Why Kareem is Kareem

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

For many years I have been impressed with Kareem (Lew) Jabbar (Alcindor) as a person who is so much more than just an incredible athlete. Certainly he was that, but instead of trying to deny that aspect of who he was, he embraced it and then moved past it and made sure that did not let that define him.

So he comes up with those erudite piece on LeBron's return to Cleveland. IMHO, this piece connects on so many levels. From the scholarly detail (of the people who connect the phrase with Thomas Wolfe, how many realize that he didn't coin it - I didn't) to the practical applications to the personal reminiscences.

Why LeBron Can’t Go Home Again

[ace2000 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ace2000]

Perhaps I'm not as scholarly as Kareem, but I don't really get his point. Lebron will do very well in Cleveland and he has erased the bad memory of The Decision in the minds of Cleveland fans. It will be a challenge to win the NBA title, but Cleveland will definitely be in the running as long as they have decent luck with injuries. If he does take Cleveland to a title within the next 5 years, he'll be a lifetime hero in his old stomping grounds. I think his move to Cleveland makes a lot of sense and with the group of young talent on the Cavs he'll likely do it.

[easyrider Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close easyrider]

It will be up to LeBron, imo. Clevelanders will love him when he returns to C-town unless he does something very stupid. Cleveland Rocks !

When did Kareem become a sports writer ?

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

In about 40 years if you ask people who Kareem was, most will probably say a muslim terrorist.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

All I know is Anthony took less money to stay with the Knicks and with the less money it gives the Knicks a chance to pay another top player, In other words he wants to help NY win it all

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

I agree that you can't go home again. Lebron is all about Lebron and nothing else. I don't really care as I am definitely not a Lebron James fan, nor Cleveland, nor Miami fan. I was very happy that the Spurs demolished the Heat and I am not a Spurs fan. I happen to be an ex Laker fan and now a Clippers fan, especially Blake Griffin who is not so full of himself as James is.

Las Vegas has now picked the Cavaliers to win the NBA next season which I believe is very presumptious. If the Heat got demolished by the Spurs and the Heat had James, Wade, and Bosh, what makes them think that the Cavaliers will win. I don't know who will win but I bet it will be a Western team.

BTW, I was a big fan of the Lakers when Jabbar played but not so much a fan of him. I was also a big UCLA fan when Lew Alcindor played there.

[ace2000 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ace2000]

I agree that you can't go home again.

I really have no idea what this means as applied here to Lebron James. Want to enlighten us?

[ronparise Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ronparise]

I watched Lew Alcindor play in 1964. (Power Memorial vs Dematha at Cole Field House, University of Maryland) He was a class act, even then

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

I really have no idea what this means as applied here to Lebron James. Want to enlighten us?

Didn't you read the the piece by Kareem Jabbar at the link posted by the OP? It is pretty self explanatory.

[StressCadet Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close StressCadet]

His piece on the Donald Sterling debacle was equally well written http://time.com/79590/donald-sterlin...jabbar-racism/ I was a fan of the player...but now, I'm a fan of the man.

[ace2000 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ace2000]

Didn't you read the the piece by Kareem Jabbar at the link posted by the OP? It is pretty self explanatory.

Way to duck the question. I asked you for your interpretation.

I just don't see anything worthwhile in that piece, nothing profound, nothing that adds to my knowledge about Lebron or about why he chose to come back. Just curious why anyone that say that they enjoyed that piece, did.

I'm sorry but I'm not buying into the fact that Cleveland will not be accepting Lebron back (or even keeping a wary eye as Kareem says). When the Cavs start contending for the NBA title, the fact that he left will be completely forgotten. They were not winning the NBA title with the team they had when he left - which is why Lebron chose to leave in the first place. Now they probably will win, and they probably will win many. They've accumulated three number 1 picks in the draft since he left - not round 1 picks - but the top pick in the NBA draft for three years. In the end, I think everyone will be pretty happy that he left and came back.

Cleveland has not won a major sports championship since 1964, I'm pretty sure if Lebron wins one for them, they'll likely forget all about The Decision.

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

Way to duck the question. I asked you for your interpretation.

No, this is what you said.

"I really have no idea what this means as applied here to Lebron James. Want to enlighten us?"

That is not asking for my interpretation. Nobody else is questioning it.

Quite frankly I couldn't care less what happens with Lebron nor Cleveland. I don't like either one.

FYI, I was using the general term about going home again, not necessarily as applied to professional athletes. They tend to go where the money is and/or championship teams.

[ace2000 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ace2000]

I agree that you can't go home again.

I really have no idea what this means as applied here to Lebron James. Want to enlighten us?

Here are the exact quotes. I just thought you might want to explain what that phrase meant to you in regards to Lebron. If you don't, it's not a big deal. Let's move on then.

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

Here are the exact quotes. I just thought you might want to explain what that phrase meant to you in regards to Lebron. If you don't, it's not a big deal. Let's move on then.

It meant nothing with regards to Lebron James. As I said, I am definitely not a fan of him so I don't care where he goes as long as he doesn't go to the Clippers which is my favorite team.

[ace2000 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ace2000]

Kareem was my favorite NBA player while I was growing up, and especially during his playing days with the Bucks. That is until Larry Bird came upon the scene.

Why has Kareem been the only player to master that hook shot??? It was unstoppable! There have been a few try but nobody could shoot it as consistently as he could.