You don't think they'd find enough fairweather fans to fill the stadium up?Maybe, but you're presuming I give a rat's a$$ what the fairweather fans do. You know 'em-the ones that break out their Laker flags and hand em from their car windows for two weeks every year.
guess keeping Mr. Gilbert and the boys hanging until the last week of FA wasn't a jerk move, right? ok if you say so...Again, LeBron James gave Cleveland seven wonderful years. He competed until the day his contract went up: giving them two consecutive years the league's best record, an Eastern Conference Championship and constant amounts of revenue that Dan Gilbert will never again see. Let's not pretend that LeBron coasted like so many other players in his position have (Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady come to mind). LeBron may be an egotistical jerk but he played hard in Cleveland and I don't believe that should be disputed.
nothing wrong with that, Go. but let's face it. there's a RIGHT way and a WRONG way to do these things...That we definitely can agree on. I roll my eyes at the pep rally but I understand it was just pandering to the fans that the media ate up and magnified. But "The Decision" is inexcusable.
If the Bulls had offered Luol Deng he'd probably be in a different uniform right now. Look, I know you're going to defend your boy either way and that's fine but to shrug off Kobe Bryant's trade demand as being "good for the team" when you should really look at it as: good for Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant demanded that so he could get better teammates. Which is fine. Lakers management responded. Cleveland never gave LeBron James a good second option. Never, ever. So he went and signed to play with a good second option. So basically you're blaming LeBron James for the Cavaliers being unable to do what the Lakers did for Kobe Bryant.
so you say, but different situations. the fact he went PUBLIC with that "trade demand" was simply to put a fire under management to get him some better players to help him. BIG difference imo. if he TRULY wanted out i'd have to believe he'd be in someone elses uni right now...
For me, the whole Lebron/Kobe thing is straightforward. Lebron is just better athletically due to obvious reasons and there's no questioning that. The only problems I have is anyone that says Lebron career is greater than Kobe's thus far which is something I disagree with, due to the fact that it's not true and also due to the fact Kobe's has just had more years to accomplish more things or in other words have more rings. The thing I've been saying since the last year he was in Cleveland to people was let's let him win something first before we start debating this Lebron/Kobe thing. I also never liked how SOME simply dishes blame to anyone other than Lebron when he loses. Now in Cleveland, I gave him a pass there as he never really had the teams up until that last year. I thought he deserved blame for going AWOL in that game 5 against Boston, that swung the series imo. I also thought he deserved his fair shair of blame for going AWOL in the Finals last year. Now to the last point, the 4th quarter/walk off shot. I never criticized Lebron for "making the right play" in those situations, the only problem I ever had was him hot potatoing the ball down the stretch in these situations at times, particulary last year in the Finals.I think if Kevin Durant played for a bigger market and if he received the same amount of scrutiny that LeBron James does (and he hasn't played long enough to warrant that), that you'd jump on to the other side too. Even if not, Durant's a once in a lifetime individual. That'd be like me sitting back and saying "wow this guy sucks because he doesn't go about his business like Tim Duncan." Those kind of personalities with that kind of talent are simply very rare at this point. And what do you mean people dish blame to anyone other than LeBron when he loses? Everything's been LeBron's fault for about three years (Boston in 2010, Dallas last year and pretty much everything this year).
As for Kobe, he's said he's an arrogant blankety blank and stands by that to this day so I understand why people hate him, but as a person he's gotten far more mature than that young guy with the fro.That he has and, again, it's something I'm alluding to as far as LeBron James is concerned (changing a lot of the things that piss people off).
Maybe, but you're presuming I give a rat's a$$ what the fairweather fans do. You know 'em-the ones that break out their Laker flags and hand em from their car windows for two weeks every year.Well you may not get excitable but I sure as hell would. And the fairweather fans, unfortunately, represent what the outside world will see. I'm fairly positive you don't go out and turn cars over when the Lakers win championships, lakerdaddy, but that certainly will be a running joke about Los Angeles citizens. I say that to say this: to criticize Miami fans for filling the stadium and going crazy and for the players to pander to the fans doesn't make much sense because although you wouldn't show up; a lot of your fellow Lakers fans would. It's just in most fan's nature now.
I think if Kevin Durant played for a bigger market and if he received the same amount of scrutiny that LeBron James does (and he hasn't played long enough to warrant that), that you'd jump on to the other side too.LeBron just has the personality that makes fans hate him when he joined Miami. LeBron has a bigget ego than Durant. LeBron is more likely to get in trouble with his mouth than Durant.
Worthy gave a very short speech of appreciation and then walked off with league official still their with the silver trophy. Worthy didn't touch it. A journalist yelled to Worthy that he didn't touch the trophy. Worthy yells beack, "We only care about the gold." And they kept walking.
A few days ago, the Heat were victory dancing in their locker room as if they had not just achieved this same goal at the end of last season.
Well you may not get excitable but I sure as hell would. And the fairweather fans, unfortunately, represent what the outside world will see. I'm fairly positive you don't go out and turn cars over when the Lakers win championships, lakerdaddy, but that certainly will be a running joke about Los Angeles citizens. I say that to say this: to criticize Miami fans for filling the stadium and going crazy and for the players to pander to the fans doesn't make much sense because although you wouldn't show up; a lot of your fellow Lakers fans would. It's just in most fan's nature now.You're absolutely right about the perception of Laker fans being based on the bandwagoners, and it's embarrassing. The car turning and all that other stuff-those aren't Laker fans. Hell, those aren't even sports fans. Those are criminals, and every city has them. Have seen similar championship celebrations in Philly, Detroit, Boston etc. Those kinds of "fans" are not exclusive to L.A.
And you'd say "I'd hate for them to come out all entitled" but before every finals game we have Pat Riley guaranteeing a championship and Lakers fans eating it up. It's harmless, pep rally banter.
Of course I realize that, LD What good is a message board or thread if everyone agreed with each other? There's always 2 sides to every arguement.Just kiddin there, Jimmie. I can appreciate representing the opposing view.
Congrats to the Kings btw. The one LA team that I can say I don't mind (Clipps also) I've been expecting them to make a push for the last 4-5yrs, but never would have dreamed they would win the cup in the fashion they did this year. I didn't watch too much because fans want to see star players and goals scored, not star goaltenders who stop 93% the goals. Even though Mike Richards doesn't play for the Flyers anymore, he's still a whiny bitch :)
The dancing lasted for about 40 seconds. You've seen teams Davwy, not even including the whole team, who wins the title only dance for 40 seconds then quit celebrating in the locker room? James, the one who gets scrutinized the most, did it for about 12 seconds and quit.Jim Doors, of course my example of the Heat dancing is a bit of hyperbole to contrast the two team's mindset after winning. My issue had less to do with them dancing and more to do with them celebrating, but celebrating something that is now part of a journey to an even bigger prize. It Final's championship was a crowing achievement last year (even with the expectation to win it all), but this season, it's only a stop a long the way. And to be fair, defeating Boston in a seven game series can get some people excited.
You people grasp at any straw that's not sticking up.
He competed until the day his contract went up:No he did not. If we want to get specific he quit during the playoffs a few times. I remember seeing him just give up, you could see it.
