It would be sad if he ended up listening to the hype and not taking the time to improve his game. You get out of it what you put into it, and while athletes like Kobe and Tiger may seem arrogant at times, you can bet that they work their butts off practicing. I think a lot of kids might miss that point.
Exactly, you don't hold the kid responsible for the things that were given to him. But I think people blame him not for what he has, but for how he has responded to the things that were given to him. You can be given all the things in the world, but you don't have to be arrogant or conceited about it. I think that's the point that people are trying to make. The kid is only 17 years old, so he has a lot of growing up to do.
Regarding recruiting visits, coaches aren't stupid, they know he's not going to go to college. They want him to come look to impress other prospects. Lebron gets a free trip, they get exposure. He is not taking advantage of anybody, at least in that regard.
yeah, if james comes out and says he would have gone to the University of X... then that school gets some cache with future recruits... just like Eddy Curry did with DePaul and Kwame Brown did with Florida.
There's people who succeed at very young age at much higher level than James and don't behave as arrogant as him. Wearing Adidas shoes to a Nike occasion is like Mo Taylor wearing a Utah Jazz jersey on a Rockets news conference. Who the f**k does he think he is? All he did was dominating some high schoolers. At 6-7 he is playing as a man among boys. Wait until he gets to higher levels and gets his butt kicked. I'm rooting for it.
Ray Glier writes regularly for NBCSports.com and is a freelance writer based in Atlanta. Just some guy's opinion that got published. He's not a staff writer, meaning he doesn't have access to interviews, etc. Just writes his opinion and mails it in; if NBC likes it they publish it and cut him a small check. Don't go around thinking this came from a typical "professional" sports writer.
I think the problem with Lebron's actions shouldn't be blamed on the fact that he is getting "free" stuff from everybody. But be blamed on the attitude that "King James" has. I mean there a lot of reason that that he has this attitude (media hype), but it all comes down to Lebron's ego. I mean i don't reacall of a high school player with such an ego as he has. Not saying he sucks or anything, but he is only playing against high school competition. But once he steps foot on an nba floor, he is going to realize how much he needs to work on his game. Cuz he spent that last few monthes feeding his ego insted of getting better on the hard court.
Do you remeber a kid named Kobe Bryant? Phil Jackson said Kobe tanked games in HS during the first 3 quarters just so he could take over in the 4th and make himself look like a hero. Oh and don't forget that when he entered thr draft he said he would only play for the Lakers, Knicks, or Bulls and if you wer'nt one of those 3 major market teams, don't even bother. Yeah but I guess thats not as bad as wearing Nike's to an addidas camp right? To me, the article has a hint of jealousy to it. The writer calling him "King James" throughout the entire article doesn't really come off as particularly professional. James is a 17 yr old kid who has virtually everyone he comes into contact with riding his jock big time, how do you realistically expect him to act. People waiting on him hand in foot, people offering him money, begging for and interview or his autograph. He has a crew? he lets his friends travel w/ him b/c he can get over and people willl let him do it? Oh no, he's completly out of control! When you were 17, were you so much better composed during your press confrences and when everyone was sweating you and calling you the next MJ? Were you really able to keep your teenage ego in check? Oh, none of that has happend to anyone here I forgot. It is really easy to sit back and judge people from the outside looking in since none of us has been put in a situation like that. I don't know how I would handle it so I am not going to jump all over the kid. If his ego is getting out of control don't worry Kobe, TMac, Marion, Pierce, VC, Finley, Spree, Allen and co. will take care of him.
Although I posted the article, I believe it's a somewhat stupid article too. I somehow have trouble believing this guy who've I've never heard of before talk about how Lebron James is an idiot. I read in Sports Illustrated (a much more reliable source) exactly the opposite about him. Even if he does talk a big game, the guy is like best friends with MJ and T-Mac (the good one that is) and plays ball with them all the time, not to mention other stars who he's friends with. Him wearing Nike to the adidas interview and adidas to the nike interview just shows he has a sense of humor and thinks it's funny to mock these brands for being all over him the way they are. He's just having fun and at really no one else's expence. What's wrong with that? As for taking trips to colleges because it's free, I dont see anything wrong with that. The colleges are the ones who screw over the atheletes, not the other way around (just ask Charles Barkley). If the colleges are willing to fork over the money for him to come take a visit that's their problem. Labron should not be to blame for taking advantage of that.
I'm just going to wait and see if he is going to be an impact or not.....all this hype, and he could be another Sam Bowie...