Lebron challenged a fan to a fight?

[Roy H.]

I totally missed this one, apparently from over the weekend:

NBC Washington’s Sarah Kogod reported over the weekend that LeBron James told a heckling fan that he wanted to kick his tail all over the beltway, and if anyone has a problem with LeBron saying as much to that fan they can just take their heckles somewhere else. In the fourth quarter of Miami’s win over Washington, James was reportedly accosted by Bob Moore, who made mention of that years-old urban legend regarding former James teammate Delonte West, and James’ mother Gloria. Something tells me that Moore did quite a bit more than “made mention,” actually. Here’s the story, from Kogod’s Twitter timeline:

LeBron was waiting alone in the backcourt when fan Bob Moore made a comment to LeBron about Delonte West and LeBron’s mom… …Accrding to Moore, LeBron said “The only reason you talk [expletive] is because you know I can’t come off the court right now and beat your ass”… …Also according to Moore, LeBron continued “But if I had a free pass, I’d kick your ass right now.”… …Moore replied “I’m right here baby. Let’s go” before security stepped in.

Link

That's probably not the type of fan relations the NBA wants from its (until the Finals) superstars. 

[mqtcelticsfan]

Meh, that fan was entirely out of line. Good for LeBron.

[Kiorrik]

Yeah, totally depends on what the "fan" said, imo.

[Roy H.]

Yeah, totally depends on what the "fan" said, imo.

I disagree.  I don't think the league wants players offering to fight the fans in any way.  It's just bad for its image.

Lebron (or Glen Davis, or whatever moron goes after fans next) needs to be mature enough to walk away.

[Zev Love X]

great stuff i love it

[bdm860]

I hate LeBron, but I also hate the fact that some fans think buying a ticket to game gives them the right to act like a complete jerk.  Where else can you treat someone the way some fans treat players and get away with it?  When you treat the players like animals, can't be surprised when things like Pacer/Pistons brawls happen.




(when Dodgers fought with Cubs fans)


(from when a Texas Rangers player through a chair at a fan during a brawl between Rangers players and A's fans.)

[CelticSooner]

LeBron lost his cool, it happens. Guy probably takes more crap than any player in the league. Never understood the need for fans to heckle players, especially when it involves someones mother.

[KGs Knee]

Yeah, ESPN SportsNation had this on Sunday night.  Colin Cowherd was all over LeBron for this, but ironically the fan vote was definitively in LeBron's favor.

While I can easily see where the league office might not like this, personally I don't have a problem with it at all.  Buying a ticket does not give you license to be a jerk.  Taking pot shots at someone's mother is crossing the line.  LeBron had every right to scold the fan.

Here's a novel idea: Don't let your mouth write checks your butt can't cash.  Not that LeBron was really ever going to actually fight the man.  He should have had a few members of his "entourage" at least go find him after the game and give him a good scare though.

[bruinsandceltics]

LeBron lost his cool, it happens. Guy probably takes more crap than any player in the league. Never understood the need for fans to heckle players, especially when it involves someones mother.

Is it really that hard to understand? It's simple psychology, use any trick in the book to try to get a player off his game. It doesn't work often, but some people are mentally soft enough to let it work.

Why isn't it the fans right to be a jerk? I'm not saying, I would be or others should be, but isn't that the whole premise of the "free country" thing? Afterall, it is just words. He didn't make anything threats and he didn't go the racist route. He was just a jerk, it is allowed. There are jerks all around it.

Problem is most of us aren't being paid millions upon millions of dollars to walk away from the jerk. There was absolutely no reason for LeBron to challenge a fan to fight no matter what he said. Insult him back? Sure. Stare him down after a big shot sure? Laugh at him? Sure. Those are all fair game when someone in the stands engages with you. But challenging him to a fight? Nope.

LeBron really wonders why he is the villian? Jeez...

[GreenFaith1819]

The man should ask Perk to be his bodyguard...

[action781]

LeBron lost his cool, it happens. Guy probably takes more crap than any player in the league. Never understood the need for fans to heckle players, especially when it involves someones mother.

Why isn't it the fans right to be a jerk? I'm not saying, I would be or others should be, but isn't that the whole premise of the "free country" thing? Afterall, it is just words. He didn't make anything threats and he didn't go the racist route. He was just a jerk, it is allowed. There are jerks all around it.

Problem is most of us aren't being paid millions upon millions of dollars to walk away from the jerk. There was absolutely no reason for LeBron to challenge a fan to fight no matter what he said. Insult him back? Sure. Stare him down after a big shot sure? Laugh at him? Sure. Those are all fair game when someone in the stands engages with you. But challenging him to a fight? Nope.

LeBron really wonders why he is the villian? Jeez...

Is it my "right" to be a jerk to you, or perhaps your wife if you have one?  Is it my "right" to sexually harass your wife if it's "just words after all"?

Or imagine that your wife cheated on you with your good friend, would it be OK to say to you "Hey, I bet your wife is [insert sexual action] with your buddy right now".  Because I'd guess that's something along the lines of what this fan said to Lebron.

You've got this one wrong...

[Celtics18]

If this story is all true, clearly that "fan" was behaving like a complete jerk.  Lebron did not do the smart thing to react the way he did, though.  Where was security?  Don't they remove guys like that from games?

[LooseCannon]

If that's the way LeBron reacts, then fans across the league should read this story and ride him hard at ever Miami road game, hoping to break him mentally.

[chambers]

Good for Lebron.
I don't have a problem with this at all- he's sticking up for himself.

[CelticsFanNC]

  Yes the fan was acting like a jerk.  There are these kind of fans at every arena.

  What this shows me is that LBJ is weak mentally.  I guess that should come as no surprise though.  Anyone with the kind of talent he has that can totally disappear in the biggest moments obviously has some kind of short coming between the ears.