While We’re Waiting – backup QBs, players to watch, and humor
July 11, 2009Josh Cribbs not planning to play under current contract
July 11, 2009I live in Washington DC, which can be viewed as the East-Coast epicenter of LeBron hate. A lot of people will take any shot they can at the guy – crab dribble this, LeBaby that. However, in the past few months, there’s been a noticeable shift in the publicity that LeBron has been getting. Maybe it’s due to his maturing as a player and being six years into the league. Maybe it’s due in part because he’s no longer the phenom but is the reigning league MVP. Whatever the cause, it’s happened. This is my attempt to wrap my head around it. I’ll be checking in tomorrow with an outside opinion on the LBJ publicity.
As much as some Cleveland fans love to think that LeBron is infallible, as of late I’ve been thinking about things and have come to the following conclusion: LeBron is the new Kobe. Before you jump on me and call me nuts or a traitor or whatever, hear me out (and no, this isn’t meant to be a discussion of rape allegations, so let’s be adults and not place our focus there). This is my opinion, and I’ve thought about it for a while. Many of you probably won’t agree, but hey – that’s what debate is for. I’m not saying this is a good thing, or a bad thing – it’s a thing, and that’s that. LeBron and Kobe are the two best players in the Association right now. Kobe is a love/hate kind of guy. It seems that every passing week, LeBron is becoming more and more a love/hate kind of guy (and I think it’s safe for us to acknowledge the fact that almost all of us are on the love side). But let’s take a look at it for what it is.
A few years ago, LeBron was the rising star – the SI-dubbed Chosen One (who so humbly had it tattooed across his back). He came into the league and we’ve been lucky enough to watch his rise, and it’s been nothing short of amazing. He has been hyped to no end, and has seemingly proven to live up to the hype. His life is under a microscope, and pretty much everything he does is news.
The news that surrounds LeBron at times is essentially no news. Many times people fire up month-old headlines or take quotes out of context just to try and fire up ratings (See: Worldwide Leader, The). But to say that LeBron isn’t doing his part to make headlines would be silly. He wears shirts with his own name on them. He allegedly says he’ll stay in Cleveland, but then his “people” will refute said claims. He leaves his options open for 2010 – but makes sure there’s a sound byte for everyone to know about it (and thank got he’s not Tweeting – I’d gag if Stan Verrett read me LBJ NYC tweets every morning).
So how does this relate to Kobe?
First off, Kobe is an exceptional player. He has a competitive fire that few possess. He commands the best from his teammates. He is a winner, and has proven he can do so without Shaq. He is calculated in his responses to the media, many times showing little emotion. He is surpassed only by Alex Rodriguez as the king of “No Comment”. These are all things that I think most people can agree to – you may not like him (and as a Cleveland fan, you probably don’t), but I think we all can admit these things are true.
Kobe, like LeBron, is very conscious of his image. Prior to the rape allegations, he was the NBA posterboy, the next Jordan. He was the Sprite guy. He was the face of the league. The allegations and trial had a huge impact on his image, that he’s still trying to recover from. Now, he gives the media only what he wants to give them. And why not? He’s been called out on it again and again. He has been ripped by many as a no-talent guy who only won because of Shaq.
In the past months, we’ve seen LeBron not shake hands and get torn up for it. We’ve seen him not apologize and explain that he’s a “winner” – and get torn up for it. We’ve seen him complain about refereeing, and get torn up for it. We’re seen him crab dribble – and get torn up for it. Most recently, we’ve (not) seen him get dunked on – and been torn up for it. We’ve seen him supposedly commit to Cleveland, only to supposedly deny that statement – only to get torn up for it. The scrutiny surrounding him is reaching a fever pitch. Everyone’s got an opinion, and wants to be heard about it. #freejordancrawford is all the rage with the Twitter these days. The bottom line is LeBron is becoming as divisive as Kobe.
To me, it’s become pretty clear that you either love LeBron or you’re sick of him. He’s either the new Basketball Jesus, or he’s a Nike/David Stern puppet. He’s the Savior of Cleveland, or the guy who will bolt as soon as he can. He’s the guy who is very close with his old friends and is rewarding them, or the guy who surrounds himself with people that tell him how great he is. He’s now become larger than life, and there are those that love him and will defend him to no end. There’s those that want to knock him down because of his success. I’m a big fan, but I’m not beyond acknowledging the fact that he does things that many won’t like.
It might be due to the fact that I’m not in Ohio, but to me the following is pretty clear:
LeBron is the New Kobe.
31 Comments
Yeah except without the four rings.
Anybody that has the kind of media scrutiny that Lbj & Kobe have are bound to be polarizing figures. Beyond that, How exactly are they so similar? Lebron is known as a model teamate, Kobe not so much. Lebron has never thrown a teammate under the bus to defer media attention from himself during legal troubles (Shaquille O’neal). Lebron has never openly quit on his teammates in a game 7 of a playoff series just to prove a point (2006 Vs. Suns). Also, as JM put it Lebron has no rings and Kobe has four.
As far as I can tell, other than the fact that they are both righ handed african american basketball players who are extremely famous and endorsed by Nike, they don’t have all that much in common at all.
they do live together!
If LeBron needs to be more of a donkey hole to bring us some championships, so be it.
I feel dirty even thinking of James and Kobe in the same sentence. They are night and day.
I think that thought is ridiculous. When Kobe was Lebron’s age he was complaining about his coach (one of the best ever) and forcing his All-Star teammate out of town due to selfish, unjustifiable reasons. All in between throwing punches on the court nd trash talking anyone in ear shot. Not to mention he didn’t make a shot without reminding the crowd he just made a shot with some sort of gesture.
So no, Lebron is not the new Kobe. He is strides above and beyond what Kobe was at his age.
Wow. Cleveland folks are so jaded. LeBron ain’t that different than Kobe. He just plays for YOUR team. Open your eyes. They are both self-obsessed exceptional players. If Kobe pulled some of the stunts Lebron does, you guys would trash him. LeBron does it, and it’s a “non-story.’ Kobe wears the rings shirt to his own championship parade, and catches flack for it on this very site. Then LeBron wears his Check my Stats shirt (and I did…it said 0!!! championships BTW) and everyone here finds it funny.
Don’t get me wrong, I love LBJ and I hope he brings a championship home to Cleveland. But open your eyes folks. Really.
It’s not like Kobe was the first guy to ever go through this… It’s part of being a SUPERSTAR. The bigger you are… the less you can do without being criticized.
LeBron need only listen to one person and thats himself. He’s a smart man and needs to realize no matter WHAT he does… there will always ALWAYS ALWAYSSSS be haters. Its part of being the best.
#6…You’re right. LeBron is strides above where Kobe was at his age.
Except of course, the whole “Championships” thing.
you bring up some good points, but when you look at their on-court character, the two couldn’t be further apart. watch a cavs game, especially from last season – lerbon’ll be the first to hype up any of his teammates after a big play. he is actively involved in everything his team does, and clearly enjoys sharing a laugh with his teammates. he takes the games seriously, but not to the point of alienating team mates. kobe, on the other hand, is a lot like jordan – intense to the point of seclusion. i doubt anybody on the floor dislikes him, but at the same time they have to feel intense pressure to perform at all times. they are without a doubt the two best players in the world, but that’s as far as i’d go with comparisons.
Hey, “Bambino,” it’s kinda silly to compare championships. They are very team- and luck-dependent achievements and I’m sure a young LeBron plus an in-his-prime Shaq would have the potential to win a few championships as well, not unlike Kobe Bryant.
It’s interesting that basketball fans always cite “championships” as some acceptable comparison of individuals. I don’t know that I ever see that when baseball fans compare two players.
First off, great comparison. I agree with you if viewed AT THIS POINT IN TIME. The big differences are that Kobe didn’t come into the league with the extreme hype LeBron had and also Kobe was not directly involved with the backlash that consequently fueled his haters and the opinions of others (and if you honestly believe he was guilty of the crime of rape- you either have not read all of the facts, are daft and and think someone of Kobe’s stature needs to forget his morals and commit such a horrendous act, or are just plain racist and assume that’s the nature of people of color).
Kobe had to work his way through a few lousy seasons to earn the respect of other players, the media, and fans. He did this by keeping his mouth shut and letting his work ethic and amazing plays (when finally called upon) speak for him. He only vocally expressed his opinions when Shaq was no longer easy to ignore, i.e. their first public feud when Kobe called Shaq fat and lazy after Shaq had blasted him on local radio. Sure, Kobe was vilified when he first entered the league due to his cocky demeanor. That turned many people off. To me yes, it is not a charateristic I admire- but at least he is putting up his true self, like it or not. (More on that later)
The things people rip about Kobe are kind of funny and at the very least fantastical. To think the NBA is like college and should be a comradely team sport is almost laughable. Yes, they should work together, just like you should in your employment with coworkers. Though the most important trait should be commitment and ability to get the job done. I would much rather have a capable coworker than a friend who makes me laugh while slacking. This was what was at the heart of the Kobe/Shaq feud. Those that think Kobe pushed management to get rid of Shaq are greatly misinformed. It is a fact that Jerry Buss was the one who wanted Shaq out due to his constant vocalizing of “pay me!” and contract negotiations, no matter what Kobe decided to do.
LeBron is an amazing player. He will without-a-doubt go down as one of the greatest to play the game. The only problem he faces is trying to toe the line of being a great teamate and all around guy, to being champoionship player. If you want to do it like Magic Johnson, you have got to have a personality like Magic Johnson. Don’t fake it. LeBron does not have the personality of Magic. He is an alpha male like Kobe. So when he says things like “I am the leader of this team” during a 2008 olympic run with the greatest players in the game, it seems very cocky. When he walks out on his teamates and refuses to shake hands with the winning team, it seems childish and immature. When he has video of a facial confiscated it seems contrived and fishy. All of these things he does under the guise of “team player” and “great guy.” He is “said” to make his teamates better. They all want to play hard for him. Well, how did that work out for him this last season in the playoffs. I’d say the guy who “encouraged” his teamates to play better was the one actually holding the trophy this year. Sure, you may not want to hang out with Kobe after the battle, but I gaurentee you he is the one you want next to you on the front lines when the battle is on.
LeBron will get there. Just let him do it without your pedestals and preconceived notions. Take it from a Laker fan who has watched Kobe all of these strange and wonderful years.
I have to correct my comment above with the fact that Kobe IS directly responsible for his image of “cocky.”
Thanks Jason – great insight from the other side.
I’m referring to this point in time, right now – not comparing them at the same respective points of their careers. Right now, LeBron seems to be fast approaching Kobe as the guy that people love to hate. It might be the fact that I’m in DC and hear more of it – but it surely seems to be the case.
Yeah Danny, I totally agree and was not in any way trying to argue with you. Just clarifying my opinion. I think you bring up a great point and one I have not heard from anyone. A point I am surprised I hadn’t thought of either. I have bookmarked your blog and look forward to reading your future posts. Sorry for the long comment, you just inspired me…
I am a Cavs fan – and think LeBron is an awesome player – and agree with the parallels between him and Kobe.
For the last couple of years, I’ve seen the chip on LBJ’s shoulder get bigger and bigger. I remember reports of some of his goons hassling a local resident shooting home video while LBJ was shooting a commercial in an Akron neighborhood.
My respect for LeBron has taken a MAJOR drop since he showed a lack of class just walking out after Orlando beat the Cavs to close out the Eastern Conference Finals – and has engaged in other “ego-rattling” episodes since then. I’ve started to call him “The Ego that ate Cleveland”. I hope someone knocks LeBron off his high horse…
Tell Kobe’s rape victim that it wasn’t rape when he sodomized her against her wishes. I love how Kobe gets the benefit of the doubt because he had the better lawyers. I’m sure OJ was innocent some people’s eyes, too.
When Lebron wins at least 3 championships, he can be mentioned in the same breath as Kobe. Until then, a better comparison is Vince Carter. Both were hyped because of their physical skills. Both are dumb players that will never win a championship (okay, maybe one if they’re lucky).
All this “controversy” is blown up by the media. I generally ignore such things from players on other teams, whether I like them (or their team) or not.
LeBron likes and cares about his team beyond winning. Kobe does not care about his team unless they’re helping him win.
Where LeBron is approaching Kobe is that every little potentially controversial detail is blown up across the media.
{as an aside, realize Kobe’s “incident” happened in 2004, deadspin launched in 2005. Maybe this LeBron stuff is only a product of the system, and Kobe would have been worse off in a different time period}
Kobe gets the benefit of the doubt because if you followed the case it was incredibly weak I mean it didn’t even go to trial. Even if she didn’t drop out the state still could’ve prosecuted him without her input because its the “State of Colorado vs Kobe Bryant” but don’t feel to bad for her she got paid which I guess is what she really wanted. Because I question anyone who rather take a payout than want her “rapist” in prison.
Man, do I get tired of hearing these two players compared to one another.
@ DC Bucks- you mean people like the jurors?
DCBucks- I guess a woman who sneaks pass security after midnight to get to a persons hotel room had no intentions of sleeping with a famous basketball player. Im sure she only wanted to talk to Kobe about how he could improve his 3 point shooting.
Not to mention the 2 different sources of unidentified semen found in her underwear during the physical examination.
Lebron is not the new kobe
kobe is still here, and will remain here for the next 10 years
during which he will win AT LEAST 3 rings with odom back
that’s like saying kobe is the new jordan, which he’s not, let him win 6 rings then i’ll start the comparisons until then there’s none same goes with james
let lebron win 4 rings, then i’ll compare him to kobe
it’s not that im a fan of the lakers, it’s just common knowledge
the lakers are young and have SO much gas left in the tank
while the cavs only have lebron and mo, shaq is going to get injured so he wont even play in the playoffs, so if lebron and mo couldn’t even win last year now imagine this year without ben wallace
the cavs are dead, it’ll be a miracle if they reach the conf. finals with orlando and boston back strong again
ORLANDO is a worse team now, Vince is not better than hedo AND courtney lee, this was a horrible trade
and as for BOSTON, all of them are old and washed up, rasheed wallace is simple just insurance
the way a team wins a championship is when the majority of your players are at the peak of their careers, which is why the lakers and spurs won so many championships back in the early 2000’s
it’s not biased, it’s common knowledge, the lakers are going to win a threepeat because none of top 3 teams in the east have gotten better
only the spurs with jefferson, but one guy isn’t going to make a difference
Lakers champions for 2010 AND 2011
The writer indicating he is from DC is all that has to be said. What a bunch of haters because they can’t beat LeBron. Get over it!!!
@ # 24 – right, or maybe you missed the point. I’m talking about scrutiny – not ability or legacy or anything like that.
Thanks for reading the article.
And # 25 – I said I live in DC. I didn’t say I’m from DC – there’s a (subtle?) pronounced difference between the two. If you take the time to read my bio, you’ll see that I’m from Ohio. I’m a Cleveland fan. I’m an OSU alum. I write for this site. All these things = I hate LBJ because I’m from DC. Try using your brainstuffs every once in a while.
I want to hear from someone impartial. Lebron is starting to get criticized like Kobe, and similarly it is mostly hearsay for both. They’re are both egomaniacs but that’s understandable given their status.
Wow great article. I usually dont read very many things on Lebron just because they almost never interest me with myself being neither a LeBron fan or hater. I always stay away from reading the comments after NBA related articles since the only people that are less intelligent than NBA GM’s are the very vocal minority of NBA fans that post on these articles. Though I see theres a few well articulated posts here on this subject. I really enjoyed youre overall thoughts on the attitude towards Lebron and Kobe. Im actually a Laker fan but am a little bit of a rarity since Im not a Kobe fan boy who thinks he is god or a Kobe hater. Hes a great player dont get me wrong I just dont pretend to think hes without flaws, though I feel some of them can be overblown by the media. I think that they both have their fair share of famous haters ex: Kobe has Bill Simmons (Who I’m a fan of) and LeBron has Skip Bayless (Who I’m not fond of to say the least) but I think Lebron has a lot more fans over at the evil 4 letter network. Maybe you Cav fans disagree but i dont think too many analysts like Stuart Scott, Michael Wilbon, Jay Harris and Mike Breen swoon over Kobe they way they do for James. The thing that bugs me about Cavs or James fans is the vehement denials of the chance of Lebron leaving town in 2010. If he was so set on staying he would come out and make it known no other great has held his fans over the coals with free agency the way he has and I dont buy that its about forcing the Cavs to get better, it actually hurts that cause. When Kobe demanded he be traded because of how horrible the Lakers were (They were REALLY bad too, Smush Parker, Kwame Brown and Vlad Radmonavich were all starters and 3 of our best 5) The fans let him know how we felt about it by booing him to start that season. It was brief (about only 1 quarter) but it let him know that we were hurt and we deserved better after supporting him through so much. I think Cav fans would be better served by supporting the team more and James a little less. Ferrys constant need to keep James happy has led to the horrible Varejao signing even if it is incentive laden. Take it from a fan who saw a team sign 2 fan favorites recently to keep from losing the energy, hustle and smart players that fill roles on championship teams (Vujacic and Walton) sometimes its best to let the overachievers go and along with Ariza those were my fav lakers but players like them and varejao and Mo Will benefit soo much from playing along greats like Bryant and James that they become overrated. Plus the Anderson money with the Shaq and Big Z money could be used to lure better free agents to Cleveland in 2010. Big Z’s cap space and the 6-8 mil for Varajao could get you Bosh. While I dont think James will leave Cleveland and I could understand it would be frustrating to hear every talking head say how its a sure thing all the time, your guys blind denials of the possibility is probably counter productive.I can say that the Lebron hater nicknames like LeChoke and the Queen have to be some of the least funny insults that I have ever heard. Though his actual nicknames are a little over the top as well, I just feel at 22 I’m too old to call another man the King or the Chosen One I also dont refer to Kobe Black Mamba though so maybe its just me. I can say though that if James wins one or more Championships then the hate will slow down a lot. I was surprised at how much more people like Kobe after this last finals win. It really reminds you that people really want to be on the winning bandwagon. Great thought provoking blog though I enjoyed it.
Alot of the criticism has to do with the fact many people have been waiting years to go after Lebron. And why? Because of the way he entered the league. The Shoe deal,the sports illustrated cover and attention. The thing is he didn’t fail coming out the gate so those people had to back off somewhat. The media tried in the past to knock him down a peg with silly things like OH Gawd,he got a speeding ticket and blah blah blah. Alot of it is just plain old resentment and envy. Because of his success and wealth he will always be damned if does or damned if he doesn’t.
One on one, first to ten. That should solve it!
i agree 100% GREAT FREAKIN ARTICLE
i dont care at all for LeBron but he can do 1 thing to kill all that talk.
WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!