Lebron is a polarizing figure. Whether it be his on court performance or his affliction with talking in the third person there is no choice but to hate him or love him. You may respect his play, but few can truly defend a respect for the man or his recent decisions regarding locale.
On Friday night Lebron was involved in yet another "event" but this time it was not with the media, but as always in it's ever watching eye. Lebron lashed out with seconds remaining in the first quarter during a dead ball at a fan for comments allegedly made regarding Lebron's mother within earshot of his sons sitting near the Heat bench. Some may think he should be above the pointed words of a common fan but to me this represents a true example of his imperfection.
Imperfection is what gives us the opportunity to love a player. We need to recognize a quality within them that we see within ourselves and that is what this has granted us. Until we see that there is a chink in the armor we can only stand in awe but at the moment we realize there is a human being within the shells of our professional athletes they give us the opportunity to either love them or hate them.
Lebron unfortunately remained unscathed by common preconceptions until he truly exposed his own narcissism amidst "The Decision" and since there has been little but stellar performances to garner our attention. This instance however gives us a second view into the inner working of the man. We finally see an action done out of spontaneous emotion. Not a coordinated and choreographed performance engineered in a studio or the commercialized presence that he has become. We saw for a brief second a flash of human nature.
Few things are sacred in the war that is sports. If the players aren't talking trash rest assured the fans are. In this instance Lebron showed some devotion to a moral or social standard. You don't talk about a man's mother. Expletives aside the message was clear and concise, respect. Whether you believe Lebron made the right decision or not making a public spectacle of his departure from Cleveland, this is the first time we've seen a candid reaction.
In the heat of the moment he did what any of us would do in a similar circumstance and stood up for one he holds dear. Family superceeds everything. As any man can attest no one insults a wife, sister, mother, or girlfriend and gets away with it. This is something you don't let slide and neither did Lebron. He is far from deserving any celebrations in his honor but he finally may have demonstrated that he has limits and that is one step in the right direction.
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