He’s a multi multi millionaire, soon likely to be a billionaire. He’s the most sought after man for endorsements in the world. He may be the best in the world at his profession and he’s respected and cheered by fans and peers alike. He is so well known that he can go by only his first name: LeBron.
And yup, LeBron just cried racism. That’s right. King James said that the backlash he’s gotten over his primetime announcement of which team he was going to play for was…uhm…racist.
LeBron and his marketing guy were on CNN with Soledad O’Brien. The transcript from Yardbarkers reads:
O’BRIEN (on camera): Do you think there’s a role that race plays in this.
JAMES: I think so at times. It’s always, you know, a race factor.
CARTER: It definitely played a role in some of the stuff coming out of the media, things that were written for sure.
Come on. Shouldn’t LeBron have had his race card revoked when he became…I don’t know…one of the most powerful men in the world?
I don’t think America gets the credit she deserves. Our President is Obama, our biggest television star is Oprah, our most famous athlete and most sought after advertising brand is LeBron. When can everything stop being about race? Our country isn’t perfect but it’s a heck of a lot better than it gets credit for being.
Can’t people just say that the whole “Which team will LeBron play for” saga was a little overplayed and call it a day. Criticism of LeBron is allowed and it has nothing to do with race.
I don’t much like Obama’s policies because he’s a pro-abortion socialist, I don’t watch Oprah because she’s a little new-agey for my taste (and I’m not a woman), and I’m going to root against Miami everytime they play the Knicks (even though the Knicks have like zero chance of winning). And guess what? It has nothing to do with race.
I don’t think that LeBron’s accusation of race is a valid indictment of this country, but I think the fact that someone as powerful as LeBron still sees himself as a victim is worrisome.
HT Zip Wire
October 1, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Funny how when blacks don't vote for white candidates, they aren't called racists…
October 1, 2010 at 5:54 pm
LeBron was the best thing going for a region of the country that doesn't have a whole lot going for it (and hasn't for quite a while). And he wonders why the people he left behind when he chose to "take his talent to South Beach" are disappointed and embittered?
LeBron had every right to exercise his free agent status and go wherever he wanted. But the people of Northern Ohio have every right to be disappointed and embittered by his decision to jilt them on national television. For him to attribute that reaction to racism makes him a bigger punk than I had previously given him credit for.
October 1, 2010 at 9:50 pm
This was a hot topic on ESPN yesterday, where one talking head pointed out that "People hate LeBron because he scheduled a prime-time special in which to publicly rip the hearts out of his fans in Cleveland."
Newsflash to James: Calling people racists is not going to make them like you better.
What a self-centered fool.
October 1, 2010 at 10:18 pm
I felt like this was a case of “leading the witness.” His answer was hesitant, at best.
I’m definitely not a fan of LeTraitor, but in this case he responded….with hesitance, to a leading question asked by his interviewer. Until he makes this his cause, or at least issues a more firm stance on the subject, I’m not going to crucify LBJ over this one.
But I still don’t like him.
October 2, 2010 at 1:37 am
Reminds me of the line from "Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids"
"Lebron reminds me of the Blizzard of '78'?"
"What's that's supposed to mean?"
"No class!"
October 2, 2010 at 2:02 pm
"Racist!" "Racism!" The cries of the North American fool.
October 2, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Not to defend his comment, but what reporter even asks about race for a topic like that? That' is a loaded question which is looking for trouble. I'm sure racism had something to do with some people's comments, people are flawed and idiots are dime a dozen, but if we're not past using racism as an explanation for everything, we're not as far as I thought we were.
Anyway, I grew up near Akron and when to high school in the city as LeBron (at his rival no less). He's a brilliant basketball player, but just a man and no man nor any sports team can transform a region. He was not the best thing going for NE Ohio and anyone who thinks there is nothing to be proud of is forgetting the Cleveland Orchestra, museums, world class hospitals, national parks, lake effect snow, ect. that make the region a pretty cool place to raise a family if one is fortunate enough to have a steady job. I don't blame him for his decision and at least now I can cheer for the opposing team again.
October 2, 2010 at 9:24 pm
You're blowing this out of proportion. The one who played the race card was reporter O'Brien, who asked the silly question in the first place. LeBron James just said, "uh, yeah, sometimes" and then the Carter said "definitively." Poor James should not have fallen for CNN's trick, but I can't really blame him.
October 3, 2010 at 3:11 am
Most Catholics don't like Lebron, Obama or Oprah, period. Catholic believe in the Bible as everyone should, if they want eternal life. If Catholics don't like black people it doesn't mean we are racist, it just means we DON"T LIKE BLACK PEOPLE, plain and simple. It's not that complicated, nor does it mean we are racist. Black people can do as the please become President, sport players, or filthy rich!
Exodus 21: 20-21
"And if a man smite his SERVANT, or his maid, with a ROD, and he DIE under his hand; he shall be surely PUNISHED. Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his MONEY."
Exodus 21: 26-27
"And if a MAN smite the EYE of his SERVANT, or the eye of his maid, that it PERISH; he shall let him GO FREE for his eye's sake. And if he smite out his manservant's tooth, or his maidservant's tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake."
October 5, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Richard, get help.