Warning, the following is a rant about tonight's game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics:
WHAT KIND OF GAME WAS THIS? The fact that the Cavs are the number one team in the league, with the 2x reigning MVP, playing like this wasn't a conference semi-finals game (let alone the most important game in their franchise's history) makes. me. sick.
The issue here isn't LeBron James- the issue is the NBA and the poisonous notion that champions don't have to win championships. When we watch NCAA games, those cats play like their lives are on the line. If they're missing shots, at least you know they were killing themselves trying. Blood. Sweat. And (if you were watching this year's March Madness) a whole lot of tears. In the NBA, how big is the incentive to win? When he loses, LeBron still earns 16 million + millions more in endorsements. He, and all of us, already call him "the Chosen One", the "King", and Nike says we are his "witnesses". Michael Jordan in a 2006 interview with 60 Minutes said,
"The kids today, they're being given things that they haven't earned. I think the game is being cheated because of the success that's being given prior to them earning it."
I'm sorry- I'm not hating but the fact that LeBron sits in interviews after losing some of the most important games of his life (barely trying) with diamond studded watches and bracelets adorning his wrists, and tattoos like "The Chosen One" on his body, takes away from the incentive, determination and drive to win a title and leaves HUGE fans of his (like me) utterly disappointed.
So to the NBA, Nike, and the rest of the world: PLEASE stop treating players (not just LeBron) like they're God until they reach a status that is deserving of it. Otherwise, we drastically, drastically take away from the fiery, competitive spirit of the sport that we love and instead are left with watered-down games riddled with turn-overs, lackadaisical athleticism, and players who are not willing to die for the trophy's everlasting glory.
Michael Jordan was willing to die for the trophy as evidenced by his legendary flu game, the "love for the game" clause in his basketball contract, and his returning to the game twice after retirement. Kobe Bryant has that drive too- you see it in those bone-chilling stares he gives his opponents. It's different watching guys like them. LeBron may have them beat on natural talent, but he needs to do something about his drive. The heart of a champion isn't created through premature praise and sickeningly huge endorsements. The heart of a champion is earned despite of all these things because one knows deep in his soul that he will be nothing more than a whisper in the ears of history unless the chimes of his championships reverberate throughout time.
It is our job as fans to remind them of this. I don't blame LeBron. I blame us.
-The Supersonic Zombie, Girmay
I definitely agree that this premature rewarding prior to actual performance has gone way overboard. This isn't new, however. This is simply the accumulation of the league's investment in 'hype' more so than it's investment in the 'result'.
ReplyDeleteYou gotta remember Lebron is only 25. Jordan didn't get his first ring until he was 28.
ReplyDeleteShowed the character of the team when they gave up with over a minute left, down by single digits in their conference semi-finals, then after they lost, took off their jerseys before they reached the locker room. LeBron is the best player in the NBA, (Kobe can't match size nor athleticism) but lets just say if any great gaurd was in the same situation(Jordan, Reggie Miller, Kobe, Tmac, Iverson, Kwame Brown, whoever) they wouldn't have stopped until they mathematically couldn't win anymore. Maybe all the criticism he's going to get now will get him to that level, but he's not there yet.
ReplyDelete“I spoil a lot of people with my play. When you have three bad games in seven years, it’s easy to point them out.” -LeBron James
I'm sure Chris Webber would say "I spoil a lot of people with my time out calls, when you call one bad time out in college, its easy to point it out". This was possibly LeBron's only chance to get a ring, he didn't even care.
Dude, his only chance to get a ring? Is he not the best player in the league? Come now. He'll get his rings. How about let him get some actual ballers on his time. That'd be cool too.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Isaac, Matt. I don't think he'll get a ring any time soon because it's not about having other ballers on his team. When Kobe doesn't have a good supporting cast, at least you know he's goin out scoring 81 points. He's willing to DIE trying. Look at Isaac's above examples of LeBron just giving up before the game is even over. Have we ever seen Michael or Kobe look like zombies on the court? NEVER. Have they had bad games? ABSOLUTELY. Terrible games at that. But i don't ever recall them quitting.
ReplyDeleteNever quitting (along with eventually winning) is the defining characteristic of a champion.
He is the best player in the league. He is better than Kobe Bryant, and has as much as or more potential than Shaq and Jordan. But this was a big year, he was healthy (for the most part, ask grant Hill about that one) and he had the cast. Next year won't be like that (Shaq and Iglausinsiisisisis are only getting older), and there are plenty of greats who never got a ring (Barkley, Malone, Reggie, Stockton, Nash, Iverson, Ewing, Kidd, Grant Hill, Sean Bradley, Lil Bow Wow etc). He was lucky to have his team (a healthy, performing, nondemanding Shaq? a free Antawn Jamison? A healthy big Z? no secondary players with ego problems?) and when he lost his attitude was "meh, i was off today". If he gets a coach that doesn't treat him like a king, he may become one eventually, otherwise, he may never wear the crown. I think he's at the point in his career where he becomes either "good to great" or "one of the best ever", but as of right now, he's not there yet.
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