Basketball is a popular sport in the USA. And many youngsters aspire to be basketball players in the future and idolize some great players of their times. These kids try to emulate their favorite sportsperson while playing the game. Indeed some of the big names in basketball belong to the United States. Millions of people across the globe follow the NBA or the National Basketball Association.
The Matter
Lebron James, a professional basketball player, was only having some fun during his son’s tournament. He also cheered for the North Coast Blue Chips as they won the Las Vegas’s Hoops Tournament. He may have been seen as a normal father enjoying his son’s games. That was all. But the matter did not end over there. James became the subject for some serious news mongers after the match.
Unnecessary Propaganda
His small act of cheering for his son was blown out of proportions by the media and other sportspersons as well. He was as an attention seeker according to some of them. It went to the extent of how he should have behaved as a parent. The scrutiny did not stop there. It went out of proportion in the days to come.
Price of Stardom
Had there been any other parent of some other player and not a celebrity, the situation wouldn’t be so grave. Since James is a well-known personality, he became an easy target for the media and others. A father’s emotions were ignored as he was supposed to maintain dignity as a renowned person. Well, parents are parents, celebrity or not.
Lack of Sportsman Spirit
The attitude towards Lebron James shows the real lack of sportsman spirit in people. Cheering for one’s team is quite natural in any game and should be dealt with a lot of grace and responsibility. It was not an ethical thing to do. Criticism was the way chosen by the media as well as some other ‘so-called’ sportspersons. Be a sport while watching one.
Irresponsible Sports Media
It is the responsibility of the sports media to report sports news from across the globe through newspapers or television and not be overdramatic in their approach. They should state what is relevant and not about any father-son equation. In doing so, the media digressed from their actual purpose.
Impact of Social Media
Even before the news is telecast, people start giving their reactions on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. What may not have been a significant headline becomes the most sought after news all of a sudden. So the social media and its overuse in today’s world help a new spread like wildfire even if it is not worth a line in the newspaper.
Let it be a game
A game of sports should be treated as simple as that and nothing. The emotions and reactions of people should be analyzed in respect of a game and nothing more than that. What a father and son mean to each other is not the media’s job to report. Their report should not attempt to add any spicy gossip and let it be a pure sport.
