lebron is becoming the next kobe

[dougp]

Originally posted by: DayLaPaul

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo

Originally posted by: TehMac
sounds like someone's bitter.

no, i just don't like cocky pro-athletes (or ppl in general).
my team (knicks) haven't been relevant since the mid 90's.

Newsflash buddy, every pro athlete is full of themselves. It comes with the territory. Sure, some of them handle themselves with the media better than others, but you'd be kidding yourself if you think any of your favorite athletes aren't cocky.

Most of my favorite athlete's are pretty damn humble and avoid the spotlight - but hey, that's the kind of people the Spurs recruit. I grew up down the street from Sean Elliot and Dennis Rodman - they lived in everday houses.

Most of the Spurs live in the more expensive gated communities now, but if you see them out - they don't seek attention, and are general absorbed into the community.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Originally posted by: dougp

Originally posted by: DayLaPaul

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo

Originally posted by: TehMac
sounds like someone's bitter.

no, i just don't like cocky pro-athletes (or ppl in general).
my team (knicks) haven't been relevant since the mid 90's.

Newsflash buddy, every pro athlete is full of themselves. It comes with the territory. Sure, some of them handle themselves with the media better than others, but you'd be kidding yourself if you think any of your favorite athletes aren't cocky.

Most of my favorite athlete's are pretty damn humble and avoid the spotlight - but hey, that's the kind of people the Spurs recruit. I grew up down the street from Sean Elliot and Dennis Rodman - they lived in everday houses.

Most of the Spurs live in the more expensive gated communities now, but if you see them out - they don't seek attention, and are general absorbed into the community.

That doesn't mean they're not cocky. Also, yeah, Dennis Rodman sure did avoid the spotlight.

I get sick of people wanting stars to be humble everyday people. If they were, chances are you would not even know of them (they wouldn't be stars). Most of the "humble" stars aren't at all, they just know to be that way out in public so they don't alienate their fans.

 

[dougp]

Originally posted by: darkswordsman17

Originally posted by: dougp

Originally posted by: DayLaPaul

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo

Originally posted by: TehMac
sounds like someone's bitter.

no, i just don't like cocky pro-athletes (or ppl in general).
my team (knicks) haven't been relevant since the mid 90's.

Newsflash buddy, every pro athlete is full of themselves. It comes with the territory. Sure, some of them handle themselves with the media better than others, but you'd be kidding yourself if you think any of your favorite athletes aren't cocky.

Most of my favorite athlete's are pretty damn humble and avoid the spotlight - but hey, that's the kind of people the Spurs recruit. I grew up down the street from Sean Elliot and Dennis Rodman - they lived in everday houses.

Most of the Spurs live in the more expensive gated communities now, but if you see them out - they don't seek attention, and are general absorbed into the community.

That doesn't mean they're not cocky. Also, yeah, Dennis Rodman sure did avoid the spotlight.

I get sick of people wanting stars to be humble everyday people. If they were, chances are you would not even know of them (they wouldn't be stars). Most of the "humble" stars aren't at all, they just know to be that way out in public so they don't alienate their fans.

Rodman played for one season. And we want them to be real people, who respect the rules like everyone else.

 

[actuarial]

Do people realize that Jordan's teammates hated him, they just had a shit ton of respect for him. Didn't he get in fights with teammates, and generally treat them as a business relationship only?

LeBron is probably one of the most team oriented superstars ever. You can tell when he jokes around with teammates it's legit (unlike any interaction with Kobe and a teammate), and he is by far one of the least selfish players on the court. He ALWAYS chooses an open teammate if available. Too bad he kept doing that in game 6 and saw two of his teammates jack air balls.

Bill Simmons (by far my favorite sports reporter, and very knowledgeable) actually compares him to Magic as the two best superstar teammates EVER! The thing is, no man becomes a superstar unless a) they are ridiculously competitive and b) they are cocky as shit. Anyone who thinks Dwight/Duncan aren't cocky is insane. Hell the "Duncan face" is practically a meme. Some players handle their competitiveness better than others, and LeBron obviously handled this badly. Did this happen the last 3 years he got bounced from the playoffs?

 

[dougp]

Originally posted by: actuarial
Do people realize that Jordan's teammates hated him, they just had a shit ton of respect for him. Didn't he get in fights with teammates, and generally treat them as a business relationship only?

LeBron is probably one of the most team oriented superstars ever. You can tell when he jokes around with teammates it's legit (unlike any interaction with Kobe and a teammate), and he is by far one of the least selfish players on the court. He ALWAYS chooses an open teammate if available. Too bad he kept doing that in game 6 and saw two of his teammates jack air balls.

Bill Simmons (by far my favorite sports reporter, and very knowledgeable) actually compares him to Magic as the two best superstar teammates EVER! The thing is, no man becomes a superstar unless a) they are ridiculously competitive and b) they are cocky as shit. Anyone who thinks Dwight/Duncan aren't cocky is insane. Hell the "Duncan face" is practically a meme. Some players handle their competitiveness better than others, and LeBron obviously handled this badly. Did this happen the last 3 years he got bounced from the playoffs?

Yes, he did it in the Finals - that I know of. And, I know Dwight is cocky - he calls himself Superman, but at least that's better than Black Jesus (Amare) or The Choosen 1 (LeBron.)

If you think Duncan is cocky, you're disillusioned.

 

[DayLaPaul]

Duncan came into the league humble, but as he started getting more and more calls going his way, he started to feel entitled to those calls. Now every time he doesn't get a call, his eyes roll back into the back of his head and gives that "are you shitting me?" look to the ref. You may not view him as cocky, but people that feel the need to bitch about every foul call are one reason people hate the NBA. We get it, the refereeing in the league sucks, just collect your $20m/year and get back on defense. Nobody wants to see you whine.

 

[dougp]

Originally posted by: DayLaPaul
Duncan came into the league humble, but as he started getting more and more calls going his way, he started to feel entitled to those calls. Now every time he doesn't get a call, his eyes roll back into the back of his head and gives that "are you shitting me?" look to the ref. You may not view him as cocky, but people that feel the need to bitch about every foul call are one reason people hate the NBA. We get it, the refereeing in the league sucks, just collect your $20m/year and get back on defense. Nobody wants to see you whine.

Whining about a call isn't cocky, every fucking player in every fucking league in every fucking sport does it.

Let me guess, do you whine when your boss rejects your vacation days, or you get shut down when going for a raise? If you do, that makes you cocky.

 

[puffff]

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo

Originally posted by: James3shin

Originally posted by: OneOfTheseDays
Being a good sportsman is IMHO integral to what professional sports should be about.

Gracious in defeat as well as in your victories.

Lebron showed his immaturity by walking off the floor without congratulating anyone, leaving his teammates hanging out to dry by ditching the post game interviews, and then subsequently trying to rationalize how him being a poor sportsman is not actually bad sportsmanship.

See that's your opinion, my opinion of Lebron has not changed - Lebron is the best ball player in the NBA right now. I also don't view Lebron walking off without a handshake as immaturity, rather disappointment in himself and teammates.

How many of you guys have won or lost a state championship, or tournament? When my team won, we didn't give a fuck what the other team thought. When my team lost, we still didn't give a fuck what the other team thought, we we're pissed and disappointed. Fuck the handshakes, that shit was done by 7th grade.

yup, you're a sore loser who can't accept defeat.

Who do we need more of in this world? asshats like you, or guys who will come over and congratulate you on a hard fought game after you beat them?

you're still not seeing the difference between a recreational player and a professional athlete.

would you expect a ceo to congratulate a competitor for taking market share away? after a certain level, it's not a friendly rec game anymore. winning games is their job, and they have every right to be upset when the lose.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Kobe has 3 rings. How many does Lebron have?

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo

what about tennis?

it's a country club sport currently dominated by euros, and even when it wasn't the hardest core guy was a wealthy long islander who went to private school in manhattan.






i honestly think the media is pissed about being snubbed post game and so is throwing a fit just like the white house press corp did when it was scooped by a small town rag after cheney shot that dude in the face.

Originally posted by: dougp

Are you listening to Calvin Murphy? Cause that guy is annoying as hell, and just likes to hear himself talk. Oh, and Houston sports teams suck!

is murph on the radio? i listen to 610 mostly. my mother had one of murph's illegitimate daughters in her computer science class about 14 years ago. murph was always getting her out of school early.

Oh, and it was Isiah Thomas who walked off the court, NOT Jordan.

"i just got back from having my name misread at florida international"

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

I truly think the basketball gods gave the Cavs a healthy dose of karma. They displayed an immaturity and arrogance this season that was simply unbecoming of an NBA champion.

From the ridiculous pre-game antics (i.e. Lebron pretending to take pictures of his teammates and other childish BS) to the absolutely asinine assertions from players like Mo Williams that the Magic "can't beat us 4 times, we're the better team". This team got exactly what they had coming to them.

And their leader just exemplified why they did not deserve to advance with his lack of class and sportsmanship in walking off the court without nary a word to anyone. Anyone who has played competitive sports since a young age knows that sportsmanship after the game is over is extremely important. While the game is on your opponent is your sworn enemy, but once it's over there has to be a recognition that your opponent is not really your enemy. You give respect to the effort they brought on the court, especially if you are the one who was defeated. A mature man would have done so in LBJ's case. He is clearly not a mature man.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Kobe has 3 rings. How many does Lebron have?

Kobe had Shaq, who was also the #1 star on the Lakers. Who does LeBron have?

Also, Kobe's played 13 years, LeBron's played 6.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: OneOfTheseDays
I truly think the basketball gods gave the Cavs a healthy dose of karma. They displayed an immaturity and arrogance this season that was simply unbecoming of an NBA champion.

From the ridiculous pre-game antics (i.e. Lebron pretending to take pictures of his teammates and other childish BS) to the absolutely asinine assertions from players like Mo Williams that the Magic "can't beat us 4 times, we're the better team". This team got exactly what they had coming to them.

And their leader just exemplified why they did not deserve to advance with his lack of class and sportsmanship in walking off the court without nary a word to anyone. Anyone who has played competitive sports since a young age knows that sportsmanship after the game is over is extremely important. While the game is on your opponent is your sworn enemy, but once it's over there has to be a recognition that your opponent is not really your enemy. You give respect to the effort they brought on the court, especially if you are the one who was defeated. A mature man would have done so in LBJ's case. He is clearly not a mature man.

And what about Kobe? He's done enough things to get bitch-slapped by karma. The bulk of Kobe's career has been defined by "immaturity and arrogance".

What about Shaq? He's a limelight-seeking, mean-spirited buffoon, yet has 4 rings.

There are many athletes who are pricks, and also champions.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

i honestly think the media is pissed about being snubbed post game and so is throwing a fit just like the white house press corp did when it was scooped by a small town rag after cheney shot that dude in the face.

This.

Everyone's getting way too fvcking sensitive over this, and now there's the typical knee-jerk anti-LeBron backlash.

 

[gorcorps]

It's a lot of bullshit. It happens to often in pro sports unfortunately, but that's how it goes.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Kobe has 3 rings. How many does Lebron have?

Kobe had Shaq, who was also the #1 star on the Lakers. Who does LeBron have?

Also, Kobe's played 13 years, LeBron's played 6.

And the Lakers have been in the finals twice since Shaq...edit-oh wait, three times now. How many times have the Cavs been there?

 

[DayLaPaul]

Originally posted by: dougp

Originally posted by: DayLaPaul
Duncan came into the league humble, but as he started getting more and more calls going his way, he started to feel entitled to those calls. Now every time he doesn't get a call, his eyes roll back into the back of his head and gives that "are you shitting me?" look to the ref. You may not view him as cocky, but people that feel the need to bitch about every foul call are one reason people hate the NBA. We get it, the refereeing in the league sucks, just collect your $20m/year and get back on defense. Nobody wants to see you whine.

Whining about a call isn't cocky, every fucking player in every fucking league in every fucking sport does it.

Let me guess, do you whine when your boss rejects your vacation days, or you get shut down when going for a raise? If you do, that makes you cocky.

True, it may not be cocky, but it is pretty egotistical, which was my original point. I will admit that Duncan isn't as bad as some other guys out there, but he can still be pretty annoying to watch. One guy that I'm surprised you didn't mention, being a Spurs fan, is David Robinson. I would actually have to say that he's one of the few exceptions to the rule. The Admiral was a class act all around. I have nothing bad to say about him. They just don't make athletes like him anymore.

edited because I quoted the wrong post.

 

[herkulease]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Kobe has 3 rings. How many does Lebron have?

Kobe had Shaq, who was also the #1 star on the Lakers. Who does LeBron have?

Also, Kobe's played 13 years, LeBron's played 6.

And the Lakers have been in the finals twice since Shaq...edit-oh wait, three times now. How many times have the Cavs been there?

They've only gone twice since shaq left. last year and this year.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Kobe has 3 rings. How many does Lebron have?

Kobe had Shaq, who was also the #1 star on the Lakers. Who does LeBron have?

Also, Kobe's played 13 years, LeBron's played 6.

And the Lakers have been in the finals twice since Shaq...edit-oh wait, three times now. How many times have the Cavs been there?

3 times? This is the 2nd since Shaq's departure.

Cavs once.

Kobe has HoF coach Phil Jackson, All-star Pau Gasol, Lamar "sometimes I play real good, sometimes not" Odom. LeBron has coach Mike "Offense? Just give the Ball to LeBron!" Brown, Mo "Big Mouth" Williams, a center with sore feet, yada yada yada.

Comparing the careers of 2 players when one is 2/3 of the way thru his and the other is only 1/3 of the way thru his, doesn't make much sense.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Kobe has 3 rings. How many does Lebron have?

Kobe had Shaq, who was also the #1 star on the Lakers. Who does LeBron have?

Also, Kobe's played 13 years, LeBron's played 6.

And the Lakers have been in the finals twice since Shaq...edit-oh wait, three times now. How many times have the Cavs been there?

3 times? This is the 2nd since Shaq's departure.

Cavs once.

Kobe has HoF coach Phil Jackson, All-star Pau Gasol, Lamar "sometimes I play real good, sometimes not" Odom. LeBron has coach Mike "Offense? Just give the Ball to LeBron!" Brown, Mo "Big Mouth" Williams, a center with sore feet, yada yada yada.

Comparing the careers of 2 players when one is 2/3 of the way thru his and the other is only 1/3 of the way thru his, doesn't make much sense.

My bad, I thought it was 3 times.

The OP made this comparison...not me. I like LeBron James, I'd like to see the Lakers pick him up.

Obviously it's a team sport. Without Kobe I doubt Phil Jackson would have those 3 rings with the Lakers.

 

[sash1]

Originally posted by: DayLaPaul
Duncan came into the league humble, but as he started getting more and more calls going his way, he started to feel entitled to those calls. Now every time he doesn't get a call, his eyes roll back into the back of his head and gives that "are you shitting me?" look to the ref. You may not view him as cocky, but people that feel the need to bitch about every foul call are one reason people hate the NBA. We get it, the refereeing in the league sucks, just collect your $20m/year and get back on defense. Nobody wants to see you whine.

this. it's insane how many times players just stare at the ref flailing their arms begging for a call while a play is going on at the other end of the court. deal with it and get back on D, discuss it with the ref later...

 

[andylawcc]

that's not the worst Lebron could have done.

 

[LS21]

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

What about Shaq? He's a limelight-seeking, mean-spirited buffoon, yet has 4 rings.

There are many athletes who are pricks, and also champions.

mean-spirited? shaq is no doubt the best PERSONALITY in the nba circuit now, and probably top 5 evers. read his tweets? the access he, as a $$$$$ mega celeb, gives to his fans is unprecedented. and hes not doing it for publicity -- hes already got all the money, fame, nba success, that one can achieve.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Originally posted by: LS21

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

What about Shaq? He's a limelight-seeking, mean-spirited buffoon, yet has 4 rings.

There are many athletes who are pricks, and also champions.

mean-spirited? shaq is no doubt the best PERSONALITY in the nba circuit now, and probably top 5 evers. read his tweets? the access he, as a $$$$$ mega celeb, gives to his fans is unprecedented. and hes not doing it for publicity -- hes already got all the money, fame, nba success, that one can achieve.

Yeah, nevermind that he's trashed about every coach he's played for, former team-mates, among other things (stalking some woman last summer). He's had his issues the same as anyone else.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

And yet both Shaq and Kobe came out and shook hands when they lost in the Finals. For all their egoism they still were mature enough to congratulate the teams that beat them.

The fact that so many give LBJ a pass for his childish and immature behavior is really quite remarkable. If Kobe had done this there would have been a massive uproar, and don't even begin to argue otherwise.