Nick Piccone
LeBron James is one of the best basketball players in the world today, if not the best. He finally obtained that elusive world championship his hometown has been yearning for since 1964. And on Wednesday during the Cleveland Cavaliers’ championship parade, he made sure to let the world know about how hard he and his team worked in a speech filled with expletives that *gasp* didn’t rub people the wrong way.
I listened to the entire speech. I loved it. Everyone else seemed to love it, too. We’re not seeing any thinkpieces about how LeBron James cursing during his victory speech is bad for the kids. We’re not seeing anything about how it ruined the moment.
It didn’t. James gave one of the best speeches ever and thanked each and every one of his teammates in the process. Sure, he said many curse words, but that’s fine. It’s LeBron James. He cursed many times much to the delight of everyone, even people who lauded him in post-speech articles all over the internet.
You can watch James’ entire speech below.
Rewind back to October 2008 when the Phillies had their World Series celebration parade. Chase Utley yelled an expletive that so many people locally and nationally condemned that you’d think he would’ve been run out of town before the team had a chance to defend their championship during the 2009 season.
Yeah, you want to hit play on that, don’t you?
Ah, Utley. Pure <3. Nothing wrong with Utley cursing there just like there’s nothing wrong with LeBron cursing in his speech. Utley’s was also probably more emotion [and alcohol] infused. It sure as hell sounded that way, at least.
I mean, I get it. I understand why people would be upset about a professional athlete cursing at a celebratory parade. You know, the kids. I get it. But, that’s a perfect opportunity for someone to turn to their kid, shake their head and say, “That wasn’t cool. Don’t do that.” Message sent. That’s it. That’s how I roll and the message gets across loud and clear. Kids are going to hear curse words. They’ll watch television shows and movies where they’ll hear cursing, and even watch sporting events and be at games where they can see and hear their favorite players yell and curse.
I mean, that’s the world. That’s what happens. And it’s okay.
Professional athletes are role models, yes. But they’re also human. And if the emotion James showed Sunday night after his team came back from a 3-1 deficit to win the NBA Championship against possibly the best NBA team ever [still highly debatable] is any indication, James’ speech on Wednesday seemed pretty tame. People love that guy. I love watching that guy play. I’d love to grab a beer with him at the corner pub. He’s shown he’s not just a robot that spouts things he’s told to say.
While Chase Utley may seem like a robot still, even years later, that one moment of him being human in 2008 will shine forever. That didn’t make him a bad role model. That didn’t make him someone to not look up to.
There’s a reason not many people, if any, called out LeBron for cursing during his speech yesterday. They get it. Maybe 2008 was too early for people to get it. Maybe that’s why Utley was trashed [and he was, especially on sports radio] for saying, “World fucking Champions!” But, hell, it’s still an awesome moment in Philly sports history and always will be.
There were people here in cleveland that did criticize LeBron for his language, including a sports-talk radio host. Most didn’t seem to care however.
Shocked at Lebrons language since he always spoke of not wanting to repeat inappropriate things said to him during a game because his kids might be up. I really thought he cared about respecting his family as well as others. I think it was a bad example for children. Commending all the players was right and displayed James genuineness to engage every player and openly reaffirm that it was a group effort to win! Had James eliminated the cursing, his speech would have been a highly respectful way to express his feelings. In spite of the cursing, I’m wearing one of their championship tees and loving it!!!