NBA's Reaction To "SoreLoserGate"
As many are aware, after the Orlando Magic beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals, League MVP LeBron James quickly exited the court, changed, and hopped on the team bus to leave. He did not shake the opposing players hands; he did not stay for post-game interviews.
A day later, he claimed that because he is "a winner" he "doesn't understand" why he had to congratulate a team who beat him...but he made sure to say that he wasn't a sore loser.
While the League has decided not to fine James for missing the interview (no surprised there), here are some reactions from those around the NBA:
Michael Wilbon: "E-mailing the Magic later, as LeBron did, isn't good enough. And you don't just get to use the media to get across your message, then bail when it's tough. Explaining yourself to what is pretty much an adoring public isn't good enough when it's a day late."
Michael Rosenberg: "By walking off the floor and refusing to shake hands or answer questions, LeBron just gave his critics fuel. It is counterproductive. But it was also just plain wrong. The difference between athletes and movie stars is that athletes can't just storm off the set. They are held accountable. When they fail, they're supposed to talk about it. That is what makes sports so real, so alluring. And you know who agrees with me? LeBron James! 'We went up against a better team,' James said in 2007, after losing to the San Antonio Spurs in his only Finals appearance so far. 'We know the Spurs are definitely the better team in this series.' That was the LeBron I like. That was the guy who seems to combine everything you would want in an NBA star: athleticism, intelligence, skill, class, unselfishness."
Adrian Wojnarowski: "Within the Cavs, someone needed to tell James that he embarrassed himself and the franchise, but that won’t happen. They’re too scared of him. Most league executives with knowledge of Cleveland’s operation believe it’s far more of an ownership issue, than basketball operations. If general manager Danny Ferry and coach Mike Brown privately disdain the ridiculous posing for pictures that James started with his teammates on a 13-game winning streak, the owner is believed to see the foolishness as a marketing dream. Someone should’ve told James that the pregame Polaroid act was belittling and beneath a championship contender, but it never happened."
Charley Rosen: "Maybe he was too disappointed, too angry, or too teary-eyed to linger for even an extra few minutes. Or perhaps the King really has the soul of a peasant."
And of course, the Cav's GM (Danny Ferry ): "I feel strongly that LeBron would never intentionally disrespect another NBA player. It was a situation where he was pretty disappointed. We just loss a tough series. He has always conducted himself in a pretty high level both on the court and off the court."
I personally think that the sports media is trying to have it both ways: they like to say that James is mature beyond his years, but then he does something like this and the general reaction is, "But he's only 24." I don't recall Kobe walking off the floor when his Lakers where beaten by the Spurs, Pistons and Celtics. I don't recall James leaving the court early after getting a whoopin' from San Antonio. So let's call it what it was: Lebron James did not respect the Orlando Magic, he thought his team was just going to sweep into the NBA Finals, and he was too caught up in a potential matchup with Bryant to focus on the series at hand.
And now that this is behind us, let the "he's going to New York/New Jersey" speculation begin.
A day later, he claimed that because he is "a winner" he "doesn't understand" why he had to congratulate a team who beat him...but he made sure to say that he wasn't a sore loser.
While the League has decided not to fine James for missing the interview (no surprised there), here are some reactions from those around the NBA:
Michael Wilbon: "E-mailing the Magic later, as LeBron did, isn't good enough. And you don't just get to use the media to get across your message, then bail when it's tough. Explaining yourself to what is pretty much an adoring public isn't good enough when it's a day late."
Michael Rosenberg: "By walking off the floor and refusing to shake hands or answer questions, LeBron just gave his critics fuel. It is counterproductive. But it was also just plain wrong. The difference between athletes and movie stars is that athletes can't just storm off the set. They are held accountable. When they fail, they're supposed to talk about it. That is what makes sports so real, so alluring. And you know who agrees with me? LeBron James! 'We went up against a better team,' James said in 2007, after losing to the San Antonio Spurs in his only Finals appearance so far. 'We know the Spurs are definitely the better team in this series.' That was the LeBron I like. That was the guy who seems to combine everything you would want in an NBA star: athleticism, intelligence, skill, class, unselfishness."
Adrian Wojnarowski: "Within the Cavs, someone needed to tell James that he embarrassed himself and the franchise, but that won’t happen. They’re too scared of him. Most league executives with knowledge of Cleveland’s operation believe it’s far more of an ownership issue, than basketball operations. If general manager Danny Ferry and coach Mike Brown privately disdain the ridiculous posing for pictures that James started with his teammates on a 13-game winning streak, the owner is believed to see the foolishness as a marketing dream. Someone should’ve told James that the pregame Polaroid act was belittling and beneath a championship contender, but it never happened."
Charley Rosen: "Maybe he was too disappointed, too angry, or too teary-eyed to linger for even an extra few minutes. Or perhaps the King really has the soul of a peasant."
And of course, the Cav's GM (Danny Ferry ): "I feel strongly that LeBron would never intentionally disrespect another NBA player. It was a situation where he was pretty disappointed. We just loss a tough series. He has always conducted himself in a pretty high level both on the court and off the court."
I personally think that the sports media is trying to have it both ways: they like to say that James is mature beyond his years, but then he does something like this and the general reaction is, "But he's only 24." I don't recall Kobe walking off the floor when his Lakers where beaten by the Spurs, Pistons and Celtics. I don't recall James leaving the court early after getting a whoopin' from San Antonio. So let's call it what it was: Lebron James did not respect the Orlando Magic, he thought his team was just going to sweep into the NBA Finals, and he was too caught up in a potential matchup with Bryant to focus on the series at hand.
And now that this is behind us, let the "he's going to New York/New Jersey" speculation begin.
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