What's up with all the Lebron threads and vitriol

[indeedproceed]

No it doesn't and no it isn't.  Honoring the birth of his son is bash worthy now.  I mean did you really just say that.  And for the record an number he chose would have been represented by an all time great.  1 Oscar Robertson, 2 Moses Malone, etc.  If he chose 13 (Wilt) would you be saying the same things?  And sure they maybe aren't all as great as Bill, but they are still all great in their own respect.

You're not making any sense now. The guy moved to have Jordan's number retired. Not from the bulls, not from his chest, but by the entire league. The only other number I know of that has the same kind of recognition is Jackie Robinson's in baseball.

That alone does not bother me, but in trying to show how much he has respect for his hero, he chose the number of a guy who has unarguably given as much or more than Jordan to basketball. Bill Russell isn't Nat Clifton, but if he wants to say without MJ there would be no LeBron, Kobe, etc..without Russell there would be no MJ, no Wilt, no Kareem, no Oscar.

He honored the biggest sports icon of the last 25 years by taking the number of probably the most influential basketball player of all time. If you can't understand our frustration with that, I don't know how to explain it better.

Magic, Wilt, Oscar, whoever...none of those guys are Bill Russell.

According to most experts 2 of those 3 are greater players then Bill.  Lebron choosing #6 was not a knock on Bill or Dr. J or any of the other players that have worn the #6.

I don't know what experts you're talking about, but they're wrong.

I'd love to see 3 or even 4 recognized basketball historians that say Russell is less than Magic or Wilt or Oscar. Heck I'd like to even find one (although I imagine you could probably find one. There is always one crazy person.)

[biggs]

Really?

It LeBron, he's given NBA fans plenty of reason not to like him.

As for not disrespecting Boston, have you seen his jersey number and heard why he changed it to that?

He changed it as a way to honor his childhood idol, Jordan.  He changed it to number 6 to honor the birth of his first son (it was the day he was born) and it is why he wanted that number in the Olympics.  Thinking him changing his number to 6 is a slight to Bill or the city of Boston is exactly the lunacy I'm referring to.  

  Haha. You can't see the humor in a player who stops wearing a number because a great player wore that number switching to Bill Russell's number? I think lunacy is a bit strong. I mean the guy's always saying stupid things. I'm sure there are bigger knuckleheads in the NBA but those guys aren't worshiped by espn so there's something of a "tree falling in the forest" effect.

There are plenty of great players and plenty of great players wore plenty of numbers (Dr. J also wore number 6).  Lebron James only has one basketball hero and that man wore the number 23 and pretty much every basketball fan Lebron's age grew up idolizing and wanting to be Michael Jordan.  He was an entire generations basketball hero, because it was pretty much just him in that generation.

Just for the record, LeBron is too young to really claim to be a Jordan fan.  He is just of the generations of wannabes that idolize jordan, and claim to have "grown up" watching him.   Oh wait, that's everyone.  

As to the OP: 1st and foremost: nice to see some old schoolers on the blog.

2ndly- Moranis: you have never seen so much hatred on this board in your whole life?  I was under the impression that you were older than ten years  

As for Lebron:  I agree that all the hatred is getting to be overboard.  It's getting old, and I agree that some people obsess about it.  He does do a poor job of promoting himself over his teammates and is pretty egotistical compared to most of the premier athletes in the league, having said that: If you love to hate on Lebron, then accept him as a villain and stop questioning his character etc.  

[BballTim]

There are plenty of great players and plenty of great players wore plenty of numbers (Dr. J also wore number 6).  Lebron James only has one basketball hero and that man wore the number 23 and pretty much every basketball fan Lebron's age grew up idolizing and wanting to be Michael Jordan.  He was an entire generations basketball hero, because it was pretty much just him in that generation.

This I don't get. I don't think it makes any real sense as a defense at all...so by honoring Jordan, he went to another number so #23 could be retired, but then he chose #6. He knew it was Russell's number. But he took it anyways.

This would be like if in 10 years, a hotshot young slugger for the Minnesota twins decided he didn't want to wear #5 anymore to honor albert pujols, so he decided to switch to number 42.

It would be like if in 20 years a young versatile running back decided he would not wear number 7 anymore as a tribute to michael vick, but would rather wear number 32.

I can go on.

there is nothing wrong with honoring jordan, but going to Russell's number and saying that's something different because LeBron didn't grow up watching Jordan is kind of silly.

His son was born on the 6th, which is why he chose that number.

What number should have selected.  How about 13 or wait that is Wilt.  How about 1 or wait that is Oscar.  How about 33 or wait that is Kareem (notice I went with Kareem because he had it first, doesn't Larry have any respect for the history of the game).  Maybe 32 or wait Magic.  And you could go on and on.  

The man only had 1 hero and that was Michael Jordan.

Magic, Wilt, Oscar, whoever...none of those guys are Bill Russell.

According to most experts 2 of those 3 are greater players then Bill.  Lebron choosing #6 was not a knock on Bill or Dr. J or any of the other players that have worn the #6.

  According to most experts? Seriously?

[barefacedmonk]

You're not making any sense now. The guy moved to have Jordan's number retired. Not from the bulls, not from his chest, but by the entire league. The only other number I know of that has the same kind of recognition is Jackie Robinson's in baseball.

That alone does not bother me, but in trying to show how much he has respect for his hero, he chose the number of a guy who has unarguably given as much or more than Jordan to basketball. Bill Russell isn't Nat Clifton, but if he wants to say without MJ there would be no LeBron, Kobe, etc..without Russell there would be no MJ, no Wilt, no Kareem, no Oscar.

He honored the biggest sports icon of the last 25 years by taking the number of probably the most influential basketball player of all time. If you can't understand our frustration with that, I don't know how to explain it better.

Very well said.

but if he wants to say without MJ there would be no LeBron, Kobe, etc..without Russell there would be no MJ, no Wilt, no Kareem, no Oscar.

TP.

[Neurotic Guy]

I agree with the OP.  I don't have the visceral hatred for Lebron that I do for Kobe -- or every other Laker for that matter.  The only one way Lebron could ever rise to that level of hatred for me is if he were to take his talents to Hollywood. 

[nba is the worst]

Really?

It LeBron, he's given NBA fans plenty of reason not to like him.

As for not disrespecting Boston, have you seen his jersey number and heard why he changed it to that?

He changed it as a way to honor his childhood idol, Jordan.  He changed it to number 6 to honor the birth of his first son (it was the day he was born) and it is why he wanted that number in the Olympics.  Thinking him changing his number to 6 is a slight to Bill or the city of Boston is exactly the lunacy I'm referring to.  

  Haha. You can't see the humor in a player who stops wearing a number because a great player wore that number switching to Bill Russell's number? I think lunacy is a bit strong. I mean the guy's always saying stupid things. I'm sure there are bigger knuckleheads in the NBA but those guys aren't worshiped by espn so there's something of a "tree falling in the forest" effect.

There are plenty of great players and plenty of great players wore plenty of numbers (Dr. J also wore number 6).  Lebron James only has one basketball hero and that man wore the number 23 and pretty much every basketball fan Lebron's age grew up idolizing and wanting to be Michael Jordan.  He was an entire generations basketball hero, because it was pretty much just him in that generation.

  He said the entire league should stop wearing Jordan's number.

I don't think anyone has brought this up, but if I missed it, my apologies.

His request for the NBA to retire Jordan's number is considered by many to have been due to the fact that the Heat retired Jordan's number in 2003, and he knew that he wouldn't be able to wear that number when he joined the heat (months later).

Collusion, anyone?

[ACF]

I've never liked LeBron and I feel like a pretty friendly dude. I won't call it hate because that's a strong word to use about someone who you've never met. I recognize LBJ's skills, that's it. I really don't fear him. But if you asked any NBA GM who he'd pick first if he was starting from scratch he'd say James.

I have to say (and it pains me a bit) that I don't dislike Kobe Bryant any more than I do LeBron James. Maybe I actually dislike Bronnie a bit more because of the EGOSPN thing. In the final minute and with the ball in his hands, I think I fear Kobe more.

"We", not "me".

[Celtics4ever]

I don't see how people who love the Celtics like LeBron as much as they do, so I am the polar opposite of the originator of this post.

He overdribbles stagnating offense all the time.  But he is a mediocre shooter at best and seems to run and hide when games are on the line.  I think my beef with him is more with the NBA marketing him as the equal of Jordan or an all time great.   He is an exceptional talent with out of this world athletic ability.

Do I hate him?  I don't wish ill on him as a person or lose sleep over him.  I root to hell against him when he is playing the Celtics.  But other than that I don't care what he does.  I don't agree with all those folks here "stat drunk" from his stats and the NBA hype machine.  He can wear whatever number he wants as its not going to help him or change his luck.

That being said, I think the guy who heckled him in front of his kids about his mom, needs a beatdown.   You don't diss a father in front of his kids or attack someone's mom personally.   LeBron handled that well, I thought and showed a maturity I didn't know he possessed.  Kudos for him for that and I hope that jackass gets a beatdown.