being a ballhog by Phil Jackson, he went and didn't shoot for 2 straight games in the early 2000s. Now imagine if the entire league booed him and clamored that he was a ballhog game in and game out, I'm sure he'll play differently.

Lebron was hated for something completely BASKETBALL-related: he chose to leave one team for another. And he was hated even MORE SO than Kobe or any other NBA player ever was or will be. Now people think you're this evil person b/c you made a basketball decision, and that's something he's not. That's completely understandable.

[CablexDeadpool]

OP is stupid.

Kobe was hated for something he did OFF THE COURT. He was hated b/c he was accused of "raping" somebody. Remember when Kobe was criticized for being a ballhog by Phil Jackson, he went and didn't shoot for 2 straight games in the early 2000s. Now imagine if the entire league booed him and clamored that he was a ballhog game in and game out, I'm sure he'll play differently.

Lebron was hated for something completely BASKETBALL-related: he chose to leave one team for another. And he was hated even MORE SO than Kobe or any other NBA player ever was or will be. Now people think you're this evil person b/c you made a basketball decision, and that's something he's not. That's completely understandable.

Lmao nobody think Lebron is an evil person lmao. They think he's a selfish entitled superstar diva with immense talent but too mentally weak to never accomplish anything besides stat stuffing and winning MVPs. They think he quit on the Cavs and ran away to Miami because he couldn't win and now he's jumping on DWade's nutsack to get an easy championship.

If Lebron had went about leaving the Cavs in a professional mature manner like a public statement, detailing how great the city is, how great the fans were to him, how he failed time and time again and idk, apologize for promising something that he couldn't do. Leave with some respect. Leave without breaking people's hearts on tv.

Not wait all damn hour, with a TV special and cameras and etc. And then saying, " I am taking my talents to Souf Beach."

Not colluding with DWADE and Bosh to go to Miami. Not actually just sitting there, knowing what you gonna do and just leading people on so you can glorify yourself, like "Look at me, I am Lebron James."

Then actually saying you hated Cleveland when you was little because some owner badmouthed you.

And Kobe doesn't care what outsiders think of him.


And nobody hates Lebron because he left. They hate how he left on National TV. In big a spectacle that lasted an hour with this stupid smirk on his face and he thought it would smoothe over well with the fans, who have haven't won anything in recent memory. Lebron was their entire economy. Lebron was the only thing in that city.


And he promised them a championship and failed over and over again, then he high tails in spectacular fashion with everyone again, salivating on his nutsack like they always have been since he was 16 years old.

So yeah, it's reasonable to not like Lebron. They don't think he's an evil person with devil horns. They think he's an immature weak-minded diva that proceeded to screw them over after losing to Boston and in a series they think he actually quit on the Cavs. He loses and runs away to Miami and now they probably laughing at him because he loss in the Mavs in a similar fashion to the Boston series.

If you can't understand why Cavs fans don't like Lebron and why some basketball fans don't like Lebron. Just think if DWade or whoever your superstar on your team is, loss in the playoffs, done all these moves to get a team around him, accommodated his every wish and desire, but played with dismal effort and was a free agent. Had a TV special that lasted an hour, so you can know where he is gonna go, then said, " I am taking my talents to LA" and he runs off to go play with Kobe.

I am done with this discussion, if you can't understand why Cavs fans and casual NBA fans don't like Lebron then idk...

[nyk_buc]

^

Again, the hatred, it's not just "dislike," directed towards Lebron is BASKETBALL-RELATED. It's not just "not like," it's actually "hatred." It's understandable for Cleveland fans to "not like" him, but other people. Are you telling me there aren't other more "entitled/spoiled" superstars? They don't get the venom spewed at them like Lebron does. Please.

Even if you disagree with all that he does, should you dislike him more than accused rapists (Kobe) or alleged murderers (Ray Lewis)? Think about that for a reason.

When Kobe is criticized for something basketball-related, he tries to prove people wrong (in a negative way). I pointed out the example that when he is criticized of shooting too much, he goes out to prove a point of what happens when he doesn't shoot and hurts his own team.

[CablexDeadpool]

^

Again, the hatred, it's not just "dislike," directed towards Lebron is BASKETBALL-RELATED. It's not just "not like," it's actually "hatred." It's understandable for Cleveland fans to "not like" him, but other people. Are you telling me there aren't other more "entitled/spoiled" superstars? They don't get the venom spewed at them like Lebron does. Please.

Even if you disagree with all that he does, should you dislike him more than accused rapists (Kobe) or alleged murderers (Ray Lewis)? Think about that for a reason.

When Kobe is criticized for something basketball-related, he tries to prove people wrong (in a negative way). I pointed out the example that when he is criticized of shooting too much, he goes out to prove a point of what happens when he doesn't shoot and hurts his own team.

Lebron hate is not basketball related, it's his persona and his lack of understanding of normal average hardworking people is the reason why nobody likes Lebron.

He even said it himself, Lebron the Chosen One, King James, Lebron the Messiah, Witness, people called him these things. And he liked the attention, he liked the people loving him that much.

Then in one decision, it's Lebron the Selfish Diva, Lebron the Villain...

Lebron and his backers (Nike) elevated himself to royalty and demigod status.

Lebron was the King James of Cleveland. Lebron was accommodated in every fashion possible. Lebron had his friends and entourage on the flight and everything paid for on the organization dime. His friends using the facility.

So you give so much of yourself to this figure who basically walks around like he's Jesus Christ and Royalty. Then he turns around disrespects you and embarrasses you and breaks your heart and on top of that failed you for 7 years.

Lebron showed no regard for the Cavs fans nor the city nor the organization.

There's a reason why Kobe and Mike Vick and Ray Lewis aren't treated with the same disdain.

They don't place themselves on deity or royalty status then lose and just up and leave because they are failures.

Atlanta loves Mike Vick. Football fans love Ray Lewis, LA loves Kobe because they aren't throwing themselves in your face with all these titles, then losing, then disrespecting you. They can be humble and actually care for you.

Lebron doesn't understand people, he's ignorant of how the real world works and that's understandable because he's been sheltered and getting his way since he was 16. He's a basketball prodigy. He's a basketball child star.

People do not care he left the Cavs, they care about how he left and how he treated people who depended on him and how he elevated himself above them and abused his power.

[nyk_buc]

^

Again, the hatred, it's not just "dislike," directed towards Lebron is BASKETBALL-RELATED. It's not just "not like," it's actually "hatred." It's understandable for Cleveland fans to "not like" him, but other people. Are you telling me there aren't other more "entitled/spoiled" superstars? They don't get the venom spewed at them like Lebron does. Please.

Even if you disagree with all that he does, should you dislike him more than accused rapists (Kobe) or alleged murderers (Ray Lewis)? Think about that for a reason.

When Kobe is criticized for something basketball-related, he tries to prove people wrong (in a negative way). I pointed out the example that when he is criticized of shooting too much, he goes out to prove a point of what happens when he doesn't shoot and hurts his own team.

Lebron hate is not basketball related, it's his persona and his lack of understanding of normal average hardworking people is the reason why nobody likes Lebron.

He even said it himself, Lebron the Chosen One, King James, Lebron the Messiah, Witness, people called him these things. And he liked the attention, he liked the people loving him that much.

Then in one decision, it's Lebron the Selfish Diva, Lebron the Villain...

Lebron and his backers (Nike) elevated himself to royalty and demigod status.

Lebron was the King James of Cleveland. Lebron was accommodated in every fashion possible. Lebron had his friends and entourage on the flight and everything paid for on the organization dime. His friends using the facility.

So you give so much of yourself to this figure who basically walks around like he's Jesus Christ and Royalty. Then he turns around disrespects you and embarrasses you and breaks your heart and on top of that failed you for 7 years.

Lebron showed no regard for the Cavs fans nor the city nor the organization.

There's a reason why Kobe and Mike Vick and Ray Lewis aren't treated with the same disdain.

They don't place themselves on deity or royalty status then lose and just up and leave because they are failures.

Atlanta loves Mike Vick. Football fans love Ray Lewis, LA loves Kobe because they aren't throwing themselves in your face with all these titles, then losing, then disrespecting you. They can be humble and actually care for you.

Lebron doesn't understand people, he's ignorant of how real word works and that's understandable because he's been sheltered and getting his way since he was 16. He's a basketball prodigy. He's a basketball child star.

People do not care he left the Cavs, they care about how he left and how he treated people who depended on you and how he elevated himself above them and abused his power.

Yet your entire post talks about Lebron through knowing him as a BASKETBALL PLAYER and how he carries himself being Lebron James the basketball player.

Again, despite ALL OF THIS, are you agreeing that he should be more "disliked" than accused rapists/alleged murderers?

What's worse? Being spoiled? or being accused or raping/killing someone?

[CablexDeadpool]

^

Again, the hatred, it's not just "dislike," directed towards Lebron is BASKETBALL-RELATED. It's not just "not like," it's actually "hatred." It's understandable for Cleveland fans to "not like" him, but other people. Are you telling me there aren't other more "entitled/spoiled" superstars? They don't get the venom spewed at them like Lebron does. Please.

Even if you disagree with all that he does, should you dislike him more than accused rapists (Kobe) or alleged murderers (Ray Lewis)? Think about that for a reason.

When Kobe is criticized for something basketball-related, he tries to prove people wrong (in a negative way). I pointed out the example that when he is criticized of shooting too much, he goes out to prove a point of what happens when he doesn't shoot and hurts his own team.

Lebron hate is not basketball related, it's his persona and his lack of understanding of normal average hardworking people is the reason why nobody likes Lebron.

He even said it himself, Lebron the Chosen One, King James, Lebron the Messiah, Witness, people called him these things. And he liked the attention, he liked the people loving him that much.

Then in one decision, it's Lebron the Selfish Diva, Lebron the Villain...

Lebron and his backers (Nike) elevated himself to royalty and demigod status.

Lebron was the King James of Cleveland. Lebron was accommodated in every fashion possible. Lebron had his friends and entourage on the flight and everything paid for on the organization dime. His friends using the facility.

So you give so much of yourself to this figure who basically walks around like he's Jesus Christ and Royalty. Then he turns around disrespects you and embarrasses you and breaks your heart and on top of that failed you for 7 years.

Lebron showed no regard for the Cavs fans nor the city nor the organization.

There's a reason why Kobe and Mike Vick and Ray Lewis aren't treated with the same disdain.

They don't place themselves on deity or royalty status then lose and just up and leave because they are failures.

Atlanta loves Mike Vick. Football fans love Ray Lewis, LA loves Kobe because they aren't throwing themselves in your face with all these titles, then losing, then disrespecting you. They can be humble and actually care for you.

Lebron doesn't understand people, he's ignorant of how real word works and that's understandable because he's been sheltered and getting his way since he was 16. He's a basketball prodigy. He's a basketball child star.

People do not care he left the Cavs, they care about how he left and how he treated people who depended on you and how he elevated himself above them and abused his power.

Yet your entire post talks about Lebron through knowing him as a BASKETBALL PLAYER and how he carries himself being Lebron James the basketball player.

Again, despite ALL OF THIS, are you agreeing that he should be more "disliked" than accused rapists/alleged murderers?

What's worse? Being spoiled? or being accused or raping/killing someone?

No that's how Lebron carries himself as a person. He is self-centered, diva, spoiled, wants everybody to love him, basketball prodigy. That's who Lebron is. That's just not some basketball related persona. He wants to be the guy everybody loves, the guy everyone wants on, he always been like that.

You think Ray Lewis would just up and leave the Ravens on some stupid TV show called the Decision.

And that's the thing, they were accused of doing something like that and Ray Lewis just got obstruction of justice and probation and civil settlements and the case was dropped. Kobe rape case was unfounded and he loss all his endorsements. Mike Vick went to jail and came back a more grounded mature person.

And no, why hate someone accused of doing something and not actually doing something. Both cases were thrown out and civil suits paid. Ray Lewis, Mike Vick and Kobe paid their dues and grown from it. People can respect that.

Lebron took advantage of an entire city. He was their everything, the whole economy there was Lebron. All the hate and flack he's getting is justified and only thing he can do is learn that you don't take advantage of the love you are being given. And become a more understanding less self centered person.

Lebron is just paying his price for what he did.

[nyk_buc]

^WHAT?

A stupid TV show? Who cares? He's a spoiled brat. Who cares?

Being accused is a big thing. If you were accused of rape, let me tell you one thing, nobody around you would look at you in the same light if you were a normal person. There's a reason you were put into those predicaments. But in sports, we don't care for those things, and we would rather "dislike" someone b/c he is a spoiled brat and had a TV show called the decision. Really? What has society become nowadays.

Kobe didn't grow up. In 2005, he threw Bynum under the buss, and dissed the organization who supported him v. Shaq. He was ready to bail out on them. That's growing up? If they lost Pau Gasol right now for nothing, I'll bet you my house that Kobe will demand to be traded ASAP.

Mike Vick went back to his crying ways and complaining before he got injured. That's growing up???

Please, you're butthurt b/c a player is a spoiled brat and had his own TV show announcing his decision. If you're butthurt about that, then Lebron is most likely right: go back to living your own life and being butthurt.

EDIT: the only thing I don't like about Lebron now is how he's "apologizing" for what he did. If you're a man, own up to what you did. You made that decision, now deal with it. You made a basketball decision, and if people don't like how you handle your situation, that's them. AS a man, you live for yourself and your family, not for the public.

[CablexDeadpool]

^WHAT?

A stupid TV show? Who cares? He's a spoiled brat. Who cares?

Being accused is a big thing. If you were accused of rape, let me tell you one thing, nobody around you would look at you in the same light if you were a normal person. There's a reason you were put into those predicaments. But in sports, we don't care for those things, and we would rather "dislike" someone b/c he is a spoiled brat and had a TV show called the decision. Really? What has society become nowadays.

Kobe didn't grow up. In 2005, he threw Bynum under the buss, and dissed the organization who supported him v. Shaq. He was ready to bail out on them. That's growing up? If they lost Pau Gasol right now for nothing, I'll bet you my house that Kobe will demand to be traded ASAP.

Mike Vick went back to his crying ways and complaining before he got injured. That's growing up???

Please, you're butthurt b/c a player is a spoiled brat and had his own TV show announcing his decision. If you're butthurt about that, then Lebron is most likely right: go back to living your own life and being butthurt.

EDIT: the only thing I don't like about Lebron now is how he's "apologizing" for what he did. If you're a man, own up to what you did. You made that decision, now deal with it. You made a basketball decision, and if people don't like how you handle your situation, that's them. AS a man, you live for yourself and your family, not for the public.

It wasn't a basketball decision, he was running away from criticism for being called a quitter and a loser. So he went on with the Decision, hyped himself up and it backed fired. Chicago would've been a better fit team with Lebron than DWade and Lebron.

And Mike didn't go back to his crying ways, Mike Vick is a leader on that football team, Mike said he supports Andy Reid.

Kobe was on a team with Smush Parker, and he did throw his team under the bus for not performing well and you know what, he got two championships out of it. That's how Kobe is. That's his personality, he's borderline psychopathic about winning.

And you still don't get it, but Lebron gets it. You don't take advantage of love you are being given.

Lebron got it now, he understands what he did was selfish and self-centered and self promoting and stupid.

Lebron lives for the public spotlight, he's been living for it since he was 16 and that's who he is. He wants you to love and accept him.

[TheAnkh]

I hate using this term, but I'm surprised nobody has called out the OP for being such a LeBron 'homer' yet. Most of this 'anger' seems to come from being personally invested in LeBron's image, what will help his legacy, where LeBron would have been a better 'fit' to help his image, etc. Who cares?

I think the interview was fine anyway. The entire Heat team got too caught up in the media circus and didn't just simply focus on basketball. Putting this out there may not have any effect on what the media and other team's fans say (and I fail to see why anyone should care if it did or not anyway) but it should at least help the team put it behind them. I think this was LeBron's attempt at closure and I am 100% behind him for the gesture. Good display of leadership, imo.

[Kerosene]

I hate using this term, but I'm surprised nobody has called out the OP for being such a LeBron 'homer' yet. Most of this 'anger' seems to come from being personally invested in LeBron's image, what will help his legacy, where LeBron would have been a better 'fit' to help his image, etc. Who cares?

I think the interview was fine anyway. The entire Heat team got too caught up in the media circus and didn't just simply focus on basketball. Putting this out there may not have any effect on what the media and other team's fans say (and I fail to see why anyone should care if it did or not anyway) but it should at least help the team put it behind them. I think this was LeBron's attempt at closure and I am 100% behind him for the gesture. Good display of leadership, imo.

Precisely.

[LEIF]

I tweeted about Lebron's interview (part 1) using the hashtag #SCLebronconvo basically just saying that it was a refereshing interview and I couldnt wait for the season and was happy Lebron was on my lifelong favortie team, totally postive, not arrogant or trash talking at all.. and Sportscenter retweeted it. I thought that was really cool because 1.8 million people read it, dozens retweeting it.....then..the hate came....its amazing how polarizing Lebron and now our HEAT as a team is, because people were sending me hate tweets for the balance of the afternoon. real hateful stuff.

and that means we are doing something right.

[CablexDeadpool]

I hate using this term, but I'm surprised nobody has called out the OP for being such a LeBron 'homer' yet. Most of this 'anger' seems to come from being personally invested in LeBron's image, what will help his legacy, where LeBron would have been a better 'fit' to help his image, etc. Who cares?

I think the interview was fine anyway. The entire Heat team got too caught up in the media circus and didn't just simply focus on basketball. Putting this out there may not have any effect on what the media and other team's fans say (and I fail to see why anyone should care if it did or not anyway) but it should at least help the team put it behind them. I think this was LeBron's attempt at closure and I am 100% behind him for the gesture. Good display of leadership, imo.

Idc about his image or his legacy. I don't care about him at all.

I just wish he will be quiet and stop feeding the hype train because he wants attention and distracting himself which hurts his play therefore hurts his team. It was last year, nobody was even thinking about him or about it, and here he goes bringing it up.

There's a reason Patriot players are not allowed to talk to the media and the whole Patriot Way of being quiet and just going to play the game and try to win. It limits stupid soap opera storylines and soap opera archetypes.