The LeBron James Thread

[cquigley]

If LeBron really wanted to make the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of America some money, he would've just donated it without the narcissistic, hour-long "interview" where he announced he was going to play for the South Beach Heat. If charity was the intention, he wouldn't need the recognition to feel good about it

Why is it narcissistic? People wanted to know and people tuned in, myself included. Its a great business move because with barely doing anything he raises millions for good cause. Why wouldnt he use that people cared where he was going to his advantage?

[mKoz26]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Why is it narcissistic? People wanted to know and people tuned in, myself included. Its a great business move because with barely doing anything he raises millions for good cause. Why wouldnt he use that people cared where he was going to his advantage?

People wanted to know, but they didn't want the whole circus that came along with it. They only watched because they wanted to know. So yeah, you can say it's a "good business move", but that doesn't make it any less narcissistic. LeBron created "The Decision" to boost his fame and his ego and then tried to play it off as a charity event to justify it.

If he really wanted to do something for a good cause, he wouldn't be advertising himself as a person who does things for good causes.

Also, the fact that he made a television spectacle out of his decision after Wade and Bosh announced theirs in an interview says a lot about his ego. A program like "The Decision" was completely unprecedented and LeBron felt he deserved it anyway.

I don't know why I'm telling you this. There are at least 15 posts in this thread saying the exact same thing.

[KSUowls]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

lol unbelievable. People are actually finding ways to gripe about money being raised for charity? At some point isn't all of this taking it a bit too far?

[mKoz26]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

lol unbelievable. People are actually finding ways to gripe about money being raised for charity? At some point isn't all of this taking it a bit too far?

It was more like charity raised for LeBron's reputation.

I believe someone had an article or book quote or something a while back in this thread that talked about the idea of a TV special for LeBron's announcement from LeBron's "people" and his own perspective. Am I misremembering? Because I remember a comment about how the charity thing was just a throw-in and not the intention. I remember something about them approaching Jim Gray specifically for whatever reason.

If anyone who remembers this can post it or point me to it I'd appreciate it.

[jeebs9]

lol unbelievable. People are actually finding ways to gripe about money being raised for charity? At some point isn't all of this taking it a bit too far?

Way too much lol

[da ThRONe]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

It was more like charity raised for LeBron's reputation.

I believe someone had an article or book quote or something a while back in this thread that talked about the idea of a TV special for LeBron's announcement from LeBron's "people" and his own perspective. Am I misremembering? Because I remember a comment about how the charity thing was just a throw-in and not the intention. I remember something about them approaching Jim Gray specifically for whatever reason.

If anyone who remembers this can post it or point me to it I'd appreciate it.

Pretty much all charities are for good publicity.

[mKoz26]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Pretty much all charities are for good publicity.

That's not true but oftentimes with athletes it is.

Either way, that doesn't make it okay.

[KSUowls]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

It was more like charity raised for LeBron's reputation.

I believe someone had an article or book quote or something a while back in this thread that talked about the idea of a TV special for LeBron's announcement from LeBron's "people" and his own perspective. Am I misremembering? Because I remember a comment about how the charity thing was just a throw-in and not the intention. I remember something about them approaching Jim Gray specifically for whatever reason.

If anyone who remembers this can post it or point me to it I'd appreciate it.

The thing to remember is this. Pretty much anytime someone or some entity has a charity event it is to promote themselves and generate goodwill. That isn't an act worthy of condemnation though.

I'm a Lebron fan. I'll admit there are things that can be used as ammunition against him. The charity aspect of "the decision" seriously isn't one of them though.

[mKoz26]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

The thing to remember is this. Pretty much anytime someone or some entity has a charity event it is to promote themselves and generate goodwill. That isn't an act worthy of condemnation though.

I'm a Lebron fan. I'll admit there are things that can be used as ammunition against him. The charity aspect of "the decision" seriously isn't one of them though.

On the other hand, people have tried to justify "The Decision" as a charity event.

It wasn't.

[KSUowls]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

You're right it wasn't specifically a charity event, but it was a nice redeeming feature of the event. A lot of money was raised for a good cause so I think some of his "narcissism" should be forgiven. I don't expect those who don't like him to completely forgive him (or that they even necessarily should) but it wasn't all bad.

[da ThRONe]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

That's not true but oftentimes with athletes it is.

Either way, that doesn't make it okay.

Yeah actually it does.

Being from New Orleans and dealing with Katrina you think I gave a damn why people helped us out? Nope we took the charity and thank those people like they were saints(no pun intended). I still want to thank the people of Austin they treated us really well.

[mKoz26]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

You're right it wasn't specifically a charity event, but it was a nice redeeming feature of the event. A lot of money was raised for a good cause so I think some of his "narcissism" should be forgiven. I don't expect those who don't like him to completely forgive him (or that they even necessarily should) but it wasn't all bad.

I don't really dislike him anymore, to be honest. I think he's an amazing player. I also think he's very immature, but that doesn't mean I don't love watching him play. The only thing I dislike about him now is the showboating and, to a much lesser extent, the way the NBA treats him (which is completely out of his hands).

He'll probably be one of my ten favorite players in the league by next year again. I really like his game.

Yeah actually it does.

Being from New Orleans and dealing with Katrina you think I gave a damn why people helped us out? Nope we took the charity and thank those people like they were saints(no pun intended). I still want to thank the people of Austin they treated us really well.

Do you know which charity to whom LeBron donated the proceeds, and where the interview was held? C'mon man, these aren't people of need.

And it really doesn't matter, because naturally if you receive the charity you're going to appreciate the giver because you're in need. Again, that still doesn't clear the person who donated the money if their intentions were screwy.

The people in Austin weren't going "Oh, I want to help these hurricane victims out so I can tell everybody how nice I am on Facebook!" They actually wanted to help. (That's awesome, btw)

[Kashanova]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I don't really dislike him anymore, to be honest. I think he's an amazing player. I also think he's very immature, but that doesn't mean I don't love watching him play. The only thing I dislike about him now is the showboating and, to a much lesser extent, the way the NBA treats him (which is completely out of his hands).

He'll probably be one of my ten favorite players in the league by next year again. I really like his game.

Do you know which charity to whom LeBron donated the proceeds, and where the interview was held? C'mon man, these aren't people of need.

And it really doesn't matter, because naturally if you receive the charity you're going to appreciate the giver because you're in need. Again, that still doesn't clear the person who donated the money if their intentions were screwy.

The people in Austin weren't going "Oh, I want to help these hurricane victims out so I can tell everybody how nice I am on Facebook!" They actually wanted to help. (That's awesome, btw)

umm, boys and girls clubs from Cleveland and Miami all received proceeds, not just the club in CT

[mKoz26]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

umm, boys and girls clubs from Cleveland and Miami all received proceeds, not just the club in CT

Still doesn't compare to hurricane victims. That's the point.

[King_B_Mack]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/155756/20110601/nba-kareem-abdul-jabbar-scottie-pippen-jordan-wilt-lebron-russell.htm

Anybody see Kareem's open letter to Scottie Pippen? Boy oh boy.