LeBron James' GQ Interview Proves He Needs To Shut Up Now
LeBron James has been a walking public relations disaster ever since he announced his decision "to take his talents to South Beach" during his now infamous ESPN special "The Decision."
James has continued that trend with an unsightly interview in GQ Magazine. The interview further paints a picture of a superstar gone awry in the public eye and one who simply cannot keep his foot out of his mouth.
So what was so damning about James' newest interview and what does the interview tell us about where his focuses currently sit as he attempts to restore a dinged image?
Play For Cleveland Again?
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James said at one point during his GQ interview that he'd consider playing for the Cavaliers again in the future.
"If there was an opportunity for me to return," (LeBron) says, "and those fans welcome me back, that'd be a great story."
James HAD the chance to stay in Cleveland to make his time there a great story. That was until he burned the team by joining the Heat. I'm sure that's exactly what Cavs want, for James to win multiple titles in Miami only to return to Cleveland a more broken down, older player in his mid-30s.
That's what Cavs fans want: an older James who will sport his Miami rings in Cleveland while icing his knees on the Cavs bench. Ideal!
What About The Jersey Burners?
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If you watched the post-"Decision" interview James gave with Michael Wilbon, you'll remember seeing the huge lump in James' throat form upon the sight of his jersey being burned in the streets of Cleveland. His response?
"Maybe the ones burning my jersey," he says, "were never LeBron fans anyway."
The people who bowed to your WITNESS poster that lorded over downtown Cleveland weren't Cavaliers fans? That's right. These folks spent their hard-earned money on jerseys, tickets and other memorabilia because they weren't your fans. It must be easy to have blinders.
Happniess Is a Warm Security Blanket?
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"They're happy to see me happy. That's what they can see in my face. They say, 'It's been awhile since we've seen you look like that,' " said LeBron in his interview.
So all those years spent being praised by throngs of millions of loyal Cavs fans who spent countless dollars on you and praised every one of your moves on and off the court provided James no outlet for happiness? That's simply bizarre.
Jumping ship to go to Miami where he is no longer the guy and his personal PR has taken a significant hit equates to happiness?
Hate For Cleveland?
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James played his entire career in Cleveland and became a legend in Northeast Ohio, but any love for Cleveland itself? No way says the Akron-born superstar.
"So we didn't actually like Cleveland. We hated Cleveland growing up. There's a lot of people in Cleveland we still hate to this day."
Et Tu, Dan Gilbert?
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LeBron saved plenty of venom for his former owner Dan Gilbert who famously torched James after "The Decision" with his own rant which condemned the player.
"I don't think he ever cared about LeBron. My mother always told me: 'You will see the light of people when they hit adversity. You'll get a good sense of their character.' Me and my family have seen the character of that man." He went on to say that Gilbert's post-Decision screed "made me feel more comfortable that I made the right decision."
First, James went third person on us. Ugh. Second, James would have never seen this side of Gilbert had he stayed in Cleveland. If James remained with the Cavs, he would have seen nothing but the standard kiss-ass behavior the Cavs front office had bestowed upon King James through his tenure in Cleveland.
LeBron's Spoils
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"I love our fans. Cleveland fans are awesome," he told GQ. "But I mean, even my family gets spoiled at times watching me doing things that I do, on and off the court.
Yes, James is omnipotent in his ability to spoil the lowly NBA fans who supported him all of these years. He acts as if NBA fans will go into some sort of withdrawal if they do not their fix of James.
Always 100 Percent?
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LeBron says he always gives 100 percent on the court and that he is his own biggest critic.
"People questioning how much I love the game," he said, "that's never been something I haven't cherished. Every night on the court I give my all, and if I'm not giving 100 percent, I criticize myself."
Anyone who watched his performance in the final two games against the Celtics this postseason would likely disagree. Then we saw a very casual, non-committal James who completely lacked the drive to get his team back in the series.
LeBron On Barkley
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Charles Barkley has been one of the most vocal critics of James' decision to leave Cleveland for the safer pastures of Miami.
"Charles was probably trying to be funny. It wasn't funny to me."
Talk about missing signals. Good grief.
