Court jester
After LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers lost Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals, James left the court, leaving the Orlando Magic to celebrate their accomplishment. No handshakes, no hugs.
As quick as the commentators were to crown James' buzzer-beating, three-point, game-winner against the Magic in Game 2 a historical moment (which has become a real footnote to the series, hasn't it?), they were just as quick to criticize LeBron's sportsmanship, suggesting he should have been more cognizant of the situation and do what he normally does, manage his image. Both instances are better examples of hyperbole than legitimate critiques.
While I'm not endorsing poor sportsmanship, I don't see the big deal with LeBron's actions. In a sports world where players are so worried about the public relations side of their games, it was refreshing to see a player so emotionally wrapped up in his team's failure to meet great expectations, that he couldn't do anything else except leave.
I don't think he meant it as a slight to the Magic and it's upsetting that the storyline leading into the NBA Finals is about trashing LeBron rather than praising the two teams playing for the title.
