Opinion: James shames game by not facing music

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Poll question: Opinion: James shames game by not facing music

James did not react well to elimination. He didn’t shake hands with anybody, including Howard. And after running away to his locker room, he refused to come out and tell the media what happened.

We understand his crushing disappointment. James really thought this season was his turn to win a ring, and here he was out of the playoffs without even had a chance to play for the bling. He was the league’s MVP. James put up amazing numbers in the playoffs. But the Magic were better.

This isn’t Little League and it’s not CYO ball. It’s professional basketball, and when you are the leader of a professional team, there are things you must do. One of them is to stand up after every game, win or lose, and either bask in the glory or take the heat.

James was great at glory-basking. Few ever have been as good at discussing the wonderfulness of himself after great games, and understandably so. Now he’s got to learn about the obligation to stand up tall when things don’t go according to plan.

James shamed the game by walking off the court without exchanging handshakes with anyone. He insulted his teammates by opting out of the postgame press conferences, leaving them to answer for his shortcomings. When the going got tough, he ran away to pout.

Later, James told reporters he sent an e-mail to Howard on Saturday night.

“It’s hard for me to congratulate somebody after you just lose to them,” he said, the Associated Press reported. “I’m a winner. It’s not being a poor sport or anything like that. If somebody beats you up, you’re not going to congratulate them. That doesn’t make sense to me. I’m a competitor. That’s what I do. It doesn’t make sense for me to go over and shake somebody’s hand.”

Well guess what, LeBron. Being a competitor also involves having some class when you lose.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/3298669/