Author Topic: LeBron's Image  (Read 176769 times)

Dos Equis

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 63520
  • I am. The most interesting man in the world. (Not)
LeBron's Image
« on: July 28, 2010, 01:57:14 PM »
Things have changed.  From an image standpoint, he was in Jordan territory a couple years ago.  Not anymore. 


ESPN abruptly dumps salacious LeBron James party story (UPDATED with ESPN response)
Wed Jul 28,2010 11:45 AM ETBy Rick Chandler

If you were reading a rather provocative ESPN story about LeBron James partying at a Las Vegas night club, and now you're not, there's a reason for that. ESPN yanked the story off the Internets after only a few minutes of life. The piece by Arash Markazi, which actually appeared on ESPN's Los Angeles affiliate site, tells of a Roman banquet-style blowout following James' announcement of his move to Miami. As tell-all stories about a night with an NBA superstar go, this one was pretty tremendous. Excerpts:

A security guard comes over and puts plastic wristbands on our wrists and escorts us through the back of the restaurant, up a flight of stairs in the bowels of the hotel and through a back entrance into the club. About a dozen security guards, moving their flash lights, direct us to a roped off section on the dance floor of Tao next to a couple of apparently nude women in a bathtub full of water and rose petals.
Bottle after bottle of "Ace of Spades" champagne is delivered to the table by a waiter flying down from above the dance floor like some overgrown Peter Pan on a wire. One time he's dressed like a King, another time as Indiana Jones and another in a replica of James' No. 6 Miami Heat jersey.

James, who can hardly see the flying figure through his tinted glasses, almost gets kicked in the head on the waiter's last trip down. He looks at the girls around him and says, "I wish they'd have one of these girls with no panties do that instead of the guy."
Toward the end of the night, Boston Celtics forward Glen Davis walks past James' party and looks at the scene up and down several times like a painting in a museum, soaking in the images of the go-go dancers, the "King" sign and the costumed man delivering bottles of champagne.
Davis shakes his head and walks on.

UPDATE: ESPN response following the jump.

Five security guards are stationed around him, one at each corner of the table he's about to sit at and another roving around with him, watching his every move. Anyone who takes two steps toward James is stopped and must have James' approval to come closer.
The waiter bringing him his cup of green tea with a spoonful of honey and a dash of lemon juice makes the cut, as does the scantily clad brunette with a tattoo of a heart on her right shoulder.

She wants to take a picture with him. "I can't right now," says James. "Maybe later, upstairs, I'll remember you're the one with the tattoo."
Even though ESPN immediately moved to spike the story, the HTML version soon came out. Here it is (click to enlarge), thanks to the efforts of such people as Matthew LaWell and Chris Littman, two of several who posted links on their Twitter accounts. As the blog Waiting For Next Year points out, "The Internet always wins."

Carter, LeBron's childhood friend and manager, begins dancing around James like Puff Daddy in a Notorious B.I.G video. A giant red crown-shaped cake is brought over to James while go-go dancers dressed in skimpy red and black outfits raise four lettered placards that spell out, "KING." Carter grabs a bottle of Grey Goose and pours a quarter of it on the floor and raises it up before passing it off.
ESPN heavily invested in James with The Decision show, all the while insisting that there had been no blurring of the line between producing the TV spectacle and reporting the story. But now it appears that there may be a conflict of interest at play; Markazi's eyewitness account doesn't exactly show LeBron in the best light. He's a somewhat-married father of two, after all. Literally wading in Grey Goose? Waiters floating on wires? Naked chicks in bathtubs? Caligula is wondering if his invitation got lost in the mail.

Did the LeBron camp send orders to ESPN to yank the story? I've contacted ESPN for a response, and have heard only that they're "looking into it."

UPDATE: ESPN responds. In an email to Out of Bounds, an ESPN spokesman wrote:

"The story should have never been published. The draft was inadvertently put on the server before going through the usual editorial process. We are in the midst of looking into the matter."
UPDATE: From Sports Business Daily:

James' reps confirmed ESPN's statement that removing the article was an editorial decision, telling CNBC that they had no say in the matter. As of presstime, Markazi had not commented on the matter nor posted anything on his Twitter account in more than 24 hours.
***
ESPN Mysteriously Pulls LeBron James Las Vegas Tell-All [Wait For Next Year]
A Kid in King James' court [ESPNLosAngeles.com]

http://outofbounds.nbcsports.com/2010/07/-espn-mysteriously-pulls.html.php

UPINTHEMGUTS

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 5633
  • I can spot crazy pussy....
Re: LeBron's Image
« Reply #1 on: July 28, 2010, 06:46:32 PM »
If that story is true then I hate Lebron James more than I ever did. What an arrogant piece of shit he is. I'm not a hater but c'mon....You play basketball, you idiot. You're no mesiah.....You're no king......I knew he was an arrogant dick but this is over the top.


The KING... ::)


The fucking KING of what??? Douchebag. It's highly unlikely but I hope Lebron NEVER wins a championship. I just hope Lebron, Wade and Bosh combust.

The NBA is so different now with all these superstars wanting to play on the same team. I love when Jordan called this bullshit out a couple of weeks ago. Jordan never wanted to join Magic or Bird, even if was possible. Jordan wanted to flat-out beat those guys. Lebron will never have the competitive fire that Jordan had. He won't even even come close. Instead, he'll just climb on Wade's back because he's been to the mountain top already. Wade's probably laughing deep down knowing that Bosh and Lebron want what Wade already has.

Dos Equis

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 63520
  • I am. The most interesting man in the world. (Not)
Re: LeBron's Image
« Reply #2 on: July 28, 2010, 08:14:07 PM »
Magic and Bird criticized his move too.  I don't have a problem with him joining Miami (or any other team).  It's the way he did it that I have trouble with.  

Mr Nobody

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 40197
  • Falcon gives us new knowledge every single day.
Re: LeBron's Image
« Reply #3 on: July 30, 2010, 11:13:31 AM »
LeBron is a great basketball player but I got to question his mentality.

Dos Equis

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 63520
  • I am. The most interesting man in the world. (Not)
Re: LeBron's Image
« Reply #4 on: July 30, 2010, 12:49:20 PM »

noworries

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 4788
  • Train Heavy or Go Home
Re: LeBron's Image
« Reply #5 on: August 02, 2010, 07:43:14 AM »
Some guy just got kicked out of a Cleveland Indians game for wearing a Lebron jersey.  The whole stands was ragging this guy in the middle of the game.  I heard to that they totally sold out of season tickets so they fired the ticket personel cause there was nothing else for them to do.
No Worries 4 me

Earl1972

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 22040
  • #EarlToo
Re: LeBron's Image
« Reply #6 on: August 02, 2010, 07:20:19 PM »
the heat are becoming the most hated team in sports

E
E

Dos Equis

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 63520
  • I am. The most interesting man in the world. (Not)
Re: LeBron's Image
« Reply #7 on: August 03, 2010, 01:08:10 PM »
Until they win a championship.  We sports fans are pretty shallow. 

Quickerblade

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 10165
  • "Check my soundscan, Check my instagram"
Re: LeBron's Image
« Reply #8 on: August 04, 2010, 03:43:57 PM »

The trio will not last, there will be issues, bosh is great trade bait, I dont expect this trio to be around for more then 2 years.

mass 04

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 11039
Re: LeBron's Image
« Reply #9 on: August 12, 2010, 01:48:48 PM »
Barkley owns him today



Pat McManamon
Senior NBA Writer
Charles Barkley weighed in Wednesday on a recent Twitter statement by LeBron James. Barkley, a TNT analyst and former NBA All-Star, said he hopes James remembers Barkley's critical comments and called a couple of James' more significant actions this summer "punk" moves.

"I heard about LeBron's little tweet today that he's remembering everybody who said anything bad about him," Barkley said Thursday on ESPN Radio 103.3 FM in Dallas/Fort Worth. "And he said 'everybody.' Well, I want him to make sure that he puts my name on that (list).

"I thought that his little one-hour special was a punk move. I thought them dancing around on the stage was a punk move, and I thought he should've stayed in Cleveland. Him joining Dwyane Wade's team was very disappointing to me."

Barkley spoke on "Galloway and Company," hosted by Randy Galloway, Ian Fitzsimmons and Matt Mosley. Barkley referred to a Twitter post by James -- under the name King James -- in which he said: "Don't think for one min that I haven't been taking mental notes of everyone taking shots at me this summer. And I mean everyone!"

James has been criticized for leaving Cleveland and for announcing it on a national TV special on ESPN set up by him and his handlers. He also was the subject of a story on ESPN.com about a birthday party in a Las Vegas club that sounded more hedonistic than humble. The story was later removed because ESPN said its reporter did not state clearly he was writing a story (the accuracy of the story was never questioned).

In addition to the TV special, Barkley also weighed in on a rally at American Airlines Arena where James, Chris Bosh and Wade were treated like rock stars and talked about themselves as arguably the greatest trio ever to play in the NBA and future winners of five, six, seven championships.

Galloway and his co-host chuckled at Barkley's remarks, then said they enjoyed the fact Barkley wanted James to include him on his list.

"He's got enough people kissing his ass with his family and all the people who work for him," Barkley said. "We don't have to tell him what he wants to hear all the time. That's one of the reasons why ... some of these young guys ... my opinion is he should have stayed in Cleveland.

"That one-hour special, them jumping around on stage like punks, that wasn't cool to me. From a basketball standpoint, I wish he had stayed in Cleveland, and if he takes that as criticism, so be it.

"He knows where I'll be, I don't run. I'm on TV every week, I'm easy to find."

Dos Equis

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 63520
  • I am. The most interesting man in the world. (Not)
Re: LeBron's Image
« Reply #10 on: September 15, 2010, 11:33:41 AM »
Poll: LeBron James' popularity dropsEmail Print Comments463 ESPN.com news services

Everyone Hates LeBron James?
LeBron James ranked sixth-most disliked figure in U.S. sports

LeBron James made two significant moves this NBA offseason -- from Cleveland to Miami in free agency, and way down the ladder in terms of being a well-liked pro athlete.



Instead of his change to the Heat being seen as the best way he can win a championship, many have looked at it and how he chose to announce it as a selfish move.


-- Henry Schafer, executive vice president of The Q Scores Company
 
The Q Scores Company, which conducts popularity polls, has James rated as the sixth-most-disliked figure in American pro sports. The results, known as "Q Scores," were reported Tuesday by CNBC.

According to the report, James is viewed in what the company considers a negative light by 39 percent of the general population. In January, while still a Cleveland Cavalier, he was viewed positively by 24 percent of the population, negatively by 22 percent, according to the figures from the Q Scores Company.

"LeBron's positive score at that time [January] was the highest we had ever seen it," Henry Schafer, executive vice president of Q Scores, told CNBC.

The company's current tally puts James' drop in positive rating in the last seven months at 41.5 percent. Q Scores considers James to be viewed in a positive light by only 14 percent of the people polled.

James has faced relentless criticism since announcing in a one-hour ESPN special in July that he was leaving the Cavaliers for the Miami Heat. Even Cavs owner Dan Gilbert got in on the act, calling James' decision "cowardly" and later saying he believes James quit during playoff games this year and in 2009.

"Instead of his change to the Heat being seen as the best way he can win a championship, many have looked at it and how he chose to announce it as a selfish move," Schafer told CNBC.

The top-five disliked sports personalities, according to the Q Scores Company (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.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5575810

Dos Equis

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 63520
  • I am. The most interesting man in the world. (Not)
Re: LeBron's Image
« Reply #11 on: September 30, 2010, 12:29:39 PM »
No he didn't play the race card.   ::)  That fool has been a media darling for his entire career. 

LeBron James, manager: Race a factor
ESPN.com news services

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- LeBron James and his manager say they believe race played a factor in how the two-time reigning NBA MVP's decision to join the Miami Heat was covered this summer.

Neither James nor his manager, Maverick Carter, cited specifics when talking to CNN for a story that aired Wednesday night.

James did not want to spend much time on the subject after Thursday's Heat practice.

"I think people are looking too far into it," James said. "But at the same time, sometimes it does play a part in it. I've said what I had to say, and I'll continue to move on."

In the interview, CNN correspondent Soledad O'Brien asked about "The Decision," the one-hour special on ESPN in which James announced that he would play for the Heat, and some of the negative headlines it generated.

"It's just about control and not doing it the way it's always been done or not looking the way that it always looks," Carter said.

O'Brien asked if race played a role.

"I think so at times," James said. "It's always, you know, a race factor."

Said Carter: "It definitely played a role in some of the stuff coming out of the media, things that were written for sure."

James turned down a chance to stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers and ultimately decided to join the Heat in the oft-criticized televised special that raised $3 million for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

It's not the first time race has been a discussion point in the aftermath of "The Decision."

After James made his announcement July 8, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert responded that same evening by releasing a fiery letter to fans of his team, saying James was being "narcissistic" and "cowardly." That prompted Rev. Jesse Jackson to enter the fray, saying the Cavs owner saw James as a "runaway slave."

An e-mail to Carter's representative requesting further comment was not immediately answered.

"I don't walk in LeBron's shoes," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "From our standpoint, we've moved on from the summer."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5633199

Earl1972

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 22040
  • #EarlToo
Re: LeBron's Image
« Reply #12 on: September 30, 2010, 03:29:34 PM »
they all play the race card when they want sympathy

E
E

body88

  • Guest
Re: LeBron's Image
« Reply #13 on: October 02, 2010, 09:50:56 AM »
Lebron james is a dumb fuck. He really is. Dumb as rocks.

Dos Equis

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 63520
  • I am. The most interesting man in the world. (Not)
Re: LeBron's Image
« Reply #14 on: December 17, 2010, 12:48:56 PM »
 With the Knicks losing another game to the Celtics but claiming they’ve earned respect, New York moves on to prepare for Friday night’s arrival from LeBron James and go back to complaining about how the superstar spurned New York to sign with the Heat in the summer. James explained yesterday some of his thinking about choosing a more established team over a struggling franchise. “Winning appeals to me. And it’s all about winning. I’m not about saving franchises or saving this or that,” he said.

http://leeinks.weei.com/sports/2010/12/16/thursdays-morning-mashup-lebron-james-not-about-saving-franchises-like-knicks

The Showstoppa

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 26879
  • Call the vet, cause these pythons are sick!
Re: LeBron's Image
« Reply #15 on: December 17, 2010, 01:00:44 PM »
With the Knicks losing another game to the Celtics but claiming they’ve earned respect, New York moves on to prepare for Friday night’s arrival from LeBron James and go back to complaining about how the superstar spurned New York to sign with the Heat in the summer. James explained yesterday some of his thinking about choosing a more established team over a struggling franchise. “Winning appeals to me. And it’s all about winning. I’m not about saving franchises or saving this or that,” he said.

http://leeinks.weei.com/sports/2010/12/16/thursdays-morning-mashup-lebron-james-not-about-saving-franchises-like-knicks

funny how Mr. All about winning has exactly ZERO titles....haha

Mr Nobody

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 40197
  • Falcon gives us new knowledge every single day.
Re: LeBron's Image
« Reply #16 on: December 17, 2010, 04:03:09 PM »
funny how Mr. All about winning has exactly ZERO titles....haha
Moses Malone need to return he dont put up with anything all business.

aussiejosh

  • Getbig III
  • ***
  • Posts: 710
  • Getbig!
Re: LeBron's Image
« Reply #17 on: January 13, 2011, 03:32:01 AM »
I can't believe how much of a class A douche bag Lebron is, I was ok with him going to Miami not the way he did it but I could live with it. But after he kicked his team guts when they where down with his latest rant on twitter he has really become the biggest douche bag in sport!!
SHUT UP AND LIFT BITCH

Dos Equis

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 63520
  • I am. The most interesting man in the world. (Not)
Re: LeBron's Image
« Reply #18 on: January 13, 2011, 10:03:31 AM »
"Crazy. Karma is a b****. Gets you every time. It's not good to wish bad on anybody. God sees everything!" James wrote while in Los Angeles with the Heat for Wednesday's game against the Clippers. The account is verified by Twitter.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miamiheat/news/story?id=6014004

So he follows this up by saying he didn't write it, he just passed along someone else's comments, and that he wasn't referring to Cleveland, even though the tweet was sent shortly after the Lakers blew them out by about 50 points.   ::)

mass 04

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 11039
Re: LeBron's Image
« Reply #19 on: January 13, 2011, 10:08:13 AM »
"Crazy. Karma is a b****. Gets you every time. It's not good to wish bad on anybody. God sees everything!" James wrote while in Los Angeles with the Heat for Wednesday's game against the Clippers. The account is verified by Twitter.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miamiheat/news/story?id=6014004

So he follows this up by saying he didn't write it, he just passed along someone else's comments, and that he wasn't referring to Cleveland, even though the tweet was sent shortly after the Lakers blew them out by about 50 points.   ::)
haha just like he didn't know what contraction meant.

Dos Equis

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 63520
  • I am. The most interesting man in the world. (Not)
Re: LeBron's Image
« Reply #20 on: February 12, 2011, 06:31:30 AM »
LeBron, fan exchange words
By Michael Wallace
ESPN.com

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- LeBron James took a moment during Friday's game against the Detroit Pistons to fire back at a heckling fan who insulted his mother.

After hearing a fan sitting near the court behind the Heat's bench mention his mother's name, James walked toward the scorer's table and addressed the male fan.

"I don't care what you say to me. I don't give a [expletive] what you say," James said to the fan. "But don't be disrespectful."


The exchange came during a break in action with 1.7 seconds left in the first quarter and was picked up by television microphones.

James responded to the fan, who shouted the comments within earshot of James' two young sons who sat courtside near the Heat's bench.

The fan, who declined to give his name to ESPN.com, said he was offended by James' cursing. He was also told by security to refrain from heckling the rest of the game or he would be escorted out.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miamiheat/news/story?id=6114546

UPINTHEMGUTS

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 5633
  • I can spot crazy pussy....
Re: LeBron's Image
« Reply #21 on: February 13, 2011, 07:35:36 AM »
Lebron is a big dude. A fight would never break out but if it did, the fan probably wouldn't stand a chance. Not with Lebron's reach advantage. He could probably knock you out with a punch from 7 feet away.

The Showstoppa

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 26879
  • Call the vet, cause these pythons are sick!
Re: LeBron's Image
« Reply #22 on: February 13, 2011, 07:57:04 AM »
Lebron is a big dude. A fight would never break out but if it did, the fan probably wouldn't stand a chance. Not with Lebron's reach advantage. He could probably knock you out with a punch from 7 feet away.

Who knows.....Lebron has probably never been in a fight in his adult life,the other guy could be trained, etc..... so you never know.  Plus the vast majority of basketball players are horrendous in fights.

UPINTHEMGUTS

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 5633
  • I can spot crazy pussy....
Re: LeBron's Image
« Reply #23 on: February 13, 2011, 08:28:58 AM »
LOL---basketball fights are usually pretty faggy. Used to see some good fights back in the day with the Detroit Pistons bad boy days. Charles Barkley could definitely scrap back in the day,too. Those guys knew how to throw punches.


The Showstoppa

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 26879
  • Call the vet, cause these pythons are sick!
Re: LeBron's Image
« Reply #24 on: February 14, 2011, 05:56:08 AM »
LOL---basketball fights are usually pretty faggy. Used to see some good fights back in the day with the Detroit Pistons bad boy days. Charles Barkley could definitely scrap back in the day,too. Those guys knew how to throw punches.



I agree....some good fights from that group of guys.....Mahorn, Oakley, Barkley, etc... were ready to scrap.  These guys today just get people between them and talk trash.....and if it ever gets to a fight, it looks like a couple of 7th graders in a slap-fight contest....haha