LeBron James Article By Rick Reilly Tries To Persuade Fans To Like Him
I’m sure most have read the article by now, but maybe you missed it. ESPN columnist, Rick Reilly, recently released an article backing LeBron James titled “LeBron being LeBron.” I won’t copy and past the whole article, but you can read it here: “LeBron being LeBron”
I do value Rick’s writing, he’s an 11-time National Sportswriter of the Year, and a finalist in the 2011 Thurber Prize for Humor. However, this article was a very lame, last-ditch effort by him and ESPN to persuade people to “like” LeBron James. Since when do NBA fans have to LIKE a certain player? What happened to hatred for the opponent? Did Rick miss the 2 decades of 80′s and 90′s basketball?
Why is ESPN writing articles to remind us that LeBron has never been arrested, or never cheated on his fiancée? These points are IRRELEVANT when it comes to actual basketball and the fact that “the king” remains ring-less. It also shows that ESPN will go to any measure, and pull any string, to help maintain a positive image for LeBron James. After reading Rick’s devoted letter of love to LeBron, I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to “like” him as a basketball player, or introduce him to my younger sister.
LeBron James isn’t a BAD PERSON, and even the most committed LeBron “haters” have to admit that. I just don’t know what this has to do with LeBron’s actual play on the court or the decisions he has made in his career. LeBron put this on himself.
He was the one who took the hour prime-time slot to tell the world he was “taking his talents to South Beach” like he was God’s gift to basketball. He was the one who decided to tattoo “Chosen One” on his back. He was the one who proclaimed “Not 1, Not 2, Not 3….” when he arrived in Miami. Of course, Rick forgot to bring up that speech along with his ego-filling spectacle parade him, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh put on for Miami Heat fans. He was the one who showed poor sportsmanship and didn’t shake hands with the Orlando Magic after failing with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was the one who said those who dislike him will go back to their ordinary lives and have the same problems like he was above us regular joes. You didn’t happen to mention any of this though, Rick, but I’m sure you remember. We all know LeBron has made some pretty dumb decisions/comments in his career, that have made it very easy for people like myself and many others, to dislike him.
Farther down in the article, Rick says, “he’s a 6-foot-8 pixie, a 27 year-old who’s addicted to kidding.” Rick then proceeds to name some of the greatest athletes of our generation – Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and even Lance Armstrong.
He then proceeds to say each of those guys have a bit of “jerk gene” in them, but LeBron doesn’t. Again, trying to push the ever so loving personality of LeBron James on us. Hey Rick, take a second and look at the three jerks you just named. Guess what…THEY ARE ALL CHAMPIONS because of that gene.
LeBron James is mentally weak and appears to have been skipped in the DNA process in regards to that killer instinct. He doesn’t have it. He probably never will because, well, like you said Rick, he’s addicted to kidding. Oh, and Rick called LeBron “genuinely sweet.” I thought that was cute. Are you trying to persuade readers and fans to like this guy as a basketball player or as someone we would want to date?
Newsflash Rick, this isn’t speed dating, we don’t care if LeBron James is sweet. Maybe he should start acting more like the jerks of the sports world. You know, the five and six time champions in Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan, and he would get more out of his teammates, instead of worrying about the popularity contest.
Game 5 against the Boston Celtics was a perfect example of why James makes it so easy for us to laugh at his miseries. After starting the game 7-9 and looking unstoppable, it happened….AGAIN. LeBron James went missing when his team needed him most. He went 1-7 in the 3rd quarter, 4-16 the rest of the game, and was scoreless for EIGHT minutes in the final quarter. And I don’t feel sorry for him one bit. Nice guy or not, this is the same person who got a custom mouthpiece made that has the Roman numerals “16″ etched in it. This is the same guy that spits it out of his mouth every 10 seconds so the cameras and audience can see it to remind us that he only needs 16 wins to reach his ultimate goal of an NBA championship. GET REAL. It’s been a 9-year audition for the self-proclaimed king, and I’m really tired of hearing about it. Either win one and shut the critics up, or don’t expect a second of pity from me or anybody else.
This is just another sneaky attempt by ESPN to cover up the idea of LeBron James failing to win a ring, yet again. You want to really know how sick and twisted these guys over at ESPN are about LeBron? Take a look at this picture, posted on ESPN’s facebook yesterday. BEFORE the game was over. 
What a disgrace. You are the worldwide leader in sports, and you are now posting outcomes of games before they are over? Are you really that hell bent on this guy winning a ring that you have to put up pictures stating they he has 1 more win to get to the finals before he even wins Game 5? I would fire the guy that was in charge of putting that up. That was a bad look for ESPN, and Rick’s article on LeBron was a bad look for him. Yes, LeBron does charity work, stays out of trouble, and is faithful to his family. Bravo sir, so are millions of other people on this planet. Now go win a ring, or don’t expect me or anyone else out there to shut up or have a change of heart about the situation because you are a “nice guy.”
Michael J. Igyarto is a writer for @RantSports
Follow him on twitter @windycityiggy
