Originally published by LakersNation.com
For someone who has been in under the biggest microscope and brightest lights for more than two decades, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has had very few real controversies throughout his career and for the most part they have stemmed from comments he has made that have rubbed people the wrong way.
That was the case earlier this year when James spoke on camera about not liking having to stay in Memphis and imploring the team to relocate to Nashville. This did not sit well with many Memphis residents and James would address the viral comments in his interview with Sean Gregory of Time Magazine:
And while he’s been outspoken about politics and social justice, drawing criticism from the right, his decades-long career has been basically scandal-free. His big controversy this year? Dissing the hotel he’s stayed at while playing in Memphis. “Everything I say and do is overblown,” says James during his haircut. “I don’t have a problem with Memphis people. People need to know that. I have a problem with that hotel, and I don’t like going there.”
James is right in that most of what he says is overblown because of who he is and his comments were primarily about the Hyatt hotel in Memphis. However, it is fair to say that his words on that viral video did stretch beyond just criticism of the hotel and it is understandable why people reacted the way they did to what he said.
He certainly never criticized the people of Memphis or mentioned anything having to do with race or crime in the city. But in saying he doesn’t want to stay there and that many players want them to move to Nashville, it doesn’t paint Memphis in a positive light and could be considered insulting to those who live there.
James has been in the public spotlight long enough to know that everything he says will be scrutinized on a different level. He certainly meant no harm to the people of Memphis, but perhaps he went a bit too far and he is at least clarifying his true issue with the city.
LeBron James discusses his influence compared to Michael Jordan
James is one of the biggest and most influential athletes not just in basketball, but in the history of sports around the world. And he spoke about his level of influence compared to that of Michael Jordan.
If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.
For someone who has been in under the biggest microscope and brightest lights for more than two decades, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has had very few real controversies throughout his career and for the most part they have stemmed from comments he has made that have rubbed people the wrong way.
That was the case earlier this year when James spoke on camera about not liking having to stay in Memphis and imploring the team to relocate to Nashville. This did not sit well with many Memphis residents and James would address the viral comments in his interview with Sean Gregory of Time Magazine:
And while he’s been outspoken about politics and social justice, drawing criticism from the right, his decades-long career has been basically scandal-free. His big controversy this year? Dissing the hotel he’s stayed at while playing in Memphis. “Everything I say and do is overblown,” says James during his haircut. “I don’t have a problem with Memphis people. People need to know that. I have a problem with that hotel, and I don’t like going there.”
James is right in that most of what he says is overblown because of who he is and his comments were primarily about the Hyatt hotel in Memphis. However, it is fair to say that his words on that viral video did stretch beyond just criticism of the hotel and it is understandable why people reacted the way they did to what he said.
He certainly never criticized the people of Memphis or mentioned anything having to do with race or crime in the city. But in saying he doesn’t want to stay there and that many players want them to move to Nashville, it doesn’t paint Memphis in a positive light and could be considered insulting to those who live there.
James has been in the public spotlight long enough to know that everything he says will be scrutinized on a different level. He certainly meant no harm to the people of Memphis, but perhaps he went a bit too far and he is at least clarifying his true issue with the city.
LeBron James discusses his influence compared to Michael Jordan
James is one of the biggest and most influential athletes not just in basketball, but in the history of sports around the world. And he spoke about his level of influence compared to that of Michael Jordan.
If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.
