I guess I have a different perspective on sports than you. I played sports as well, and sportsmanship is big to me. So is winning where I started. LeBron took less money, but he went to a bigger market. Endorsements in Miami with Wade and Bosh surely beat out the larger salary and endorsement opportunities in Cleveland. I'm pretty competitive as well, and I get pissed when I lose. But that does not make me want to join a better squad just to get revenge. My competitive spirit would not even let me think about that. Signing with Wade and Bosh did not show me LeBron is competitive. So when he walks straight to the locker room when he gets eliminated tells me that he is more embarrassed than competitive. If his teammate on the end of the bench can shake hands with the competition, why can't LeBron? Actually, if players last year and players in the past that paved the way for stars like Lebron could shake hands with the winner, why can't LeBron? This is why I see him as a sore loser. The first time he did it, fine. I could let him slide because it was his first time. But when he does it again? He already knew the backlash that he would receive from the public. Basketball is supposed to be fun...but it's supposed to be fun for everyone. Dancing DURING the game is just not fun for the team that's losing. You play sports. Don't tell me you wouldn't be PISSED if the other team was doing choreography while you dribble it up the court down by 15. So, now we see how LeBron reacts when he loses and when he wins. Based off of his actions, he does not care about sportsmanship. He has a "screw you" approach after losing, and a "nanna nanna boo boo" approach when winning. As far as the coughing thing. I can't believe anyone would buy the "we tried to teach the media a lesson" excuse. But even if that reason were true, why in the heck would you do that and not expect to be criticized? It just looks bad. Chalk this one up to LeBron not knowing how to handle his image again. My point in all of this LeBron stuff is that he does not know how to handle his image. Regardless if anyone likes it or not, a public image exists. It's up to the individual to act accordingly. Your example is perfect. Kobe is probably a worse human being than LeBron. But we wouldn't know that because Kobe knows how to handle his image. He went through a rape case, admitted to adultery, and cursed out a teammate on video. Yet Kobe is beloved after turmoil. I truly hope LeBron turns his image around as well. The NBA needs him to be competitor.
Sportsmanship is important to me as well! I just don't think not shaking someones hand every now and then does not show bad sportsmanship. I guess we'll just agree to disagree, To me LeBron dod nothing to hurt his image other than the 2 things I mentioned in other posts. And i like LeBron, but im not one of those guys who thinks hes amazing at everything he does. So im not just taking his side because I like him... At least you aren't like most the haters. Seems like you actually want him to succeed rather than hope for his unhappiness, props for that!
Agreed to disagree. A good debate that doesn't end in name calling and image battling is hard to find here nowadays. And I'm not a hater, just a fan of the game!
