Lebron James 2010 Traitor of the Year

• SportsAndLady

  

  http://twitpic.com/24nhu8
  
  You think this bothers Lebron at all? His hometown now hates him!
• bases_loaded

  

  SportsAndLady;422294 wrote:http://twitpic.com/24nhu8
  
  You think this bothers Lebron at all? His hometown now hates him!

  
  I think he is ok with it because his photoshopped Akron sign says Miami loves him and so does his entourage
• rmolin73

  

  That is a weak ass photo shop job.
• ernest_t_bass

  

  What are the bolts in the bottom sign going into?
  
  
• jordo212000

  

  ernest_t_bass;422373 wrote:What are the bolts in the bottom sign going into?

  
  haha nice catch
• SportsAndLady

  

  lol whoops
• hoops23

  

  I do believe Akron took down the signs of "Home of LeBron James..."
  
  Could be wrong, but it was a big rumor.
• rmolin73

  

  That is just what it is a rumor.
• Jughead

  

  rmolin73;422352 wrote:That is a weak ass photo shop job.

  
  The top sign under Akron Corporation Limit would have sufficed.
• Footwedge

  Someday Akron will forgive LeBron....on the other hand, Cleveland....never.
• thedynasty1998

  

  Didn't know which thread to post this on, but ESPN LA released a story yesterday about Lebron that paints him in a not so favorable image. After being on the site a couple hours, ESPN pulled it and released a statement saying that it was basically released prematurely.
  
  A buddy emailed me the transcript:
  

  By Arash Markazi
  ESPNLosAngeles.com
  Archive
  
  LeBron James leans against a waist-high stone wall with a 16-foot-tall Buddha hovering over
  him.
  
  He's at Tao, a bustling restaurant and nightclub inside the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas, and his
  arms are crossed as he listens to Lynn Meritt, senior director of Nike Basketball, and Charles
  Denson, president of Nike Brand.
  
  James is quiet, occasionally applying Chap Stick on his lips and nodding when he hears
  something he likes.
  
  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."
  
  James will host a party later in the upstairs nightclub at Tao, but he is currently hosting a dinner
  for his friends and family in the downstairs restaurant. Wearing a gray striped shirt and gold
  crucifix around his neck, he bobs his head to music played by an amped-up saxophonist who
  weaves his way around the table like a one-man mariachi band.
  
  I have somehow found myself at this exclusive table, seated beside Eddie Jackson, who is
  introduced to me as James' father (though he actually began dating James' mother, Gloria, after
  LeBron was born and the two are no longer together). Jackson, wearing a muscle shirt
  accentuating his large biceps, looks like a member of James' four-man entourage, like one of his
  childhood friends.
  
  James' circle includes Randy Mims, seated to his right at the center of the table, Maverick
  Carter, seated at the head of the table, and Richard Paul, seated in front of James. The quartet
  makes up the initials behind LRMR Marketing, the management firm James founded almost four
  years ago with his buddies. Their offices in downtown Cleveland gained notoriety this month as
  the location teams flocked to for their meetings with James.
  
  Seated to the right of James is Chris Paul, whose brother, C.J., is seated across from him. The
  New Orleans Hornets point guard has seen how James has positioned himself to win a
  championship by signing with the Miami Heat and joining forces with Dwyane Wade and Chris
  Bosh and has reportedly considered a similar move himself.
  
  The truth is, in James' dream world, the duo he would love to play with for the next decade
  would be Wade and Paul, his two closest friends in the NBA. Paul has been like a brother to
  James since the two were in Las Vegas four years ago for USA Basketball training camp, when
  as a rookie he carried James' and Wade's bags to and from the team bus.
  
  James and Paul are fairly quiet at the center of the table as they take in the scene around them.
  As family style plates of miso-glazed Chilean sea bass and crispy lobster and shrimp dumplings
  are brought to the table, James effortlessly picks up the food with his chopsticks and
  occasionally raises his cup of green tea to passersby as they raise their martinis and mojitos in
  his direction before being helped along by security guards.
  
  When trays of dessert plates are brought over, James gets up, preferring to start his party
  upstairs instead of indulging in the giant fortune cookies and chocolate cake. 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.
  
  James, now wearing sunglasses in the dark club, immediately stands up on the couch and folds
  his arms high on his chest and nods his head. He smiles as he looks at the dozens of people
  crowded on the dance floor. Noticing him, they stop dancing and snap pictures as the DJ
  screams out, "LeBron James in the building!" and plays LMFAO's "I'm in Miami."
  
  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.
  
  
  James' infamous one-hour special, "The Decision," was reportedly the brainchild of Carter, a 28-
  year-old who has never managed anyone outside of his friend James. This three-day party
  marathon in Vegas (which James is being paid six figures to host) is also Carter's idea.
  
  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.
  
  James dances on the couch and sings along with the music blaring from speakers all around
  him.
  
  The more you hang around James, the more you realize he's still a child wrapped in a 6-foot-8,
  250-pound frame. The night after the party at Tao, he and his crew walk through the casino at
  the Wynn and Encore and he pretends to dribble a basketball as he walks past ringing slot
  machines and tourists who do double-takes. In a Nike T-shirt, jeans and sneakers, James'
  pantomime seems unconscious. He stops every few feet to shoot a jump shot, his right hand
  extended above his head on the follow through. He weaves through a pack of a dozen friends
  and pretends to connect on a layup as he walks past a gift shop. He passes overhead casino
  signs and jumps up and slaps them, pretending to dunk. Columns covered with advertisements
  for lounge acts become stationary defenders, chumps to fake out before connecting on
  imaginary mid-range jump shots.
  
  James probably goes through a practice's worth of shots as we walk from the XS nightclub at
  Encore (James left his poolside table when he saw the club was practically empty), through
  Wynn and over the bridge to the Palazzo.
  
  Soon after arriving at Lavo, a restaurant and nightclub at the Palazzo, a scene straight out of
  "West Side Story" breaks out when James and Lamar Odom, seated at a nearby table, engage
  in an impromptu dance-off to California Swag District's "Teach Me How To Dougie."
  
  Odom, smoking a cigar, can't quite keep up. James celebrates by crossing himself and taking a
  shot of Patron. Moments later, a handful of girls dressed as cheerleaders walk toward his table
  with someone dressed in James' Heat uniform. Someone throws talcum powder in the air as
  James does before every game, while his new unofficial song, "I'm in Miami," plays.
  
  Odom casts a glance James' way before looking in the opposite direction and raising his glass
  at a couple on the dance floor who point to their ring fingers and smile.
  
  Back at his table, James and his crew sing every word to Rick Ross' "Free Mason." LeBron raps
  every line to former teammate Damon Jones (who played with him in Cleveland). Jones, puffing
  on a cigar, nods.
  
  James rips out the lines:
  
  "If I ever die, never let it be said I didn't win/
  Never, never say/
  Never say legend didn't go in/
  I just wanna die on top of the world."
  
  While he looks at club-goers flashing the LA and Westside signs at him, James smiles and
  points to Jackson's T-shirt, which reads, "Another Enemy," and raises his glass of champagne.
  
  Finally, Carter tells James it's time to leave the club and they do, LeBron pretending to crossover
  tables and shoot over slot machines all the way back to his room.
  
  Arash Markazi is a columnist and reporter

• enigmaax

  Ohio is kind of becoming synonomous with traitor state, eh? Didn't Justin Boren take home this title a couple years ago?
• dat dude

  I think Michigan claims Boren as the traitor. I've heard the nickname "Benedict Boren" more than a few times.
• enigmaax

  dat dude;435562 wrote:I think Michigan claims Boren as the traitor. I've heard the nickname "Benedict Boren" more than a few times.

  
  Isn't he from Ohio, though? How do OSU fans feel about having a guy like that as their "leader"? Someone who quit on his team and failed to fulfill his commitment?
• Automatik

  

  enigmaax;435603 wrote:Isn't he from Ohio, though? How do OSU fans feel about having a guy like that as their "leader"? Someone who quit on his team and failed to fulfill his commitment?

  
  He obviously made the right move. Look at the state of Michigan's program. He saw the light.
  
  Also, he is not OSU's "leader."
• dat dude

  enigmaax;435603 wrote:Isn't he from Ohio, though? How do OSU fans feel about having a guy like that as their "leader"? Someone who quit on his team and failed to fulfill his commitment?

  
  Well, ya, but not every Ohio high school player goes to OSU. I certainly wouldn't call all individuals who leave the state of Ohio to go to college traitors.
  
  I have no problems with Boren being a "leader" on the team either. Is transferring colleges as a 19 year old "quitting" on one's school? In retrospect, it was the right move.
• enigmaax

  Automatik;435620 wrote:He obviously made the right move. Look at the state of Michigan's program. He saw the light.

  
  If I recall, you had no problem with LeBron's move either. I agree with you on both counts. I just get the feeling that for all this traitor talk, I'm going to hear a bunch of bullshit excuses from people who have one of those traitors on their own team.
• enigmaax

  dat dude;435629 wrote:Well, ya, but not every Ohio high school player goes to OSU. I certainly wouldn't call all individuals who leave the state of Ohio to go to college traitors.
  
  I have no problems with Boren being a "leader" on the team either. Is transferring colleges as a 19 year old "quitting" on one's school? In retrospect, it was the right move.

  
  Well I don't know, when he committed to Michigan was it for one year or for a career? I've seen the argument about coaches dicking kids because they pull scholarships (over recruiting?). Are we saying it is wrong for a coach to change his mind about a player but not wrong for a player to change his mind about a school?
  
  You say it "was the right move". Is that because Michigan's team sucks? Shouldn't he have stayed and tried to build a winner? Isn't that what everyone was saying would taint LeBron's legacy if he ever won a title? Do you think Boren feels like his Big Ten and Rose Bowl titles are tainted because he didn't win them with HIS team (because remember, he quit on HIS team).
• thedynasty1998

  

  Boren was recruited by Carr. Carr left, and Boren didn't like R Rod. No problem in transferring.
  
  Plus, a scholarship is only a one year commitment by the University, so no, he didn't commit to 4 years and the school in return didn't commit to him for 4 years.
• dat dude

  enigmaax;435657 wrote:Well I don't know, when he committed to Michigan was it for one year or for a career? I've seen the argument about coaches dicking kids because they pull scholarships (over recruiting?). Are we saying it is wrong for a coach to change his mind about a player but not wrong for a player to change his mind about a school?
  
  You say it "was the right move". Is that because Michigan's team sucks? Shouldn't he have stayed and tried to build a winner? Isn't that what everyone was saying would taint LeBron's legacy if he ever won a title? Do you think Boren feels like his Big Ten and Rose Bowl titles are tainted because he didn't win them with HIS team (because remember, he quit on HIS team).

  
  Wtf are you talking about? You are trying way too hard to take a shot at Cleveland or OSU fans. Then again, that is your modus operandi.
  
  Are you seriously trying to compare this to Lebron's situation? And as I have said multiple times, I do NOT fault Lebron for his decision. I have no problem with him leaving Cleveland. It was just the way he went about it.
• enigmaax

  thedynasty1998;435669 wrote:Boren was recruited by Carr. Carr left, and Boren didn't like R Rod. No problem in transferring.
  
  Plus, a scholarship is only a one year commitment by the University, so no, he didn't commit to 4 years and the school in return didn't commit to him for 4 years.

  
  Yeah, again, I don't have a problem with it either. I'm just interested to see if people will change their philosophies to fit their own needs. I was the one defending the scholarship-is-year-by-year before. Most people weren't.
  
  

  dat dude;435671 wrote:Wtf are you talking about? You are trying way too hard to take a shot at Cleveland or OSU fans. Then again, that is your modus operandi.
  
  Are you seriously trying to compare this to Lebron's situation? And as I have said multiple times, I do NOT fault Lebron for his decision. I have no problem with him leaving Cleveland. It was just the way he went about it.

  
  I know, I know, its always that I'm taking shots. For christ's sake, dude, do you really just want to converse with people who sniff your ass all the time? How long would you really stick around if our conversation was, "yeah I agree"? I realize my opinions are different from yours on a lot of things, but obviously if we take the time to read each others' posts there's something worth discussing.
  
  Yes, I am comparing this to LeBron's situation because at its core, both guys left somewhere to which they had previously committed. LeBron said nothing bad about Cleveland, you just didn't like that he announced his decision on TV and got a lot of attention for it. Boren publically trashed his old school on his way to their biggest rival. Either you approve of a guy's right to make his own decisions and express himself how he sees fit or you don't.
• dat dude

  No, but I prefer conversing with individuals who hold objective opinions. Your agenda is obvious, as you are trying to compare a 19 year old's decision to transfer to his home school to Lebron putting on a massive spectacle to announce a decision that he had made months prior. The two are completely different, as much as you would like to find a hypocrite in others.
  
  And, in my opinion, Boren fulfilled his commitment, which was a one year scholarship. Plus, as previously stated, he was recruited under a different regime. Therefore, the things he may have been promised beforehand no longer were applicable. I don't see any harm in making a decision under this thought process.
• enigmaax

  dat dude;435757 wrote: No, but I prefer conversing with individuals who hold objective opinions. Your agenda is obvious

  Think what you want, but if you prefer conversing over "objective" opinions and my agenda is obvious, why do you respond to virtually every post of mine?
  

  dat dude;435757 wrote:, as you are trying to compare a 19 year old's decision to transfer to his home school to Lebron putting on a massive spectacle to announce a decision that he had made months prior. The two are completely different, as much as you would like to find a hypocrite in others.

  Boren turned his back on his school and his teammates. And then went to the media and insulted them. He didn't transfer to his home school, he transferred to the BIGGEST RIVAL of the school HE ORIGINALLY CHOSE. If you are against a person's right to choose where he goes and you appreciate class in making difficult choices, you have to say this was a dick move all the way around.
  
  What you are doing though is coming up with reasons as to why its okay in that case because he joined YOUR team.
  
  The other guy, he left after his contract expired and he told the whole country that was awaiting his decision at the same time - on national TV. Yes, he drew attention to himself. But he had fulfilled his commitment and he didn't say anything bad about the situation he left. I don't see how that is so much worse or unjustifiable considering your willingness to excuse YOUR guy's actions.
  

  dat dude;435757 wrote:And, in my opinion, Boren fulfilled his commitment, which was a one year scholarship. Plus, as previously stated, he was recruited under a different regime. Therefore, the things he may have been promised beforehand no longer were applicable. I don't see any harm in making a decision under this thought process.

  Again, I'm cool with that, but do you think he told his teammates when he came there that he was going to bolt after a year or if they weren't good enough for him? He started there with them and he quit on them. Pure and simple. What could he have been promised beforehand that he wouldn't have gotten? Playing time? A scholarship? He wasn't happy, great. Move on. Same goes for LeBron, though. Same goes for coaches who don't renew scholarships for players who aren't cutting it. That's all.
• CinciX12

  

  Lol why are we comparing Boren with James? No one will ever remember Justin Boren once he graduates, not exactly the same kind of situation.
• norwalk

  Did Boren bash the school or the new coach and coaching staff? I don't believe he bashed Meechigan. It was Dick Rod that he bashed.
  
  Enigmaxx.......I agree, we need other opinions on here. We have the right ones (tOSU fans) and the wrong ones (UofM fans).