Really?

As I've listened to the coverage following last night's Eastern Conference finals game, in which Orlando eliminated Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, I can't help but laugh.
Surprise, surprise... the media have turned on Lebron.
His team lost a series in which he averaged 38 points, and the 24-year-old was aggravated, or upset, or downright pissed.
Actually no one knows what he was feeling because the man left the arena without talking to the media.
What? He just talked to his team mates in the locker room and then got on the bus?
I can't imagine why a man who was probably frustrated at the lackluster performance of his teammates Less Williams and that kid from High School Musical, aka Anderson Verejao, would want to skip the press conference.
Sure it's supposedly the media's right to needle an already frustrated athlete with such questions as...
"So, Lebron, does it bother you that Kobe is going to get a shot at another title and you guys are going home?"
"Did your team mates let you down tonight?"
"Lebron, what are you going to need this offseason to win a title?"
"So are you ready to go to New York NOW?"
Wasn't leaving the arena a better choice, as a team mate and superstar, than what I would've wanted to say in that presser?
"Yeah, I'm pretty upset that I'm gonna have to wait a year for my first title, but I'm really not competing with Kobe until we get to the Finals at the same time. Of course my team mates let me down, don't you have a television? I need Cavs management to get their heads out of their backsides and get me something better than Mo Williams and a broke-down Ben Wallace. Seriously, Mo Williams is the best you can do? And I thought about it, even hanging out with Jay-Z isn't cool enough to make me wanna play for the Knicks. If I want to go to New York, I'll buy a plane."
Now THAT would've been unprofessional. In my mind, what he did could be percieved as personal damage prevention.
Rather than risking going T.O. in the press conference, Lebron just walked away.
So before you judge, think about how you would respond to these questions.
After you don't finish a sale,
"So does it bother you that all that commission just walked out the door and, wow, Jimmy's really landing a big one over there?"
After your favorite student gets suspended for getting in a fight,
"Did Johnny let you down today?"
After you work on a project for months and your group members let you down tremendously,
"Next time, which group members would you want again and which do you want out of the group?"
After an awful work week,
"So when are you gonna start applying with other companies?"
Now imagine that your answers are going to be published all across America, without the preceding questions, leaving only your angry and potentially hurtful commentary.
I've been in the other side of the business, and I'd go straight to the bus, too.

Ridiculous...

I was going to write this post about how the sports media has become tiresome with their coverage of the NBA's two brightest stars, Lebron and Kobe.
Everyone seemingly agrees that Lebron is more physically gifted than Kobe and that Kobe is a far better game closer than Lebron.
Conversely, it seems to be conventional wisdon that Kobe is a bit of a ball hog and that Lebron frequently passes up the clutch shot to include his team mates.
I had prepared a statement regarding the genius of Lebron's decision-making paradigm, and I was ready to say that his pass-first mentality would eventually pay off.
Yes, I was already on the James gang's bandwagon, but I didn't expect Lebron to answer for himself this soon.
A mere two days after the King was "too unselfish"....
I'm going to pause right here to highlight how ludicrous the notion that anyone could suggest a professional athlete is too unselfish actually is.
Let this simmer for a second.
"Yeah, the nerve of Lebron James. It's like he understands the meaning of the word 'team' or something. He actually trusts his team mates to take the final shot of the game. What a loser."
I rest my case.
Un-Pause.
A mere two days after the King was "too unselfish" to take an off-balance shot over passing to an open team mate, James addressed the only two counterpoints anyone has ever had against his otherwise flawless game.
His jump shot is shaky.
He would prefer to not take the final shot.
With exactly one second remaining on the clock, the GREATEST PLAYER IN THE GAME hit a three-point jumper without flinching and with no backboard or rim needed.
Check and check.
Many have speculated that these playoffs could be when Bron-Bron takes his place as the next Jordan, but Jordan and I would both disagree.
A direct quote from His Airness:
"Do it your own way, and see where it goes. It might not hit the way you want it to. You may not make as much money as you want to. But there's value in remaining true to yourself."
Lebron makes plenty of money, but the point remains clear.
Both Jordan and James are the best of their time.
Nobody who touched the court while Jordan was playing was as good as Jordan.
That includes Kobe, who can not lead a team of second-tier players to six rings.
Nobody who is on the court right now is as good as Lebron.
That includes Kobe, who isn't big enough or nice enough to win or lose the way Lebron does.
Basically, Lebron is ridiculous.