On Friday night, LeBron James and the Miami Heat handed the Detroit Pistons a 106-92 whooping at the Palace of Auburn Hills that was considerably more lopsided than the numbers show. Regardless, the big story coming from that game is the self-anointed King’s handling of a heckler who invoked the good name of Gloria James, LeBron’s mother.
Asked the Pistons fan, “Is your mom going to Boston for Valentine’s Day?” And that’s humorous because LeBron’s mom allegedly had sexual congress with Delonte West, who now plays for the Boston Celtics. But to a guy who makes a bajillion dollars a year and hosts TV specials to announce his free agency plans, there are some lines you just don’t cross.
“What did you say to me?” James asked the fan.
“I said, ‘Is your mom going to Boston for Valentine’s Day?'” the heckler repeated.
“Say whatever you want to say to me. Just don’t be disrespectful, alright? Alright, OK?” he told the heckler. “I don’t give a (expletive) what you say. If you’re disrespectful, it’s a problem.” (Via USA Today)
This is a tough one, because on one hand LeBron is a gigantor douchenugget so it’s fun to make fun of him about his teammates having so little respect for him that they’ll sleep with his mom. On the other hand… there really is no other hand. LeBron’s a worldwide icon, whether we like it or not, but if he’s so magnificent and worthy of daily praise, spending his time reposting people saying how great he is on Twitter, then tough titties, dude. You’re gonna get heckled, so live with it.
More than anything, I’m disappointed in the heckler and LeBron for not turning this into an episode of “Yo Mama”. God knows Wilmer Valderrama could use the cash.
Video after the jump…
Royce Young of CBS Sports posted this video on Saturday, and I would have just linked the source as I normally do, but this line from his blog post particularly struck my fancy: “It’s kind of time to quit yelling at LeBron, isn’t it?” Royce is right, how dare fans heckle opposing players – especially polarizing superstars – in their own arena? LeBron deserves our bruised knees and gentle strokes. He has so little else.
