LeBron Challenges Amare to Jew-Off

Last week it was reported that former Sun Amare Stoudemire had gone to Isreal to discover his Jewish roots and get a really small Star of David tat, I guess just in case he changes his mind at some point you wouldn’t want it too large.  When questioned about why he thought he was Jewish he responded with “through history, we all are.”  This cryptic quote is either some philosophical statement about Jewish Historical Determinism or he is confused and thinks Jewish and Human are synonymous.  Of course the cynical people among us might notice that while he was in Phoenix there was no mention or interest in joining the tribe, but upon moving to New York to play for the Nicks he decided to explore being the man version of Whoopi Goldberg.

Personally I think this is a great move, not just because he is going to New York, but because of the general make up of the NBA audience.  Often referred to as “Urban” it has long been known that the NBA fan is mush more representative of both Black and Jewish fans than the general population of the US.  There has also been a rather serious racial undertone in the NBA of a Jewish management structure with a Black workforce, due to the same over sampling of Jewish owners, managers and of course David Stern and the large number of specifically African American players.  This is Amare’s chance to bridge this gap and bring these sides together.

Not of course to be outdone, LeBron has decided to make his move towards the Chosen People this week as well.  LeBron as we have seen in the last month is extremely calculating in his PR, even if his calculations are often severely wrong headed, like 2+2=5 kind of wrong headed.  Since moving to Miami, essentially the old New York with more Cubans he has also picked up a Jewish angle.

Like most celebrities aka. Madonna he couldn’t just go talk to any Rabbi, he had to go get a celebrity Rabbi, the religious version of  a celebrity only club or spa service.  Now to me since Miami already loves him, this could not be a way to get the older Miami retirement population to like him and since LeBron has shown his love of sticking it to people I can only think this is a dig.  First another shot at New York, showing that he’s brining his Jewish connection down to South Beach, something very different than Bringing Your Talents to South Beach.  And also an attack at Amare who is now right up the coast in his same division.

Frankly I can’t wait to see the Yarmulkes fly as these two meet up this winter for the no-pork battle to rule east coast basketball Jewish supremacy.  If you ask me they should get Moses Malone to call all their games, not because he’s Jewish, but just because his name is Moses and it seems fitting, plus he can’t talk at all so it will be hilarious.

The Meaning of Lebron as Cowards

There were lots of better pictures out there that were representative of the idea of Lebron as coward, but I couldn’t resist trying to rub it in these guys’ faces one last time.
Frankly not very many people have actually called Lebron a coward, but while only one or two commentators have actually used those words, pretty much anyone that has negatively commented on the movement of Lebron to Miami has spoken in metaphors or synonyms to coward.
But why do we hear these kinds of sentiments when the idea of coward, something that is inextricably linked to an almost dead idea of honor is still used in professional sports.  We never see these ideas used in school or in our work place or pretty much anywhere else.  When was the last time someone described anyone you know as a coward, or someone’s behavior as dishonorable?
It seems to me that sports is the last refuge of these old ideas of honor in American culture, it’s still where specifically men challenge each other on “the battle field” and find superiority by defeating their opponent.  With all the discussion of “how” someone plays the game, their “attitude” and how they interact with their team mates these ideas are still prevalent.
So what many have seen with Lebron, including or should I say especially former players like Sir Chuck and Jordan is someone that instead of rising to the challenge of trying to overcome or defeat another player, Wade in this case, he has chosen to join him.  The equivalent of an American soldier saying that this island hopping shit is just too much and joining the Japanese side.
This has clearly tainted the Heat as an organization too, as they have suddenly become evil in the minds of many, a place that harbors cowards and traitors, like a pirate ship.  Even Chris Bosh whom no one blames for leaving the Raptors is now covered in the stink of this deal.  He is routinely described as a third wheel, the toady that follows the bully around doing his dirty work, the sycophant.
I think it will be very interesting to see how this narrative plays out over the coming years, if these ideas can even be sustained in sports or if the new age of “best friend” players will destroy these last vestiges of the honor culture even in sports.
Sorry this post was completely lacking in humor, maybe I’ll change the motto of the site to “The blog that used to get hand jobs from your older sister in the garage” just so everything ends on a light note.