I hate it when two of my favorite sports blogs fight. Earlier today, SportsbyBrooks ran a video of LeBron James seemingly dissing a Cavaliers’ ball boy by tossing his warmup clothes onto the floor, even though the kid had his hand extended to receive them. Headline: No One Is Too Small For LeBron James To Belittle. Our own Pro Basketball Talk responded, contending that James only did what every other NBA player does during a game, and that SbB was overreacting. Headline: LeBron James ignores ball boy, somehow this tells us about him as a person? Two very compelling arguments. My conclusion?
Video following the jump.
They’re both right. I’ll tell you why following the video.
1. Having been a basketball coach myself, I know that tearaway sweats were invented for a reason. A second here or there can mean the difference between getting into the game and remaining at the scorer’s table during a key sequence. As a player you’re concentrating on the clock, your opponent, your coach (hot babes in the stands?) … most of the time you don’t know where the ballboy is, nor should you. The ballboy’s job is to be invisible and omnipresent. The real test of LeBron’s character is how he tips this kid around Christmas.
2. I already knew LeBron was a bit of a jerk before I saw this. Come on, we all know it. He’s the poster subject for entitlement. Not shaking hands after that playoff loss last season, that was a big indicator. And the little move above, although probably misunderstood, really looks bad. The NBA doesn’t need these image problems; it kind of looks like he’s going out of his way to throw his warmups away from the kid. From a public relations standpoint, better to throw the clothes toward him next time, OK?
Glad I could help. (Takes off shirt, tosses it at cat).
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No One Is Too Small For LeBron James To Belittle [SportsbyBrooks]
LeBron James ignores ball boy, somehow this tells us about him as a person? [Pro Basketball Talk]
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- Rob - Apr 30, 2010 at 11:46 PM
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Your argument (and everyone and anyone that agrees with your logic) is completely flawed, because of one simple fact.. he knew and acknowledged the kid standing right in front of him. You see, common courtesy (and decency) is for the most part second nature for most well adjusted human beings. Most people don’t have to think what to do when another human beings hand is outstretched towards you. Now if you were to say that he was completely engrossed in the game, didn’t see the kid, didn’t know what the kid was there for, then sure I’ll buy it. But that’s not how it went down. Lebron saw the kid and knew instantly (because he’s not mentally challenged and recognizing a ball boy for him is as easy as recognizing color) what he was there for. He than made a very deliberate and conscience decision to purposely make the kid pick up his sweats. That is just being a dick, straight up. But at the end of the day…the universe has a way of balancing out.
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- Rob - May 1, 2010 at 10:33 AM
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….And one more thing, those of you “so called” athletes that have commented… while I’ll agree that an athlete has a certain mindset when it come to competitiveness, the ball boy is a staff member and not another competitor, regardless of what “jersey” he had on. This ridiculous notion that he was “getting into their heads” or “you don’t know what it’s like to be a pro athlete” rhetoric is nonsense. Had this been pro wrestling, than that would have been the “appropriate” thing to do, (because being a dick sometimes expected) but it isn’t. Would MJ have ever done something like that? Never! Because he was a class act while being being a class of his own above his peers! Besides how much of a competitor are you when you try to psyche out the ball boy? How lame is that? I don’t take away his skills on the court; he deserves his athletic accolades but he’s an asshole and nothing will change that fact. Deal with it.
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- LebronRULES - May 10, 2010 at 12:57 AM
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LOL you all should just consider the real issue at hand… Its a Black President in the office… Get use to picking up after us…
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- Karl - May 11, 2010 at 3:06 PM
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It seems that people have way too much time on their hands!!
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- drose1 - Jun 22, 2010 at 12:22 AM
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Lebron is the biggest a***** i have seen in pro sports. As far as ego, entitlement. He just seems like a really ugly person, but maybe he’s just really insecure. I heard He never knew his father maybe thats why he’s such a d*******!
