Barkley: Nike asked me to go easy on LeBron

[barefacedmonk]

About his comments tweaking the Heat, Barkley said: “I don’t know if Dwyane’s upset with me, but I don’t sit around and worry about it.” He said LeBron James hasn’t said anything to him. “These athletes today are all wussified,” Barkley said. “I’ve been saying LeBron’s been the best player in the league for three years. And I say one thing criticizing The Decision, and I get a phone call from Nike saying why don’t I like LeBron? It’s interesting how this [expletive] works. These groups today, if you don’t say 100 percent positive about their guy or their team, they overreact.”

So how many titles can the Heat realistically win? “First of all, they haven’t won one yet,” Barkley said. “Oh yeah, you all did. After you all beat Boston, you were all praying and [celebrating]. I forgot about that. Do you all count this one [Chicago] as the second?”

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SMH....I know LeBron means a lot to Nike but this is ridiculous.

[ACF]

Charles FTW.

[Casperian]

Bow down to Sir Charles Barkley.

Say what you want, but Barkley is one of the good guys, in my opinion.

[Assassin70]

I don't always like what he says.

But I have lots of respect for him for always speaking his mind.

[CelticG1]

He is right about athletes, kids, and basically society today. Everybody is wussified-although there is a better word for it.

[Eja117]

Bow down to Sir Charles Barkley.

Say what you want, but Barkley is one of the good guys, in my opinion.

I totally agree. 

He's like the Jose Canseco of the NBA without the slimy stuff.   It annoys the heck out of you but he's right so you gotta listen even i you don't want to.

He may be wrong, but I doubt it

[twinbree]

Nike is being ridiculous and Lebron is just an airheaded whiny big baby. Yes I blame Lebron and his camp for this silliness because none of the other top athletes sponsored by Nike are being coddled to the extent he is.

[GreenFaith1819]

I think Nike needs to realize that Lebron James - is in fact - human. That means that he has a past, and he has not always made the wisest choices or portrayed himself (or MIA or CLE) in the best light.

That doesn't mean that folks cannot forgive him - after all we all make mistakes and do stupid things - BUT: Nike must realize that Lebron is not above criticism.

Lebron is still a work in progress, but Nike needs to realize that he isn't perfect, even now.

No athlete is/has ever been beyond reproach (except for maybe Larry  ).

[housecall]

Fans get something else to feel bitter about...whats next?

[Moranis]

I like Charles a lot, but his answer to the championship question is ridiculous.  He was asked a direct question and then went on a tirade and never even answered the question. 

[ACF]

Bow down to Sir Charles Barkley.

Say what you want, but Barkley is one of the good guys, in my opinion.

I named one of my cats after him.

[winsomme]

Bow down to Sir Charles Barkley.

Say what you want, but Barkley is one of the good guys, in my opinion.

agreed. There isn't a more unlikable team in sports IMO. I really hope Dallas can take them but MIA is steamrolling at this point.

[Eja117]

What should I do? Should I have Nike call Charles Barkley and ask him to be nicer to me?  What should I do?

[jackson_34]

I know if I was Nike, I wouldn't like my golden goose being criticized.

I don't understand why they would approach Sir Charles however.

Good on him.

 

[Celtic]

That's what bugs me about Lebron, especially in the decision era, everything is about us misreading him and him being a great guy, it's always that we as fans have the wrong impression and are just haters, it's never wow this guys just a jerk.

His whole what should I do campaign put all the focus on us as fans, that we are asking too much of him, that he just wants to win and we should just appreciate him for who he is. He, the Heat and Nike simply need to understand he is not a likable figure, he has made poor decisions in the past and will do so again. His play in these playoffs has been insane, I find myself disliking him less just because I think he, although still dependent and whiny, is less reliant upon the refs for assistance. However, once he opens his mouth, starts faking intensity and acting like an idiot on the court (see heavy breathing after making a three), or people start campaigning for him, I just revert to my natural dislike of him.

If he were just a basketball player, I would like him a lot more, once he is portrayed as more than that, I lose all interest.