Why I hate Lebron James

Why don't you?

I've always had a healthy unreasonable hate for the star forward of the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the last year this has blossomed beyond flirting with disdain to a richer hate for most things he does: commercials are less funny, basketball games less interesting, and life worse for humanity in general. Some may dismiss my views as "unsubstantiated" or mere hyperbole, but I assure you that I cannot stand the sight of this man. I would not go as far as calling him a no talent hack, but that's only cause common wisdom dictates that someone averaging 40+ points in the playoffs with 5+ rebounds and assists cannot be labeled as such. This is not personal, for that I cite Kobe's overall bitchiness.

I do not like the way Lebron plays the game of basketball. He reminds me of the Knicks back in the days when Anthony Mason was the point forward; the ball does not move around and he bulls through people to get to the hole. Kobe, Pierce even Garnet, all forwards comparable to Lebron, use finesse and style to get to the basket. While there is merit in keeping the game simple and I understand that the shortest distance is a straight line, it shouldn't be through the defender.

While it does seem excessive to write about Lebron after he has been eliminated, I had to get this off my chest. After the playoffs and through next season there will be talk of the Knicks acquiring him, so this is weighing on my mind. I don't think he will end up in the orange and blue, but even the speculation gets me worked up. Hopefully he's a decent human being, I'm not holding my breath.

American Will

I have chimed in about the torture debate and the war on several occassions but recent events have crystallized a few things for me. Our former Vice President and permanent dick, Dick Cheney, has the infamous "dark side" quote. He has been fleshing out this theory during his latest media blitz justifying torture. By extension people who do not take these illegal measures care more about "rights" of "evil doers" than America. People who hold this opinion fail to see that America is an idea or a principal and not a nation of common identity, but I digress.

A coworker echoed the Cheney reasoning: "Americans want to intervene but lack the will to do what it takes to win." This was in the context of an ongoing discussion of the targeting of civilians by America and the use of napalm. This was also with the backdrop of John Stewart tripping over himself walking back from critical statements of U.S. use of nukes.

I will readily admit that my morals and principals do not allow for any form of mass murder and destruction; I can't even stomach the death penalty. Hundreds, maybe thousands of Iraqis were murdered when we targeted high level targets in Saddam's regime. We are making the same mistakes in Pakistan and Afghanistan with drone strikes. I understand war but I detest it; it should always be a last resort. Our Iraqi occupation is not a last resort. Americans may not have the "will," but we do a great job at turning a blind eye.