King James, on sportsmanship:

artplumber · 05-31-2009, 08:18 PM

An interesting quote from LeBron James on why he didn't congratulate competing team (including Dwight Howard).

“It’s hard for me to congratulate somebody after you just lose to them,” he said. “I’m a winner. It’s not being a poor sport or anything like that. If somebody beats you up, you’re not going to congratulate them. That doesn’t make sense to me. I’m a competitor. That’s what I do. It doesn’t make sense for me to go over and shake somebody’s hand.”

A fine example for the yung uns. @ $14 + mill/yr

Cdnone1 · 05-31-2009, 08:34 PM

He should watch the Stanley Cup. You wont find a group of guys how go after each other more and get more bloodied in the process, but when it's over , it's over!. They all line up and shake hands. Some after literally fight one another a few minutes before

Steve

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Classless.

Buckterrier · 06-01-2009, 02:59 AM

I understand where he's coming from. But you still have to bite the bullet and do it.
To the victors go the spoils. I would think 14mil can take a wee bit of the sting out.

widgeon13 · 06-01-2009, 03:07 AM

You sure as shyt aren't a winner if you just lost to somebody. Once again, arrogance takes the cake.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

They're playing a game, for God's sake....Why do athletes and fans act like the sport is something of significance?

onewhippedpuppy · 06-01-2009, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Classless.

Damn straight. It's about respect. Just one more reason why I don't watch the NBA. Pity, I thought LeBron was one of the decent guys in a league full of trash.

Jeff Higgins · 06-01-2009, 07:20 AM

Even boxers congratulate the guy who just beat the hell out of them.

flatbutt · 06-01-2009, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdnone1

he should watch the stanley cup. You wont find a group of guys how go after each other more and get more bloodied in the process, but when it's over , it's over!. They all line up and shake hands. Some after literally fight one another a few minutes before

steve

+1

Zeke · 06-01-2009, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Even boxers congratulate the guy who just beat the hell out of them.

Only because they've been beaten senseless.

t951 · t951's Garage

It's thugball now.

Haven't wanted to watch in years. College ball is more exciting, but sadly thugs reproduce.

vash · vash's Garage

didnt king james write the bible?

as a pro athlete, he should be leading by example. WTF? sportsmanship is everything.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

I'm hoping this goon (I've now lost all respect for him) loses all his sponsorship $$$ and becomes a pariah. Doubt it will happen, but I'd love to see it.

If the NBA ever needed a player like Michael Jordon, it's today. Between arrogant jackasses like Kob-ME Bryant, the thuggish goons with the tats and piercings, the lack of class (James) and all the rest it's really stifling the NBA's efforts to try and elevate the sport.

gprsh924 · 06-01-2009, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

I'm hoping this goon (I've now lost all respect for him) loses all his sponsorship $$$ and becomes a pariah. Doubt it will happen, but I'd love to see it.

If the NBA ever needed a player like Michael Jordon, it's today. Between arrogant jackasses like Kob-ME Bryant, the thuggish goons with the tats and piercings, the lack of class (James) and all the rest it's really stifling the NBA's efforts to try and elevate the sport.

I love Jordan, but he is not a saint. He was intensely competitive and treated his teammates much like Kobe does, especially in the early years. He also had/has many off-court demons. However he benefited from media and scrutiny that is much less severe than it is today, along with the fact that he is the greatest ever.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

POS

No class.

btw, even when Kobe lost to Denver he shook hands after the game (even though Carmelo beat the crap out of him)

the · 06-01-2009, 12:21 PM

The NBA is full of low class thugs, no doubt.

But LeBron has a clean 5 year (or has it been 6 now) record of not being one of them.

But no excuses, this was not a good move on his part. He obviously should not have just left the court without congratulating the other team, he should not have fled the stadium, leaving his teammates alone to face the media, and he shouldn't have made that stupid statement the day after.