03-06-2009

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King James Criticized for Walking Off The Court Following Game 6 Loss »

After a dissappointing loss in the ECF, LeBron James walked off the court without shaking hands or congratulating any of the Orlando Magic players and skipped the media conference afterwards. Two days ago NBA annouced they won’t fine him for blowing off reporters after Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals, however, he’s been widely criticized for the act. He attributed it to his competitive nature, but that hasn’t stopped the backlash. For the most part, James has been a model citizen. He’s polite, accessible, generous with his time and money, and plays hard every night. Now 24, he’s handled the spotlight and the comparisons to Michael Jordan since his junior year of high school with poise. On Sunday, he said he sent an e-mail to Howard following Saturday’s game. Read on to find out more and give your opinion on the subject.

“It’s hard for me to congratulate somebody after you just lose to them,” he said. “I’m a winner. It’s not being a poor sport or anything like that. If somebody beats you up, you’re not going to congratulate them. That doesn’t make sense to me. I’m a competitor. That’s what I do. It doesn’t make sense for me to go over and shake somebody’s hand.” When asked about LeBron’s disappearing act, Howard said he received a congratulatory, late-night e-mail and didn’t sound too vexed. “I just thought he would have said something to me, or said something to the team. He’s probably upset, probably hurt and understand that, respect it. One day we’ll see each other,” he said, “and I’ll have to wait until then.” NBA commissioner David Stern says he has reached out to LeBron James about James’ refusal to speak with the media after the Cleveland Cavaliers were eliminated from the Eastern Conference finals. Stern is withholding judgment and not ready to makes his views on the incident public, but he acknowledged he was not pleased that James, the league’s reigning MVP, didn’t meet with the media, or shake hands with the Orlando Magic, following the Game 6 loss Saturday night. What James did offended old-school sensibilities, to be sure, but it also sent the wrong message to the guys playing against and especially alongside him at the moment. Was James wrong? Should he have recognized Howard and the Magic after the game? Get at us in the comment box below. Source: ESPN, NYTimes.