LeBron James: The self-named “King” has left Cleveland
LeBron James. The self-named “King” has left Cleveland.
Kids just need to know that his future success will come despite his actions not because of them.
As a defender of workers’ rights throughout my entire adult life I cannot judge his decision to “work” where he wants. No, but we can all judge the “way” he went about it and what kind of message he sent to young athletes.
Cleveland majority owner Dan Gilbert said it best in an open letter posted on his web site:
“This was announced with a several-day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his “decision” unlike anything ever “witnessed” in the history of sports.”
James joined Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade in Miami and it was Bosh who told ESPN that the “TV special” was, in his words, “The most spectacular event he’s ever seen.”
Really?
ESPN and James realized what kind of message and brand damage a self-promotional televised event would cause them so they made a last-minute decision to donate all proceeds to the Boys and Girls Club. It was a nice gesture and a proper one and it offered ESPN the chance to remove some of the guilt they shared in the promotion of the event.
James had a right to sign with any team he wanted no matter how the city of Cleveland feels about it. But, their anger over the way he made his decision is more than understandable.
Waiting so long to announce his move and then making a “narcissistic” event on it only to pick someone else was an obvious knife in the back of Cleveland.
But for what purpose?
ESPN spent the better part of an hour attacking Gilbert’s response after the announcement. It was an act of self defense over an obvious blunder on their part that they have been called on it by other media outlets.
ESPN has been here before with their constant promotion of Duke basketball – even to the point of placing a banner that read “100 Years of Duke Basketball” at the bottom of each of their shows several years ago until others complained.
But, ESPN is in the business of making money off of sports and this certainly made money – 2.5 million to be exact.
ESPN also “forgot” to mention LeBron’s performance against Boston and showed no clips of the series. They asked him no questions about it. Curious.
James?
Even Miami Herald columnist Dan Le Batard is questioning his motives. “But he just told you that he values winning above all else,” Batard wrote.
Kids are already influenced by the hip-hop atmosphere that rock-star athletes live in.
Easy money, jewelry and large egos are strong influences to kids who watch and hear examples on reality TV shows and CDs. The result is an explosion of bullying in schools and the magnification of the “mean girl” syndrome and the “untouchable jock” syndrome that has been present in our schools for decades.
When I was a child one of my fears was that my teachers would call my parents. That fear is no longer evident in students today. In fact, students practically dare teachers to call their parents now.
James is a product of our society to be sure.
He wasn’t accused of rape like Kobe Bryant or came anywhere near the likes of Tiger Woods so his ego should be put in perspective.
His ego is large and his self-promotion motives are clear and he will win and succeed to be sure.
Kids just need to know that his future success will come despite his actions not because of them.
Source: tucsoncitizen.com
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