Lebron James: win big or fit in?
It’s playoff time here and the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks are in the heat of their series. Every day there is a new story about the once heralded second coming in the NBA: Lebron James.
Every move he has made in the last 12 months has been under scrutiny. Every movement on the pitch is analyzed. Every move he makes off the pitch is scrutinized….
And so it is with the media today.
Since he was the ‘King’ in Cleveland and made a life decision that he felt was the best decision for his family, he has become a polarizing personality. The fact is that if you follow the sport, you either love it or you hate it.
Very few are latent in the middle ground with a self-proclaimed ‘King James’ opinion. Now, there’s a lot to be said for the ‘Decision’ James made, but here’s a fact. It wasn’t about the fact that he made the ‘Decision’, but how he did it. Whoever he had as a public relations specialist should have prepared him a little more on what he was about to do and what he was about to follow.
It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it
I don’t blame James for the Decision. I blame James for not understanding what he was doing. He made the Decision in blind arrogance thinking it was ‘bigger’ than the media, bigger than the game…
Had he acted with a little humility and remembered, “Now it’s what you say, but how you say it,” he probably would have been the likeable star who raised a city from the ashes (in Cleveland).
And let’s also not forget that part of the reason he wanted to build the Decision the way he did was to donate over $1 million dollars to underprivileged kids… so that was a good reason. In fact, as far as I know, he didn’t take a dime and he had all the money to go take care of the kids. However, that is lost on everything… Why?
Lack of preparation and arrogance.
And now, as we watch the NBA Series, I see a scared kid who is trying to find himself as a person and as a player on his team. He sometimes looks lost, it looks like he’s going through the motions or a deer in the headlights.
It sounds to me like he’s trying to fit in almost like a kid on a playground insecure about himself trying to make friends and fit in. And instead of fitting together, things seem to be falling apart and falling apart.
He has been terrible at crucial moments and almost seems to be afraid of ‘not failing’ or making a mistake… It’s almost as if he has tried to fit into a ‘mold’ that someone ‘thought’ would be good for him… for playing the ‘villain’. Just for me, I don’t see it like him. It’s not his true style.
He was recently caught on camera taunting another player (Dirk Nowitzki) who was sick. He followed suit in that one as he followed the childish antics of Dwayne Wade taunting Dirk with a sneeze-cough routine to seemingly downplay the fact that Dirk played with a 102-degree fever and major sinus issues in the previous game and overpowered them when mattered more. .
It sounds like Lebron is trying to keep up with Dwayne Wade and look good in his eyes instead of doing what he does best: play winning basketball. He went from concentrating and mastering his craft to learning how to handle some of the distractions that have come his way, like the media.
In fact, from what I’ve seen of the playoffs, it seems like Lebron and Wade seem more interested in being media favorites than winning the series…
Now as you read this, you might think I’m hating Wade and Lebron James. Actually, I think they are 2 of the best players in the game. I have great respect for his game. I just don’t respect the way they think they’re bigger than the game, or bigger than you or me.
I don’t respect the arrogance they portray. They both seemed to have gotten ‘caught up’ in the media frenzy trying to ‘force’ the story instead of letting the story build around them…
And this diverts attention from what they do best… win games.
And this is what you can take away from this controversial article:
1. Be great at something (which can ideally repay you well)
2. Choose to do something you want to do (not that you think society, family or friends suggest it’s the best thing for you)
3. Focus on winning at what you do
4. Enjoy the moment
5. Learn from the mistakes you make, adapt and adapt
Lebron’s legacy is still young. He is 23 years old. And there you have it. He has a lot of growing up to do. I hope that as time goes on he will take a position to do what Lebron really wants instead of trying to be someone that he is not.
in villain? Really?
Seeing the script he (and his team) have put together is like a bad B movie.
And in the unraveling, he’s now doing damage control that seems more out of control with every camera shot, interview, and especially miss shot when it matters most.
the world is watching
The good thing for James is that he has time to find out who he really is. Instead of trying to be a media darling like Wade, he can write his own episodes his way. And so it is with you and me…
In life we all make our share of mistakes. I know I had nothing, I gained a lot, I lost it, both personally and professionally. Most great people have been through adversity.
Bad things happen to good people. We all make mistakes. It’s not if it’s going to happen. It’s what we do when they happen. Winners in life play to win. Winners take responsibility, adapt, move, grow and stay in the game.
We all have a chance to right the ship, even if it hits the rocks, crashes and is destroyed. Every day is an opportunity to start over and fresh… to right the ship.
Failure is NEVER failure unless we stop trying.
So I dare you to sit today…
write what do you really want in the next 90-120 days.
Write where you are right now in comparison.
Then write down what you ‘think’ you’ll need to get there: the resources, people, equipment, and more.
Success in life, like most sports, requires a plan, a team, and good coaches.
Come out today and play to win!
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