Lebron James' Popularity

[Dave Gray]

My other heat thread turned into a thread about Lebron, so I figured I'd make a new one.

My position is this: Everyone's hate for Lebron is misguided.  He's treated as a scumbag, but look as his "infraction" (holding a 1 hr special to announce his new team, with proceeds going to charity) compared to other athletes that are seen unfavorably.

The top five disliked sports personalities, according to The Q Scores Co. (the demographic among those polled was not mentioned): Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick; golfer Tiger Woods; Cincinnati Bengals receivers Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco; and Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant.

So, let's review:

Michael Vick - dogfighting, including strangling, electrocuting, and drowning dogs.
Tiger Woods - cheating on his wife with a multitude of different women
T.O. - Malcontent, badmouthing several of his own teammates in different cities.
Ochocinco - years of diva behavior (although I like this guy)
Kobe Bryant - caught cheating in public sexual misconduct case, lied to fans about it

I really like Ochocinco (but I also like, and have always liked Lebron).  I find their shenanigans (like throwing the powder in the air) to be kinda fun.

[Phishfan]

I can't respect anyone who refers to theirself in third person on national TV. Just can't do it.

I almost forgot the fiasco from when he tried to hide the video tape of him being dunked on. The guy is an ego maniac and I expect it is just a matter of time before his ego causes him to do something that will leave us all with our jaw wide open.

[tepop84]

i hate lebron more than the people you listed. lebron is a quitter. who cares if an athlete cheats on his wife. The are in great physical shape and have loads of money.

[Sunstroke]

i hate lebron more than the people you listed. lebron is a quitter. who cares if an athlete cheats on his wife. The are in great physical shape and have loads of money.

Leaving your old team via free agency is worse than killing dogs or cheating on a wife? Seriously?

That is arguably the goofiest thing I've read from you in a long time. I mean, I've gotten fairly used to you saying random things that would make most rational person think "did he REALLY just say that?"...but this one takes the proverbial cake.

I should probably ask, because I almost got in trouble over this with another member... Do you have some sort of mental condition that skews reality in your head? If you do, I'll stop criticizing some of your lamer commentary... If not, you might want to get medically screened for those sort of conditions.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

 because I almost got in trouble over this with another member...

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Just say'in. 

[JVides]

i hate lebron more than the people you listed. lebron is a quitter. who cares if an athlete cheats on his wife. The are in great physical shape and have loads of money.

Seriosuly, tepop, let's consider:

LeBron's contract expires, and he enters a period of time during which he can do as he pleases.  He chooses to do for himself what he knows his front office will never be able to do for him.  His former team and its fans no longer have a contractual right to his services.

Kobe's contract (his marital contract) does not expire, but he violates it by having an affair (only one confirmed that I know of).
Tiger's contract (his marital contract) does not expire, but he violates it by having multiple affairs.

LeBron violated no one's contract, violated no trust.  The other two did, in fact violate their contracts.  Now, I don't know about you, but my father taught me that a man, a real man, does not violate a contract into which he enters.  Marriage is a contract, and these guys broke it.  LeBron is only guilty of ego rum amok.  Ego run amok, however, is a problem he shares with both Kobe and Tiger (and countless others).  Tjeir egos (and their wangs) led them to where they landed.  LeBron, to his credit, has not permitted this to happen.  If he has any brains whatsoever, he'll lead the Derek Jeter life and marry at, like, 35.

[tepop84]

lol at marital contract.  my opinion or lebron isnt because he left the cavs. It is because he is a super fucking douche.  do you think tigers wife deserves 250 million just because she married him?  if tiger wants to fuck every ugly chick in the world good for him. 

[MaineDolFan]

This thread had potential...and has crashed. Nothing good can result due to the tone. Locked.