The LeBron James Thread

[RonnieG]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

That commercial had no intention of rehabbing his image.

It struck me more as a big "f you haters, I'm doin me no matter what you say".

It was a Nike commercial. Nike is in the business of selling/marketing apparel.

How do you think it was trying to repair his image?

See above. It was trying to frame the discussion in a way to try to make people realize that LeBron cant make everyone happy. Its off the mark but thats what it was trying to do.

And no, he doesn't give a damn about what people think of his legacy, as long as he has jewelry history will judge him in a bright light. Especially if he continues to light up score boards and fill highlight tape. That's just how it goes in sports.

I dont agree with this either.

[da ThRONe]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

Being "Bad" is marketable maybe even more so then being "Good". So you dont have to have the squeaky clean church boy image to sell shoes.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

It was a Nike commercial. Nike is in the business of selling/marketing apparel.



See above. It was trying to frame the discussion in a way to try to make people realize that LeBron cant make everyone happy. Its off the mark but thats what it was trying to do.



I dont agree with this either.

Why are you telling me what brand the commercial was sponsored by haha. I already knew it was a Nike commercial. What I didn't know was how that message at all tried to rehab an image.

Framing discussion? Fine, but you said it yourself he's not going to make everyone happy. So like I said, the message was basically "you have your own idea of me, but no matter what you want me to do, I'm gonna do me at the end of the day". What does that have to do with repairing his image? If anything he's perpetuating the situation by not apologizing for his actions.

As far as you not agreeing with how history might judge him, well care to explain why you don't agree?

[RonnieG]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

Why are you telling me what brand the commercial was sponsored by haha. I already knew it was a Nike commercial. What I didn't know was how that message at all tried to rehab an image.

Framing discussion? Fine, but you said it yourself he's not going to make everyone happy. So like I said, the message was basically "you have your own idea of me, but no matter what you want me to do, I'm gonna do me at the end of the day". What does that have to do with repairing his image? If anything he's perpetuating the situation by not apologizing for his actions.

As far as you not agreeing with how history might judge him, well care to explain why you don't agree?

I think LeBron wants to do whatever he wants and still be loved. I think the backlash was a slap in the face. I think when the initial euphoria of changing teams wore off he was left with the realization he is despised. Another element of this is that we live in a world of overmarketed crap. Companies feel like they can make anything, whatever the quality, and sell it through marketing. Enter Nike.

Again, I dont think Nike is just making ads for amusement sake as you suggest. Theyre in the business of selling shoes and theyre invested in LeBron. They have a contract with him. So, when his Q rating goes in the tank, as it has, Nike becomes more involved in marketing LeBron.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

I'm not suggesting they made it for mere amusement.

You're still not really explaining how the content in the commercial serves to making people "like" him again much less sell his products. Seems to me like he's [Nike] embracing the negativity and saying 'well if that's how it's gonna be then that's how it's gonna be'. If anything I still stick with my initial reaction of 'Nike is going to run with this LeBron hate and not even try to do damage control'.

I've never really seen a "villain" sell well, nor do I know if one has ever been marketed like that with success, but it seems like Nike is marketing this aspect of James' new persona.

[RonnieG]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

I'm not suggesting they made it for mere amusement.

You're still not really explaining how the content in the commercial serves to making people "like" him again much less sell his products.

I think theyre trying to make him seem more likeable by having him in the various get ups and also with that Miami Vice pop culture reference. Theyre trying to amuse people with the add.

Whether it makes people like him with this one add is not the issue. Im not even sure Nike is shooting for turning around an awful Q score with that one add. This is something that will likely have to take place over time if its possible.

Seems to me like he's [Nike] embracing the negativity and saying 'well if that's how it's gonna be then that's how it's gonna be'. If anything I still stick with my initial reaction of 'Nike is going to run with this LeBron hate and not even try to do damage control'.

I've never really seen a "villain" sell well, nor do I know if one has ever been marketed like that with success, but it seems like Nike is marketing this aspect of James' new persona.

Maybe, but why would they need a commercial for that, let alone one with the message that was in this add? If they were really playing the villain, a lot of the dialogue becomes unnecessary and even out of place. This add felt like it had to get out in front of some issues and address them. Thats not necessary if theyre going with him as a villain.

[King_B_Mack]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

I'm not suggesting they made it for mere amusement.

You're still not really explaining how the content in the commercial serves to making people "like" him again much less sell his products. Seems to me like he's [Nike] embracing the negativity and saying 'well if that's how it's gonna be then that's how it's gonna be'. If anything I still stick with my initial reaction of 'Nike is going to run with this LeBron hate and not even try to do damage control'.

I've never really seen a "villain" sell well, nor do I know if one has ever been marketed like that with success, but it seems like Nike is marketing this aspect of James' new persona.

Villains definitely sell. See Darth Vader, The Joker, Cobra Commander, Decepticons, etc. etc. Now if we're talking aobut real life people that are villains trying to sell, Kobe is a prime example of that, though he may be an exception to the rule.

[da ThRONe]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

Villains definitely sell. See Darth Vader, The Joker, Cobra Commander, Decepticons, etc. etc. Now if we're talking aobut real life people that are villains trying to sell, Kobe is a prime example of that, though he may be an exception to the rule.

I think A.I. was in the "Bad Boy" "Villian" mode and IMO his shoe brand is second only to the Almighty of sneakers.

[BlueNGold]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

Good points, Pared. Here is what I am saying, and you pretty much alluded to it. You have to try! The great ones, alpha's, leaders, whatever label you want to put on them are willing to try to win the ring with it all on their shoulders while in their prime. If at the end of their athletic superiority/prime they still don't have a ring it is understood by most, when they attempt to join with other established stars to get it. It was not held against Peyton, Drexler, Barkley, Malone, KG, Ray Allen, etc...why? because they did take on the challenge of attempting to get it while in their individual primes as alpha males. The only problem was they were not getting through Jordan.

So LeBron did not try to take that "challenge" his first 7 years in the league with (for about 5 of those 7 years) garbage around him? He could have just as easily dipped out in 2007 when he signed his extension but didn't.

And you're going to hold the fact that he got out when he was still at the peak of his talents, instead of waiting until he was old and broken down, to join forces with other great players to have his best shot at winning a championship or championships against him?

[NYJets]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

The fact that Wade won a championship before does not make this his team. If the Heat had won a championship, kept the team together, and then added Lebron the next season, then maybe you can make that argument. This is a completely different team though, I think only Wade and Haslem remain. If Wade and Lebron decided to team up somewhere else, I doubt everyone would be saying it was Wade's team. The Heat jersey doesn't change that. Wade might still be the most popular player in Miami, but that's completely different than who's team it is.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

Well one thing's for sure, if it ain't Wade team(which I still don't see how it isn't but whatever)it damn sure ain't Lebron's and it DAMN sure ain't Bosh's either.

Wade might still be the most popular player in Miami, but that's completely different than who's team it is.<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

How so? That's like saying John Wall is the most popular player on the Wizards, but it's still Gilbert's team.

[NC State-31 UNC-27]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

You're kidding yourselves if you think LeBron doesn't want to be loved.

He just has no clue on how to get to that.

Look at his new website, his little video message saying hey to his fans and welcoming them into his life.

Look at his Twitter....he had a VERY strange re-tweet the other night from a random fan. The fan wrote something like "I don't get why everyone is hating on King James, he never did anything to you!" and LeBron re-tweeted it for everyone to see.

The guy wants to be loved. He still doesn't get why he is the villain of the moment.

I would agree, though, that more than ANYTHING....he just wants the attention.

[BlueNGold]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

You're kidding yourselves if you think LeBron doesn't want to be loved.

He just has no clue on how to get to that.

Look at his new website, his little video message saying hey to his fans and welcoming them into his life.

Look at his Twitter....he had a VERY strange re-tweet the other night from a random fan. The fan wrote something like "I don't get why everyone is hating on King James, he never did anything to you!" and LeBron re-tweeted it for everyone to see.

The guy wants to be loved. He still doesn't get why he is the villain of the moment.

I would agree, though, that more than ANYTHING....he just wants the attention.

This isn't groundbreaking news here that Lebron "wants to be loved". What person doesn't want to be loved?

[NYJets]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

How so? That's like saying John Wall is the most popular player on the Wizards, but it's still Gilbert's team.

Because it's not about which guy sells the most jerseys, or who's the fan favorite. It's about who the leader is, who they are going to run the offense through, and in most cases who the best player is.

[wheelman990]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

The Bulls won 55 games and Pippin finished 3rd in MVP voting without Jordan (or Rodman).

If you put Rodman on the 94 Bulls they probably win the championship.

Big deal. Pippen was the man for like a sseason or two, I dont recall a championship, or even invidual records being shattered. He is a support player, like a gusol, artest, fisher, Rhondo, Pierce, etc. He will never be one of the all time greats. Jordan made Pippen get twice the recognition he got elsewhere. Hes a B to a B+ player in my book. Had maybe 2 A- seasons. Sorry to disagree

No way they win the championship, even with Rodman. 55 games means nothing. Ask the 2009 Cavs