LeBron James: Race a factor in "The Decision" backlash

Got to agree with this. He is just a youn guy who made a pr mistake.

Racism plays a minor part, but if I white guy did this he would stil catch some grief, albeit slightly less. I guess it would be interesting if you could see some sort of poll on how white vs black fans think on this issue.

As an aside, I think it makes the season very interesting. I am not hating the Heat, and as a fan I am eager to see them play, say the Celtics or the Lakers. However, I might hate them if it looks like they are so good that it is ridiculous and the league just generates into three super teams with all the stars scheming to play on those team.

Fans will tune out and the NBA will wither if this happens.

 

means black people are racist and protectionist when the person in question is black.

 

Dumb post is dumb.

 

Oh, Now I see it. That totally justifies everyone getting their panties in a wad.

I oughta make the WBtHL forum myself. Gotta be a lot of money in that...

 

Dude, how are you less whiny with your whining about people not liking a celebrity? Go protect Paris Hilton or something. Same damn game.

People love ragging on celebs. Lebron has made himself a celeb (happily so, from all appearances), signed on with horrible PR advice, made at least one really terrible PR move, so he can BOHICA for a while. Everyone will move on to the next celeb after a while.

I just love that people have a take and they're "whiny b****es" when you don't like their take. Don't be a whiny b**** about other people's opinions.

The only racism I see, ultimately, is this: white people in American expect black people on TV to be more entertaining than that. The Decision was worse than a Bob Newhart Show marathon.

 

Yeah because all white people hate Lebron because he's black. NO we just think he pulled a b**** move by leaving his home town when they bent over backwards for the guy. Morgaging their picks, spending into the luxury tax, and painting a mural of the mother****er. If some white guy did this, I would feel the same about him. Basically Lebron's PR agent is a noob and sacrificed most everything for winning watered down championships. If Lebron wins 6, he will NOT be Jordan. If Jordan had Hakeem, they would have won all ten titles in the 90s and guessing some in the 80s.

 

Pulling this card out already? Sooner than expected

I'll take that as a concession and admission of your own stupidity. Must feel so proud of yourself to avoid legit questions.

 

My first reaction was, "OMG that's so dumb". But I can't tell if it's just my white-ness making me defensive.

Whether it's true or not, anyone who is pissed enough should stop watching the NBA becuase you're putting LBJ in a strong position by doing so.

 

if u think u are winning people over in here by throwing around insults and garbage like the above, ur not

keep up the good work and let us all know when you are able to have a civilized discussion/debate without name calling and all the other bs

 

Trust there are a lot of non-die hard Packer fans that hate Favre. I live in Minnesota and there are Vikings fans who hate him even though he is playing for them. If Favre doesn't take the Vikings at least to the second round of the playoffs you will see a huge amout of hate being directed at Lebron.

 

I hear on Twitter and Fb about LeBron suddenly playing the race card like its a huge deal, go to this thread, and was disappointed to find folks just yet again blowing out of proportion a small thing about a guy they already hate. Had to vent.


Also, don't be such a whiny b**** about my opinion of the opinions of whiny b****es.

 

Winning what over now? Is that what you're here for? Making internet pals?

I think everyone can already see how ridiculous you are for claiming Lebron had nothing to do with the charity money. Oh and let's not forget you're the one who started the the personal poo flinging. Yet you're pretending to take the high ground...it's amazing isn't it

But go ahead, keep conveniently ignore the important stuff and continue acting like everyone's out to get you

 

yeah i could see that i guess

 

i never said he had NOTHING to do w the money mr angry tough guy ...i said he didnt write a check for it...as in, the money came from elsewhere. He certainly COULD HAVE written a check if he wanted to but didnt... bc he decided to cover up his ego induced special on prime time tv with "well im only doing this so i can donate money".

if u cant see that he handled this ALL wrong well I think u are in the minority.



Truth is, i finally applaud his advisors for telling him to stick to the charity excuse bc no one can completely rip him apart for it

 

Sure donating 3 million dollars to charity is a big deal. No one is arguing it is the methods he used.

First, it was not as if the 1 hour special was bring awareness to kids in need or something, it was 1 hour "hey everyone feel sorry for me and do not think i'm a horrible person. If they were to bring more awareness of some of the issues he was trying to fight, school dropout rates, teen crime, etc., he could likely done a great deal more than just raise $3 million.

Second, we are talking about Lebron James. He currently takes in $45 million dollars and is the face of numerous advertisement campaigns. Plus before "The Decision" and the "Triad", can you name another else who could have taken over the advertising void left by Tiger's woods being absolute idiot (seriously have you seen Elin Nordegren and that is after 2 kids). All those opportunities for more money from endorsements were there for the taking.

Basically what I am saying is that the guy is Lebron James, even if he did not want to donate $3 million dollars of his own money, he could found a number of ways to raise money. Heck, he could even have had a special about his workout during the off season, a special about him helping out kids at his workshop, a special where he goes and talks to inner city kids, or Africa, or whatever. You do not think that they could have gotten people to watch those, and raise a good deal of money with that? I sure think they could have.

The fact that he donated the money is a completely minor issue. The end result of that is great, but there would dozens of other ways he could have done that IF THAT WERE HIS ULTIMATE GOAL, which it was NOT.

 

excellent post

 

I quote: "Some of the things said out there had race as a factor". What exactly is the argument here?

 

You said this much better than I could...I totally agree with your post.

 

excellent post!

 

The very fact that this thread is 5 pages long shows that NOBODY WOULD GIVE A RATS ASS ABOUT AN EPISODE OF "Lebron: Helping Kids Out". He'd make about $30,000 and that's the donation he'd give. You think Mutombo made 3 mil in 1 hour before? Hell no. Poor guy works his ass off to raise money. You know what Manute Bol had to do to make money? Do a special on poverty and hunger in Africa?.......WRONG. Do a fund-raising sponsored by some ballers?.......NOPE. See below....



Yep, that's what he did to make some money. Now in no way am I saying that Lebron is nowhere near legit as Manute Bol on his genuineness but regardless of he reasons for doing so, in the end 3 mil got raised for a good organization. So in my opinion, I'll feed lebron's ego for donations.

And LOL @ you for thinking that there are people out there who randomly donate 3 mil. That kind of stuff is rare. You think those stars who get on shows like "Who wants to be a millionaire" or "Minute To Win It" just to help some charity group? Hell no, it's for exposure. They are definitely getting something in return, it's not all nobility. And there's no chance in hell they can match 3 mil.

Again, for clueless people like NJRocket, I still dislike him for him going to Miami. I just am now willing to let him slide on "The Decision" because it ended up helping a charity out.