The LeBron James Handshake Snub Debate – LeBron’s a Bad Sport, Owed Media Nothing

June 4, 2009



(Site note: Look to the bottom of this post to find links to the other opinions and intro to this debate).

Much fuss has been made about the action, or lack of action, taken by LeBron James after game 6 of the ‘09 NBA Eastern Conference Finals. At the conclusion of the game, King James walked off the court without speaking to any of the Orlando Magic players. He then proceeded to go into the locker room, shower up, and leave without speaking to the media. My opinion differs from Sports Geek and Bleacher Fan’s. I believe that while LeBron had no responsibility to speak to the media, I believe that he showed poor sportsmanship and a lack of class by not shaking hands with Magic players.

Personally, I always like getting up in the morning and read the morning paper or watch my favorite sports news program to see, read, and hear what the players say after the game from the previous night. It’s just fascinating to get the point of view of players and coaches after the game, win or lose.

However, I understand when a player doesn’t want to talk to the media directly after a game, especially after a hard fought series like this one was. James averaged over 38 points-per-game during the series, and he was practically a one man show throughout the entire series. I’m sure he was frustrated. Perhaps the emotion was still too raw, and he didn’t want to say something he might regret. I can respect that.

But, by not shaking the hands of the Magic players and coaches, he showed terrible sportsmanship and an extreme lack of class. He is arguably the face of the NBA. Act like it!

Remember the days of T-ball? After the game, you would line up and give each player and coach on the other team a high five. We are all taught this at a very young age. Maybe King James didn’t play T-ball, but you get my drift. It’s not like LeBron is in the middle of a feud with any of the Magic players. By all accounts, LeBron and Dwight Howard are friends. They played on the “Redeem Team” together. To his credit, LeBron texted Howard the next day to congratulate him. But, he didn’t apologize. He felt no need to. He is wrong in thinking that.

LeBron, you are always going to be under a microscope – like or not. This will happen whether or not you play after next year, whether it’s in Cleveland, New York, Europe, or Mayberry, North Carolina. You are a star. We are a witness to you, according to Nike. Give us some better sportsmanship to witness!

(Site note: You can read the intro to this debate, Bleacher Fan’s opinion, and Sports Geek’s opinion, too. Let the voting begin!!

8 Comments | The LeBron James Handshake Debate June 09 | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Loyal Homer

The LeBron James Handshake Snub Debate – LeBron the Learning Leader

June 4, 2009

(Site note: Look to the bottom of this post to find links to the other opinions and intro to this debate).

LeBron James is a leader. He has always been a leader. Some leadership traits are contained within DNA (for example, being 6’ 8” and 265(ish) pounds), while others are learned. LeBron has both the DNA and a demonstrated capacity to learn and improve. Recently we all Witnessed a very public example of the latter.

There is no question that LeBron was wrong in failing to shake the hands of his competition after they fairly, and roundly beat him and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 09 NBA Eastern Conference Finals. That’s bad sportsmanship. Bleacher Fan spent plenty of time making excuses for poor, woe-is-me-LeBron, but I’m not buying it. No, I’m not pulling out the old, “he can just go cry into his gold pillows and wipe the tears away with the millions of $100 bills he doesn’t need” argument. I’m pulling out the old, “you’re a man, act like it” argument. He’s a grown man. No pouting. You got beat. Accept that you got beat, spend minimal time dissecting why for the press who have treated you with kid gloves for the most part, and move on.

Bleacher Fan also insinuates that LeBron isn’t the media savvy professional we’ve all come to know and respect. I completely disregard the notion that LeBron can’t carry on a conversation with the media without disparaging teammates. He is smart enough to not lay blame at the feet of his coach, GM, or teammates (though I think there was plenty of go around). A leader has to face these kinds of questions, and how they answer them is what defines them as a leader.

This is real, adult life. You can’t run away from problems or failure. To be a true leader, you must accept the good with the bad and take it all in stride. What kind of signal is LeBron sending to his teammates when he refuses to face the music after a failure? He’s the proven leader of a very good basketball team. But, that mantle can’t disappear if he encounters some bumps along the road. Leadership isn’t a part time job. In fact, LeBron missed a key opportunity to lead his team. Standing up in front of the press and accepting the fact that the Orlando Magic are a better team this year shows strength. Accepting the facts, and demonstrating the desire to fight and be better than ever when he gets the next opportunity show leadership.

I hate to be another person in the College Football Tim Tebow Love Convention (it usually goes by its acronym… ESPN), but his post-game press conference where he tearfully pledged that his team made mistakes and lost to Ole Miss was impressive. There he faced the media and said his team would be the hardest working team anyone had ever seen, all without trashing his teammates.

In that instance, Tim Tebow demonstrated better leadership skills than LeBron James.

Now, LeBron’s jaw could have been bothering him (though that didn’t show up in his playoff stats), or he was cramping up, or any number of excuses could be offered. But, they would be insufficient. LeBron should have demonstrated sportsmanship and leadership in a crucial moment of vulnerability.

It’s just another area LeBron where will grow and get better.

(Site note: Read the intro to this debate, Bleacher Fan’s opinion, Sports Geek’s opinion, and Loyal Homer’s opinion, too. Let the voting begin!!


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Posted by Sports Geek

The LeBron Handshake Snub Debate – Who Shall Cast the First Stone?

June 4, 2009

(Site note: Look to the bottom of this post to find links to the other opinions and intro to this debate).

As hard as it may be for fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers to believe, LeBron James IS human. When you cut him, does he not bleed? Despite superhuman qualities on the court, he even feels sadness and anger. Is it really that hard to believe that a man whose life has been built around athletic success would get upset when he loses in a competition that he was “supposed” to win?

LeBron has accomplished many things in his short career. He’s been named NBA MVP, made multiple All-Star appearances, represented his country in two Olympic Games (and won one gold medal), made more money than he can ever spend, and still has the majority of his career in front of him. Despite the success, there is still one achievement that eludes him. The one thing he wants more than anything else… a championship.

Over the past two years, Cleveland Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry took it upon himself to build a championship team around LeBron. In 2008 he orchestrated a blockbuster, 3-team deal which brought in guard Delonte West, small forward Wally Szczerbiak, power forward Joe Smith, and center Ben Wallace. In the off-season, Ferry added point guard Mo Williams to the roster. On paper, it looked like the Cavs were moving in the right direction.

Throughout the 2008-2009 season, all signs pointed toward championship. The Cavs finished the regular season with the best record and one of the best home records of all time. For the first time in franchise history, they had the top overall playoff seed, and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. Then, the playoffs began.

The Cavs swept the Detroit Pistons in round 1, with round 2 bringing more of the same as they swept the Atlanta Hawks. Once again, everything seemed destined toward a championship for LeBron.

But, that’s where the story ends. In the Eastern Conference Finals, LeBron and his Cavaliers were faced with a harsh reality in the form of an Orlando Magic team that seemed to always be one step ahead of them. Thanks to mismatches on the court combined with nearly unbelievable field-goal and 3-point shooting accuracy, the Magic dispatched LeBron and his Cavaliers in six games. It could have easily been only four games if not for some magical moments by “King James.”

It’s not like its LeBron’s fault! He averaged 38.5 points per game, along with averaging more than 8 rebounds and 8 assists per game. He did everything he could, but it wasn’t enough. Sure, he’ll probably win a championship eventually, but this year was SUPPOSED to be his first. So imagine the heartbreak, disappointment, and frustration he felt.

Now, in the heat of that agony, would YOU want to have that thrown in your face? Would YOU want to sit in front of a bunch of media reporters who will most likely try to instigate you into calling out one of your teammates for “dropping the ball?” Would YOU want to look into the eyes of someone who just stole your dream for this season and tell them “good job?” I wouldn’t.

Was it being a poor sport? Maybe. But, nowhere does it state that LeBron is required to shake another player’s hand. It is not required that he meet with the press, either. I find it ironic that people are mad at LeBron for letting his emotions dictate his actions, so they respond in an equally emotional and immature manner by launching a crusade against him. By the way, LeBron has up until this point been extremely gracious and welcoming to the media. LeBron is also the first to cross that half-court line pre-game and laugh it up with the players of the opposing team, including Dwight Howard, who was his teammate on the USA Basketball team during the 2008 Olympic Games. He meant no ill-will with his actions. He just wanted to be left alone.

And so I say to you, let the person (or should I say robot) who has never reacted to their emotion cast the first stone.

(Site note: Read the intro to this debate, Bleacher Fan’s opinion, Sports Geek’s opinion, and Loyal Homer’s opinion, too. Let the voting begin!!


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Posted by Bleacher Fan

The LeBron James Handshake Snub Debate – Who’s the King of the Hill?

June 3, 2009

All of us at The Sports Debates would like to send a thank you and a big shout out to all of our friends over at the Orlando Sentinel for suggesting this debate topic to us via a direct message on Twitter. If you haven’t checked out their blog section, make sure you do… it’s all very well-written, and very entertaining! (especially if you are a Florida sports fan!).

Outside the city of Orlando, if you are a fan of the NBA you were most likely surprised by the way the Orlando Magic dismantled “King” James and his Cleveland Cavaliers (I know I was).

Equally surprising were the actions of LeBron following the Cavaliers defeat after game 6 of the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals in Orlando. When the clock ticked to 0:00, and the Cavs season officially ended, LeBron stalked off to the locker room without congratulating anyone or shaking the hands of any Magic players and coaches. The Orlando Magic personnel were not alone, though. LeBron also snubbed the media following the game by refusing to appear for the post-game press conference.

While there has been a large media backlash regarding LeBron’s lack of sportsmanship, NBA Commissioner David Stern, who publicly disapproved of James’ post-game behavior, did not feel that LeBron’s actions warranted a fine, and announced yesterday that he would “reserve his judgment” until after he’s had a chance to speak with LeBron directly.

Cue The Sports Debates!

If David Stern is unwilling to discuss the situation, or to render a judgment on LeBron’s actions, we are more than happy to do so in his stead! We’ll even let you fans issue your judgment of LeBron’s behavior!

The terms for this debate are:

  • The winner determined by fan votes.
  • The question – Was LeBron James justified in his decision to not shake hands with the Orlando Magic personnel AND in his decision to avoid meeting with the press after the game?
  • I, Bleacher Fan, as the winner of the previous debate, will debate that LeBron was justified in snubbing both the Magic and the Press.
  • Sports Geek will be responsible for debating that LeBron was wrong on both instances, and that he should have shaken hands with the Magic, as well as attended the post-game press conference.
  • Last, Loyal Homer will argue that he was right in not meeting with the press, but he still should have shaken the hands of the team that beat him.

Each position will be posted for you to read and weigh in on with your own thoughts and opinions. Once all three sides have been presented, you will have the opportunity to cast your vote for who you think won the debate, and what you think of LeBron’s actions.

And now… the debate begins!


7 Comments | The LeBron James Handshake Debate June 09 | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Bleacher Fan

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