Posted on Friday 5 October 2007
LeBron James has never kept his fan loyalty to the Yankees a secret. In fact, LeBron announced to millions of people last weekend while hosting “Saturday Night Live” that he was going to be rooting for the Yankees, even if they drew the Indians in the first round of the playoffs.
Hey, everyone has a right to root for whichever team they want, even professional athletes. To each his own, right? But as a Cleveland sports fan myself, I’m not down with LeBron showing up for Game 1 at the Jake Thursday night wearing a Yankees cap, and then taunting the fans with the hat during the game. That just doesn’t sit right with me, and judging by this message board, it doesn’t sit right with a lot of Cleveland fans.
Cleveland is most definitely a football city, but LeBron is without question the face of Cleveland sports right now…at least until Brady Quinn takes the Browns to the Super Bowl. That doesn’t mean that LeBron has to root for every Cleveland sports franchise, but he crossed the line when he wore a Yankees hat to the game last night. That’d be like David Ortiz donning a Peyton Manning jersey during a Colts/Pats game in New England or, even worse, Tom Brady wearing a Yankees hat to a Sox/Yankees game at Fenway. You just don’t do it.
Yes, athletes are fans too, and they all rooted for other teams before they landed their current gigs. I get that. We all get that. But fans need to feel connected to their superstar players, to feel like they’re rooting for one of their own. LeBron showing off his Yankee pride at the Jake doesn’t have any effect on what he’s going to do on the basketball court this coming season, but it certainly has an effect on the fans’ relationship with him. That’s not to say that he’s going to get booed at The Q, but it creates that much more separation between the fans and the player.
Even worse, it leads to even more uncertainty about LeBron’s future in Cleveland. After all, if he’s not loyal to his hometown baseball team, then how loyal is he going to be to his hometown basketball team when his contract runs out, especially if a big market franchise has the cap room to give him a max deal?
Take note, LeBron: If you’re going to side with the enemy, do it in the comforts of your own home.
It comes down to LeBron not caring about the fans of Cleveland. He has to know (doesn’t he?) that it bothers his fans to no end that he’s rooting for the Yankees against the Indians in their own stadium. Is he trying to turn the collective stomach of the Cleveland faithful? Everyone hates watching a game when there’s an opposing fan nearby taunting you. It has to be a hundred times worse when that fan is a 22 year-old multi-millionaire and the star of your city’s basketball team.
LeBron once said that his biggest goal in life was to become a global icon. Well, he’s accomplished something - he’s a global jerk.
Maybe the Yankees should try to sign Lebron. Then they might have a shot.
Lebron can root for any team he wants. I’m not upset and think it’s kind of funny.
Like I said, I’ve got no problem with LeBron being a Yankee fan (though I do question his taste) — the problem comes when he disrespects Cleveland fans (many of whom fork over a ton of money to support HIM during the NBA season) by publicly showing his lack of support for the Tribe in the playoffs.
If Joe Schmoe holds a Yankees hat over his head at the Jake like that, he gets booed mercilessly. The fact that it was LeBron doing it shows a lack of understanding on his part.
Just ran across Bill Simmons’ new column on ESPN and saw this:
“Speaking of Cleveland, how ’bout LeBron wearing a Yankees cap to the Yanks-Tribe game last night? Why not just hold a news conference to say, “I’m signing with the Knicks in two years?” Has there ever been a bigger and more random slap in the face to an entire city of sports fans? Even if you’re a Yankees fan, don’t you have to hide this in a PLAYOFF GAME THAT’S IN CLEVELAND???? I’m still speechless. I’m without speech. We’re within three years of Knicks GM Anucha Browne Sanders introducing Bron-Bron to the New York media as Spike Lee sobs happily in the background.”
Well put, Bill, as usual.
Very disappointing.
Fortunately, the Indians are taking care of business at home.