Panther's Perspective: LeBron James Claims Racism in Treatment over "The Decision"

Growing up, I have always been taught that when you dig yourself into a hole, you have to quit digging. When you make a mistake, just come out and admit it; it makes a bad situation better. Although I was able to grasp this concept around the age of five it appears that LeBron James, at the age of 25, still hasn't been able to wrap his mind around it.

LeBron James was recently asked in an interview with CNN if he thought race had anything to do with the negative backlash he received after his summer long charade to which he replied ""I think so at times. It's always, you know, a race factor."  

When I first read this, I had to go back and read it a second time to make sure I read it correctly.  I couldn't believe that James actually played the race card when reacting to all the hate he has received from NBA fans nationwide in response to the way he went about his departure from Cleveland.

Although I believe that it was a mistake for James and his legacy to leave Cleveland and join an all-star team in Miami; that is not the reason the majority of fans across the country reacted so negatively towards him.  NBA fans didn't appreciate the way he went about it.  They didn't appreciate his hour long charade on ESPN to announce that he was taking the cowardly way out when it comes to winning a title.  And they didn't appreciate him, along with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, dancing up on stage like a bunch of spoiled kids in Miami shortly after the signing.  It was his arrogance that angered a lot of people; not the fact that he happens to be Black.

He can continue to cry racism all he wants in an attempt to get professional race-baiters like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson involved, but the fact of the matter is, he's only digging a deeper hole for himself.  The more he opens his mouth the more hated he becomes amongst NBA fans.  The only way he's ever going to win people back is if he keeps his mouth shut and wins championships.  That's the way it works in sports.

Often times I like to hear what TNT analyst and NBA hall-of-famer Charles Barkley has to say because he doesn't hold back when it comes to giving his opinion.  He's never been one to care for political correctness and has always called it the way he see's it.  And when it came to responding to James' cries of racism, Barkley wasn't afraid to call out the NBA's man-child "The only criticism I've heard about LeBron and it was my biggest criticism, that decision thing was just stupid. It was stupid.  The second thing when they all came out there dancing around on stage, that was silly. That's the only thing I've heard LeBron get criticized about. That has nothing to do with race." Who knows? Maybe LeBron finally got the hint to stop digging.