Postgame actions of football and basketball players as opposed to baseball players

[Caveat Emperor]

If they accept congratulations after winning, they should shake hands after losing. Anything else smacks of elitism.

What's so wrong with being a poor sport? Basketball is LeBron's job. He failed in his goal of leading his team to a championship. The loss will probably directly impact LeBron's bottom line in lost additional endorsement deals and prestiege. That's the real-world equivalent of failing to close a deal or losing a huge sale to a competitor. We don't expect Boeing to call Airbus and congratulate them on scoring a government contract when that loss will cost Boeing billions.

Even if you limit the conversation to individuals, the argument falls flat. I highly doubt that Christian Bale called Ben Stiller to congratulate him on "Night at the Museum" beating "Terminator 4" at the box office. Why should we hold LeBron to a different standard?

[westofyou]

Even if you limit the conversation to individuals, the argument falls flat. I highly doubt that Christian Bale called Ben Stiller to congratulate him on "Night at the Museum" beating "Terminator 4" at the box office. Why should we hold LeBron to a different standard?

If they stood on a stage and did a dueling acting competition then the description might be apt, otherwise it misses the mark and that is that it's an event played out on a sporting field, not the till of the movie theater.

[Hoosier Red]

Did Lebron usually stick around to shake hands after winning a series? It's easy to be a good sport after a win. I have a little bit of a problem with him not congratulating the Magic, but it doesn't make him a bad guy. He just let his emotions get the best of him and made a mistake.

This is the important point. If you're a good enough sport to congratulate the other team on their "noble effort" than you should congratulate the opposing team when they are able to beat you.

I think the point Rome made was correct too, it's not like anyone could possibly look down on LeBron for shaking hands with the other team. He just created bad PR which is odd from a guy who seems to understand good PR better than just about anyone.

[improbus]

Sorry, this is the biggest non-story of the year. Is ANYONE going to remember this next year? This was basically an alley-oop to Skip Bayliss.

[Hoosier Red]

I'll agree that its basically a non-story. What I will say is the non Skip Bayless/Mike Lupica talking heads have all been fairly level headed in the debate. Generally its along the lines of "Well it was stupid of him not to do it, and he did himself no favors in the press conference, but he's still a good guy who just did something stupid."

[improbus]

I'll agree that its basically a non-story. What I will say is the non Skip Bayless/Mike Lupica talking heads have all been fairly level headed in the debate. Generally its along the lines of "Well it was stupid of him not to do it, and he did himself no favors in the press conference, but he's still a good guy who just did something stupid."

The only reason that it was stupid was because it would get the media guys panties in a bunch. Anytime a player skips a media engagement, they suddenly become "outlaws" because the media guys know that their "magical and unique" sources are quickly disappearing.

[IslandRed]

Basketball is LeBron's job. He failed in his goal of leading his team to a championship. The loss will probably directly impact LeBron's bottom line in lost additional endorsement deals and prestige.

Lebron James, The Brand, is based on being likable just as much as it is being a great hoops player. Acting like a jerk and becoming less likable could also result in lost endorsement deals and prestige. Not that I think this single incident rises to that level, but it's a direction he should not pursue further.

[paintmered]

Lebron James, The Brand, is based on being likable just as much as it is being a great hoops player. Acting like a jerk and becoming less likable could also result in lost endorsement deals and prestige. Not that I think this single incident rises to that level, but it's a direction he should not pursue further.

I'd argue that Lebron James, The Brand has been successful because he's one of the only elite athletes anointed at the age of 13 and hasn't screwed it up on or off the court. The only other I can think of is Tiger and maybe Lance Armstrong.

Otherwise, he's just another Kobe or A-Rod. Great players, but they aren't beloved. All it takes is one poor decision to cross that line and there's no going back.

[Roy Tucker]

I agree its a non-story. After an NBA game, any cross-team congratulations is pretty haphazard. Lebron was mad. He knows the Cavs blew it. I don't blame him.

I like the teams all lining up and shaking hands. In every sport of every high school game I've seen in the last 10 years, they do this. Every game, every time.

I like the NHL Stanley Cup shaking hands thing. Most of it seems sportsmanlike. Every so often, you'll get a guy who has a pretty dang serious case of the goo against an opposing player and won't shake hands, but that's by far the exception. Its usually something like he killed the guy's mother or something.