[CHRON] Solomon? making sense?

lock if posted

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/7098455.html


No outrage. No disgust. Some pitying of the fools. (And there is no shortage of fools in this.)

In 2010, it takes a lot more than an athlete screaming "Look at me!" to get my dander up.

This is a new age. Enjoy the new technology; ignore the new stupidity as best you can.

Or laugh at it.

How is everyone not amused at the possibilities of the final dramatic act of LeBronapalooza? This could be pure comedy.

Early on in The Decision tonight on ESPN — an hour-long celebration of the greatness of LeBron James — James should have representatives of the six teams that are candidates to sign him come on stage. With ominous music playing in the background, he should give roses to the three finalists.

As the youngsters say, that would produce a lot of "LOL."

Maybe he could sternly tell the Los Angeles Clippers, "You are the weakest link," before sending them on their unmerry way. And don a funky wig before turning to the New York Knicks and saying, "You're fired."

Go for it, King
Whatever the 25-year-old does to entertain himself in his hour of "worship me" time won't bother me at all. The sillier the better, since duty requires I watch this garbage.

Yet criticizing LeBron for convincing so many millions to be enamored with his every meaningless move would be like disparaging Will Farrell because he has convinced millions to pay millions to watch his alleged-to-be-funny comedies.

James and Farrell are geniuses. Not necessarily a basketball genius (yet) or a comedic genius (never), but geniuses just the same.

We live in a world in which for sport we throw daggers at those who get rich doing things we either wouldn't do or wish we had thought of first. So we disparage the attention seekers who compete with others on national television for somebody's hand in marriage. We chastise the money-loving geniuses who put these brain-cell-killing shows on the air. And we make fun of those who watch that mess, turning the attention seekers into "stars" and TV execs into wealthy people.

Why take this stuff so seriously?

ESPN knows its business
Is ESPN LeBrain dead for airing a show that will get higher ratings than the World Cup recap program it was planning to air at that time? Sounds like smart business. Are those who can't wait to watch tonight's ridiculousness LeBronapalosers? To each his own.

As for James, he's not saying, "Look at me," so much as, "Since you're going to look at me, I am going to take advantage of you." He has figured out a way to get an hour of love on national TV and raise $200,000-$300,000 for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America while doing it. We're supposed to find fault with that?

You know Brett Favre is burning that his people didn't come up with this idea. He is probably sitting in Mississippi pondering how a pay-per-view announcement of his NFL return would go over.

Book it. One day, there will be a Brett Favre retirement special.

If all publicity is good publicity, James is working this shrewdly. He hasn't said a word to the media in weeks. Yet every day he has been the lead news story, as if he is a head of state.

"Hear ye, hear ye, now it is time for King James' grand announcement."

James has flipped the script. He is attempting to make more money off his name and game than any athlete before him.

Do we expect our athletes to carry "Will dunk for food" signs and not try to turn their celebrity into fortune? Please. On some level, almost every great athlete in history has done it. Only now they use more sophisticated tactics.

With so many avenues for people to put their private business in the streets — YouTube, Twitter, Facebook — celebrity is relative these days anyway.

James joined the Twitter community a couple days ago and already has around 275,00 followers, including thousands taking shots at him for being on Twitter. As possibly the most popular athlete in the country, he has far more actual followers than that. We might see how many tonight. The ratings will measure just how silly we are.

Give 'em what they want
In many ways, it is our fault we allowed TV executives to create a generation of reality-show numbskulls. They don't want their 15 minutes of fame anymore; they want a full hour. And darn it, TV networks are giving it to them. No talent required.

In high school, James had a documentary film crew following his basketball team's every move. He signed more than $100 million worth of endorsement deals before he was drafted No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Heck, before he even graduated. This is the world James knows. (And he happens to be very talented.)

Yet people are surprised and upset that he likes being fawned over? Bothered that ESPN will fawn over him? Here is an idea: Don't watch.

I dislike self-centered athletes who go out of their way for attention. I abhor reality television. But I'll be watching a very smart, self-centered athlete go out of his way to accept attention on a version of reality television tonight. It's my job.

So is it too much to want James to come out dressed like Tarzan and vote the Miami Heat off the island?


first time for me, but I agree with everything Solomon said.. if you dont know by now, I really dont like Lebron, his antics are a disrespect to the game and he'll never be able to carry MJ's or Kobes (hurts to say, but true) jock strap.. Im not watching this garbage tonite Ill just catch the waves on here and discuss

 

hes in his own league and I think he literally wants ppl to worship him, he may have a god complex and for wat? puttin up big stats and gettin bounced out the playoffs every year? hes a joke IMO.. he cant hold D Wades either

 

not me Ive never liked his on and off court antics.. takin pics, holding batting practice between timeout, dancing and raping on the sidelines.. Jordan didnt act this foolish, I get hes having fun but its classless and disrespectful to his opponents and the game

 

but this was actually a good piece.. otherwise I woulda overlooked his articles as usual

 

Im 25 yrs old man call me wise for my age since u wana go there.. ur just one of the "witnesses" and Im sure youll have ur popcorn with googly eyes watching with great amazement but its sad that this is wat America has come to a "reality show finale" gtfo here with that lame stuf

"thrill of victory..." ? THIS IS THE OFFSEASON, wat are u talking about ? lmao
I see espn has u brainwashed omg, w/e man to each his own, enjoy ur soap box man Ill be doing better things with my life