By Stephen D. Riley, Special to AFRO
United States president Donald Trump continues to single-handedly battle sporting leagues; this time taking aim at NBA face LeBron James on a Twitter attack. In an interview with popular Black journalist Don Lemon early last week, James opened up about several things but turned heads when he accused Trump of using sports “to kind of divide us.” Nothing groundbreaking, but Trump waited an entire business week before posting some tweets on Friday night when he ripped both James and Lemon. “Lebron James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon. He made Lebron look smart, which isn’t easy to do. I like Mike!” Trump responded in a post.
LeBron James speaks at the opening ceremony for the I Promise School in Akron, Ohio, Monday, July 30, 2018. The I Promise School is supported by the The LeBron James Family Foundation and is run by the Akron Public Schools. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
James, riding a summer-high that began in early July with his free agency departure to Los Angeles and plateaued this week when he became the face behind a new school project in his hometown Akron, has displayed on numerous occasions just how admirable his business acumen is. From puppeteering one-year NBA contracts and exposing other players to full control free agency, to masterminding media and marketing projects; there’s been some dumb players in the NBA, but James clearly isn’t one of them. Trump, presumably knowingly even the smallest of James and Lemon’s accomplishments, discredited both men in one tweet and perhaps just ignited an NBA war (as if there wasn’t one already).
James has made it clear he will not “shut up and dribble” as a silent social activist. His popularity and performances have put him in an unofficial role as NBA ambassador despite never truly applying for the job. Insulting James may not reach Trump’s all-time ridiculous list, but it’ll share a special position. There’s always room to interject racism when it comes to Trump; and while many may even use that springboard for this latest war between James and Trump, it’s not needed.
Whatever you feel about James is fine. Hate him, love him or loathe him, James is a walking all-time great who’s example probably raised a bunch of single-parent adolescent boys the last 13 years unknowingly but proudly. Just like Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson took the place of many Black fathers in America, well, so has James. And Trump just insulted him. Game on, Donald.
