RoundCast: Is LeBron a Poor Sport?

Hey, to much money was bet on the Cavaliers to taake a chance on having them win the finals.

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Is LeBron a poor sport? Yes. Even my kids shake hands with the opposing team after every game. No they don't want to after they've lost, But they do. Grow up Lebron, you make a lot more money then my kids do.

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LeBron did the exact same thing last year in Boston after the infamous Game 7, in which LeBron had 45 points, but was generally outplayed by Paul Pierce who had 41 points and led the Celtics to the win. LeBron left the court in a huff, without any handshakes, etc. It was talked about a lot in Boston after that game.

Poor sportsmanship is a pattern for LeBron. Here is a recent description on ESPN of last year's incident:

"Head down, eyes trained on his Nikes, James stormed off the court in Boston last year. No congratulatory handshakes or good-luck hugs. No words."
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nba&id=4125600

By contrast, after the Lakers were eliminated by Boston in a 39-point blowout, Kobe Bryant did all the right things. Kobe was a MAN -- LeBron was a BOY (and I am NOT a Kobe fan). Does LeBron really think that his competitiveness is greater than Kobe's?

People might be willing to forgive LeBron for the first occurrence, but when he does it two years in a row, it gives a true indication of his lack of character. He is like a selfish little kid who leaves the playground and takes the ball with him so that no one else can play.

He disrespected the Celtics, he disrespected the Magic, and he disrespected the fans. He also disrespects his own teammates when he refers to them as "supporting cast" and "complementary players". How does he expect to ever get any decent players around him when he has such a demeaning view of teammates? Can you imagine how a guy like Carmello Anthony or Paul Pierce would feel if they were called a "supporting cast"? I'll bet that there aren't ANY superstars in the NBA who would want to play on this guy's team.

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The fact is its not unusual for pro basketball players to "walk" off the court without shaking hands. Because they all talk after the game afterwards. Sure, it would be nice to shake hands in front of a national audience to promote sportsmanship. But many of us are realists. And we realize that although Lebron walked off the court, players in the other lockerroom probably more than understood the reason why. And no doubt have gotten a congratulatory call after the game. The Magic need just worry about Kobe and the Lakers now. This is just stuff to blog about, and nothing else.

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"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."

Not only is he a poor sport he is also a looser. Hate to break it to you lebron but you aren't a winner. High school championships don't count. Ask Shaq.

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He is no Michael Jordan! Of course everyone rates Lebron so high because he plays the game well but when it comes to sportsmanship, he lacks that!

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It's childish, but who cares? He takes losing seriously, and he's honest about it. The fact that he didn't pay lip service to his opponents and didn't bother with public relations tells me that he still feels the loss like an over-competitive child. He takes the game too seriously and too personally, and sorry, that's exactly what I want from my super duper stars.

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Imagine if Kobe refused to congratulate the other team every year after being eliminated in the playoff. The hatred and nasty comments would never end..

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I kinda liked him. But after this episode, I look at him as the Terrel Owens of the NBA. Selfish!

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I'm not the one insulting strangers on basketball blogs so my class is intact.

I myself always shake hands with my opponents, but it's silly to hold him to my standards. I'm not the best player in the world, competing at the highest levels of a sport for a living, with all the expectations of a generation of basketball fans resting on my shoulders.

I said it was childish, but I also would rather have the guy who wears his hatred for losing on his sleeve rather than a media machine.

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Even in the gym or street ball you give some kind of grats, win or lose. Of course it feels much better saying and doing as the winner. Bad example lebron gave to the younger kids. He's not king he's a servant lebron

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Riiiiight, your going to compare a guy who wearing his emotions on his sleeve, doesn't shake anybodys hand with a damn child molesting rapist who only got off because he paid people off,,,,,,gimmmmmme a break! ! !

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Holy sh*t leave the guy alone I would have done the same thing leave and not shake any hands I mean he is a competitor you can see that when he plays and I applaude him for that just leave him alone though. He single handilied took on the magic himself with really no supporting cast I hope next year they get him a dwayne wade or a mcgrady or shaq he gets another superstar will take pressure off of him and then they will be absolutly onstoppable. I say next year will be there year as long as they get him at least one more allstar

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I'm a big Lebron fan. I gotta say, he did disappoint me on Saturday after the game. Reminds me of the 1991 Pistons who had no character. Not cool LB, not cool at all. It's just a game bro! Show some class.

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I WAS DISGUSTED BY LEBRONS ACTIONS SIMPLY BECAUSE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF KIDS WHO LOOK UP TO HIM, AND THIS IS A GOOD ROLE MODEL? I DONT THINK SO. KOBY AT LEAST SHOWS GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP IN DEFEAT.

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