The Most Egregious Crime: Arrogance Without Contrition (Lebron)

[Neurotic Guy]

Arrogant defined: Making claims or pretensions to superior importance or rights.

It's true, Lebron James has been arrogant, obnoxious and self-interested.  He's shown no signs of humility or contrition.  His ill-chosen words, his prideful acceptance of the premature moniker 'The King', his insufferable 'Decision', and the Heat's pre-season showboat circus have made him American Sports Villain #1.  

But, why this much hate?  What exactly is his crime against humanity?  Is it all about arrogance?  Haven't there been numerous arrogant athletes?  Wasn't Michael Jordan arrogant? What about Roger Clemens? Muhammed Ali?  Michael Vick?  How about Magic Johnson?  Ted Williams?  Mike Tyson?  Kobe Bryant? Didn’t Shaq leave Orlando for less money and greener pastures? Didn’t Boozer manipulate the system?  Didn’t John Elway refuse to play for Baltimore?  Haven’t many famous athletes demanded trades or whined until they’ve gotten what they wanted? The list of arrogant, obnoxious and self-interested athletes might, in fact, be frighteningly long.  

Arrogance alone isn’t enough of a crime to warrant the universal hatred (outside of Miami) of Lebron James.  So, what is it that other arrogant athletes do to deflect the hate – or at least some of it?

I guess some arrogant athletes earn admiration by backing their comments up with performance.  Certainly Ali could talk as brazenly as he wanted as long as he could beat his opponents, or at least show heart in defeat.  Lebron’s 2 MVP awards and 2 trips to the Finals isn’t enough yet.

Also, contrition seems to endear us to the previously arrogant-sounding athlete.  Those who have been perceived as arrogant who have then been contrite, apologetic, make humble-sounding comments, eventually get a better shake from society.  Lebron hasn’t gone there yet.

But, doesn't it make sense that those who become society's least favored sons (as Lebron is today) be those who have not only have acted arrogantly, but who have concurrently misbehaved in significant ways?

Strangely, even some of those with serious and well-publicized misbehavior have found themselves back in reasonably good graces.  Some jail time, an apology, a statement of growth and maturity can go a long way to smoothing out popularity numbers.  Right now, I am afraid that Lebron James would lose a popularity poll with a number of arrogant villains of the past who have somehow found a way to endear themselves to a populace eager to forgive:

Mike Tyson (rape), Kobe Bryant (adultery; rape accusation), Pete Rose (gambling), Ben Rothlesberger (sexual misconduct), Tiger Woods (sereal adultery), Michael Vick (animal cruelty), Mark Maguire, Sammy Sosa, Alex Rodriguez, etc.(steroid cheating), Ray Lewis (??).  My guess is that Lebron ranks below every one of these men in popularity right now (though a couple would probably be close).

Unlike Lebron, even arrogant figures in history like Marie Antoinette, with her haughty and callous declaration, “Let them eat cake”, was guilty of something besides arrogance (if only that she presided alongside her husband at a time when her people were suffering all forms of human misery).

The confounding reality is that Lebron has achieved his status by being guilty of only one arrogance and self-interest.  And he’ll likely remain in arrogance-induced purgatory until he has backed up his arrogance with 2… 3… 4… 5… 6… 7… championships.  Of course, if he hasn't by then figured out how to be contrite, apologetic, humble, self-effacing, perhaps he’ll remain in the public’s doghouse forever.

But, Lebron's crime is arrogance and an unwillingness or inability to say the correct words. To our knowledge, he hasn't raped, cheated, abused animals, gambled on basketbball, committed atrocities against his family, or caused the suffering of the masses (unless you consider those poor folks in Cleveland who now suffer the grave indignity of rooting for a bad Cavaliers team).  

He chose to leave his current company and take a job with another -- in a warmer city. He did so with a seemingly heartless indifference to those who previously employed him and rooted for him.

For this, he is hated with equal or greater vehemence than rapists, philanderers, steroid users, gamblers, and probably a few killers.  A dead Ty Cobb could defeat him in both a run for mayor of Cleveland or in placement on the sports-fans list of the most hated men in sports history.  

I rooted against him and the Heat with gusto.  But, enough is enough.  He’s 26 years old, and if all he remains guilty of is arrogance and self-interest throughout his professional career, then someday perhaps I’ll tip my hat to him.  

[jdz101]

He, bosh and wade conspired together to win championships, planning their contracts around fitting haslem's money in the cap. Aside from the arrogance he cheated a fair system.

[Eja117]

What about comparing himself to Jesus in the medium of tattoo? 

[vinnie]

Lebron might be in the top 10 jerks to ever play the game of basketball. Screw him and the horse he rode in on. He carries himself like a jerk, speaks like a jerk and acts like a jerk. I will never feel badly for this horse's ass. He deserves all of the crap he gets.

[greenpride32]

I would describe guys like Jordan and Clemens as cocky, but still humble, friendly, and normal guys who just became superstars.  

Lebron brings it to a completely different level.  He demeans other, shows lack of respect, and basically thinks he's the best thing for humanity since sliced bread.  

I respect his talents as a basketball player.  We all know his big game performances up to this point have been sub-par, but despite that he is still a top 3 player in the league.  But as a person, he's just a classless, immature jerk.  It should be no surprise why so many despise him.

The only people who worship him are the same people who spend all day dreaming about fame and fortune, rather than working hard to achieve success.

[Junkyard Dawg]

I'll be honest, I really don't get it.  To me, he's immature, and that's about it.  I really don't get the hate.  To me, Kobe Bryant is one of the most loathesome basketball players on the planet, plain and simple.  I can't think of a player more anti-Ubuntu, other than the occasional Sean Williams or JR Rider or someone like that who comes along.  There wasn't a happier basketball fan on the planet to watch the Lakers get humiliated by the Mavericks than I.

LeBron needs to grow up.  He needs to surround himself with better people.  He apparently needs to work on some aspects of his game, although he fooled a lot of people during the Celtics series.  But man, arrogance?  Are you kidding me?  I remember a few years ago when Sebastian Telfair was on the team, he scored something like 20 points in a win during an awful season, was interviewed after the game and said something to the extent "I believe I'm the best player in the world".  

Right.  LeBron is arrogant.  

[greenpride32]

Mocking a sick player on the other team with a fake cough.

Not informing your boss you are leaving, after 7 years where they bent over backwards for you.

Donating to the Boys and Girls club and then saying maybe one of these kids he helped will grow up to be a Lebron James (really???).

And he basically said everyone who cheered against him has a miserable life:

"All the people that was rooting on me to fail, at the end of the day they have to wake up tomorrow and have the same life that they had before they woke up today," James said Sunday.

"They have the same personal problems they had today. I'm going to continue to live the way I want to live and continue to do the things that I want to do with me and my family and be happy with that. They can get a few days or a few months or whatever the case may be on being happy about not only myself, but the Miami Heat not accomplishing their goal, but they have to get back to the real world at some point."


People who support him after comments and actions like those only do so because he is a multi-millionaire star athlete; not because they respect him as a person.  It makes them almost as shallow as LBJ in some ways.

[Junkyard Dawg]

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/miamiheat/post/_/id/9010/when-lebron-hate-becomes-unhealthy

http://www.ajc.com/sports/is-it-ok-to-975821.html?cxtype=rss_news_128746

[JBcat]

Well it's all about what's going on in the sports world at the moment.  Deep down I don't think most of us view Lebron as worse human being than these guys.

Mike Tyson (rape), Kobe Bryant (adultery; rape accusation), Pete Rose (gambling), Ben Rothlesberger (sexual misconduct), Tiger Woods (sereal adultery), Michael Vick (animal cruelty), Mark Maguire, Sammy Sosa, Alex Rodriguez, etc.(steroid cheating), Ray Lewis (??).  My guess is that Lebron ranks below every one of these men in popularity right now (though a couple would probably be close).

However with what he has done in the past year with the "Decision", premature celebration last summer, ect. he is at the top for negative press just as Tiger was just before him.  Maybe a year or so down the road someone else will take over for the negative sports press.  

[Steve Weinman]

Arrogant defined: Making claims or pretensions to superior importance or rights.

It's true, Lebron James has been arrogant, obnoxious and self-interested.  He's shown no signs of humility or contrition.  His ill-chosen words, his prideful acceptance of the premature moniker 'The King', his insufferable 'Decision', and the Heat's pre-season showboat circus have made him American Sports Villain #1.  

But, why this much hate?  What exactly is his crime against humanity?  Is it all about arrogance?  Haven't there been numerous arrogant athletes?  Wasn't Michael Jordan arrogant? What about Roger Clemens? Muhammed Ali?  Michael Vick?  How about Magic Johnson?  Ted Williams?  Mike Tyson?  Kobe Bryant? Didn’t Shaq leave Orlando for less money and greener pastures? Didn’t Boozer manipulate the system?  Didn’t John Elway refuse to play for Baltimore?  Haven’t many famous athletes demanded trades or whined until they’ve gotten what they wanted? The list of arrogant, obnoxious and self-interested athletes might, in fact, be frighteningly long.  

Arrogance alone isn’t enough of a crime to warrant the universal hatred (outside of Miami) of Lebron James.  So, what is it that other arrogant athletes do to deflect the hate – or at least some of it?

I guess some arrogant athletes earn admiration by backing their comments up with performance.  Certainly Ali could talk as brazenly as he wanted as long as he could beat his opponents, or at least show heart in defeat.  Lebron’s 2 MVP awards and 2 trips to the Finals isn’t enough yet.

Also, contrition seems to endear us to the previously arrogant-sounding athlete.  Those who have been perceived as arrogant who have then been contrite, apologetic, make humble-sounding comments, eventually get a better shake from society.  Lebron hasn’t gone there yet.

But, doesn't it make sense that those who become society's least favored sons (as Lebron is today) be those who have not only have acted arrogantly, but who have concurrently misbehaved in significant ways?

Strangely, even some of those with serious and well-publicized misbehavior have found themselves back in reasonably good graces.  Some jail time, an apology, a statement of growth and maturity can go a long way to smoothing out popularity numbers.  Right now, I am afraid that Lebron James would lose a popularity poll with a number of arrogant villains of the past who have somehow found a way to endear themselves to a populace eager to forgive:

Mike Tyson (rape), Kobe Bryant (adultery; rape accusation), Pete Rose (gambling), Ben Rothlesberger (sexual misconduct), Tiger Woods (sereal adultery), Michael Vick (animal cruelty), Mark Maguire, Sammy Sosa, Alex Rodriguez, etc.(steroid cheating), Ray Lewis (??).  My guess is that Lebron ranks below every one of these men in popularity right now (though a couple would probably be close).

Unlike Lebron, even arrogant figures in history like Marie Antoinette, with her haughty and callous declaration, “Let them eat cake”, was guilty of something besides arrogance (if only that she presided alongside her husband at a time when her people were suffering all forms of human misery).

The confounding reality is that Lebron has achieved his status by being guilty of only one arrogance and self-interest.  And he’ll likely remain in arrogance-induced purgatory until he has backed up his arrogance with 2… 3… 4… 5… 6… 7… championships.  Of course, if he hasn't by then figured out how to be contrite, apologetic, humble, self-effacing, perhaps he’ll remain in the public’s doghouse forever.

But, Lebron's crime is arrogance and an unwillingness or inability to say the correct words. To our knowledge, he hasn't raped, cheated, abused animals, gambled on basketbball, committed atrocities against his family, or caused the suffering of the masses (unless you consider those poor folks in Cleveland who now suffer the grave indignity of rooting for a bad Cavaliers team).  

He chose to leave his current company and take a job with another -- in a warmer city. He did so with a seemingly heartless indifference to those who previously employed him and rooted for him.

For this, he is hated with equal or greater vehemence than rapists, philanderers, steroid users, gamblers, and probably a few killers.  A dead Ty Cobb could defeat him in both a run for mayor of Cleveland or in placement on the sports-fans list of the most hated men in sports history.  

I rooted against him and the Heat with gusto.  But, enough is enough.  He’s 26 years old, and if all he remains guilty of is arrogance and self-interest throughout his professional career, then someday perhaps I’ll tip my hat to him.  

Terrific post, NG.

-sw

[BballTim]

  LeBron and his boys are getting their well deserved comeuppance for their arrogance/petulance/immaturity/boa****lness. Such is life. People who were bemused (or even offended) by their claims of greatness before they ever played a game together are somewhat reveling in the Heat's failure to deliver and (rightfully) mocking them. Lots of people dislike LeBron because of his behavior and words, which seems to be appropriate. I don't think that anybody considers his behavior to be on the level of (let alone worse than) most of the crimes you listed.

  EDIT: pretty amusing, how that word got *ed out...

[ScoobyDoo]

Most men and women in the US are blue collar in the sense that they get up every day and go do what needs to be done to make ends meet. That applies if you are making $250k+ a year or $25K a year.

They don't like arrogance and they don't like people "working the system" and taking shortcuts and they don't like people "sticking it to them" the way LeBron did to Cleveland on his departure. The vast majority of the fans took Cleveland's side and became a Cavalier fan after the decision.

In some ways I see LeBron as a tragic figure. He has had ridiculously insane amounts of adulation and expectations thrust upon him due to his talent on the floor and he didn't have much guidance growing up from a male figure to keep his head on straight - like maybe Jordan did with his Dad.

However, here's the rug though...neither did Kevin Garnett...

LeBron also has any number of NBA vets he can turn to for advice - the NBA is like a family in that sense I think.

He should pick up the phone and call Dr. J, Bill Russel, Jerry West, John Lucas, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, John Stockton, Karl Malone, etc...

...and say "I'm in trouble and I don't know how to handle this. What am I doing wrong, how can I change my path, what do I say when talking to the media. It's like Kevin Costner and Tim Robbins in Bull Durham...

Instead he listens to the worst friend he's ever had, Maverick Carter.

Note to LeBron: Call Maverick up, tell him I'm sending you a check for $10 million to get you out of my life, and so I know I've taken care of you because we grew up together.

Next call: "Hi Bill, you won 11 titles and everyone loves you - tell me what to do so I can reach my full potential as a person". After that, everything will take care of itself.

But i think the problem is that LeBron isn't willing to pick up the phone - and if Riley can't guide him in Miami it may mean there is simply no changing the stripes and LeBron simply may just be an arrogant jerk at his core and there is no changing it.     

[footey]

I just don't get all the Lebron hate, or the accusation that he is supremely more arrogant than any other athlete in his stead.

He does not come across that way at all to me. I find him to be pretty humble in defeat.

I think his quote about people having to get up in the morning and get back to their jobs was taken out of context, and was not intended to express that he was better than everyone else.

His decision to go to Miami was as an unrestricted free agent. Could he have chosen a better way to go there? Yes. But his decision is within the rules, and much less arrogant than a guy like Eli Manning, or John Elway, who basically said they would not go to a certain place if drafted by a certain team.

Enough of the Lebron bashing, guys.  He has under performed, but is still a very exciting player to watch.

[RyNye]

Do people really HATE LeBron? People on these forums seem to be pretty vehement, but when it comes right down to it, broadly, across America, how many people legitimately hate him?

I was rooting for him to lose, yes. I would have been upset if the Heat had won, and I think they deserved to lose. This was less to his arrogance, and more to his immaturity. I mean, you are talking about a guy who since he was in high school has been surrounded by people and the media telling him he is the greatest basketball player in the world. That's not a healthy environment for someone transitioning from a sheltered life in high school to the "real world" (or as close the real world as it gets for professional athletes, who are sheltered in a completely different type of way). Arrogance doesn't bother me; lots of good athletes are arrogant. It's the immaturity he has demonstrated, during the Decision especially but at various moments and to various degrees throughout his career, that I hate.

But can I really say I HATE LeBron? No, of course not. And anyone who does say that is either lying or a jackass. No matter how irritating you find his behavior or how much you root against him, there literally is no reason to HATE him. Yeah, I say that I hate LeBron, or Kobe, a lot, or I hate a certain team, but that's just hyperbolic. You say it to emphasize the point that you don't like them. But actual real visceral hate ... anyone who legitimately feels that way about someone they don't know, have not and will never meet, based solely on the way the media interprets their behavior ... well, there is no reason to take things that personally. If you really can't separate yourself from the sport or its personalities (remember, everything you see or hear about LeBron on the media is merely a construct based on what the media chooses to play, how they choose to interpret it, and how LeBron and his agents wish/try to present it ... certainly you can learn a lot about someone from their behavior on TV, in interviews, etc., but you have to be a moron to think that it is in any way a truely candid representation of their character), then you are as much of a jackass as LeBron is.

[StartOrien]

But can I really say I HATE LeBron? No, of course not. And anyone who does say that is either lying or a jackass. No matter how irritating you find his behavior or how much you root against him, there literally is no reason to HATE him.

I understand that 'hate' is a strong word. I hate Lebron James.

He embodies so many characteristics and traits that I find loathsome and I despise. To me, he often acts as a textbook on how not to conduct yourself.