Lebron calls Celtics fans racist

[MarcusSmartFanClub]

We're just going to fundamentally disagree here. I can't reconcile or warp my mind enough to understand how someone who doesn't old any racial biases can turn around and yell racist things.

As an attorney, I can warp my mind, so I'll give it a try.

I think what he's saying is "Listen, everybody in America has been exposed to racist language.  We know what it looks like.  We know the slurs, the expressions, whatever.  And, we know it can get in the head of certain players.  It's similar to KG attacking Charlie V. about cancer.  It's a potential soft spot, so I'm going to exploit it.  I don't believe Black players are subhuman.  That's a ridiculous sentiment.  But, I'm willing to say anything to help get my team a win, and if that means mimic-ing racists to get under Lebron's skin, then that's a price I'm willing to pay".

So, that's the argument.  It would make me ask the question, though:  how off-kilter must a fan be to degrade himself to hurling racial slurs -- risking permanent expulsion from the Garden in the process -- just to get inside an opponent's head?

Yup that's it. And I'd argue that the person yelling about cancer, your kids, your ugly wife, your mom are just as "off kilter".

But let's be real .. it's part of basketball culture. Anyone see Hustle? Was Anthony Edwards character being racist comparing the Spanish player a bull and matador? Or off kilter when talking about his kids to get in his head?

Another question, if LeBron he was fine with the racist and/or ugly comments why do any of you care? He obviously sees it like I do.

If you said some racist stuff to me during competition or an argument I would take it as ish talking...just like LeBron. I certainly wouldn't go right to this dude wants to oppress or lynch me.

So we’re moving from “this doesn’t happen” to “it’s not a big deal”?

It wasn't according to the man quoted who is black and said "it's fine". then a bunch of apparently white folks have decided he's not smart enough to understand it's not fine?

I def think Lebron prefers his workplace to be free of racism. That is me going out on a limb- I don’t know the man.

I can really only talk about my feelings. Racism bothers me.

[BruceBanner18]

We're just going to fundamentally disagree here. I can't reconcile or warp my mind enough to understand how someone who doesn't old any racial biases can turn around and yell racist things.

As an attorney, I can warp my mind, so I'll give it a try.

I think what he's saying is "Listen, everybody in America has been exposed to racist language.  We know what it looks like.  We know the slurs, the expressions, whatever.  And, we know it can get in the head of certain players.  It's similar to KG attacking Charlie V. about cancer.  It's a potential soft spot, so I'm going to exploit it.  I don't believe Black players are subhuman.  That's a ridiculous sentiment.  But, I'm willing to say anything to help get my team a win, and if that means mimic-ing racists to get under Lebron's skin, then that's a price I'm willing to pay".

So, that's the argument.  It would make me ask the question, though:  how off-kilter must a fan be to degrade himself to hurling racial slurs -- risking permanent expulsion from the Garden in the process -- just to get inside an opponent's head?

Yup that's it. And I'd argue that the person yelling about cancer, your kids, your ugly wife, your mom are just as "off kilter".

But let's be real .. it's part of basketball culture. Anyone see Hustle? Was Anthony Edwards character being racist comparing the Spanish player a bull and matador? Or off kilter when talking about his kids to get in his head?

Another question, if LeBron he was fine with the racist and/or ugly comments why do any of you care? He obviously sees it like I do.

If you said some racist stuff to me during competition or an argument I would take it as ish talking...just like LeBron. I certainly wouldn't go right to this dude wants to oppress or lynch me.

I suspect it bothers Lebron on a human level.  He's a professional with a high level of concentration that can compartmentalize stuff.  It doesn't really make it okay. 

Plus, even if you could somehow say "it's the same as trash talking on the court" (it isn't), aren't these people subjecting hundreds of people besides Lebron to racial slurs?  What about the ten year old black kid sitting two rows in front of you?

So the white from Maine is correcting not only the words  a black man used to describe an incident but also doesn't believe the black man knows how he actually feels about it? Just come out and say that you don't think LeBron isn't smart enough to communicate properly

[RJ87]

We're just going to fundamentally disagree here. I can't reconcile or warp my mind enough to understand how someone who doesn't old any racial biases can turn around and yell racist things.

As an attorney, I can warp my mind, so I'll give it a try.

I think what he's saying is "Listen, everybody in America has been exposed to racist language.  We know what it looks like.  We know the slurs, the expressions, whatever.  And, we know it can get in the head of certain players.  It's similar to KG attacking Charlie V. about cancer.  It's a potential soft spot, so I'm going to exploit it.  I don't believe Black players are subhuman.  That's a ridiculous sentiment.  But, I'm willing to say anything to help get my team a win, and if that means mimic-ing racists to get under Lebron's skin, then that's a price I'm willing to pay".

So, that's the argument.  It would make me ask the question, though:  how off-kilter must a fan be to degrade himself to hurling racial slurs -- risking permanent expulsion from the Garden in the process -- just to get inside an opponent's head?

Yup that's it. And I'd argue that the person yelling about cancer, your kids, your ugly wife, your mom are just as "off kilter".

But let's be real .. it's part of basketball culture. Anyone see Hustle? Was Anthony Edwards character being racist comparing the Spanish player a bull and matador? Or off kilter when talking about his kids to get in his head?

Another question, if LeBron he was fine with the racist and/or ugly comments why do any of you care? He obviously sees it like I do.

If you said some racist stuff to me during competition or an argument I would take it as ish talking...just like LeBron. I certainly wouldn't go right to this dude wants to oppress or lynch me.

I suspect it bothers Lebron on a human level.  He's a professional with a high level of concentration that can compartmentalize stuff.  It doesn't really make it okay. 

Plus, even if you could somehow say "it's the same as trash talking on the court" (it isn't), aren't these people subjecting hundreds of people besides Lebron to racial slurs?  What about the ten year old black kid sitting two rows in front of you?

So the white from Maine is correcting not only the words  a black man used to describe an incident but also doesn't believe the black man knows how he actually feels about it? Just come out and say that you don't think LeBron isn't smart enough to communicate properly

You're deflecting now and you know it. That's not at all what Roy said. We wouldn't be having this conversation if Lebron wasn't bothered by it because he wouldn't brought it up.

And also, Lebron isn't the spokesperson for all black or minority people. If he was fine with it - which I don't think he is - doesn't mean everyone else is fine with it. And no, I'm not a "white from Maine".

[Roy H.]

We're just going to fundamentally disagree here. I can't reconcile or warp my mind enough to understand how someone who doesn't old any racial biases can turn around and yell racist things.

As an attorney, I can warp my mind, so I'll give it a try.

I think what he's saying is "Listen, everybody in America has been exposed to racist language.  We know what it looks like.  We know the slurs, the expressions, whatever.  And, we know it can get in the head of certain players.  It's similar to KG attacking Charlie V. about cancer.  It's a potential soft spot, so I'm going to exploit it.  I don't believe Black players are subhuman.  That's a ridiculous sentiment.  But, I'm willing to say anything to help get my team a win, and if that means mimic-ing racists to get under Lebron's skin, then that's a price I'm willing to pay".

So, that's the argument.  It would make me ask the question, though:  how off-kilter must a fan be to degrade himself to hurling racial slurs -- risking permanent expulsion from the Garden in the process -- just to get inside an opponent's head?

Yup that's it. And I'd argue that the person yelling about cancer, your kids, your ugly wife, your mom are just as "off kilter".

But let's be real .. it's part of basketball culture. Anyone see Hustle? Was Anthony Edwards character being racist comparing the Spanish player a bull and matador? Or off kilter when talking about his kids to get in his head?

Another question, if LeBron he was fine with the racist and/or ugly comments why do any of you care? He obviously sees it like I do.

If you said some racist stuff to me during competition or an argument I would take it as ish talking...just like LeBron. I certainly wouldn't go right to this dude wants to oppress or lynch me.

I suspect it bothers Lebron on a human level.  He's a professional with a high level of concentration that can compartmentalize stuff.  It doesn't really make it okay. 

Plus, even if you could somehow say "it's the same as trash talking on the court" (it isn't), aren't these people subjecting hundreds of people besides Lebron to racial slurs?  What about the ten year old black kid sitting two rows in front of you?

So the white from Maine is correcting not only the words  a black man used to describe an incident but also doesn't believe the black man knows how he actually feels about it? Just come out and say that you don't think LeBron isn't smart enough to communicate properly

Lebron may have to deal with racist trolling, but the white guy from Maine doesn't.

See you in the afterlife.

[Roy H.]

Lol.  This thread proved Lebron's point.

Can you imagine other fan bases?  "There's literally a thread on CelticsStrong where fans are arguing that saying racist things toward black players doesn't make you a racist."

[RJ87]

Lol.  This thread proved Lebron's point.

Can you imagine other fan bases?  "There's literally a thread on CelticsStrong where fans are arguing that saying racist things toward black players doesn't make you a racist."

Lol. Truth.

[MarcusSmartFanClub]

We're just going to fundamentally disagree here. I can't reconcile or warp my mind enough to understand how someone who doesn't old any racial biases can turn around and yell racist things.

As an attorney, I can warp my mind, so I'll give it a try.

I think what he's saying is "Listen, everybody in America has been exposed to racist language.  We know what it looks like.  We know the slurs, the expressions, whatever.  And, we know it can get in the head of certain players.  It's similar to KG attacking Charlie V. about cancer.  It's a potential soft spot, so I'm going to exploit it.  I don't believe Black players are subhuman.  That's a ridiculous sentiment.  But, I'm willing to say anything to help get my team a win, and if that means mimic-ing racists to get under Lebron's skin, then that's a price I'm willing to pay".

So, that's the argument.  It would make me ask the question, though:  how off-kilter must a fan be to degrade himself to hurling racial slurs -- risking permanent expulsion from the Garden in the process -- just to get inside an opponent's head?

Yup that's it. And I'd argue that the person yelling about cancer, your kids, your ugly wife, your mom are just as "off kilter".

But let's be real .. it's part of basketball culture. Anyone see Hustle? Was Anthony Edwards character being racist comparing the Spanish player a bull and matador? Or off kilter when talking about his kids to get in his head?

Another question, if LeBron he was fine with the racist and/or ugly comments why do any of you care? He obviously sees it like I do.

If you said some racist stuff to me during competition or an argument I would take it as ish talking...just like LeBron. I certainly wouldn't go right to this dude wants to oppress or lynch me.

I suspect it bothers Lebron on a human level.  He's a professional with a high level of concentration that can compartmentalize stuff.  It doesn't really make it okay. 

Plus, even if you could somehow say "it's the same as trash talking on the court" (it isn't), aren't these people subjecting hundreds of people besides Lebron to racial slurs?  What about the ten year old black kid sitting two rows in front of you?

So the white from Maine is correcting not only the words  a black man used to describe an incident but also doesn't believe the black man knows how he actually feels about it? Just come out and say that you don't think LeBron isn't smart enough to communicate properly

Lebron may have to deal with racist trolling, but the white guy from Maine doesn't.

See you in the afterlife.

Well done. We were having a (somewhat) nuanced conversation before that train wreck occurred. I feel better about writing on this blog after his harmful comments weren’t tolerated. Good job.

[Donoghus]

Guess we can close the voting on the dumbest post of the year award. 

[RJ87]

We're just going to fundamentally disagree here. I can't reconcile or warp my mind enough to understand how someone who doesn't old any racial biases can turn around and yell racist things.

As an attorney, I can warp my mind, so I'll give it a try.

I think what he's saying is "Listen, everybody in America has been exposed to racist language.  We know what it looks like.  We know the slurs, the expressions, whatever.  And, we know it can get in the head of certain players.  It's similar to KG attacking Charlie V. about cancer.  It's a potential soft spot, so I'm going to exploit it.  I don't believe Black players are subhuman.  That's a ridiculous sentiment.  But, I'm willing to say anything to help get my team a win, and if that means mimic-ing racists to get under Lebron's skin, then that's a price I'm willing to pay".

So, that's the argument.  It would make me ask the question, though:  how off-kilter must a fan be to degrade himself to hurling racial slurs -- risking permanent expulsion from the Garden in the process -- just to get inside an opponent's head?

Yup that's it. And I'd argue that the person yelling about cancer, your kids, your ugly wife, your mom are just as "off kilter".

But let's be real .. it's part of basketball culture. Anyone see Hustle? Was Anthony Edwards character being racist comparing the Spanish player a bull and matador? Or off kilter when talking about his kids to get in his head?

Another question, if LeBron he was fine with the racist and/or ugly comments why do any of you care? He obviously sees it like I do.

If you said some racist stuff to me during competition or an argument I would take it as ish talking...just like LeBron. I certainly wouldn't go right to this dude wants to oppress or lynch me.

I suspect it bothers Lebron on a human level.  He's a professional with a high level of concentration that can compartmentalize stuff.  It doesn't really make it okay. 

Plus, even if you could somehow say "it's the same as trash talking on the court" (it isn't), aren't these people subjecting hundreds of people besides Lebron to racial slurs?  What about the ten year old black kid sitting two rows in front of you?

So the white from Maine is correcting not only the words  a black man used to describe an incident but also doesn't believe the black man knows how he actually feels about it? Just come out and say that you don't think LeBron isn't smart enough to communicate properly

Lebron may have to deal with racist trolling, but the white guy from Maine doesn't.

See you in the afterlife.

Well done. We were having a (somewhat) nuanced conversation before that train wreck occurred. I feel better about writing on this blog after his harmful comments weren’t tolerated. Good job.

It was unfortunate and an attempt to undermine the overall tenor of this thread which is that even if a lot us disagree on the prevalence racism, no one wants the label of being a racist fanbase.

[JSD]

Lol.  This thread proved Lebron's point.

Can you imagine other fan bases?  "There's literally a thread on CelticsStrong where fans are arguing that saying racist things toward black players doesn't make you a racist."

Lol. Truth.

I don’t even get it. Was this based on a hypothetical?

Edit - Nevermind I went back to the OP

[celticsclay]

Guess we can close the voting on the dumbest post of the year award.

I still vote for Michael jordan started gambling cause he did steroids one summer.

[MarcusSmartFanClub]

Guess we can close the voting on the dumbest post of the year award.

I still vote for Michael jordan started gambling cause he did steroids one summer.

Haha well done. Does MJ owe you $ too, and you think your undying loyalty will get him to do the right thing?

[nickagneta]

Guess we can close the voting on the dumbest post of the year award.

Which one? There's been like a dozen in this thread.

[Goldstar88]

Curious, Have any of the Celtics players stated that they have been subjected to racism themselves by the fans in Boston. Wouldn’t they also be targets as 95% of the team is non-white. Also, have any other NBA players other than Kyrie and Lebron recently stated that they’ve had bad experiences at the TD Garden?

[Donoghus]

Guess we can close the voting on the dumbest post of the year award.

Which one? There's been like a dozen in this thread.

Just because people say racist things doesn't mean they are racist.