Why Everyone Hates Lebron: An Alternate Theory
Let's face it:
Most of us can't stand LeBron James and want the Miami Heat to lose.
People have posited many theories as to why these negative feelings exist. Some say it's racism.
Considering the racial makeup of the NBA, it's a little silly to accuse an NBA fan of racism.
I think it's something far less insidious.
Most people like to pull for the underdog. It's been the American story since we kicked the British off this continent (after our germs killed everyone else).
LeBron James is never going to be the underdog. He is bigger and more talented at the sport of basketball than pretty much everyone else on the planet. This wasn't as big a deal when he played for Cleveland. No team from Cleveland is ever not going to be the underdog. I actually pulled for LeBron as a Cavalier.
Now that James is playing on a consistently winning team with other superstars, there is nothing to negate his advantage. He is again the most distant thing from an underdog. For most of us, that makes him impossible to root for.
If you see a big guy boxing a little guy, you are most likely going to pull for the little guy, unless the big guy is your brother (maybe that's why I was cheering for the Heat six years ago when they had Louisiana's favorite transplanted son, Shaq, along with Dwayne Wade).
OKC is a brand new team full of brand new superstars. They've never been to the Finals before, and I have to root for them. In theory, James and his crew should crush the Thunder, but I'll be pulling against the Heat every second of every game.
It is my duty as an American.
Comments
Then again, I detest the NBA in general so this is all probably moot :-)
I agree that "The Decision" and the very fact that we can just say "The Decision" and know what the other person means was and is very annoying. On the other hand, the event did end up raising six million for charity. But then on an inexplicable third hand, anything even remotely resembling the New York Yankees is an abomination that should be burned to the ground with fire. The NBA teams from our regions don't have the draw, clout, or money that a Miami or an L.A. team does, and it's not really fair for those teams to stack the box.
Also, I feel that way about the Saints right now, too. All the bounty crap, plus almost bungling Brees' contract. They definitely lost me in the mid-90's when they could beat a perfect team of robots one week, then lose to a Yemeni JV squad the next week. That Super Bowl didn't mean to me what it meant for a lot of people (I much prefer LSU to win), though I do enjoy it when they win. That victory over the Vikings was pretty great, even though it's been tainted in the last few months.