What's Your Reaction to LeBron's Allegiances?

[jgod213]

He is a front runner but I mean there are worse things in life then being a front runner. It's usually the not very into sports sports fan who is like that.. Maybe Lebron is one of those guys..

Pete

he's been a yankee fan for his entire life, and all he did was go and talk to some of the cowboys. did anyone ever consider mabey he's friends with TO, another high profile athlete?

here's another "shocker" for sports fans, while we may dislike the mannings, our very own tom brady is a yankee's fan AND "gasp!" counts peyton as one fo his closest friends!!! omgzors!

and, as steve pointed out and was glossed over, paul and ray went over to strhan and the giants and joked around for 5-10 minutes before a game in NY after the superbowl. clearly they hate boston sports and all it stands for. traitors. 

am i supposed to hate them or consider them "not true sports fans" now?

please.

I'm sure LeBron is also real good buddies with Jerry Jones too, right?

Like i said in the lead post, i have no problem with LeBron's fanhood, what i have a problem with is how LeBron - basically the face of Cleveland sports - continuously shows up to Cleveland events openly supporting other teams. 

Also, I could care less if Tom Brady is a Yankees fan...and guess what? It wouldn't bother me if any athlete playing in Boston showed up to Fenway, during a pennant race, dressed in full pinstripes! - but only if it was clear that they were true Yankees fans.  If Tom Brady was a die-hard Yankee fan, i would applaud him for daring to show up at Fenway and supporting his team.  Now if Brady showed up to a playoff game sporting Yankee gear and really had no interest in the outcome of the game, then yes it would bother me because he is the face of New England, so why even bother doing something like that?

What bothers me is that I don't believe LeBron is a true Yankee or Cowboy fan.   Obviously the notion of what a "true" fan is is subjective, but to me LeBron isn't one.  He seems more like the guy who relishes the spotlight and relishes being around those who currently are in it as well.  As i said, nothing inherently wrong with that, but as the face of a franchise, why does he insist on parading around in Yankee gear at Indians games? It's either because he's a) a diehard Yankee fan, or b) doesn't really care about representing Cleveland in any way.

If it's A, good for him...
If it's B, then it's really just an unecessary slap in the face to those (the fans) who come out to support him and pay his salary.

[Schupac]

Well, it is kind of lame to support the Yankees when you are from Akron and at an Indians game.  Cleveland doesn't "own" the guy.  I would think it was lame if some random guy on the street did it.  Celebrity has nothing to do with it.

Boston is rare in that many of the players on the sports teams show up at each others games'.  It has partially to do with the fact that most of the teams are good, and also that Boston sport's fans are rabid, so it's fun to go to the games.

You go to a Celtics game there is a fair chance you will see a Patriots, Sox or Bruins player there.  Most cities can't claim something like that.

[the_Bird]

He is one step away from the worst sporting fan.


The Yankee/Cowboy/Laker fan. 

Yeh really, you're right,  if he was a Giants fan instead of a Cowboy fan that would be truly awful

At least that would make sense (he supports NYC teams).  But he is just a fan of all the popular teams of every sport.  That doesn't really seem like a real sports fan to me.

I was just razzing wdleehi.  I have no love for the Giants, but clearly the Cowboys are the more despicable team.  And yes, Lebron probably does have a double secret pair of Lakers undies somewhere in his dresser.

These, perhaps?

[Mr October]

He is one step away from the worst sporting fan.


The Yankee/Cowboy/Laker fan. 

Although considering he grew up in the late 80s and through the 90s, I think it is sooooooo cheesy to pick the Yankees, Cowboys and Bulls. Uggg. Lebron has done nothing wrong. But as a sports fan he is a cheesy front runner. ...No respect for him as a sports fan to a sports fan.

[nickagneta]

LeBron can cheer on any team he wants. What's the big deal?

He owes his loyalties to Cavs fans who go to the game and help to pay his salary. Just because he goes to other sporting events in Cleveland and doesn't support those teams means that he is being disloyal to his fan base.

If the members of that fan base are upset because they also happen to be Indians fans or Browns fans, that is their problem. They shouldn't be trying to force their allegiances upon their idols from other teams.

[jackson_34]

Is it possible that Lebron would be getting paid to wear the yankee gear? Perhaps the sport and law buffs could tell me if this would be allowed?

Nike released these this year; complete with the new york logo.

[StartOrien]

Just something to keep in mind, as I'm originally born in Cleveland (lived there only shortly, but most family still out there) and I'm about the same age Lebron is; the Browns didn't exist the years as a young adult he'd start watching sports passionately. The Cavs were also pretty terrible as you're coming off the Price/Ferry years. Don't understand why he doesn't like the Indians though, they were my first favorite baseball team and were awesome to watch (Lofton, Belle, Ramirez, etc).

I think the original point is valid though. It's tough enough for Cleveland fans to be wary that in all likelihood Lebron will be changing teams in 2010, but it almost appears that he's rubbing it in their faces. And all this wearing the opponents colors can only be worse when Cleveland is such a crazy sports town in the first place.

[xmuscularghandix]

i think it'd matter if he wasn't from cleveland. but becuase he is, no matter what other sport teams he likes he's a hometown kid who got drafted 1 overall by his hometown team, they shouldn't feel anything about it... its not like he's walking around wearing gear from other basketball teams.

[Donoghus]

He is one step away from the worst sporting fan.


The Yankee/Cowboy/Laker fan. 

Might I add Notre Dame to this list?

[Eja117]

Tom brady is an ackoledged yankees fan, and i could care less. It doesnt change the fact that he's an awesome QB for my team, or my opnion of him in the slightest.

I thought Brady was a Giants fan, but if he is actually a Yanks fan then I hope Matt Cassell becomes the next Tom Brady

[dark_lord]

who cares?  he is free to like whichever teams he likes, the same as the rest of us.

[johnnyrondo]

Tom brady is an ackoledged yankees fan, and i could care less. It doesnt change the fact that he's an awesome QB for my team, or my opnion of him in the slightest.

I thought Brady was a Giants fan, but if he is actually a Yanks fan then I hope Matt Cassell becomes the next Tom Brady

Wait, that would make Cassell a Yankees fan too. That's no good


Speaking of allegiances, anyone have an opinion on the Josh Howard story regarding the star spangled banner? http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3592734  Seems rather worse than the Abdul Rauf (formerly Chris Jackson) business of years past.

[guava_wrench]

We've all become aware of the fact the LeBron has always had an affinity for the New York Yankees, as he seems to sport the pinstripes everywhere he goes, but during the Browns' opening week matchup against the Cowboys, LeBron could be seen embracing and chatting it up with Jerry Jones, T.O. and Adam "don't call me Pacman" Jones.  As was written in an article on the Celticsblog front page, these antics have begun to ruffle the feathers of Cavs fans; particularly given the fact that James grew up in Akron.

Personally I believe that LeBron, and any other person, has the right to support any sports team which they please, and without having to worry about a tarnished reputation.  however, the fact that LeBron continues to go to Clevelend sporting events (Indians, Browns) and can be seen visibly supporting the opposition (Yankees, Cowboys) is something that does bother me.

Here's my question, why does he feel the need to wear a Yankees cap to an Indians game? Why does he parade around the Cowboy sidelines without paying any attention or respect to Browns players or fans? Why does he insist on going out of his way to NOT support Cleveland?  Now i understand that the Yankees gear probably has more to do with fashion than allegiances, but why can't he wear another blue hat when going to an Indians game?

The guy, to me, seems like he's all about the spotlight.  when he's not in it, he wants to surround himself with whomever currently is.  There's nothing inherently wrong with that, but can't you show a little respect and humor the fans who currently fund your mammouth salary?

Whats is the reaction from you all? What if Paul Pierce walked out to the Pats/Cheifs game and went stricktly over to Larry Johnson to chat, or showed up to a Sox game wearing an Angels cap? How negative would the reaction be?

Reminds me of Brady at Celtics games, though Brady is at least rooting for his hometown team.

[wdleehi]

He is one step away from the worst sporting fan.


The Yankee/Cowboy/Laker fan. 

Might I add Notre Dame to this list?

Only if they went to another school. 

[KCattheStripe]

God forbid that since childhood an athletic prodigy has respected, admired and emulated athletic excellence. He's probably a fan of Man U, Chinese gymnastics and Russian Sabre Fencing.