Is it just me, or is the hate towards Lebron James getting old? I think it’s the latter. After all the hype in the media about King James returning to Cleveland on Thursday, fans have gone overboard and taken this “LBJ hate” to a whole new level.
Not only was it annoying to hear fans boo him every time he touched the ball, it was ridiculous that people burned his jersey and held up “hate” signs in the stands. It’s as if the hate towards James in the city has become a trend: “You have to hate Lebron James or else you aren’t a loyal Cavs fan”. Get over it. It’s been what? Three? Four months since he announced publicly he was leaving Cleveland for a BETTER chance at winning the NBA Championship?
TSN quotes James as being “the most hated player in the NBA right now”. Well, I can understand that from the way he handled leaving Cleveland. What I don’t understand is how fans can stay bitter for this long. Yes, the way he announced that he was leaving Cleveland was a slap in the face for fans. I mean hell, if I were a Cavs fan I would feel betrayed/pissed. Part of the reason why fans have so much bitterness is probably not because he left them stranded. It’s the WAY he left them. It could of just been a simple short press conference saying “I have chosen to play for Miami” instead of “Let me make a one hour special and have fans watching anxiously even though I already know I won’t be playing for Cleveland next year”. Fans hyped up the segment and tuned in just to watch James rip their hearts out and shatter their hopes and dreams as a playoff contender on national television. But who knows? Maybe ESPN already knew James’ decision and paid him to have that hour-long special. Whatever the case, James did handle it badly but this doesn’t give fans a reason to hate on him THIS MUCH.
James left for a reason - to have a better chance at winning the championship. You can’t blame the guy for leaving. He’s been with the Cavs for seven years and practically carried the team to the playoffs a few times. A player this skilled can only do so much. James WAS the Cavs. He was the whole team and can only do so much to his ability. Basketball is a team sport, not a one-man sport. No matter how many points or wins James racks up each game for the team, if the other players can’t produce or contribute, you can’t win as a team. Which is probably why the Cavs never made it that far in the playoffs even with one of the best NBA players on their side.
You have to think about how James feels. It’s a waste to be that talented and be stuck on a team that doesn’t have the ability or skill to win a championship yet. Seven years is enough. I think it’s time for a change. It’s like how Sundin was on the Leafs for 14 years but never won a Stanley Cup. Sad isn’t it? And he’s amazing. Same goes for Sidney Crosby. Best player in the NHL right now. Imagine going through his whole career without a Cup. It would definitely be a waste.
Even though James’ stats this season records as his worst since his previous seasons with the Cavs, he made a smart move by going to Miami to play alongside Bosh and Wade. Every athlete's goal is to make it into the big leagues, and once you’re in, you want that championship to make it complete. Although, it is pretty ironic that the Heat isn’t doing as well as everyone thought they would with the James-Bosh-Wade trio. From the way Miami is playing this season so far, I don’t think they will make it far into the playoffs. But at least James has Bosh and Wade and an overall better Heat team than the Cavs to fall back on.
If you are a Cavs fan and looked up to James, you should support him and his decisions in his career. He was a classy and respectful player who restored all kinds of hope that Cavs fans would of never dreamed of. The bitterness and name-calling has got to stop. Enjoy the game. Ask yourself: “What should I do? Should I put all this James crap behind me?” And the answer should be “Yes”. James will never return to Cleveland so get over it.
Exactly how I feel.
ReplyDeleteSure, the way he left definitely could have been different, but it's obvious cleaveland is angry at the fact he left. And the way they are still acting this way is hilarious to watch because lebron played better than ever. he shuold thank them for motivating him haha.