How do you feel about congratulating your opponent after a loss?

[Jasong7777]

Re: How do you feel about congratulating your opponent after a loss?

Lebron just needs to grow up. That's all. He's 24, so he still has time and room to grow. After reading that article, I can't say that I didn't see this coming.

[tehova]

Re: How do you feel about congratulating your opponent after a loss?

I hate artifical sportsmanship, you should only track down the player and say "good game or congratulations" if you really mean it. The tradition should be to clear the floor as soon as possible so they can celebrate or them heading to the lockerroom as soon as possible to celebrate.

[JBH3]

Re: How do you feel about congratulating your opponent after a loss?

I hate artifical sportsmanship, you should only track down the player and say "good game or congratulations" if you really mean it. The tradition should be to clear the floor as soon as possible so they can celebrate or them heading to the lockerroom as soon as possible to celebrate.

Artificial, all this talk about "Why would you care if he didn't shake hands because he doesn't mean it", isn't the point.

It's about respect, and humility. Respect that you were defeated, and being modest that you give due credit to your opponent.

All Lebron has done since, is act as if he was entitled to the victory because he believes himself to be the best player in the world. "How can I lose?" "I'm a Winner!"...this all screams arrogance, narcissism, etc. etc.

I don't give one IOTA if his handshake is genuine or not. I want my opponent to accept his defeat, respect my accomplishment, and give me my due credit...friend, foe, it doesn't matter.

It's like the friend who refuses to acknowledge you defeat him in Madden or something competitive. Either always making excuses why he lost, or why you beat him...the "you did this, I did'nt do that, that's the reason I lost", blah blah blah...Not just simply saying you beat me, you were the better player/team, and coming to terms w/ that.

Oh...and anyone else who thinks Orlando, or Orlando's leader Dwight Howard wasn't bothered by it...read is body language. He was...and see... he's a BIGGER man than Lebron by not throwing him under the bus and respecting him - even though Lebron showed NO RESPECT for him; something he has proved to be inept of at this point.

[Jistic]

Re: How do you feel about congratulating your opponent after a loss?

It shows character or lack of it. As far as LeBron it's more than just hand shaking, it's walking out and hiding and leaving his "supporting cast" to face the music. Punk move, simple as that.

Being a leader is more than a triple double every night. He shows no leadership qualities at all. And yes that matters even in professional sports.

[JBH3]

Re: How do you feel about congratulating your opponent after a loss?

It shows character or lack of it. As far as LeBron it's more than just hand shaking, it's walking out and hiding and leaving his "supporting cast" to face the music. Punk move, simple as that.

Being a leader is more than a triple double every night. He shows no leadership qualities at all. And yes that matters even in professional sports.

Exactly...I keep saying that a vast amount of talent doesn't transcend into being a leader, but it doesn't seem to resonate w/ these Lebron acolytes.

[KG]

Re: How do you feel about congratulating your opponent after a loss?

It shows character or lack of it. As far as LeBron it's more than just hand shaking, it's walking out and hiding and leaving his "supporting cast" to face the music. Punk move, simple as that.

Being a leader is more than a triple double every night. He shows no leadership qualities at all. And yes that matters even in professional sports.

Exactly...I keep saying that a vast amount of talent doesn't transcend into being a leader, but it doesn't seem to resonate w/ these Lebron acolytes.

There isn't only 1 way to be a leader. Lebron made a mistake but he embraced his teammates all year, got them involved, had fun with them, and the most important thing, PRODUCED on the court. He made a mistake but everytime he was on the court he led by example.

[ehh]

Re: How do you feel about congratulating your opponent after a loss?

NO...you're wrong, it's because he's held to a higher standard.

Whether or not you as an athlete want to take the Charles Barkley "I'm not a role model" is irrelevant to the fact that by DEFUALT you ARE a role model.

You HAVE a responsibility whether you decide to accept it or not.

We ALL have a responsibility as adults to be a role-model for children, not just OUR OWN. If you fail to realize that then you are part of the problem as well.

As a Marine I was always held to a higher standard than other servicemen. It wasn't my choice, it was because of my responisbility to the Corps, it's virtues, and the people of this great nation. The same concept is given to us as adults, and to those in positions such as Lebron.

It's your responsiblity whether you like it or not, and whether you decide accept it or not; and quite a few chose to NOT accept it - which is why this country is spiraling into a ME ME ME society and there is no community.

Lebron, being an even more polarizing figure, has a enormous amount of responsibility. Jordan understood this, other great athletes did, and they were positive role-models; at least during our childhood.

Having walked off the court is one thing, BUT THEN to make a statement to the media basically reinterating he believes himself to be right and seemingly justifying his actions w/ some BS about being a competitor...is "THE KICKER".

Sending a freaking email to congratulate Dwight? That's a bitch move. You confront the man who just defeated you w/ humility, and you show him the proper respect. You take that inside, hold on to that feeling of defeat, and unleash it the next time you face off.

You don't storm off the court, talking to no one if you're presumably the face of the franchise, and then days later make statements about how "I'm a winner, I'm a competitor"...So what? Dwight isn't? Countless others aren't? What the guys who shake hands are sissy's?

It's funny how some are trying to justify it that way as if to make themselves feel better because they're what? Essentially the that Lebron has proven to be? ....TWICE.

LOL, I am kinda confused with your response. The part of my post you quoted saying "this is the only thing about LBJ that people knock (his lack of sportsmanship)" and you went on a rant about being a role model which pretty much goes hand in hand with my point.

I agree wholeheartedly about his follow up presser, that is worse than the act of walking off the court, but in my post I was only referring to his actions the night of Game 6. He dug himself much deeper when he finally spoke to the media.

[NovaStar]

Re: How do you feel about congratulating your opponent after a loss?

My whole spin on this thing simple. If you truly understand sportsmanship, you always shake your opponents hand. It is competition etiquette, rooted in a warriors code. It has nothing to do with meaning the handshake or not, why, because if you truly don't mean the handshake, then you are sport ethically flawed to begin with. It is like telling your girl or your mother that you love them whenever you leave their presence. Do you actually mean it every time you say it, is it heart felt everytime you utter those words? No. But you realize the ettiquette of love and say it because it is the thing to do. It is an inherent part of you and your relationship with that person. Sport is the same way, certain things should be an inherent part of you as you compete, one of which is mutual respect for your opponent.

When I took Karate, before every match you bow to your opponent (but never take your eye off of your opponent, Bruce Lee taught me that), after every match you bow to your opponent. Do you actually respect your opponent everytime you bow? no, but it is the protocol of respect itself that is important, not what you actually feel, respect is a higher standard than you, and what you feel.

Back when Isiah Thomas, in defeat, walked his whole team off of the court after enjoying years of success against the bulls, it was totally disrespectful and was meant to be disrespectful. Jordan never forgot it and I never forgot the look on Jordans face when it happened. To the point, that is why Isaiah was not invited to join the Dream Team, Jordan did not want him on it.

When Dwight Howard was asked about Lebrons lack of acknowledgement after the game, he answered respectfully but you could see that it bothered him, just like those puppet commercials bothered him. If I were Dwight Howard, everytime I played the Cavs, they would get it and Lebron would never get another handshake.

To be called a King, Lebron surely lacks royal wisdom. The fact that he is 24 years old is in no way an excuse, he has played basketball all of his life, he knows the protocol and the sportsman code, he broke it and attempted to justify his negligent action. Again, a true king knows the ethics, protocol and requirements of his station. Lebron is no king, not by his actions nor by his deeds. He his a great player with great potential, but still has a lot to learn. Either you get it or you don't.

[ehh]

Re: How do you feel about congratulating your opponent after a loss?

When Dwight Howard was asked about Lebrons lack of acknowledgement after the game, he answered respectfully but you could see that it bothered him, just like those puppet commercials bothered him.

Well those shouldn't bother him. A) He's a three-striper and not with Nike. B) He's never won a regular season MVP.

[JBH3]

Re: How do you feel about congratulating your opponent after a loss?

There isn't only 1 way to be a leader. Lebron made a mistake but he embraced his teammates all year, got them involved, had fun with them, and the most important thing, PRODUCED on the court. He made a mistake but everytime he was on the court he led by example.

Lebron embraced his teammates when it was EASY to do so. During the playoffs, after a humbling loss to the underdog Magic, when it basically COUNTS THE MOST TO BE THERE...he was no where to be seen.

It's not about being a leader when it's easy. It's about facing the hardships in the most difficult of times (after being eliminated), and showing integrity - which Lebron showed NONE of.

How can you make that point, read it, and be OK w/ saying what you said? Do you know anything of leadership, or just see it as an overrated character trait?

LOL, I am kinda confused with your response. The part of my post you quoted saying "this is the only thing about LBJ that people knock (his lack of sportsmanship)" and you went on a rant about being a role model which pretty much goes hand in hand with my point.

I agree wholeheartedly about his follow up presser, that is worse than the act of walking off the court, but in my post I was only referring to his actions the night of Game 6. He dug himself much deeper when he finally spoke to the media.

It wasn't a rant at ALL.

So he made a mistake from walking off the court, OK, mercy granted. THEN he tries to justify himself as being correct, or having done NOTHING wrong. THIS is where he's grossly neglegent, and it's at the cost of highschoolers in my wife's classes seeing nothing wrong with it because Lebron's arrogance and "The World Revolves Around Me" attitude has him spinning this off as him being "A winner, A competitor".

Now take my wife's 7 classes in a rural/suburban area of VA, and extrapolate that across our great nation. You now have a plethora of youth who feel the same as Lebron does...He has a responsiblity to do the right thing, and if not...make ammends when he DOES speak to the press about saying he was wrong, and not continueing a further downward spiral of arrogance etc.

I wasn't ranting, but merely trying to create a comparison about how having an immense responsibility, whether you like it or not, and not being accountable for yourself, steers others down the same path of arrogance etc.

Since you wanted to point out how you think all this border's on womens emotions on their periods...what say you about sending a freaking email to congratulate your opponent, instead of facing him like a man.

If there's anything "Bitch" about this it's that, and the way Lebron acted...

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: How do you feel about congratulating your opponent after a loss?

So is it safe to assume that we all agree that his excuse for WHY he did it is worse than the action itself, correct?

And is it really necessary for people to keep labeling others everytime they don't agree with them? That's what's hot in the streets now?

[NovaStar]

Re: How do you feel about congratulating your opponent after a loss?

Well those shouldn't bother him. A) He's a three-striper and not with Nike. B) He's never won a regular season MVP.

The point was, as Dwight himself put it, it was disrespectful to him and to his team, to create the reality through puppet use, that Lebron and Kobe would automatically meet in the finals, without having beaten their opponents yet. Kind of like annointing someone a king that hasn't won anything yet.

[KG]

Re: How do you feel about congratulating your opponent after a loss?

Lebron embraced his teammates when it was EASY to do so. During the playoffs, after a humbling loss to the underdog Magic, when it basically COUNTS THE MOST TO BE THERE...he was no where to be seen.

It's not about being a leader when it's easy. It's about facing the hardships in the most difficult of times (after being eliminated), and showing integrity - which Lebron showed NONE of.

How can you make that point, read it, and be OK w/ saying what you said? Do you know anything of leadership, or just see it as an overrated character trait?

It counts the most on the court and if no one can say that he didn't give his all. Everything else is secondary IMO. You can be the best leader in the locker room but actions on the court speak louder than words. At the end of the day his teammates aren't going to care about him not shaking Dwight's hand or leaving them to answer questions. When it's time to start Game 1 of the 2009-10 season his teammates will be there for him because they know he will do everything it takes to win.

Again, I have no problems with criticizing him for not speaking to the media. That's his obligation as an NBA player, one in which he will get fined for.

I don't see leadership as an overrated concept but I'm more likely to follow a leader who does so by his actions. It's a lot easier to say what you know is the right thing than to go out and get it done.

[GSW]

Re: How do you feel about congratulating your opponent after a loss?

Honestly I'm not a big fan of BS pleasantries such as this.

If I get beat like that, I just want to get the hell out of there. If someone on the other side offers their hand, I'd shake it, but I'm not going out of my way to find them to do so.

Maybe that makes me a terrible person, but I just don't see why what LeBron did is such a huge deal.

I agree with this, and i know im extra late on this because the way the media is killing dude is absurd imo.

i heard one radio guy in L.A say LeBron needs to go on Oprah and aplogize... he was dead serious. called him a coward and all sorts of things.

this is why i dont watch espn , or listen to sports tak radio anymore.

all these sports show hosts and ESPN puppets do, is build up a guy, and at the slightest mistake, or accident, or what have you they then rip into him mercilessly and act like armageddon is coming.

The fact of the matter is, they are athletes yes, but they are also people, they arent robots, no matter how much you all want them to be. Should he have gone and shook hands? probably not, it doesnt show sportsmanship anymore than allowing them to talk trash.

what he SHOULD have done is adress the media after the game though, but even then i remmeber games where certain players didnt show up due to losing a tough game...it ****ing happens. get over it, he was pissed off, as you would have been to

if it was ME i probably wouldnt have shook hands with the people who just embarassed me and my teammates 4 times on national t.v

thats me though...doesnt make me any elss of a sportsman, doesnt make me a dick, its just that particular situation, i would feel phony giving love to someoen on thier home court after getting embarassed.

Lebrons a terrible person! he didnt shake hands after losing!

Armageddon is here!

[JBH3]

Re: How do you feel about congratulating your opponent after a loss?

So is it safe to assume that we all agree that his excuse for WHY he did it is worse than the action itself, correct?

And is it really necessary for people to keep labeling others everytime they don't agree with them? That's what's hot in the streets now?

Yea. IMO not shaking hands is bad, but his response his much MUCH worse. And that's where I hold my main concerns, because he had every chance to make ammends but still refused to accept his defeat and give due credit to his opponent.

As for the labelings...that was the result of people either making it seem as others were blowing this out of proportion, or being "too emotional".

Which is ironic seeing as how all the female emotions came from Lebron and his actions, not from people like I or Brankles who stand for facing our defeater and "Manning-up" to being beaten.

We wouldn't be the ones NOT confronting face to face, the person who beat us and shaking their hands. We wouldn't be the ones sending congratulatory emails...which no one on the other side of the fence has yet to comment on.

It counts the most on the court and if no one can say that he didn't give his all. Everything else is secondary IMO. You can be the best leader in the locker room but actions on the court speak louder than words. At the end of the day his teammates aren't going to care about him not shaking Dwight's hand or leaving them to answer questions. When it's time to start Game 1 of the 2009-10 season his teammates will be there for him because they know he will do everything it takes to win.

Again, I have no problems with criticizing him for not speaking to the media. That's his obligation as an NBA player, one in which he will get fined for.

I don't see leadership as an overrated concept but I'm more likely to follow a leader who does so by his actions. It's a lot easier to say what you know is the right thing than to go out and get it done.

Please allow me to give you a little hip pocket class on leadership.

There are 14 leadership traits, each one being important in thier own right, but a few being more significant than others. I'm not trying to speak all high and mighty ok...just follow along because this will be a good bit of information.

14 Leadership Traits:

Justice, Judgement, Dependability, Intiative, Decisiveness, Tact, Integrity, Enthusiasm, Bearing, Unselfishness, Courage, Knowledge, Loyalty, Endurance.

Out of the 14 the most significant are Integrity and Courage.

Integrity:

Definition: Integrity means that you are honest and truthful in what you say or do. You put honesty, sense of duty, and sound moral principles above all else.

Courage:

Definition: Courage is what allows you to remain calm while recognizing fear. Moral courage means having the inner strength to stand up for what is right and to accept blame when something is your fault. Physical courage means that you can continue to function effectively when there is physical danger present.


In addition I put a significant stock into these too:

Loyalty:

Definition: Loyalty means that you are devoted to your country, the Corps, and to your seniors, peers, and subordinates. The motto of our Corps is Semper Fidelis!, (Always Faithful). You owe unwavering loyalty up and down the chain of command, to seniors, subordinates, and peers.

Unselfishness:
Definition: Unselfishness means that you avoid making yourself comfortable at the expense of others. Be considerate of others. Give credit to those who deserve it.

Given the first two in mind, Lebron showed nothing of this in one of his most career defining moments to date. The 2nd two I also hold dear as defining leadership traits, and I'd say that he was more selfish (by not giving credit to those who deserve it), than unloyal.