The LeBron hate is incredibly pitiful. This is a kid still in his mid-20's who has been showered with attention from people trying to take advantage of him since he's been 14. What do you know, a kid who has been granted the name, "The Chosen One" since his teenage years has made some dumb decisions and at times lost control of his ego. Shocking! I can't even begin to imagine how outrageously cocky some of you a** hats would be if you had the talent and skillset that LeBron had.
Look, LeBron has obviously made mistakes, but the fact that his haters still cling to those moments in his life like a dumped boyfriend is incredibly sad and pathetic. I read one poster on here mention the fact that LeBron has "never overcome an adversity". Are you kidding me?? This is a kid who never had a father and lived in something like six different houses during his teen years. Please, tell me who on here has a story that compares to that. Yeah, he's talented, rich, and famous. I'm sure he'd give it all back for a father, I know I would.
So let's review some of LeBron's egregious and unforviveagle sins highlighted in this thread.
--The Decision. Critics have a legitimate beef here, as he tossed the city that loved him like few other athletes in Cleveland history under the bus on National TV. In fairness to him, I think this was more a case of his PR staff pressuring into a decision like this to expand his brand. And let's be honest, for all you shmuks ripping the self-serving one hour promotion, tell me you didn't watch it, and think about it all day. You're lying.
--Not shaking hands with the Magic in 09. He should have shown more sportsmanship, but the kid was freakin 23 years old and coming off an incredibly grueling series in which he carried the Cavs on his back and got no help. He's lost in the playoffs the last two years, and he was incredibly gracious in defeat. How about the entire Celtics team (minus West and Ray) walking off the court after game five last year? The amount of attention they received for that lack of sportsmanship wasn't 1% what LeBron got. Let's see you Celtic homers on thsi board kill Pierce and KG for it, I bet you won't. Oh yeah, it's different when it's LeBron.
--Dancing on sidelines. Holy he danced on the sidelines! Hang him! No really, it showed a lack of class, but comeon, the fact that certain people are still bi*tching about it over three years later is sad. Crucify him for being excited during a big win.
--Heat welcome party. Clearly LeBron got a little carried away. But Jeez, the guy was just trying to pump up his new home crowd. It was clearly a heat of the moment thing that he had no idea was going to linger. The Heat literally did the same thing in 05 for Shaq and nobody cared. The double standard with LeBron haters is apalling.
The selective memory some of you guys have in regards to Kobe is comical. You're talking about a guy who publicly feuded with one of the best players of all-time, pi**ed his coach off to the point he briefly retired, threw his teammates under the bus on several occasions, quit on team in game seven of 06 Suns series, publicly demanded trade the following year (but Kobe would never take the easy way out!), and hogged the ball in ways never seen before.
Oh yeah, and did I mention he freakin sexually assaulted somebody! If LeBron rubs you the wrong way, fine. But the outright hate and disgust shown by some people is illogical and outrageously bitter in comparison to other star athletes. Ben Roethlisberger, Mike Vick, and Kobe are not ridiculed on nearly the same level, and they have in some cases, allegedly committed much worse acts of violence and cruelty than LeBron hurting the city of Cleveland's feelings because he didn't want Mo Williams to be his Pippen.
By the way, name me the worst off-court incident LeBron has been involved in since the decision. The man clearly has realized the errors in his ways, adjusted to criticism, and become more mature as a person. Get the *k over it and enjoy his brilliance as a basketball player.
