Lebron "Race was a factor"

[knix20]

Miami Heat's LeBron James won't back down from race comment

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/09/30/1850540/miami-heats-lebron-james-wont.html#ixzz112cGFecL
BY MICHAEL WALLACE

MWALLACE@MIAMIHERALD.COM

HURLBURT FIELD -- Miami Heat forward LeBron James didn't back away Thursday from comments he made during a CNN interview about race playing a factor in the backlash from his decision to leave Cleveland and sign with the Miami Heat.
Speaking after Thursday's practice, James said too much was being made of his comments to CNN during an interview that was conducted Monday but aired Wednesday night.

James and longtime business manager Maverick Carter both said they believed race played a role in some of the apparent dislike for James in the aftermath of his move in free agency to the Heat.

``I'm not going to go back on my words,'' James said Thursday. ``People are looking too far into it. I said what I had to say and I'll continue to move on.''

In the interview conducted with CNN on Monday during the Heat's media day, James and Carter were asked if they thought race played a role in the backlash to the hour-long special James did in July on ESPN to announce he was leaving Cleveland.

James was later voted among one of the world's most disliked sports figures based on a poll by the Q Scores Company last month.
``I think so at times,'' James told CNN. ``It's always, you know, a race factor.''

Among some of the most vocal critics of James, however, have been African-American sports icons, including Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan.

James has repeatedly said he was no longer talking about his controversial summer and wanted to move forward. Asked about James' comments after Thursday's practice, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said he couldn't imagine how James felt.

``I don't walk in LeBron's shoes,'' Spoelstra said. ``From our standpoint, we've moved on from the summer.''


Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/09/30/1850540/miami-heats-lebron-james-wont.html#ixzz112cB20aT

[Minister8-Ball]

I think anyone would be naive to say that race wasn't a factor in the level of venomous criticism that came at LeBron. The funny thing is that no one criticized Pat Riley, since he is the GM.

I think the uproar was the same as when Jim Brown, Curt Flood and other black athletes began calling their own shots and refused to be treated like hoes.