Re: James ruled ineligible

[snoopy1@xxxxxxx]

At 01:02 PM 2/1/03 +1100, John wrote:
"If people wanna give LeB some clothes, whats wrong with that?"

The rules--which after all the fuss with the car, LeBron should have burned 
in letters of fire in his brain--state specifically that athletes can't 
receive money or gifts from someone because of their athletic ability if 
they want to remain "amateur" athletes.

Period.

LeBron knew about it, and he accepted the clothes after posing for picture 
posters in a store that was using him to advertise.  I guarantee you, 
they're not hauling high school kids every week for that.  They wanted him 
because he's a famous basketball player.  The clothes were, combined, worth 
$845.

The school had to forfeit it's most recent win--which also ended it's 
undefeated season.  The school had moved many of it's games to NBA-sized 
venues to accommodate the huge numbers of fans who wanted to see him 
play.  They're going to lose a fortune having to move back to their 
"normal" court.  LeBron comes off looking like a selfish, greedy idiot who 
didn't have the brains God gave a goose.

He could have waited, and bought a case of jerseys with his first NBA 
paycheck.  He could have said, "no, thanks" and continued to help his 
team.  He could have expressed outrage that some ignoramus actually 
deliberately flouted the rules in such a blatant manner, when they HAD to 
know he was under close scrutiny.

Instead, his incredible selfishness and monumental stupidity have cost him, 
and his team, dearly.  The kid may be a heck of a player, physically, but 
does anyone REALLY want a player who boasts about his 3.5 average, yet 
can't evidently put two and two together without help.

His mom is no prize either.  At least he comes by his disregard for the 
rules honestly, as she financed a $50,000 car for her 18 year old 
kid.  Somehow, I have trouble imagining say, Larry Bird  and his mom 
behaving like such unmitigated jackasses.

They want to appeal the decision?  They're lucky if the OSHAA doesn't 
decide to launch a full investigation of him AND his school.  He should 
stand up and say, "I'm sorry, I screwed up," then keep his big mouth shut 
and pray he gets taken by a team that will teach him how to act like his 
brain cells occasionally function.  God knows neither his family, his coach 
or his teammates have.

Snoopy the Celtics Beagle
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