I’m a firm believer that race, along with class, sex and religion, plays a role in every aspect of our lives. It happens every day of our lives, and in every situation. When our President’s religious beliefs are questioned like no other President in history, his race is at least part of the reason. When we sports fans notice the amount of blacks on any given team in any given sport, yet never make the same observation when its white players, race is in play. It’s not just race. I can’t stand Sarah Palin, but I’ve read countless comments about her being a woman.
So you’d think I’d take Lebron James’ side when he states that race is playing a role in the way the public has turned on him in less than a year. Only I don’t buy it. I don’t completely disregard it, either, but I don’t think it’s the driving force. It was the way he handled everything. It started when he was in high school, and began calling himself “King” James. Then a few years ago, when everyone began to speculate on what Lebron would do, and rather than simply say “no comment” he fanned the flames. Up to how poorly he played his last few games as a Cleveland Cavalier, and continuing with the groveling he forced teams to go through to recruit him. Right up to the awful one hour special that his team thought of. Every one of these actions lead to him becoming one of the most hated athletes in America from one of the most loved.
Had he just left Cleveland, the way Alex Rodriguez left Seattle; sure there would have been a backlash. Much like there was for A-Rod. It would have been a little more personal, because after all, Lebron is from Ohio. It wasn’t just someone leaving, it was a home town kid. And generally, the only time an icon in sports is given a pass, for signing with a new team, is when he signs WITH his hometown team. That’s why Ken Griffey Jr was still loved in Seattle, after he left them for Cincinnati. Barry Bonds was often disliked, but no one was really upset that he went to play for the Giants. A-Rod could have signed with the Mets or the Yankees, and still been the highest paid ever, and most people would have been okay with the move.
So right there, Lebron was volunteering to fight a losing war. But because he had so openly flirted with the Knicks, Nets, Bulls, Clippers and Cavs that so many more fans had a vested interest. For years, Knicks fans were convinced that he would be playing in the Garden. Then he started treating free agency like a season of “The Bachelor.” It all came to head with his one hour special, filmed in New York. He was sending mixed signals. Why would he host a special, if he wasn’t going to say “I’m staying,” unless he wanted to rub every ones noses in his decision? Why would he set this thing up in New York if he wasn’t signing with the Knicks?
Picking Chicago made sense even, as it was so well known how much he loved Michael Jordan. So much, that he has campaigned for Jordan’s #23 to be retired. He even announced last season, that he was changing his number to 6. Only if he was changing teams, he wouldn’t need to submit paperwork to the league offices, as he did. This was another, very public, sign that he was staying.
Lebron made this a public spectacle. So, in turn, his fans made their disapproval his behavior just as public when he signed with the Miami Heat. Some went too far, but let’s remember, fan is short for fanatic. And picking Miami, well that was just another middle finger to basketball fans. Never before had a player in the middle of the prime of his career, joined forces with his buddies. It insulted the competitive nature of sports.
Had he played his cards close to his chest, then left, he would have only broken the hearts of Cleveland fans. Who just so happen to be the most broken hearted group of fans in the country. They would have called him a traitor and cursed him for leaving home. But he insulted fans from New York, Chicago and Los Angeles too. That’s a lot of people, a lot of passionate fans, to piss off. They weren’t pissed because he was black, they were pissed because they believed he was coming to save them. He worked hard to cultivate his image. One of a loyal guy, who surrounded himself with his high school buddies. He chased greatness and accepted the Jordan comparisons with open arms. He smiled and joked around with everyone, and made so many fans fall in love with him. And he did this at a time where sports fans were growing tired of antics. Tired of the Favre watch, or rape charges, DUI’s, and the TO’s. Lebron looked to be the good guy. But he chose to piss all over that.
Lebron now says that race has played a role in the backlash, I honestly feel that race hasn’t played a smaller role in a situation at any point in our history.
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