Enjoy your articles greatly, Michael, and this one as usual is right on target. One of the reasons I have trouble watching the NBA is because of the prima donnas who seem to dominate the league. This is just another case of one of these multimillionaires believing he is bigger than the game.

Anyone who disrespects the grand game of basketball deserves whatever public chastisement comes his or her way.

Sad.

Hopefully he will bounce back from this and grow up. He's a special talent, and I would hate to see him diminish his star by continued selfish actions

I find it interesting that when James and his team wiped the first two teams 4 games to 0, the losers didn't cry and say they should not have to shake James's hand. In fact, I'm sure James accepted their handshakes and congratulations.
I guess he forgot about that.

I don't see Mr James any different. He appears like most young men who have a life of learning ahead of them. I do think he and we can learn far more important leasons from this after-court experience than any lesson we could have gained through his on-the-court brillance. The critical issue is if he and we will learn the right lesson.

I happen to agree with Charles Barkley. I recall when he made that comment he went on to say that kids should look to people they know such as their parents and teachers to be role models and not some guy who plays sports for a living. If being a role model were a requirement to play professional sports, then many of the most famous players going back at least as far as Ty Cobb would have been rejected. I think that was Charles Barkley’s point, that is, he and those like him are hired based on how well they play, not who they are.

Well stated. How many times will his actions be imitated by school-age kids after they lose a big one?

I'm not surprised. LeBron learned that tactic from his high school coach. The coach and team walked off the floor after winning 2nd place at the state high school regional final. There were many other teams that would've gladly accepted that trophy if given the opportunity.

I am a sports director on an Air Force base and really identify with this commentary. So many of our youth look up to LeBron James because of what a great athlete he is, and I fully agree with them. However, after these actions following this last game I can hardly call him a great athlete. Great athletes are those who take responsibility for their actions and rise up despite the shortcomings of their team or themselves. It is a great tragedy that this is the example these professional athletes set for the youth. Character does count!

Excellent analysis of LeBron's behavior. LeBron says he cannot shake the hand or congratulate someone who just beat him. Interesting. In the sport of boxing where one's face can be cut, bruised, and rearranged, the two competitors always shake hands at the end of the fight.

Professionalism and mutual respect are what athletes need to remember and practice. No matter if you make $50,000 a year or $15,000,000 a year, selfishness, self-pity, and whining are unacceptable and quite immature.

I trust that LeBron will grow from this expereince.

Regarding LeBron James, the criticism he received for his behavior was justified, but we all make mistakes. The loss put him in such an emotional state that he forgot himself. The media hype regarding LeBron vs Kobe made the loss that much more disappointing and embarrasing.

I hope he has learned something about himself from this incident and when faced with a similar situation in the future he will take a moment to reflect and make the decision to behave in a more gracious maner as a King would, not as a spoiled prince would.

Think of all the great athletes of the past: Joe Dimaggio, Joe Louis, Bronco Nagurski, Joe Montana, Bill Russell. They were as humble as they were talented. LeBron is a pompous ass. He will never sell as many jerseys as Kobe Bryant. He should have been voted "Most Valuable Jerk."

I am the greatest critic of NBA players. That being said, I have admiration for those who conduct their life in an exemplary manner. Let's not forget that LeBron is only 24. He came out of high school to the big dance floor. Yes, he made a mistake in his actions. Let's give him an opportunity to recover because he deserves it. In the passion of the moment, we all have made mistakes. I have never forgiven Kobe Bryant for his mistake because of his attitude. Kobe had that attitude before and after his escapade. LeBron has demonstrated he is a person of character, despite his youth, and we need to give him an opportunity to recover.

Let me preface this by saying he was wrong for not congratulating Orlando. If you can accept congrats and speak to the media after a win, then you can and should after a loss. But I wonder why everyone all of a sudden is upset with him. This isn't the first time he has done this. There have been a least two other high-profile situations in which this has happened. The first last year versus the Celtics and before that during the 2004 Finals against the Spurs (actually he shook Bruce Bowen's hand, but only because Bowen was standing one inch from him). No one made a fuss over the other times he did this, so why now? If society is going to be upset when things like this happen, be upset every time, not when it's convenient.

I agree that his behavior was not what we'd like to see from our role models (which is what he is, whether he or we like it or not) in this day and age. However, I doubt that the appropriate response is to call him stupid.

Listen, I am completely in support of being a good sport and striving to be a good role model. However, in the heat of the moment we all are apt to fall short. While LeBron should have shook the hands of his opponents, he made a mistake. Who are we to judge him in such a harsh manner? This is just another example of the public holding an athlete to a higher standard and then kicking him when he is down. If anything, we should be praying for him.

This is a perfect example of what is wrong in sports. LeBron James is a person and people make mistakes. We have elevated our athletes to superstars, and they really aren't any different than the rest of us who get up each morning and go to work.

Perfect opportunity to use this situation as a teaching moment for our young people on how to be gracious in a loss and to value the integrity of a person more than his super athleticism.

I am coaching a California karate team that will go to the Nationals in Florida this July. From experience, I can tell you the best competitors get in the zone when they compete. It is extremely difficult to settle down after a tough sports battle. When you win, the energy usually spills out as happiness and gratitude, and everyone likes it. When you lose, it takes a huge shift in mind and spirit to meet the expectations of good sportsmanship. Of course, strength can be built when dealing with loss. Character-building occurs when a loss is recognized as an opportunity to grow, and a great match generates appreciation for both competitors. Athletes who learn these lessons carry them for life. It's possible Mr. James has just learned one of those lessons.

James is an overpaid thug who, except for his God-given ability to play basketball, would be on the unemployment line. A $25,000 fine is nothing to him, but maybe he will think about being a man and showing some character the next time the team loses.

"I'm a winner." Well, not this summer. For now you're a loser and an ungracious one at that. Enjoy the summer, maybe play a round of golf with MJ, and take some notes, kid.

I wonder how many hundreds of players have shaken his hand after they suffered a defeat. What if no one ever wanted to shake his hand to compliment his victory? As my Dad always says, "When you walk on the court or the field, somebody has to lose for someone else to win. If you can't accept that, don't play the game."

Comparing LeBron James to Charles Barkley is like comparing Madonna to Mother Teresa. You totally missed the Barkley message. Barkley and Nike were taking a shot at the "It takes a village" nonsense. In the ad and in numerous interviews, Charles reminded parents that they, not sports icons, are the primary role models. A great message.

Compared to many of the overpaid, tattooed nitwits who clutter the sports world, Barkley is exemplary. When he says he's not getting paid to be a role model; that's correct. He gets paid to put a ball through a hoop. Otherwise, no one would care what he says. The mere fact that ethically challenged parents, or anyone, look to the NBA or, indeed, websites for moral examples is a symptom of the problem.

What is striking in these comments is the presumption that "It's all about me." I once heard philosopher Cornel West tell a group of students at Florida A&M University that finding something larger than themselves to devote their lives to was their greatest challenge in life. After more than 20 years of teaching college undergraduates, I'm convinced that is true. And the lesson many colleges -- much less our consumerist society -- teach athletes is far too often the opposite.

There's plenty of blame to go around here. And plenty of places where maturity is needed. "It's all about me" is tolerable in small children. But we ought to be able to expect them to grow up at some point.

LeBron is one of my favorite athletes. He made a mistake by not shaking hands with his opponents, and I'm sure he will learn from this. Character is built and nourished through the difficult times in our lives, not the easy times. There's an old saying: "You win with class and lose with dignity." LeBron did not lose with dignity. As far as owning up to his mistake, that's up to him. This incident is out of character for him. Hey guys, LeBron is going to make many more mistakes. It's not going to make him less of a human being because of them. LeBron should be forgiven, and let's move on.

I have coached young children through high school-aged kids. I have always explained that the very element that brings us to the court -- the mystique of in any given game on any given day the team that should win doesn't always -- is what keeps us on our toes as players, coaches and lovers of the game. It is what makes heroes and keeps us coming back for more. We want to defy that mystique by working harder, recruiting better, searching for strategies yet still knowing the mystique of the "any given day, any given team" theory.

If you truly understand that nature of the sport we love, then kings or servants of the game can graciously move through the line shaking hands, not for their fans, not for their reputation, but out of thankfullness that they were part of such an incredible unpredictable moment as is the game we love. The handshake is that we did it again, and if God is good, we will be right back at it as soon as we can. I have 9- to 18-year-olds on my teams who have gotten this. They are the real role models.

Your article puts too much attention on individual athletes and assumes them to be above the rest of mankind. Terms like "king" and "star" are used by the industry to pump a product: that you buy into this salesmanship is further confirmation these athletes are above modesty and humility. He is a basketball player and in the greater scheme of life he and all athletes are not serious contributors to the benefit of anyone but themselves (by and large, and I do recognize a few exceptions). If you cannot believe me, look at the home your "king" enjoys and ask yourself if that is responsible use of our resources and/or if this is something you encourage other athletes to aspire. I fail to see where bringing "stars" and their egos to print do much positive for other youth. I believe the best that can be done for the lot of them is to just ignore them.

I was taught that if you can't say something nice, then say nothing at all. James is a competitor and was devastated by the loss, so he chose to just keep quiet. Maybe people should note that lesson. He is still King James to us!

Lots of noise about nothing. After tonight's loss to the Magic, not a single player stayed on the court for a congratulatory handshake. Don't hear anyone screaming about Kobe being a poor loser.

Jim Ernest says, “When you lose, it takes a huge shift in mind and spirit to meet the expectations of good sportsmanship.”

I have participated in and coached sports my entire life, including earning a black belt in karate. Never have I heard such jibberish to excuse poor sportsmanship. If Ernest cannot effectively coach his competitors to display sportsmanship in karate, which has deep roots in honor and respect, then maybe he contributes more to the problem than the solution. Maybe it’s just a sign of the times, but if I had ever failed to congratulate my opponent after a loss in a karate tournament, I would have been demoted a rank. Maybe if Ernest demanded more personal responsibility amongst his athletes, other coaches would follow. And maybe that would carry over into other areas of society. And wouldn’t it be just grand if good, old-fashioned respect became a part of life once again?

As far as LeBron James is considered, he made a mistake - as he has in the past and probably will do in the future. We all are guilty of this, aren’t we? However, the measure of a man is how he deals with the aftermath. Instead of admitting that he erred, James attempted to justify his actions. Most of us outside of Cleveland refused to be bamboozled by his pathetic excuse. America can forgive just about anything except being played the fool – just ask Pete Rose.

I have to believe LeBron knows he made a mistake. It's easy for us on the sideline to pass judgment. Look at Terrell Owens and Randy Moss to name a few who have been in the news based on their character. One thing I believe is their God-given talent has got them to the professional level and with that there are some responsibilities that have to be met. When those responsibilities are not met, there will always be consequences whether we see them or not. The last time I checked, they're still multi-millionaires. One more note, how far can our hypocrisy keep going. Pete Rose should already be in the baseball hall of fame. Please don't put him in when he dies. What he did on the field has to be recognized now. God has already forgiven him. Why can't we?

LeBron James is human. We all make mistakes and are judged by those around us. His problem is that, because he is on a larger stage, more people can judge him. He is a young man who made a mistake. Forgive him and let it go. It will be difficult for us to understand how he felt. We put him on this pedestal. Now we want to tear him down. How much character are we showing by doing this?

It is very interesting all the hoopla that surrounds LeBron's reaction. This young man is exhibiting a learned behavior, and when we view the broader aspects of society, he has performed or acted no differently that anyone else including you who take him to task. Any good coach or individual who sees this should see it as a teaching moment. Rather than talk about how his greatness is gone, speak about ways to help him get better. Some of you who write this stuff have reacted no differently than he did. It is easy to become self-righteous in your age of maturity, so think back when you were 24. What did you do in losing situations, or maybe you're perfect and never lost. Maybe you exited graciously and sulked internally, but it is more honest to show true feelings and learn than to mimic it and live a lie.
In my book, Kobe Bryant is a sore loser and needs to learn sportsmanship, but you guys put him on a pedestal because he won, which negates his behavior. Instead of talking about his having to be redeemed, try speaking some positives into his life so he will get better. When he loses, he can learn to win in other ways.

Jerry:
I agree that Pete Rose should be in the Hall of Fame for all his accomplishments as a player. If you want to keep him out as a manager, then that is understandable. But one had nothing to do with the other. And besides, isn't part of character the strength to forgive?