Has an athlete ever been as unjustly criticized as LeBron?

[Aegon_Targaryen]

I mean, what else do you want from the guy? He's lived up to the hype, he's the best, there's no denying that in his time. He's played hard, led well since he started playing in the pros, he's been respectful, he's a decent actor, and most of all he's stayed clean and done it all the right way.

The only criticisms are mostly petty. Yes, he's been arrogant at times, but so what? He's a pro athlete, he's the best in the world, its hardly a surprise.

Honestly, Lebron is a credit to Americans everywhere.

 

[TexMichFan]

What criticisms is he getting?

 

[DavenportHawk8]

I think he is a great athlete who is good for basketball.The only thing I do not like about him is his demeanor toward the officials in games. He is very rude to them and if they lose, he always seems to find a excuse for the loss. He never fesses up and says I played bad. He always has to find an excuse.

He has toned down his attitude from earlier (younger years he was a bit arrogant). HE is more about the team now, as opposed to his earlier years when it was all about him. I think most people didn't like him when he was with the HEAT because he made this big ANNOUNCEMENT about where he was going. Made it into something that didn't need to happen.

He has improved and I am starting to root for him more and more. The earlier years were tough cause he was so damn arrogant.

 

[Aegon_Targaryen]

What criticisms is he getting?

He always gets criticized.

 

[Aegon_Targaryen]

I think he is a great athlete who is good for basketball.The only thing I do not like about him is his demeanor toward the officials in games. He is very rude to them and if they lose, he always seems to find a excuse for the loss. He never fesses up and says I played bad. He always has to find an excuse.

He has toned down his attitude from earlier (younger years he was a bit arrogant). HE is more about the team now, as opposed to his earlier years when it was all about him. I think most people didn't like him when he was with the HEAT because he made this big ANNOUNCEMENT about where he was going. Made it into something that didn't need to happen.

He has improved and I am starting to root for him more and more. The earlier years were tough cause he was so damn arrogant.

True, but it's part of the game. Peyton Manning is very similar in that regard.

 

[fivecardstud14]

People love to hate James. Generally, it's people who don't watch the NBA so they don't see how fun his game is to watch. So these people's opinions are pretty much worthless.

 

[Aegon_Targaryen]

People love to hate James. Generally, it's people who don't watch the NBA so they don't see how fun his game is to watch. So these people's opinions are pretty much worthless.

The games are amazing in person.

 

[dgordo]

Jake rudock

 

[Funky Bunch]

Jackie Robinson

 

[fredjr82]

People love to hate James. Generally, it's people who don't watch the NBA so they don't see how fun his game is to watch. So these people's opinions are pretty much worthless.

I remember some in my circle of friends hating Michael Jordan too. I think people, in general like rooting for an underdog. So when MJ played and won all the time people didn't like him. Its kind of like Tom Brady and the Patriots. They win ALL THE TIME and I think people get tired of that and like seeing them lose on occasion. Same thing for St. Louis Cardinals, Lebron James, Peyton Manning, etc. Once their career is over though people start to realize how great they were and those perceptions begin to shift because people realize they were probably witnessing greatness in real-time.

 

[at4iowa]

I hated LeBron after "The Decision" and all the hoopla about him going to Miami. I wanted to see him fail. After the finals against Dallas when he was absolutely pathetic in the 4th quarter, I got my wish. Now that he is back in Cleveland, I can root for him again.

I should clarify that I "hated" him in a purely sports kind of hate. The guy has proven to be a stand up dude and gives back to the community. He is an amazing athlete and basketball player. He brought the criticism on by being so over the top when he came to Miami and a ton of people wanted him to fail because of that.

 

[WhiteSoxClone]

Its funny, but based on what I see on Facebook, there are a lot of guys my age who grew up as huge Jordan fans and now hate Lebron out of loyalty to MJ. Apparently they take the "greatest ever" argument so far as to feeling the need to hate Lebron simply because people compare him to Jordan.

As others have pointed out, there is also a certain percentage of people who will hate what the majority likes simply to try to be unique. There are people like that on this board - ones who can only admit to liking the most obscure beer, or unheard of musician.