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LeBrawn blames race is a factor in all the backlash

Ron Boone

Ron Boone

Member
LeBrawn

Did race play a role in the backlash -- both in the media and in the general public -- to LeBron James' decision to take his talents to South Beach?

LeBron James and his business partner and close friend Maverick Carter both said yes in an interview on CNN Wednesday night (hat tip to Jason Lloyd of the Beacon Journal, and we should note race was a very small part of this interview, discussed and everyone moved on).

"I think so at times. It's always a race factor," LeBron said as part of a segment that focused largely on Carter.

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

A lot of the backlash seemed to be focused less on the choice itself -- outside of Cleveland, anyway -- and more on what came off as an egotistical way to do it. But both Carter and James said that "The Decision" -- the hour-long show on ESPN announcing his move to Miami -- may have had something to do with that.

"The execution could've been a little better and I take some of blame for that," Carter said.

But James noted that the event raised $3 million for the Boys & Girls Club and any "heat" he took was worth it.

There certainly has been a lot of LeBron hate. The numbers back up what James and Carter have said about race.

Among blacks, LeBron's positive Q rating among dropped from 52 percent in January to 39 -- however his negative Q rating barely changed, going from 14 percent to 15. Blacks seemed to change what they thought of him, but to a more neutral stance.

Among non-blacks, LeBron's negative Q rating went from 24 percent to 44 after the decision.

Why different races reacted to the situation in very different ways would make an interesting study in race relations in America.
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It's all about race. It has nothing about being a D-bag. Or with his, "Decision."

I mean, just look at how well it was received when Larry Bird announced on national TV during his "Decision" when he announced that he was leaving Boston to join the LA Lakers!

Damn racists
 
The Thriller said:
It's all about race. It has nothing about being a D-bag. Or with his, "Decision."

I mean, just look at how well it was received when Larry Bird announced on national TV during his "Decision" when he announced that he was leaving Boston to join the LA Lakers!

Damn racists
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this thing
 
All that poll shows is that blacks were willing to give James a pass on being an asshat.
 
I just couldn't believe that he actually thought we all care what his race is when he took his fat head on ESPN to tell the world where the hell he was going. I would have reacted the same way if Hayward decided to take his talents to the Knicks. Makes me want to see the heat lose even more now.
 
Anyone who thinks the reaction is solely based on race is disconnected from reality.

Anyone who thinks the reaction was not exacerbated by race is alsodisconnected from reality.
 
I know I'm a jerk, but would anyone else laugh if on game 1 of 82 this year Lebron James came out and tore his Achilles? I don't think I've ever wished an injury upon anyone not named Kobe or a not a member of the Dallas Cowboys.... But to me, it would be great to see Lebron, the second most spoiled and arrogant athlete in recent history (tiger being #1) suffer a devastating injury serving him some humble pie. Plus, it would hopefully eliminate all this talk about the Heat winning it all and creating a dynasty and being better than the Celtics and Montana's 49ers combined and bla bla bla...

I never knew that I could hate someone more than Kobe. Congrats Lebron! I never knew I could root for the Lakers, until this Heat circus came about.
 
This is almost as bad as Albert Hansworth saying that just because he's part of the team doesn't mean the coaches can treat him like a "slave." Dude is making 20 million this year.
 
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