May 21st, 2008
Lebron James, SuperStar
Many of us first became aware of Lebron when his high school basketball games were carried on national TV.The purpose of this post is to speak of a young black male athlete in glowing terms, and to point out how sterotypes of black men can be so negative.
What has this to do with business? A lot! In order to over come an objection, you must know that it is there.The image customers have of black people could cause a sale to be lost. The same goes for a hiring manager. Unfair, true, you should not have to be what you are not in order to be a success.There are times when you need to balance street sense with common sense.
Lebron was on the cover of Sports Illustrated at 17 years old.His is an amazing story,
born into poverty as the son of a 16 year old mother, he has risen to the top of his profession. Lebron lead the league in scoring this year.
As a senior in high school, his mother brought him a Hummer SUV, with 3 TV’s in it. The national media was outraged and compared this nice young man to the worst sterotypes of spoiled black superstars.Lebron was discussed as a hood rat.
Recently, Lebron and Paul Pierce had a game 7 play off dual in Boston that one one for the ages. Lebron put up 43, and Paul 41, Boston won.
I am a fan of Lebron and after the game when it was time to face the media, after a tough loss there sat Lebron. 23 years old, grey pin stripe banker suit, black shirt and no tie.We have witnessed coaches like Dika, Knight, and Parcells, abuse and cuss the media in similar sessions.
Lebron answer each question with the presence of a Senator, the patience of a saint, and the intellect of a true leader.He was conservative yet himself, Lebron still wears tattoos but because he knows how to conduct business, the tattoos are not noticed.
All he does on the court is expected, his conduct off the court is admired. If young folks need a role model, Senator Obama is one, King James is another.
May 21st, 2008 at 6:47 pm
I agree. LBJ is carrying himself extraordinarily well. Although, I thnk he may have done well to exercise better discretion as to how he was depicted on the cover of Vogue, i also respect that he was decisive in his opinion.
May 21st, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Lebron is also a savy businessman. I believe Fortune had him on the cover a few months ago. Here’s a link to the articles.
http://money.cnn.com/2007/11/28/news/newsmakers/lebron_james.fortune/index.htm
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:11 pm
9jah,Thank you for your comment. Think about the Vogue cover, I saw nothing wrong until it was pointed out to me,let set the stage, you are 23 years old and we need you over here , put your arm around a hot rich model and who cares what eles, once it was done he had to stand by his decision.
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:12 pm
George, thanks for your comment and the link, I will check it out!
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I am very pleased with LeBron. I believe the young man has handled himself well thus far. I have been fortunate enough to work in the state of Ohio since 1996. Therefore I have been aware of LeBron’s athleticism for some time. I saw the the Vogue cover and in Pittsburgh, the Post Gazette did a side-by-side of the Vogue photo next to King Kong rescuing the damsel, if you will. Initially, I pissed. Not at LeBron, but at the media for attempting to draw some parallel between a strong black man and an ape. Racism, no matter how suttle is live and well in the U.S. LeBron has great poise, I believe he will do his thing despite the media bullshit…and do it all the way to the bank with class.
May 25th, 2008 at 7:36 am
Hi Jim:
Since I live less than 15 minutes from Akron, I have to comment on your LeBron post!! He’s really amazing. So young and yet so capable.
We had a Papa Johns event here in Northeast Ohio earlier in May that revolved around LeBron — I posted about it from a branding and marketing standpoint. Reading your recent post makes me think I should devote a post to the branding of LeBron and what an exceptional job he has done of managing his career. He really is a class act.
Chris
May 25th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
hi Chris, I am flattered the have your comment and agreement. I look forward to your branding article on lebron.Thanks for coming by.
May 26th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
EK, thanks for the comment. I agree with you in total.Lebron is the man!