Lebron asks one of dumbest questions I have ever heard

[celticsclay]

During a media interview yesterday Lebron stopped the assembled media and preemptively asked them why he has not been asked about a 1957 picture of Jerry Jones  while he was asked about Kyrie and his antisemitic tweets. (Background there is a photo that has surfaced where Jones is standing with a group of other white students maybe around 13 years old apparently there to disrupt and protest the segregation of schools. The events surrounding that were shameful, terrible and a black mark in race relations but I don't think there is anything further know about what Jerry did besides stand there). How does Lebron not understand the differences here?

1) Lebron plays in the NBA and is constantly asked about the league issues including players and owners. He is going to be asked about Sarver way more extensively than Daniel Snyder, if he is even asked at all about snyder.

2) Kyrie has current actions that he himself is still discussing and was, at the time suspended by the league for. Isn't what someone said a week ago more relevant than something they did literally 60 years ago? There are literally not even many people alive that can comment on what was happening that day (and basically zero adults)

3) Kyrie is a former teammate of Lebron who Lebron has repeatedly discussed having him join him in LA over the last 6 months. Lebron has zero relationship with Jerry Jones, a man 40 years older than him that maybe has never even been in the same room as Lebron who is an owner in a different sports league.

At a larger level, it seems like in the last 6 months the NBA trying to be a voice of social justice has really turned into a complete disaster. Kyrie, Jaylen and Lebron have shown an inability to apply even a tiny bit of critical thinking when discussing issues like this and are certainly doing a lot more harm than good. Lebron also previously stepped in it in his comments condemning Darryl Morey. For as long as Lebron has had microphones in him though, this latest question is completely mind blowing for him to not understand the differences.

[greg683x]

Can’t wait til he’s out of the league

[Roy H.]

Can’t wait til he’s out of the league

After that, he'll probably be an owner and will be even more insufferable.

[celticsclay]

Can’t wait til he’s out of the league

After that, he'll probably be an owner and will be even more insufferable.

This is an interesting idea. There have been a lot of former players in ownership or executive roles and almost all of them became very quiet (jordan, jerry west, bird, Baylor etc). The only seeming exception to this rule is magic Johnson who kept doing impromptu press conferences and media tours and was getting fined by the league for tampering. Is it possible for an owner to be much more vocal than Cuban is (who also has gotten quieter over time).

[kraidstar]

Can’t wait til he’s out of the league

After that, he'll probably be an owner and will be even more insufferable.

This is an interesting idea. There have been a lot of former players in ownership or executive roles and almost all of them became very quiet (jordan, jerry west, bird, Baylor etc). The only seeming exception to this rule is magic Johnson who kept doing impromptu press conferences and media tours and was getting fined by the league for tampering. Is it possible for an owner to be much more vocal than Cuban is (who also has gotten quieter over time).

Maybe Cuban is gearing up for a Presidential run

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I saw that. It was a pretty dumb question. Questions about Kyrie are pretty well connected to Lebron on several levels - their previous relationship, him being in the NBA, it being a current event, etc.

I really don't enjoy the "what-about"isms when legitimate questions are asked. The event of that photo is pretty horrible, but that's several levels removed from Lebron.

[mqtcelticsfan]

Can’t wait til he’s out of the league

It was a dumb question, but I don’t understand people who take such strong stances about LeBron James. He is outspoken about issues he cares about, but he has also generally put his money where his mouth is and has been a strong role model for an entire generation of young people.

[celticsclay]

Can’t wait til he’s out of the league

It was a dumb question, but I don’t understand people who take such strong stances about LeBron James. He is outspoken about issues he cares about, but he has also generally put his money where his mouth is and has been a strong role model for an entire generation of young people.

Pointing out when Lebron does dumb things like this question, his comments on China or the targeting of a white police officer that did nothing wrong with “your next” are all very fair things to criticism him on. It’s also very fair to praise for his I promise school, charity work and other positives off the court.

Also add the defense of kyrie and whataboutism by Lebron regarding kyrie (along with what jaylen has done obviously) is not harmless. This stuff really normalizes bad behavior that could eventually lead to tragic outcomes. It needs to stop which is why I am saying they just need to shut up, at least about kyrie. Did people see what Kanye said today (who represented jaylen recently). This stuff is not harmless or what about this 1967 picture. Shut up Lebron!

[dannyboy35]

   I don’t disagree with him , honestly. “ We we’re curious is a silly embarrassing answer. I don’t think it’s wrong for black people to THINK “ why not him?”  Why isn’t there more energy asking HIM to denounce racism? He clearly could have. That’s my opinion.

[Roy H.]

   I don’t disagree with him , honestly. “ We we’re curious is a silly embarrassing answer. I don’t think it’s wrong for black people to THINK “ why not him?”  Why isn’t there more energy asking HIM to denounce racism? He clearly could have. That’s my opinion.

It’s fine to ask Jones the question, even if it was a half century ago when he was 14.  Ask the Cowboys players, too.

But why would anybody ask Lebron?  He’s not the arbiter of social justice for all sports. 

[dannyboy35]

   I don’t disagree with him , honestly. “ We we’re curious is a silly embarrassing answer. I don’t think it’s wrong for black people to THINK “ why not him?”  Why isn’t there more energy asking HIM to denounce racism? He clearly could have. That’s my opinion.

It’s fine to ask Jones the question, even if it was a half century ago when he was 14.  Ask the Cowboys players, too.

But why would anybody ask Lebron?  He’s not the arbiter of social justice for all sports.

   
   I think they ask Lebron about Kyrie purely because it’s something people will read regardless of his answer. If he has a poor  answer more people will read it.

[Roy H.]

   I don’t disagree with him , honestly. “ We we’re curious is a silly embarrassing answer. I don’t think it’s wrong for black people to THINK “ why not him?”  Why isn’t there more energy asking HIM to denounce racism? He clearly could have. That’s my opinion.

It’s fine to ask Jones the question, even if it was a half century ago when he was 14.  Ask the Cowboys players, too.

But why would anybody ask Lebron?  He’s not the arbiter of social justice for all sports.

   
   I think they ask Lebron about Kyrie purely because it’s something people will read regardless of his answer. If he has a poor  answer more people will read it.

That's probably true.  Lebron draws eyeballs.  At the same time, it's natural that the media would ask Lebron about Kyrie.  Not only are they former teammates, but Lebron has been lobbying for him on the Lakers.

[tenn_smoothie]

How is Kyrie indicating that he has a current animus towards Jewish people comparable to a 14-year old kid observing this act of racial hate. Jones didn't participate. Do we know he was there in support of this act ?

Exactly what is it Lebron would have this 14-year old do ?
Jump over the wall, run over and physically attempt to break up what was happening ?

But like so many instigators of racial drama, Lebron does not care about the differences.
He only cares about the opportunity to spout off about racism towards black Americans.
Of course, this racist country of ours has made Lebron a millionaire several times over.

[Roy H.]

How in the hell is Kyrie indicating that he has a current animus towards Jewish people comparable in any way to a 14-year old kid observing an act of racial hate. Jones didn't participate. He watched from behind a wall, I assume, out of curiosity maybe.

Exactly what is it Lebron would have this 14-year old do ?
Jump over the wall, run over and physically attempt to break up what was happening ?

Not behind a physical wall, for whatever it's worth:



Jones is the one in the top center of the photograph, to the right of the kid who is holding a camera up.  He looks more curious than hostile, but you can't tell much from a pic (other than that the three white kids directly blocking the black kids' path look like huge dirt bags.)

[gouki88]

How in the hell is Kyrie indicating that he has a current animus towards Jewish people comparable in any way to a 14-year old kid observing an act of racial hate. Jones didn't participate. He watched from behind a wall, I assume, out of curiosity maybe.

Exactly what is it Lebron would have this 14-year old do ?
Jump over the wall, run over and physically attempt to break up what was happening ?

Not behind a physical wall, for whatever it's worth:



Jones is the one in the top center of the photograph, to the right of the kid who is holding a camera up.  He looks more curious than hostile, but you can't tell much from a pic (other than that the three white kids directly blocking the black kids' path look like huge dirt bags.)

A lot of them deserve a whack, but the one with the cig in the middle has a punchable face