LeBron James wants 1 million to participate in Slam dunk comp

AleksandarN

AleksandarN

Starter
#1
#1
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/278111p-238307c.html

Just when I thought Lebron would be a good role model for NBA. I was proven wrong. This is just sick on so many levels. NBA is in a sad state of affairs. Just when I thought players could not be any more greeder. The allstar is for the fans and he wants to make money off it. Why not give back to fans instead of looking for money you money hungry savages. It is bad enough one league is in a lockout NBa might be next if that how players view basketball. Sad really
 
albeitrue

albeitrue

Bench
#2
#2
AleksanderN, maybe better to reserve judgement until we find out the WHOLE scoop?

Here is the "blurb" from the article:
With players demanding big paydays for competing in the dunk contest - LeBron James wanted a cool million to participate - no wonder the league is still scurrying to find contestants with All-Star weekend only two weeks away. Only players with three years experience or less can enter, so that eliminates some of the game's best jammers, including the Nets' Vince Carter. "Before, the attraction for me was that it was something I wanted to do all my life," Carter said. "But I don't want to do it anymore. You can't dunk all your life. Trust me, it comes and goes.
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"Only players with three years experience or less can enter", three years experience doing WHAT? Dunking? Playing in the NBA? Bouncing a basketball? Don't know if that's actually the rule or not (no time to look it up just now), but could it be that LeBron was only jesting, in some small way, about being paid - when in all actually he doesn't even qualify to enter?

Just can't believe this is true. Guess we'll see...
 
bdouble013

bdouble013

Bench
#3
#3
I actually think they should raise the prize money. Make it 1mil for the winner. Right now I think its 50k or something, which is sooo small its not even worth it. At a million dollars you might get VC and company out.

But 1mil to just participate? Thats a bit steep.
 
HndsmCelt

HndsmCelt

Hall of Famer
#4
#4
bdouble013 said:
I actually think they should raise the prize money. Make it 1mil for the winner. Right now I think its 50k or something, which is sooo small its not even worth it. At a million dollars you might get VC and company out.

But 1mil to just participate? Thats a bit steep.
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How about a "Get Out of Jail Free" card. You know good for one game of suspension.
 
AleksandarN

AleksandarN

Starter
#5
#5
albeitrue said:
AleksanderN, maybe better to reserve judgement until we find out the WHOLE scoop?

Here is the "blurb" from the article: "Only players with three years experience or less can enter", three years experience doing WHAT? Dunking? Playing in the NBA? Bouncing a basketball? Don't know if that's actually the rule or not (no time to look it up just now), but could it be that LeBron was only jesting, in some small way, about being paid - when in all actually he doesn't even qualify to enter?

Just can't believe this is true. Guess we'll see...
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I do not understand were you are coming from he does qualify for the event because this is his second year.
 
AleksandarN

AleksandarN

Starter
#6
#6
bdouble013 said:
I actually think they should raise the prize money. Make it 1mil for the winner. Right now I think its 50k or something, which is sooo small its not even worth it. At a million dollars you might get VC and company out.

But 1mil to just participate? Thats a bit steep.
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Why should they raise the prize money they get paid enough. The allstar weekend is for the fans not thier pockets. If this keeps up what stops the players for demanding money to play in the allstar game itself. It is getting pathetic the allstar weekend was created for the fans.
 
bdouble013

bdouble013

Bench
#7
#7
Fine, don't raise the money. But until they do you aren't going to see guyslike Vince, Kobe, Tmac etc etc ever again. Money talks. Give the fans what they want and pony up the cash so the dunk contest will stop being a joke. That is what the fans want. I don't care if they do it for fun or get paid 10mil just of entering. I care about seeing a good contest, rather than the crap that we have been seeing the last few years.
 
AleksandarN

AleksandarN

Starter
#8
#8
bdouble013 said:
Fine, don't raise the money. But until they do you aren't going to see guyslike Vince, Kobe, Tmac etc etc ever again. Money talks. Give the fans what they want and pony up the cash so the dunk contest will stop being a joke. That is what the fans want. I don't care if they do it for fun or get paid 10mil just of entering. I care about seeing a good contest, rather than the crap that we have been seeing the last few years.
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Why reward their greediness that is sending the wrong message. They should play for the fans that the ones paying their salary. That again shows how twisted things are now in pro sport when these demands are acceptable some of the populous
 
Bricklayer

Bricklayer

Don't Make Me Use The Bat
#9
#9
I want to know the theory behind it -- seem to recall this is not the firt such demand. But obviously never hear about anybody in the 3pt contest making them. etc. etc.

Is it just because they CAN demand it, or think they can?

Because of a fear of injury (although can't recall anybody being hurt in the NBA Slam Dunk contest)?

Because of the pratice/preparation time you have to spend?

Because of the risk to "street cred" or whatever to whoever thinks these things matter if you fail?

Where does this come from? Not an honor, but a burden?
 
bdouble013

bdouble013

Bench
#14
#14
I guess it comes down to whether you want the best contest, or a contest of people that are going to do it for the fans. I'm torn because I would like to see all the great dunkers do it just for the enjoyment, but I am also enough of a realist to know that is not going to happen.

So, I'm selling my soul and hoping the NBA plays pimp (excuse the reference) and pays up.
 
iheartBrad

iheartBrad

All-Star
#15
#15
HndsmCelt said:
How about a "Get Out of Jail Free" card. You know good for one game of suspension.
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i like that idea...but it would never work...the league would hate that idea...hehehe

as for this story...its really just one that i wished they kept behind closed doors...i know its not LeBrons fault for it coming to air...but good gosh...i really don't want to hear about it
 
Brewer16

Brewer16

Bench
#16
#16
What a joke. The man has more money than any of us will ever come close to and he wants more to just participate in an event thats for the fans anyway. Give him 1 mil for winning maybe, but not just to be in it.
 
JSin

JSin

Bench
#17
#17
It's surprising with LeBron's perfect record that most of you rush to judge before even hearing a quote. Some New Yorker writes that LeBron wants a million to participate and everyone hates him.
 
iheartBrad

iheartBrad

All-Star
#19
#19
^thats exactly why i don't want to hear anything about it

i think that whole money thing should really be kept private...letting the media know is always a big mistake cuz they'll always find away to make you out to be whoever they want you to be
 
hoopsfan

hoopsfan

Starter
#20
#20
JSin said:
It's surprising with LeBron's perfect record that most of you rush to judge before even hearing a quote. Some New Yorker writes that LeBron wants a million to participate and everyone hates him.
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Now let's be honest here...if the player was KG or Spree, Iverson or especially Kobe...this place would be going crazy!
 
Padrino

Padrino

All-Star
#21
#21
hoopsfan said:
Now let's be honest here...if the player was KG or Spree, Iverson or especially Kobe...this place would be going crazy!
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well thats cuz at least 3 of those guys have track records of saying and doing really really stupid things. lebron's still awaiting his first major off-court criticism (other than the hummer and jersey thing), and seems to be a nice guy, upstanding, and mature, especially for his age.
 
iheartBrad

iheartBrad

All-Star
#22
#22
personally i love AI

he's my favorite non king basketball player....he can do no wrong in my eyes...hehehe

if it was any of those other guys that you mentioned hoopsfan id think the same thing....i DON'T want to hear about it
 
TheSerbianQueen

TheSerbianQueen

Bench
#23
#23
I feel that everyone participating in the 3pt./DUNk/whatever else competition during the all-star weekend, should participate BECAUSE THEY WANT TO, not because they are making certain amount of $$$ for it. I can see winner getting some money for a charity of his choice or something, but for them (or just Mr.James in this case -- really don't want to point fingers at innocent faces) to be expecting to make huge amount of money for participating is very silly, IMO. They are already making so much as it is. How greedy can you get, honestly.
 
4cwebb

4cwebb

Starter
#24
#24
Lebron wanting this money may just indicate that we just have to wait a little longer for the next "truly great" player in the NBA. As someone mentioned above, Jordan didn't look for extra money when he was winning dunk contests, and I don't think Bird cared about money when he asked the field of three-point shootout participants who was coming in second at the first shootout. It appears that it's not just about being the best, and that might be a limitation on whether a guy like Lebron becomes the dominant player that many expect him to become.
 
Twix

Twix

Starter
#26
#26
TheSerbianQueen said:
I feel that everyone participating in the 3pt./DUNk/whatever else competition during the all-star weekend, should participate BECAUSE THEY WANT TO, not because they are making certain amount of $$$ for it. I can see winner getting some money for a charity of his choice or something, but for them (or just Mr.James in this case -- really don't want to point fingers at innocent faces) to be expecting to make huge amount of money for participating is very silly, IMO. They are already making so much as it is. How greedy can you get, honestly.
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You pretty much sum my opinion too, SerbianQueen. :)

If LeBron wants money to be in the Dunking Contest, that's sad. Especially $1 million?? That's a lot of money. I don't understand the point of that. I'll boycott the All Star weekend if NBA accepts this.
 
VF21

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#27
#27
TheSerbianQueen said:
I feel that everyone participating in the 3pt./DUNk/whatever else competition during the all-star weekend, should participate BECAUSE THEY WANT TO, not because they are making certain amount of $$$ for it. I can see winner getting some money for a charity of his choice or something, but for them (or just Mr.James in this case -- really don't want to point fingers at innocent faces) to be expecting to make huge amount of money for participating is very silly, IMO. They are already making so much as it is. How greedy can you get, honestly.
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Good idea.

IF - and as JSin pointed out it's far from conclusive at this point - LeBron James demanded $1 million to perform, then shame on him. And an even bigger SHAME on the NBA if they fold to this kind of financial blackmail.

I honestly hope it's not true because my opinion of LeBron had really sky-rocketed lately. But maybe it's just me.
 
uolj

uolj

Starter
#28
#28
4cwebb said:
Lebron wanting this money may just indicate that we just have to wait a little longer for the next "truly great" player in the NBA. As someone mentioned above, Jordan didn't look for extra money when he was winning dunk contests, and I don't think Bird cared about money when he asked the field of three-point shootout participants who was coming in second at the first shootout. It appears that it's not just about being the best, and that might be a limitation on whether a guy like Lebron becomes the dominant player that many expect him to become.
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Jordan always took advantage of a chance to market himself or get what he felt was his appropriate worth for what he brought to the game. He might have even had a separate marketing deal than the rest of the league so that he could make more money because his popularity brought in more money (if I remember correctly). If LeBron requested a million dollars to participate, he is channeling the legacy of Jordan, not disgracing it.
 
albeitrue

albeitrue

Bench
#29
#29
AleksandarN said:
I do not understand were you are coming from he does qualify for the event because this is his second year.
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Rule is players qualify for only their first three years, I discovered. I was trying to get a handle on a possible motive for LeBron asking for $$$ to participate.

I agree with those who say "WTF?", the all-star weekend is supposed to be for the fans and these guys make WAY too much money to ask for anything more from the league, geez.

So, in short, I was being a LeBron homer and rushed to his defense with basically no knowledge, truly pathetic. :eek:

Still, I really hope the "blurb" was either wrong or miscommunicated.
 
PT Cruiser 9ROC

PT Cruiser 9ROC

Bench
#30
#30
Well, I think people have been WAY too quick to make their judgement on Lebron. So far, everyone has been shunning him with a little blurb from a gossip column as their only source. Lebron has come so far as a player and he's made his personality known to anyone who follows the league; if you have been following the league, then you'd know that this seems totally out of character for Lebron. I mean, in his 2 years so far in the league, the only remotely selfish thing that he's done to my knowledge is when he made those remarks last year about being an alternate on the All-Star team. Something to the effect of "I'll never be an alternate." I'd say something like this calls for giving the kid the benefit of the doubt.
 
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