Now that we are in the throws of the off-season(the Finals not with-standing), there will be less and less pure news, and more and more of my opinion(as well as Brad and Turk). I will try to give some of my thoughts each day in this platform, 'Quick Thoughts'. Not very catchy, but if one of you thinks of a better name, let me know.
Today's 'Quick Thought' is about who else, LeBron James. The non-handshake/media appearance has gotten tons of play, which makes sense since every move LeBron makes gets talked about ad nauseum. Of course, James is getting killed for being a 'sore loser' and 'bad sport'. A word to the wise, get over it!
There are really two parts to this, as David Stern talked about yesterday. First, there are the rules. The NBA requires players to be available to the media after games. For that, LeBron was wrong. The NBA has already stated they will no fine James because they have never had an issue before. Case closed.
Now, to the handshake. You might think I am taking the side of James because I'm a homer. Actually, my feelings about this go much deeper. I tend to lean towards Mike Ditka, who has always criticized the coaches hand-shake in the NFL. In PROFESSIONAL sports, where guys make their living trying to WIN GAMES, sportsmanship takes on a bit of a different role. I want guys to play hard, give 100%, avoid cheating, and most importantly, play clean. In the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, that is sportsmanship, at least in my book.
I am a coach of a youth soccer team, and youth baseball team. One of my responsibilities is to teach these kids how to play the game right, with good sportsmanship. After every game, we shake hands. The big difference, obviously, is these kids are playing for fun. Unbeknown to them, we are also educating them on life. There is 'winning and losing' in all facets of life, and handling those situations correctly is an important life lesson.
Pro sports, however, is different. It is different from 'real life' in every way! The money these guys make, how important we make them in society. Should LeBron make more money for one game than a grade-school teacher makes in a year? Of course not. These guys are different and 'play' by different social rules.
To me, these coaches are essentially trying to get the other guy fired. Plain and simple. If Mike Brown loses to these other coaches more than he wins, he will lose his job. Same with the players. If that was your life, everyday, would be in the mood to give hugs? Is a fake handshake, with no meaning behind it better?
I'm not telling anyone how they should feel. Just giving my opinion, but I will say this. Come stronger in this debate than telling me LeBron is a role-model. While I think kids do look up to these athletes, and they do try to emulate them, it is MY JOB as a parent and coach to instill the morals. If one of the kids on my teams decides not to shake hands because LeBron James refused, then I am not doing my job.
If the NBA wants to force guys to shake hands after a series, follow the NHL model. Everyone line up and shake hands. There is something special about it, because it was instilled as part of the game. Everyone else, forget the fake public display and be real.
0 recs | 30 comments
I guess Lebron missed those lessons growing up on how to handle winning and losing. That was extremely disrespectful, and you wouldn’t see MJ doing something like that…or Kobe for that matter.
k_herk - June 3, 2009
Having discussed my actual feelings on LeBron elsewhere (and ad nauseum)
I agree with much of what you say Guru.
The sportsmanship debate is a semantic debate. All I would say, is that I don’t think the handshake is a big deal in the sense it means sportsmanship; it’s why I’ve labeled it churlish.
At the same time, this whole debate has taken off for one reason (in my eyes): LeBron has rarely been criticized for anything, let alone something he has done with his hands. That’s why this is all coming out now.
Having said that, I hope kids don’t think they couldn’t shake. Any kid who doesn’t is a poor sport. Youth sports should be far more idealistic than the pessimistic view of winning & losing.
Great stuff Guru.
pookeyguru - June 3, 2009
i happen to agree strongly with this. for kids, sports are about more than just winning and losing. once you hit the higher levels of athletics, all of that stuff goes out the window (in favor of $).
DontCallMeJoey - June 3, 2009
Yep
pookeyguru - June 3, 2009
Absolutely, hands down, exactly as I feel.
It’s not like in the boardroom, when one company bests another, they shake hands afterwards. Anyone who is ticked off at Lebron James because he is a role model has completely bought into the notion that teachers, Xbox, etc,., are replacements for parents.
nosey313 - June 3, 2009
Consider the other end of the spectrum: when I see a player from the losing team shaking hands with the other team and smiling, it tells me that he doesn’t care too much about the loss. LeBron’s actions may make him a poor sport, but they show how passionate he is about winning. As a Cavs fan, I can’t complain about that.
cleveland teamer - June 3, 2009
To me, these coaches are essentially trying to get the other guy fired. Plain and simple. If Mike Brown loses to these other coaches more than he wins, he will lose his job. Same with the players. If that was your life, everyday, would be in the mood to give hugs? Is a fake handshake, with no meaning behind it better?
Lebron James is far from fighting for his job or salary. And Mike Brown’s job depends far more on Lebron James than on Stan Van Gundy. If bit players like Daniel Gibson can stick around and shake hands why can’t Lebron?
Listen, I think Lebron is a great player and a great guy, but I still think his actions were wrong. So what if the handshake is fake? It’s tradition and it’s manners.
konokonohamaru - June 3, 2009
That’s the big question…Is it tradition in the NBA?? I mean, tradition is what the NHL does. But in the NBA??
I just remember LeBron getting killed for laughing it up with the Pistons after ‘Sheed split Z’s head open like a melon. I’d much rather have this LeBron than that LeBron….
John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) - June 3, 2009
tradition is pretty much the worst possible argument for continuing to do something.
DontCallMeJoey - June 3, 2009
i must also say that i’m very surprised by the results of the poll right now (51% poor sport after 209 votes)
DontCallMeJoey - June 3, 2009
Dleonte West>LeBron. Joe Dumars>Isiah Thomas.
Talent wise? No
Class? Absolutely
But Class is Foreign to me and I would have not even acknowledged the Big O on my way out after the way We(was at game 6) treated the cavs with about 2:00 left in the game.
I blocked Patrick Chewing - June 3, 2009
*Delonte
I blocked Patrick Chewing - June 3, 2009
thank you
finally someone in this world has a damn brain. these people going off on lebron for not shaking hands is just unreal. i thought this was a free country if someone doesnt want to shake hands then they shouldnt have to plain and simple. i mean its a handshake for heavens sake get over it.
diablo80 - June 3, 2009
you must be a sore loser as well.............great role model...........why don't you go shake Lebrons hand, your two of a kind
matzko - June 3, 2009
it’s his right to do it, but he shouldn’t be surprised when he gets criticized for doing so. i could go out on the street and be rude to everyone that walks by, it’s my right to do so but that doesn’t make it right.
hawkster77 - June 3, 2009
What I don't understand
Is why if Lebron is such a winner and so against shaking hands with someone who has just beaten him, why he would lower himself to such a level as to shake hands with “losers” such as the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks when his team beats them? I mean, aren’t these teams just as eager next season to get back at him and beat him, thus making the handshakes “fake”? Why would he even want to lower himself to accept a handshake from them if his philosophy is like he stated earlier this week? Maybe he feels it’s okay for others to congratulate and shake his hands and wish him well in the next series, but it’s not okay for him to do it? Because he’s the “king” after all. They should pay penance to him anyway… and next time, do it on their knees!
RKStevens - June 3, 2009
I hope this is the last we hear about this.......
but, given the adoration and hate LeBron receives…..I doubt it.
Juannieboy - June 3, 2009
just my 2 cents
Now I didn’t really have the time to read everybodies comments but I just wanted to throw my 2 cents up in the air. LeBron said something in his interview a couple days after the game which made me understand his frustration and not judge him off the bat as a poor sport, as he has displayed great sportsmanship in the past. One time I believe we CAN give him a pass, but the point i’m tryin to get across is if someone beat you to a pulp you wouldn’t stick around to shake their hands. Now I know i’m talkin about a completely different situation but the concept is there. If LeBron didn’t stick around for an interview or hand shakes don’t think right away that it was because he was being a soar loser. Maybe his frustration, as i’m sure all of you get that frustrated in sports, finally got to him with his OWN team and not the other team, and he had nothing nice to say or he might have even thought that he would have said some things out of frustration in his interview about his team mates that might have not of gone over so well with his team so he decided to collect himself and give himself time to understand things a little better. Basically if i were to sum my 2 cents up into one sentence it would go a little something like frustration can cause you to say things that you dont mean due to lack of understanding your situation. I think at the level of sorrow and frustration he was feeling he made the right choice, otherwise he could have done or said some things he truly didn’t mean.
sammm - June 3, 2009
This is just the media trying to make something out of nothing
I saw James talking to Howard right before the game was over. I’d be pissed too if i just got bounced from the plyoffs. I think James did the right thing. He waited until his emotions were in check to talk to the media. (Not to mention playing with that growth that had to get removed. That had to hurt)
mutombo4life - June 3, 2009
Who really cares that King James didn’t shake “Supermans” hand. Does it really matter to anyone except ESPN analyist anyway. If you look back at any old film on Jordan, during his first 6 years in the playoffs he wasn’t a good sport either. The great competitors live and play by different rules. Jordan was constantly fighting his teammates in practice, ask Sun’s GM Steve Kerr. I don’t really care that King James didn’t shake Lil Shaq’s hand after a lucky series. What I did like was not seeing James at all after the game. After an embarassing loss you wanna change and get the heck outta dodge. I don’t want to hear an interview by Lebron. He did the right thing, he left the interviews to the supporting cast who ultimatley is the reason they were in that place to begin with.
RzaRay9 - June 3, 2009
James (who cares)
How pathetic that this paid player gets the slack for not shaking hands. Yes it is a sport but let us not forget it is a business and it is their job. I mean SERIOUSLY if I ever lose a promotion to another individual I should be a good sport and shake their hands…NOT
Sports fanatics should be more disgusted with the players that break the law and get away with it over and over again.
Jo_RN - June 3, 2009
poor sport
by not shaking hands after the game, sends a message to the youth that this type of behavior is suitable. If anything with as much media as this has attracted its bad for basketball old and young. Playing basketball my whole life and into college the one thing no matter how mad after a game you lost if you lost the game or the team, you have friends on the other side of the court and you have to shake their hand and tell them good game. NO MATTER WHAT. so this is a big issue to fans all over the league.
jaket - June 3, 2009
This is all bullcrap.
First of all, this doesn’t send any message to kids. Parents and coaches teach kids how to act in their sporting events. This is professional sports, not some youth or intermural league. I don’t care if you shake hand after your basketball games with your buddies, that is not at all comparable to playing in the NBA, which is your JOB and your LIFE, in the conference finals. You cannot possibly make that comparison. It’s nice that you shake hands with your buddies, but the Orlando Magic players are not LeBron’s buddies.
Buckeye Brad - June 3, 2009
if it’s your job, like you say, then you should be a professional. i think it would be one thing if the cavs got bounced on a last minute shot. but they trailed the whole game. the last 5 minutes were garbage time. compose yourself, get a grip, be a man, and be a gracious loser.
spider monkey - June 3, 2009
What does that mean? How is shaking hands after a loss “professional”? Do professionals shake hands after they lose a business deal, or do lawyers shake hands after losing a court case? This idea of LeBron not acting “professional” is completely ridiculous because real professionals don’t act that way.
Buckeye Brad - June 3, 2009
+1
hawkster77 - June 3, 2009
He'
I am a big fan of Lebron. I don’t believe just because you can bounce a ball, jump high, run fast or are on television that you are a role model. My big problem with walking off the court without a quick handshake is that it’s disrespectful to his opponents and to the game. He is a great player but he is not bigger than the game. If Michael Jordan, Wilt, Kobe and the other greats can do it then he can to. I am still a Lebron fan but it just shows that like the rest of us he is still human and makes mistakes. Take a lesson from boxers Lebron….. after 12 rounds of trying to knock their opponents out cold they still respect the battle and the other warrior with a glove tap, hug and a few words. I didn’t see him turn down handshakes from the two teams the Cavs swept!
Will C - June 3, 2009
Yes, was poor sportsmanship because...
…the money is not an excuse for poor sportsmanship. I am an extremely competitive person and the my frustrations are not any different because I am not getting paid. Easy to be congratulated when you win but requires better sportsmanship to congratulate someone who beats you. I HATE LOSING but still always congratulate my opponents when I lose because THEY deserve it. I use LeBron’s example to me kids of what NOT to do. I have seen kids do this at all ages and they are typically the ones that seem to be the most spoiled (ASSUME and EXPECT to get the win).
He made a mistake and he (and others who support him) should admit it as it was in poor judgment. He has been given extensive fanfare since before he ever stepped on an NBA court and hopefully he isn’t assuming victory will be given to him (like spoiled kids I witnessed) and proves this is only a one-time situation.
ArmyStrong - June 4, 2009
I went and applied to be the Head surgeon at a Hospital
I was passed over for someone who was well, Get this, here is the kicker, BETTER AT PERFORMING SURGERY THEN ME.
So what did I do?
Shook his hand….With a Vice Grip.
Professionals do not congratulate their rivals after they get beaten by them.
what do you think this is?
Hockey?
I blocked Patrick Chewing - June 4, 2009
As for names for this section, how about Quick Clips or Quick Quips
As for the LeBron issue, I totally agree with the author. This is a total non-issue. What I find crazy is that in the NHL, it is more of a code or a rule to shake hands after a series ends, but there have even been instances where players didn’t shake hands and it didn’t receive as many kilobytes of coverage that this is. I believe sportsmanship is important, but it is up to the parents and youth coaches to teach the children that and what that is. How many of us work in a competitive industry? When lawyers finish a highly contested case, do they ALWAYS shake hands? Rarely do they ever. Do contractors shake hands with each other when one gets a bid and the others don’t? Do you shake hands with a co-worker after they receive a raise and you don’t? In the interest of competition, everyone of these situations would require a handshake to show the loser to be a “good sport” about it. How many times have we seen the victors celebrate and not receive the customary handshake? We had no problems with it then. The man has the weight of a city and (with recent sports history, i.e. OSU’s losses in the Big Games that is always documented) the state on his shoulders. For this young man to meet and surpass almost all of the many expectations WE, Joe Q. Public, have for him, no matter how ridiculous some of those expectations have been, we need to cut the young man some slack.
WBemon - June 4, 2009
i like the first comment about winning and losing!
LeBron may have missed a few lessons, but, he’s also not used to losing! Sure, he’s lost in the playoffs for a few years now, but the guys is a winner. I also agree with ArmyStrong that money is no excuse to be a bad sport.
My website just debated this topic, too. Please check it out. It’s divided into 3 opinions, and you can vote for who you agree with.
Now that the series is over, there was a debate about whether LeBron should have shaken hands with the Magic and spoken to the media after the series. You can vote on what you think LeBron should have done!
http://www.thesportsdebates.com
pscrblazer - June 4, 2009
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