As most of you probably know, during an after hours pick up game at Lebron James’ Skills Academy Monday Night, Xavier University’s Jordan Crawford put a monster dunk on Lebron James (according to people there it was nasty, and, its kind of fitting that a guy named Jordan dunked on Lebron).  Lebron James called over a Nike Representative after the game and they talked for a minute.  The Nike Rep then went straigt to two media people recording the pickup game and confiscated their tapes.

This is what Nike spokesperson Derek Kent said about the event:

“Nike has been operating basketball camps for the benefit of young athletes for decades and has long-standing policies as to what events are open and closed to media coverage. Unfortunately, for the first time in four years, two journalists did not respect our no videotaping policy at an after-hours pickup game following the LeBron James Skills Academy.”

First of all, after-hours means after-hours, the Lebron James Skills Academy was not going on, and that means Nike had no control over what was happening.  It was a pick-up game happening after the camp had ended for the day, Nike doesn’t have the right to tell a media person he can’t be there.

Secondly, this event would have been a nice highlight reel for one night on Sportscenter and then that would be the end of it.  Now, the fact that Lebron had Nike confiscate the tapes makes this a huge deal and everybody wants to see it.  I can’t believe Lebron did that, it puts a sour taste in my mouth about him.  If he wants to be this global icon, he has to be a man when he’s embarrased.  This is the second time he’s done something questionable.

First, he left his close friend Dwight Howard hanging after Orlando sent Cleveland packing in the playoffs, now he’s embarrased some college kid posterized him.  I don’t think he can be the NBA’s golden child if he can’t accept bumps in the road.

This brings me to the Jordan comparisons that have to stop.  Lets look at these two events where Lebron has used questionable judgment.  If Jordan loses a playoff series like to Boston and Larry Bird, you think MJ and the ‘Stache didn’t exchange a few words after the game, of course not, MJ had respect for teams that beat him, that’s what made him such a great competitor. 

Now, if Jordan got dunked on by some college kid at a camp he sponsored, first, Jordan probably would have returned the favor on the other end on the very next play, then, just to put some icing on top, he would have told the cameraman to keep recording after the game and MJ would play the guy 1 on 1 and torch him that way, just to make sure there was no question about who got dunked on.  He wouldn’t have created a media frenzy by having Nike confiscate those tapes so nobody could see it and leave everybody talking about it.

These character issues Lebron has exhibited have really shown a side of him I don’t like.  He has to learn to take embarrasement and defeat the same as he take winning if he wants to be a global icon.

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1. Tackling Controversy: Part III – NBA All Star Game