This was almost as surprising as Donovan McNabb getting 40 million guaranteed, until I read the loose definition of Time Magazine criteria of “Person of the Year“.
A person or group of people who have “done the most to influence the events of the year” — for better or worse.
Like it or not, Lebron controlled most of the summer with his “Decision” and the aftereffects are still being felt today, so I get it, but it typical Lebron’s fashion he bumbles his attempt to be humble:
Time Magazine released the 25 finalists for its annual “Person of the Year” list, and LeBron James is included — much to his amazement.
“I am who I am and I think I’m in a position of my life where I’m going to get better every day,” James said following Miami’s practice Monday. “But it’s too much.”
The nominations include figures of international influence such as President Barack Obama (the 2008 winner), Lady Gaga, Sarah Palin, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, conservative commentator Glenn Beck, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Thank you Lebron for quoting Popeye, but beyond that it is a diverse group of people.
Based of the criteria I can see why Lebron is in the group. He is currently the most polarizing athlete in sports. Not much middle ground anymore with his fan base, either you despise him or you are a witness.
In the end his decision may have made him even more popular, because now he is the villain and who doesn’t like a good villain.