Lebron Still Has A Legacy
by Natasha
David Walker, Executive Editor ESP
June 14,
2011
Call me
quirky, but I saw something that others missed during the NBA Finals,
particularly in game 6.
Dallas
Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki was confident and hooping like a street baller throughout
the series, while my favorite, Lebron
“King” James was lack-luster and often out of sync.
The talking
heads in Cleveland were exuberant. The suits behind the desks were disdainful.
And the fans were in shock. I was none of the above.
Because I
saw something that others missed during the NBA Finals.
I am a bit
confused about the lack of emotional support from the African-American
community for Lebron James. I grew up in Atlanta. Michael Jordan was the
franchise player for the Chicago Bulls, but when he played we all (whether
silently or openly) rooted for him to win.
Lebron James
by most statisticians’ assessments could have been a statistic. But for the
grace of God, and his awesome mother, his game (or gang) of choice very well could have rewarded him with teardrops
under the eye. You feel me. Whether you like his mother or not, Lebron does not
have a criminal record and he is in an apparently healthy relationship with the
mother of his children. Lebron’s mother kept him out of the streets, and she
taught him to be responsible. We fault the parents when children do wrong, but
hesitate to congratulate them when they turn out well – especially when the
parent is a single, black, mother.
The
Cleveland Cavaliers’ owner and the fans acted as if Lebron was a runaway slave
betraying his “good Massa” when he opted to leave last year, and they punished
him with their everlasting mouths throughout the season – he could do nothing
right. Without positive affirmation, even a great man falls short.
Dirk did not
have the problem of re-affirmation, because his coach of many years, (a second father in Dirk’s own words)
was there, from beginning to end. I do not recall seeing Lebron’s first,
second, or surrogate father in the stands. What a great burden to bear. It must
be difficult to feel the heat playing for the HEAT.
From the
time we are old enough to establish ourselves good at anything, we need a
cheering squad. For little girls it’s Daddy. For little boys…well, it’s still
Daddy. Something about having a father to lean on in a crisis, to guide you
through a tough situation is needful. Something about a man showing his support
is priceless. Something about a reliable male in your corner when you play
professional sports gives you that extra affirmation.
For example,
consider my man Terrell Owens, super athlete, but no ring, no team, and no
father on the sidelines. For all the success he has obtained in professional
football, T. O. cried publicly about not
having his father in his life growing up in Alabama – and how does he cope, by
overcompensating with bravado. Many believe Lebron is guilty of the same. I prefer
to think of the glass as not half empty and not half full, but rather
overflowing. Nothing wrong with having too much of everything you need, to do
what you need to do in your area of expertise. But, sometimes even all that and a bag
of chips is not enough. Nothing takes the place of a good father.
In the
African American community it is very common to not be raised with your father.
The choices in Daddy’s absence, is often a father figure, or a hood figure.
What Lebron
needed was for the African American community to act like a village instead of
a child and show him the same support we showed Jordan even though we lived in
Nutbush, Mississippi and were no more tied and endeared to the Bulls than a rat is to a cat.
As a child
who grew up without her father, I know the feeling of desperation when you need
a little encouragement. In know how it feels to be good, but never good enough
for your own Daddy, and those feelings often manifest in the game of life.
Lebron, I’m
glad you chose the ball over banging, hooping over hollering in the streets,
and to be a Daddy to your boys over being a deadbeat. Your legacy is your commitment to your sons, and you are still the final
champion, because I see something that others missed during the NBA Finals.
may be re-printed with permission by emailing executiveeditor@editorialsolutionspublishing.com
