I've always had a problem with stupid people. Ignorance is acceptable, because it can be cured with knowledge. There is, though, no excuse for stupidity. The Cleveland Cavaliers fans who booed LeBron James last week, when he went 0-8 from the field in the second half of a game and 8-19 from the free throw line, demonstrated historic stupidity.
What is it with you boobirds, anyway? You go to a sporting event to watch your favorite team and your favorite players, and the second a player makes a mistake, you start booing. Have you ever even considered how stupid you sound when you boo? It's like someone with a speech impediment, attempting to impersonate a cow.
But I digress ... back to the numbskulls from Cleveland. Of course, these people have never been known for their intelligence, but let's take a careful examination of just how truly stupid they are. As previously stated, booing athletes in and of itself is a ridiculous act, but booing LeBron James because he misses a few shots in one game is tantamount to cursing a nude Halle Berry because she flubbed a line during a love scene. It just makes no sense.
Since these brainless fans obviously don't understand much of anything, let me make a couple of things very clear. Unless you are old enough that you saw Jim Brown play football in Cleveland, you have never seen the likes of a LeBron James this close. You've never had the good fortune to watch the greatest at what he does, night in and night out. You've never seen this many eye-popping, jaw-dropping, seemingly-impossible plays by one individual every time his team takes the floor.
Oh, and by he way, he's 21, and he is in his third year in the NBA. Booing LeBron is unconscionable (excuse the boobirds from Cleveland, who just went scrambling for their dictionaries). He makes more spectacular plays every time he puts on the wine and gold uniform than the rest of the Cavaliers have in the combined history of the franchise. Yet he misses a few free throws in one contest, and possibly the stupidest people on the planet earth start booing.
For his part, James can't believe it. He's far too mature, though, to ever complain about it, but he may not forget, especailly if it continues when other poor nights come, which they inevitably will. Then, when the time comes for him to sign a new contract, he may decide to take his uncanny talent to a city where the fans will apprreciate his greatness.
In the event that you boobirds forgot or just never paid enough attention to know, let me point out a few other reasons to sew your lips shut, the next time you think about booing LeBron.
First, in just three years, he's already the best player in the NBA, bar none. He's 31 points, nearly 7 rebounds, 7 assists per game, and shoots better than 48 percent from the field. Kobe Bryant doesn't do this, Allen Iverson doesn't do it, and neither does Tracy McGrady.
This year, LeBron is in the top 10 in virtually every offensive category — the only player in the NBA with this distinction. He can shoot the three, attack the basket against players both big and small, and he is the most unstoppable player since Michael Jordan.
If all of this isn't enough, consider that with career averages of 25 points and better than 6 rebounds and 6 assists, LeBron James is in a category with just one other player in the history of the NBA — Oscar Robertson.
Now, I know the Cleveland boobirds are a little slow, so let me just mention once again that King James is just 21. His legend promises to grow to heights that may transcend the sport, especially when you consider what a fine person he is in addition to his on-court prowess.
After his 8-of-19 free throw shooting night, LeBron and his Cavaliers had a difficult game at Detroit. After several more superhuman moves in the first quarter, LeBron was driving to the basket in a two-on-two fast break. Just as he passed the free throw line, he looked at his teammate, speeding alongside him on the left. James picked up the basketball in his right hand, put it behind his back, as if to make a spectacular around-the-back pass, then pulled it back and finger-rolled it up onto the rim.
The ball danced around the iron, tantalizing the crowd and millions in TV land, and then rimmed out. I gasped in amazement and tried to think of another player who could be special enough to make me sit breathless when he misses. Of course, I could think of none.
Then I wondered how many of the morons in Cleveland where watching their televisions, cursing LeBron for missing a lay-up.
Will the stupidity of Clevelanders never end?
Mark Barnes is a novelist, regular contributor to fantasy football site 4for4.com, and NFL football radio analyst. He appears weekly on ESPN radio in High Point, NC and on WBAL in Baltimore, MD, where he discusses pro football and fantasy sports. Mark's novel, "The League," is the first-ever published work of fiction with a plot based on the dangers of a multi-million-dollar fantasy football league. Learn more about "The League" and Mark's work at NFLStory.com.
February 28, 2006
Bob Magyar:
Well said, those darn boobirds. We wonder why in Cleveland we can’t win a championship…we force them out because of our stupidity. Hopefully the water treatment plant adds a filter or two to the treatment so the fans in this city start realizing we need the players like Lebron to go all the way. Oh yea, boobirds it would be wise to just stop reading and look at picture books.
March 1, 2006
Kiomara Lebron:
I don’t think Lebron should get booed at. it’s just wrong people!!! He’s trying his best. My point is, never again should the fans boo at James.
March 1, 2006
Eric B:
Right on the money! Although I understand the fans frustration with the Cavaliers, booing the greatest player anyone in our lifetime will ever see is ridiculous.
I will say this, LeBron needs to deal with it because that’s what fans do. Life as the king isn’t always roses and he would get the same treatment in NY and Chicago after a game like that.
Everybody loves this kid so it’s going to sting a little bit more when someone wants to hate.
March 1, 2006
Kiomara Lebron:
Well, LeBron does not need to deal with it because, if one fan boos at him then it takes a lot of damage to boo at a great basketball player like him. So don’t try to front!!!
March 1, 2006
Mark Barnes:
Well stated, Eric. Fans in those other places might be equally stupid. It would be hard to believe though.
March 1, 2006
Bob Magyar:
Even though Chicago and New York might boo the best player in the league, they have won championships within past 40 years. They could boo all they want because in ten years one of New York’s or Chicago’s professional teams will win another championship. One of those professional teams will probably be basketball because they have Lebron. Last time Cleveland won anything was the indoor soccer team Cleveland Crunch or Force, don’t really know because nobody cares about indoor soccer. Even though superstars get booed, in Cleveland the fans do not have that right.
March 1, 2006
Lloyd Price:
Worst commentary I have ever read. Sure booing all together is just stupid and booing James is even worse, but it wasn’t this big of a deal. First it was just a few boo birds, not a large group of people. Second it wasn’t directed just at LeBron but at the frustration with the way the team struggled.
Yes Lebron is spectactular however saying that he has more jaw-dropping plays then every Cavs player throughout history. combined is truly ignorant. World B. Free had quite a few spectacular plays. Shawn Kemp could jam with the best of them. Ron Harper wasn’t bad either. Not to mention Larry Nance, Carr, Daugherty, and others. Second, no NBA franchise has ever seen a player like LeBron except maybe the Bucks and Royals who had the pleasure of watching the greatest (soon to be second greatest) player of all time, The Big O.
By the way next time you call anyone stupid don’t misspell the word misses in the same sentence!!!
Proud to be from Cleveland, and part of the greatest fan base on earth!!!
March 1, 2006
Bob Magyar:
Great commentary Mark…and anyone that mentions Lebron James and any former Cavs name in the same sentence should stop watching sports completely. I am going to go watch some old Jim Brown and Lebron James clips just to rejuvenate myself after reading that last comment.
March 1, 2006
Amar:
Way to generalize and lump Cleveland fans into one. Seriously, way to go. Since there were a few fans who were dumb enough to boo the greatest thing to happen to Cleveland since the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame (maybe even greater than that…no, probably…no, definitely), the WHOLE CITY and ENTIRE FAN BASE is now stupid, right? I’ve got a newsflash for you, and since you said ignorance can be cured by knowledge, let me cure yours with a helpful serving. I was at that game. I didn’t boo, didn’t even cross my mind. There was a smattering of boos from a vast minority of fans, but it was slightly audible, and once it was realized just what they were booing, that little “smattering” was amplified to be a chorus. So now you “nimwits” who probably don’t know anything of the situation think that the sold out crowd of 20,562 was raining boos on LeBron, laud enough to shake Jacobs Field next door, and just short of chanting “just leave already” to the guy.
Just a few minutes before the said incident, a picture of Browns quarterback Charlie Frye and infamous tight end Kellen Winslow was flashed on the screen, since both were sitting courtside. Winslow has seriously tested the patience of Browns fans who wouldn’t care if his prima donna ass left, so the boos that came for him WERE legit AND loud. For some reason, a lot of the media want to cluster those boos with the “boos” for LeBron.
Now, since your ignorance has been fed with knowledge, let me know if you’re cured or not. Otherwise, you’re just as stupid as the “fans” you accuse of being such.
March 3, 2006
Shawndo:
LeBron is a world-class player who would be doing Cleveland a FAVOR if he stays in that small market after his contract is up. Therefore any single Cavs fan in Cleveland who boos him at all. ever. period. is not thinking ahead.
If LeBron leaves, Cleveland goes right back to square 1. Does not pass Go, and does not collect $200 :)
April 2, 2006
Hematosis Dan:
Professional players need to be criticized. It’s not good to spoil a Jordan-esque superstar like that. Look at Kobe Bryant.