Why is LEbron getting off the hook

[brooks85]

Didn't Kobe get off the hook when he raped that woman and committed adultery?

plagiarism

[m0nkeydump]

yeah jerry, he really isnt getting off the hook as much as people think and i for one like to see someone tell the media that they can shove it up their ass without actually saying those words. he doesnt tell them to run his commercials 24-7. he doesnt tell sportscenter to spend 30 minutes out of every hour talking about how great he is. i dont know where people think its written that you have to shake hands and be all friendly after a big game. fukk that. also, if its not mandatory to sit in front of the press and get drilled by questions as to why you lost, im not putting myself through the fukking abuse if i dont want too either. just more blown out of proportion media bullshit. nobody cares

Ignorance is bliss. Attending post-game press conferences are part of a NBA player's contractual agreement. So, yes, he HAD to go. Are you a Cleveland Cavaliers fan? Nevermind, scratch that. There are no Cavaliers fans, only LeBron James fans.

The fact of the matter is: LeBron was supposed to attend the post-game conference and he did not; NBA has fined plenty players in the past for not doing so, yet for whatever reason allows LeBron an exemption; and the media isn't blowing it out of proportion, in fact, they're blatantly underplaying it.

People must be really naive to believe that LeBron made the decision to walk off the court in the split second after the game was over. Essentially, LeBron James gave up towards the latter part of the fourth quarter. It was obvious they were overmatched and the game was lost. However, while waiting for the game to end, the Magic players and fans were already celebrating, so please don't tell me that he did not premeditate what he did.

If someone never murders someone, and then does, they're a murderer, fair enough [same way with many crimes]. I'm not sure that someone who's generally considered by his peers to be a good sport for 6 years all of a sudden becomes "poor sport in every sense of the word and that's perhaps phrasing it lightly," though it's certainly your right to feel that way. I just think that comments like that are way overstating the importance of it. It wasn't a good decision, but i don't think it justifies a blanket indictment of a man's character.

LeBron has never been on the top-seeded team of the league and cruised through the first two rounds of the playoffs. Everyone thought the Cleveland Cavaliers were the favorites, and I'm sure LeBron was aware of it. Losing as the top-seeded favorite is different than being swept by a veteran team of San Antonio Spurs in their prime. Let's be blunt - LeBron thought he was going to win it all, and when he didn't, he reacted in the negative way that he did.

My above paragraph disproves another point - LeBron's maturity. LeBron didn't walk off the court when he lost to the Spurs in the Finals in 2007, why now? So unless his maturity regressed, don't try to use that as an excuse.

Shaking hands and congratulating your opponents are part of the game. No, it isn't in the rule book, but it is sportsmanship. It shows that you can win gracefully, and take a loss just as equally graceful. The Pistons and Hawks were swept by the Cavs, yet they all congratulated LeBron. So is LeBron only good enough to shake hands with those who he has beaten, but not the ones who beat him?

Even after a full 24 hours of contemplation (or maybe he didn't even think about it), he gives the excuse that he's a competitor and blah blah blah. LeBron took no responsibility, showed no regret, and acted as if what he did was alright. That's why I don't believe he will "learn from this" as he doesn't even perceive what he did as a mistake. You won't learn from something if you don't acknowledge that you did something wrong.

I am a Lakers fan, but I am a fan of basketball first and foremost. I can acknowledge that Kobe Bryant is an asshole and admit that I would never want to play with him on the same team (if I was a professional beasketball player, of course). I can acknowledge that next season, there will be no debate as to who is the better player between Kobe and LeBron. HOWEVER, I find it ridiculous that LeBron is held to a different standard than everyone else. All we have to ask ourselves is this: Had Kobe done the same thing, would the fallout be so calm and accepting as this? Kobe is the fiercest competitor there is. The Lakers were also the favorites in last year's Finals, not to mention they were eliminated by 40 points.

The answer, as we all know, is: No. Kobe would have been crucified, berated with more insults referring to his acquited "rape" case and inability to win a championship without Shaq.

THAT is my problem with this, with the media downplaying it, with the fans claiming whatever fallacious reason that excuses LeBron from his actions.

[Ralphie1412]

some of you people should just be put down. The level of stupidity on this forum just blows my mind.

[lakerboy]

some of you people should just be put down. The level of stupidity on this forum just blows my mind.

Eh no one said you have to stay since your too smart for everybody else you can leave or better yet since some of us stupid people need help can you post all the winners for us from now on if your not too busy sucking lebrons dik

[BrandonLaz]

Didn't Kobe get off the hook when he raped that woman and committed adultery?

Rape? I honestly do not believe for a second it was a rape and I hate athletes who break the law. I want them all out of the league and never allowed back in. Vick, Marshall, Pacman, etc. I never felt for a second Kobe was guilty of anything more than adultery. Is adultery wrong of course it is. The average rate of adultery in America now is slightly under 50% you can't bash a guy for being like half the nation. I don't think it is right and would never do it as I came from a divorced home where my dad left my mom for a secretary. If you look at the past though Jordan got the biggest pass of everybody as he got caught during his time with the Wizards and nobody blinked an eye. You can look at AK-47 who gets one free road game girl a season the world is crazy now man.

[The_Kid]

The answer, as we all know, is: No. Kobe would have been crucified, berated with more insults referring to his acquited "rape" case and inability to win a championship without Shaq.

That says it all. Kobe is held by a different standard compared to everyone else.

[BigMoneyMan]

If any other star player took off after the game the way Lebron did he would be ridiculed and called a sore sport. It just amazes me how he gets off the hook no matter what he does or doesnt do. If Kobe did that he would be charred in the papers and the radio. Lebron is not accountable for his actions and his comparison to fighting is sad- even in boxing many fighters hug after the match but he said that if you lose a fight you walk away that should tell the rest of the league what this guy really is inside as this is his first REAL media mistake but of course he's the greatest ever and its not a big deal for some reason

Hes a bum. He is supposed to be the pride of the NBA but acts like a bitch ass baby. You can't by class no matter how much you make.

[jeffusa]

Cause Dwight Howard popped a three at the end of the game
jk. Dude I woulda bailed too, I woulda been so pissed at my teamates. I woulda a thrown em under the bus.

So when is Lebron changing teams?

[CashMoney]

So when is Lebron changing teams?

Hopefully in 2010....LET'S GO KNICKS!!!!

As far as the thread is concerned....Lebron phuked up. Hell...Mariano Rivera blew the 7th game of the World Series after 9/11....stood at his locker...answered every question that came his way. LBJ just taking off after the game and not attending the press conference reminds me of Isiah of the Bulls whipped the Pistons.

BS move by Lebron but I will welcome him with open arms when he hopefully becomes the King of New York....then again you have to deal with the media in NYC.......

[unde0087]

I can't believe people are even talking about this. We got high profiled baseball players like Manny getting caught cheating and he wasn't even on ESPN as long as people are talking about LeBron leaving the court because he didn't shake a few hands. LeBron haters just like to hype this up, lets see here baseball players doing illegal drugs and lying about it to set an example to kids or LeBron walking off the court not telling the Magic players good game. This is just stupid.