I feel bad for the best two all-around players for the Washington Wizards — Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison.
And don't try to convince me they're not the two best Wizards. They are.
The best two talkers on the team, though, are DeShawn Stevenson and Brendan Haywood (Gilbert Arenas is the best blogger).
I wish those two would shut up, don't you?
First it was DeShawn Stevenson saying LeBron James is overrated.
Are you serious, DeShawn? Have you seen what this guy has done in his still extremely young career? Have you? By calling King James overrated, you obviously have not.
James retaliated, saying, "With DeShawn Stevenson it is kind of funny. It's almost like Jay-Z saying something bad about Soulja Boy. There's no comparison. Enough said."
- B/R Ticket Guide
Jay-Z is a vastly popular and accomplished rapper, just like LeBron James is to the NBA. To me, however, the DeShawn Stevenson-Soulja Boy analogy makes no sense.
Soulja Boy is a one-hit wonder. Stevenson isn't even that.
In his eight-year career, Stevenson has averaged just under nine points and two assists. Staggering numbers for the 23rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft.
Brendan Haywood, added to the name-calling and deemed James a "crybaby" after Game 4 of the series. Haywood was ejected because of a flagrant-two foul in Game 2 (seen in the article's photo).
Said Haywood, "He wears 23, he wants to be Michael Jordan, I can respect that, he's a great player. You saw what Mike went through. Mike got fouled way worse than this. No one is trying to hurt him, everybody is trying to play basketball, trying to play tough. Play basketball and leave it alone."
Wrong, Brendan.
You blatantly went after James and hurled him into the photographers who were sitting under the basket. You, Brendan, were tossed from the game.
LeBron led his team to victory with a near triple-double (one rebound short).
LeBron is a humble guy, so he's not going to show you he's hurting or he's mad.
He's going to beat you by shooting or dishing the ball. Not by dishing words.
This will be the third straight year that the Wizards get bounced in the first round by the Cavaliers.
What do you have to say to that, DeShawn? Brendan?
Revenge is a dish best served cold.
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7 months ago
Gary, as a Wizards fan, I agree that many of these players for the Wizards should just mind their own business and play the game. However, with regard to what Brendan Haywood said recently, whether you like him or not, he has a point. I concede that Lebron James is one of the greatest players active in the game today; however, the great ones of the past never complained about being manhandled on the court to the media. Michael Jordan was roughed up a lot by Isaiah Thomas and the Detroit Pistons back in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The Bulls v. Pistons rivalry was one of the fiercest in NBA history. Michael Jordan was at times tackled while attempting dunks. In today's NBA, such fouls would warrant 10 game suspensions, but in MJ's day, those kind of plays were the norm of competitive basketball. If Lebron James wants the respect he deserves, he needs to quit the whining about being manhandled while on offense and suck it up the way MJ always did on and off the court.
7 months ago
The Cavs have done a better job than the Wizards in this series -- so if they win it in Game 5, they deserve it. BUT, Lebron is NOT humble, dude. And you should get the back-story before you starting singing his praises.... ;)
7 months ago
Jay-Z is a vastly popular and accomplished rapper, just like LeBron James is to the NBA? Lebron is popular in NBA but he hasnt accomplish anything yet....he doesnt have any rings and mvp awards...He should not compare his self to Jay-Z, maybe rapper The Game or Nelly is more appropriate....
7 months ago
Im seeing a little bit of sour grapes from Stevenson on Lebron. If it wasnt for Lebron, who has (just like the other 23) helped bring back the cultural and global appeal of basketball, the NBA wouldnt be nearly as popular as it is today. Now think about it: Out of anyone you have ever heard talk about going to watch an NBA game, is it usually A) I cant wait to go watch Deshawn Stevenson! or B) Im getting psyched just thinking about watching LBJ! But talk is just that: Talk. It's playoff time, so Haywood and Stevenson gotta prove their opinions that Lebron is an overrated crybay by getting past the Cavs
7 months ago
Ryan, I disagree that Lebron has brought back the global appeal of the NBA. I would say the international players have done a much better job of that in the last 5 years. Culturally speaking -- he is definitely "hip"... and that is very marketable for the NBA. Y'know, maybe I'm just not getting it about LJ -- but I don't get excited to see LJ on the court. I do get that way when its Kobe and even then it couldn't compare to when MJ use to play...
7 months ago
John, in the last 5 years, I'd say the most fun guys to watch are players like Kobe, LeBron, Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony. Where do the international players fit there? Do you like watching Dirk over LeBron or Chris Paul? Is that what you mean?
7 months ago
Spoken like a true American! C'mon now... From an American perspective -- I'd say the same (but really I'm fickle to guard play -- so I'm limiting it to AI, Kobe, Gilbert and most recently Paul. Deron Williams?? I mean he's really good and I won my fantasy league because of him -- but there is a difference between deadly effectiveness and fun to watch -- he's the former)
Anyhoo, you'll find the general consensus on the international scene (aside from Michael Jordan) is that there is no consensus. Depending on who you talk to -- its based on nationality and success of a player from that country -- not entertainment factor. Chinese like/LOVE Yao and Yi. Spainish people think Gasol is da bomb. Turkish folx wanna talk about Turkoglu and Mehmet. Argentinians want to talk about Ginobili or Nocioni, Italians are all about Bargani....etc...etc. Did it ever occur to you that people from other countries watch the NBA for different reasons? This is what I am saying.
7 months ago
OK, glad that's cleared up. I guess my point is Americans love to watch the American players dominate, just like the Italians love Bargnani and Argentinians love Ginobili.
7 months ago
Another Wizards fan here saying that I, too, wish the Wizards would stop talking so much junk. I thought they had a much better chance of winning the series before the mouths started flapping. LeBron says he motivates himself, but surely you can still find some extra when someone is talking junk about you. Most of what they said didn't need to be said, and has probably done them a disservice, but I can understand DeShawn's need to talk, since he was just talking back on stuff LeBron started. Maybe this part of the story is only talked about around DC, but for anyone who hasn't heard or doesn't believe me, I can send a few links. Oh, and I totally disagree about LeBron being humble. Could just be the Wizards homer in me.
Anyway, I really wanted to weigh in on the point about LeBron bringing back the cultural and global appeal of basketball. Globally, the game has grown in popularity, for sure, but it's growth overseas is far more due to guys like Dirk, Yao, and Manu, if you ask me. Yes, I'd much rather watch LeBron play than any of them- even though I don't like him- but that doesn't mean he's the one bringing the NBA to the attention of Asians, Europeans, Africans, and South Americans. LeBron has restored some interest here in the States, but the NBA is still not the force it was in Jordan's heyday: TNT's NBA games this season had less viewership on average than SpikeTV's UFC matches, and the playoffs get less viewership than the NFL Draft (which is a real shame, considering how painfully drawn-out the NFL Draft is). And, while I haven't seen any stats on it, I'd be willing to bet that the MLB and especially the NFL are still more popular in the US.
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