The idea that LeBron James should sit out games — thus forfeiting his paycheck — to help lead a social media campaign is absurd. The hot-button debate on this Wednesday morning centers around how much responsibility the Cavs star has in speaking out about social injustices.
LeBron spoke publicly Tuesday — amid calls from activist requesting he sit out games in protest of the grand jury decision to press charges against the police officers responsible for the November 2014 shooting death of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old from Cleveland.
James is catching flak this morning for admitting that was not informed on all the details pertaining to the case — thus preventing him from speaking out right away.
“For me, I’ve always been a guy who’s took pride in knowledge of every situation that I’ve ever spoke on,” James said following the Cavs’ win over the Denver Nuggets. “And to be honest, I haven’t really been on top of this issue. So it’s hard for me to comment. I understand that any lives that [are] lost, what we want more than anything is prayer and the best for the family, for anyone. But for me to comment on the situation, I don’t have enough knowledge about it.”
James has become more and more outspoken regarding social issues — but is taking a hit for not having a quicker response in case that effects his city.
First of all, I think I’ve been very outspoken about what I believe in,” James said. “What hits home for me, what I am [knowledgeable] about. There’s been so many more issues that’s gone on that I haven’t spoken about.
“There’s been the San Bernardino massacre, there’s been guys going in movie theaters, shooting up movie theaters, there’s been other issues. Those are not something that … I don’t have much knowledge of so I don’t speak about it. So for me … if I feel like it’s something that I have a lot of knowledge about [I’ll add my voice to the issue], because I don’t like to speak when I don’t know about it.
“But I think the most important thing that we all need to understand, the most important thing, this issue is bigger than LeBron. This issue is bigger than me; it’s about everyone. And gun violence and tragedies and kids losing lives at a young age, some way, somehow we need to understand that that matters more than just an individual.”
The expectations placed on King James are unfair at times, with a lot people expecting cops to fall in line because James decided to sit out a game or two.