Report: LeBron in heated exchange with heckler?

[.infamous]

The unsubstantiated rumor that simply will not die has reportedly prompted a profanity-laced verbal exchange between Miami Heat All-Star forward LeBron James and a fan of the Washington Wizards.

James and the Heat defeated the Wizards, 106-89, at the Verizon Center on Friday night. As James put together 18 points, 9 assists and 2 rebounds in the victory, a fan allegedly began making loud comments about a rumored 2010 relationship between James' mother and then-Cleveland Cavaliers teammate Delonte West.

Deadspin.com notes an NBCWashington.com report with details of the exchange.
LeBron just got into a verbal altercation with a fan. Spoke to the fan. Wanted to give Heat PR time to comment on the LeBron fan altercation. I’ll update you if they end up doing so, but here’s the story.

I saw a Wizards fan and LeBron in a heated conversation on the sideline during the game Friday night. I spoke to the fan and got his side.

Fan Bob Moore made a comment to LeBron about Delonte West and LeBron’s mom… [According] to Moore, LeBron said “The only reason you talk s*** is because you know I can’t come off the court right now and beat your a**.”

Also according to Moore, LeBron continued “But if I had a free pass, I’d kick your a** right now. Moore replied “I’m right here baby. Let’s go” before security stepped in.
James' behavior runs the entire spectrum from "role model" to "insufferable," but the strong temptation here is to give him a pass. This isn't the first time James has reportedly been in this type of situation and it won't be the last. He surely feels like the reasonable, "If you disrespect my mother in public, any response is fair game" argument is in play here. Sure, he's a global brand and a "King," but he's a person, too. Defending the virtue of one's mother is an inalienable human right.

Should James be held to a higher standard of conduct than that, given his level of fame and the scrutiny that follows him wherever he goes? Sure, in an ideal world he would ignore it, brush it off, or let security handle it. The heckler wins this one because he got James to engage with him, but James leaves the situation knowing that he stood up for his mother.

Even so, if you're the Heat, you respectfully request that James informs you first of future fan comments so that an exchange like this doesn't wind up caught on video and posted to YouTube, where it could do some serious damage to his image if viewed out of context.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

People here know I'm not LeBron's biggest fan, but I defend him for this. Some fans are just fucking assholes. And the worst is when you're an asshole fan of a shitty team like the Wizards and you still try to talk shit.

In fact, I'd rather see players shoot back at these guys, because not talking back is the problem -- these fans think they can sit there and talk shit at the player and be safe from any response.

 

[ZigZag]

Lol Lebron's pissed, sounds someone's a little butthurt

 

[jonathanlambert33]

I can't blame Lebron, but he should have just tuned the guy out.

 

[elcheato]

You can't talk shit if you root for a shitty team? What?

Have some self control and ignore it.

 

[Lake Louise]

I thought this stuff didn't bother him anymore? Hmmm but it does seem that the stuff people say to him to set him off are about Delonte and his mom. That's one of those things you find hard to ignore, no matter how many times it's been said. Still should have tuned him out though.

 

[cruzg24]

I got an idea kick him out of the arena. People sometimes go overboard with this stupid ass shit. I mean seriously what does a players mother have to do with playing basketball.

Come up with something creative, not some stupid ass mom joke. If more people were kicked out of arenas then this kind of stuff wouldnt happen. And its not about being able to take a joke. Anyone remember when Chris Paul was playing in college and fans were yelling "I killed your grandad?"

 

[Giantmetfan07]

You can't talk shit if you root for a shitty team? What?

Have some self control and ignore it.

Fan roots for the goddamn Wizards and he's talking shit to LeBron. So yeah, he shouldn't talk shit. It just makes him look like an idiot.


And I'm not trying to say it's wrong, I'm just saying I don't get it. Your team just got manhandled on the court, why are you talking shit? You should be insulting your own players for playing like shit.

 

[elcheato]

Fan roots for the goddamn Wizards and he's talking shit to LeBron. So yeah, he shouldn't talk shit. It just makes him look like an idiot.

That makes absolutely no sense.

If you're using that argument, why should LeBron be able to talk shit back since he's never won anything?

Fans pay good money for lower level seats. If you buy those, you can say what you want, regardless of how bad your favorite team is.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

like i said, im not saying its wrong -- i'm saying I don't fucking get why people do it. I'd expect a fan to be trash talking the players he roots for that play like shit every night.