karen lotz;800539 wrote:He had already said that.

dwccrew;800537 wrote:Valid point, but it doesn't discredit my point that his reputation and popularity is not at an all-time low, it is actually very high because of the move. Like I said earlier, outside of Cleveland, people don't really care anymore that LBJ left the Cavs.

ricola;800534 wrote:Maybe something like: "I didn't play well. I let my team down and the fans down. I'll work my butt off this summer to get better and make up for it next year..." Words like those never popped into his consciouness...

Laley23;800549 wrote:I really question if you have paid any attention to the NBA. The whole damn country hates the Heat.

They had the ESPN Poll the other day asking who you wanted to win game 6. Only Florida picked the Heat. The other 49 states and the rest of the world picked Dallas. Most of the percentages I looked at had Dallas at over 65%.

like_that;800542 wrote:http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5575810
http://www.cnbc.com/id/39170785/LeBron_s_Q_Score_Takes_Huge_Hit
http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/sports/No-Love-LeBron-James-Drops-Among-Fave-US-Athletes-98861789.html


It's safe to say his popularity has gone down.

Also, I doubt many people outside of Cleveland cared he left, they just think he is a self centered douche bag. The way he went about leaving didn't help either.

karen lotz;800530 wrote:Did anyone wake up today to a drastically different life, or are you still living the same life as you were yesterday?

Automatik;800551 wrote:lol....it was at 75% when I saw it.

No doubt about it, LeBron's popularity has dropped. Regardless he and the NBA are still banking off his name/image.

Laley23;800543 wrote:There is no way anyone can say this was a good response. He might have just been answering the question, and what he said is largely true (though, not completely). But that doesnt make it correct. You have to know when to say the right things and not say something that is going to blow up in your face like this. LeBron has completely forgotten how to do this since last season ended it seems.

If Wade was asked why he thought they struggled in the 4th, I dont think we would have seen the response, "My teammate sitting next to me is a **** who didnt want to shoot the ball or take it to the hole. He kept passing so Chalmers had to make the plays, and he let the Jet run rampant on the offensive end. He was lazy and made the rest of the team lazy down the stretch." because it is just a stupid response, even though it may be largely true.

You pick the correct things to say to the media, and you have to always be politically correct and careful, otherwise **** hits the fan for you.

Laley23;800549 wrote:I really question if you have paid any attention to the NBA. The whole damn country hates the Heat.

They had the ESPN Poll the other day asking who you wanted to win game 6. Only Florida picked the Heat. The other 49 states and the rest of the world picked Dallas. Most of the percentages I looked at had Dallas at over 65%.

dwccrew;800552 wrote:Of course in the articles you posted his popularity went down, one article is from July 2010 and the other two are from Sept. 2010. It was a knee-jerk reaction to how he left Cleveland. But people in this country, especially sports fans, have short memories. And the fact that LBJ jersey sales were the highest this season proves to me that although right after the "decision" (which I agree with you was a DB move) his popularity was low, it bounced back after the season was underway.

dwccrew;800552 wrote:Of course in the articles you posted his popularity went down, one article is from July 2010 and the other two are from Sept. 2010. It was a knee-jerk reaction to how he left Cleveland. But people in this country, especially sports fans, have short memories. And the fact that LBJ jersey sales were the highest this season proves to me that although right after the "decision" (which I agree with you was a DB move) his popularity was low, it bounced back after the season was underway.

Laley23;800554 wrote:This isnt the point though. Of course he is correct, and our lifes dont change over sports, and his is still better. But it isnt hard to not be a penis. He hasnt learned though. Just say next question. Or I dont really get into what people think. Or something along those lines. It isnt really that tough to not put yourself in this type of situation to be raked over the coals all day on national radio/tv because you let your emotions come out yet again in a presser.

Laley23;800554 wrote:This isnt the point though. Of course he is correct, and our lifes dont change over sports, and his is still better. But it isnt hard to not be a penis. He hasnt learned though. Just say next question. Or I dont really get into what people think. Or something along those lines. It isnt really that tough to not put yourself in this type of situation to be raked over the coals all day on national radio/tv because you let your emotions come out yet again in a presser.

dwccrew;800558 wrote:Hating the Heat has what to do with LBJ? I hate the NY Yankees and Boston Red Sox organizations because they try to buy titles. I don't hate the players on the teams though, they are just looking for the best opportunity for themselves.

This is essentially what the Heat are doing, which is why I hate the HEat. Trying to buy a title, however, I don't blame the players on the Heat for trying to go to a place they think gives them the best chance to win a title.

Laley23;800561 wrote:Cowherd is weighing in on this right now, btw.

like_that;800560 wrote:lol, if you check the ESPN poll Laley is talking about, maybe you will change your mind. I already explained why the Jerseys don't matter. If you don't think his popularity has went down after that, then I don't know what to really tell you.

karen lotz;800564 wrote:He can't say "next question." He would get called a **** for dodging the question. He can't win no matter what he says, people will find a way to twist it. He basically said the sun will come up tomorrow and life will go on as it was going to. He could have said it a little better obviously, but its still getting blown out of proportion.

karen lotz;800564 wrote:He can't say "next question." He would get called a **** for dodging the question. He can't win no matter what he says, people will find a way to twist it. He basically said the sun will come up tomorrow and life will go on as it was going to. He could have said it a little better obviously, but its still getting blown out of proportion.

dwccrew;800572 wrote:As I have said repeatedly, I think his popularity has only gone down in Cleveland. Others fans don't care because other fans saw LBJ for what he was before he left Cleveland. Cleveland fans were blinded by their allegience. Now that he has left Cleveland, Cavs fans can see LBJ for what he really is, a lazy, albeit talented, b-ball player.

Polls don't mean **** to me because the people that are going to participate more in those polls are the bitter fans that hate a player over people who care or are impartial.

LBJ popularity may have taken a hit, but not nearly as impacted as some on this thread would like others to believe. His image still sells more than anyone else in the NBA.

There’s nothing real about James’ world, and never has been. He’s a prisoner of a life that his sycophants and enablers and our sporting culture has created for him. He’s rich and talented and something of a tortured soul. He’s the flawed superstar for these flawed times. He’s a creation of a basketball breeding ground full of such twisted priorities and warped principles. Almost every person who’s ever had to work closely with him, who has spent significant time, who’s watched him belittle and bully people, told me they were rooting hard against him. That’s sad, and that’s something he doesn’t understand and probably never will.

karen lotz;800530 wrote:Did anyone wake up today to a drastically different life, or are you still living the same life as you were yesterday?