LeBron Hater Scott Raab Is No Fool

I was certainly on the other side of last year's grand LeBron debate. I wasn't so offended by the Decision, I didn't like how hating James became part of the national zeitgeist. I even argued with Scott Raab over this in public. 

And now I see Raab, explaining himself to ESPN's Henry Abbott in an engaging series of interviews. This I like. What I don't like is how many writer friends and colleagues are responding to the interview series by declaring Raab an "idiot." 

Nope, not even close. You can hate his opinion on the matter, find it hyperbolic, insensitive, immature. But you cannot excerpt an opinion and declare the opinion-maker useless, at least in this case. Raab is brilliant, and that much comes across in his work at Esquire. It also comes across in his LeBron-steeped memoir, if you cut through the social media noise and actually read the book. 

Perhaps Scott Raab opened himself up to such dismissive hyperbole by calling LeBron James the "Whore of Akron." The author was not being fair to the athlete—by his own admission—and turnabout might be fair play per his rep. But I hate the inclination to dismiss the work on others without much consideration.

So, I'd encourage readers to check out Raab's book. If you don't feel comfortable funding Raab, steal the tome if you have to. You have my consent (you don't actually have my consent).