LeBron James and Darfur

[Double Down]

(The Christian Science Monitor, by way of The Big Lead)

Fair or unfair?

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0524/p09s01-coop.htm

America's airwaves are jammed with superlatives to describe basketball star LeBron James, who began his first semifinal playoff series this week. No matter how Mr. James's Cleveland Cavaliers fare in their matchup against the Detroit Pistons, however, I've got my own description for his off-court decisions.

Cowardly.

James's teammate Ira Newble recently helped draft an open letter to the Chinese government, condemning its role in the ongoing genocide in Darfur. Everybody on the Cavaliers signed the letter except for James and Damon Jones. James said he didn't have enough information about the issue to take a stand. Mr. Jones wouldn't comment.

We can choose to take them at their word, of course – or we can follow the money. Jones has an endorsement contract with an up-and-coming Chinese shoe and apparel company. James has a $90 million deal with Nike, which has huge business interests in China.

And China has enormous interests in Sudan, where at least 200,000 people have been killed – and 2.5 million displaced – since 2003. Desperate to locate new energy sources, the Chinese invest a billion dollars a year in Sudan and purchase two-thirds of its oil. Proceeds from these sales help fund the Arab militia known as the janjaweed, which continues to murder, rape, and dismember non-Arabs in Sudan's western region of Darfur.

 

[JayFarrar]

Fair.
I got an e-mail earlier today from pokerstars.com, saying that they will have a tournament, $10 buy-in, where the proceeds will benefit a Darfur charitable group.
If the gamblers are behind it, then I don't see why James couldn't have signed a letter.
It becomes a non-story if the entire team had signed it.

 

[Pastor]

James seems to be imitating Michael Jordan in this regard. It is certainly possible that James isn't aware of the issues regarding Darfur and would like more information, but it just seems to be a bit precarious.

James has a lot at stake in China. The guy is featured in commercials for Nike on television. There is a monster billboard with him on it in what would be Times Square in Shanghai.

As we are all aware, the Chinese government runs the Chinese media. If James were to frustrate the government I wouldn't be surprised if their news became a means for negative PR for him.

 

[heyabbott]

I'm not sure why anyone would care what Lebron James thinks about the Chinese responsiblity for the holocaust in Darfur.

 

[Just_An_SID]

I'm not sure why anyone would care what Lebron James thinks about the Chinese responsiblity for the holocaust in Darfur.

But in this #*@%ed-up world that we live in, people do actually care what I guy known for putting a big orange ball into a hoop thinks. It doesn't make any sense but it is reality.

 

[Double Down]

I'm not sure why anyone would care what Lebron James thinks about the Chinese responsiblity for the holocaust in Darfur.

Well, normally you'd be right, but I think it is a fair point to ask whether LeBron is protecting Nike's business interests in the world's largest market, putting dollars ahead of genocide.

 

[spnited]

I still don't think the average fan cares -- or even knows -- about this.
What makes you think LeBron even knows where or what Darfur is?

 

[heyabbott]

I'm not sure why anyone would care what Lebron James thinks about the Chinese responsiblity for the holocaust in Darfur.

Well, normally you'd be right, but I think it is a fair point to ask whether LeBron is protecting Nike's business interests in the world's largest market, putting dollars ahead of genocide.

If that's the case, then the question should be asked of Hillary Clinton, former member of the Board of Directors of Wal-Mart, US Senator and candidate for President, rather than some high school graduate who wears a tank top and sneakers to work 3 days a week.

 

[Double Down]

I still don't think the average fan cares -- or even knows -- about this.

Which is why it ran in the Christian Science Monitor, not the Plain Dealer.

What makes you think LeBron even knows where or what Darfur is?

LeBron's grasph of geography is sort of irrelevant, don't you think? If Nike makes billions of dollars selling shoes, clothes, golf clubs, etc., in China, and the government will no longer allow them to sell those things in China if their most famous spokesman is even mildly critical of the government's policies, isn't it fair to at least point out the potential conflict here?

I'm fairly certain LeBron doesn't know a whole lot about China's involvement in the Sudan. And he has every right to say he doesn't have enough information about the situation to sign his name to a petition. But as a businessman, "a global brand" in his own words, doesn't he have some moral responsibility to get informed on the people he's getting in bed with?

 

[Double Down]

I'm not sure why anyone would care what Lebron James thinks about the Chinese responsiblity for the holocaust in Darfur.

Well, normally you'd be right, but I think it is a fair point to ask whether LeBron is protecting Nike's business interests in the world's largest market, putting dollars ahead of genocide.

If that's the case, then the question should be asked of Hillary Clinton, former member of the Board of Directors of Wal-Mart, US Senator and candidate for President, rather than some high school graduate who wears a tank top and sneakers to work 3 days a week.

I was unaware that asking LeBron about the issue meant no one could ask Hillary Clinton the same thing. Is it like a game show where you ask the question once, and then lose your turn?

 

[heyabbott]

I'm not sure why anyone would care what Lebron James thinks about the Chinese responsiblity for the holocaust in Darfur.

Well, normally you'd be right, but I think it is a fair point to ask whether LeBron is protecting Nike's business interests in the world's largest market, putting dollars ahead of genocide.

If that's the case, then the question should be asked of Hillary Clinton, former member of the Board of Directors of Wal-Mart, US Senator and candidate for President, rather than some high school graduate who wears a tank top and sneakers to work 3 days a week.

I was unaware that asking LeBron about the issue meant no one could ask Hillary Clinton the same thing. Is it like a game show where you ask the question once, and then lose your turn?

I guess it goes back to my original point, who gives a **** what James thinks about geo-eco-political events? In the scheme of things, he's nothing. The significant questions need to be asked of the leadership of Nike whose plants are in China, of Wal-Mart one of China's biggest customers and folks like Sen Clinton, who work both sides of the issue, as a Director of Wal-Mart when China was just beginning to be used as a supplier of cheap goods and as a 2 term US senator.

James plays ball and he's having enough trouble comprehending the Pistons defense, let alone genocide and economies of scale.

 

[Double Down]

I guess it goes back to my original point, who gives a **** what James thinks about geo-eco-political events? In the scheme of things, he's nothing. The significant questions need to be asked of the leadership of Nike whose plants are in China, of Wal-Mart one of China's biggest customers and folks like Sen Clinton, who work both sides of the issue, as a Director of Wal-Mart when China was just beginning to be used as a supplier of cheap goods and as a 2 term US senator.

So, once again, why can't the question be asked of both? In attempting to create a "global brand" for himself, your contention is that LeBron's only responsibility is to figure out how to beat the Pistons' Box-In-One? All that global politics stuff is up to, to paraphrase Toby Ziegler, his "money people?"

Frankly I don't give a damn what Reggie Bush thinks about Darfur, or even if he knows how to spell it. But LeBron has business interests in China, which is funding genocide. As a responsible human being, college education or no, he owes it to himself to at least decide if he's ok with that arrangement. If he is, that's fine. I own Nike products too. But saying "who cares, ask Hillary Clinton this question" is silly. Ask em both. And as far as I know, Hillary Clinton isn't trying to create a global brand for herself. At least not yet. Would it be ok if LeBron's face was plastered on billboards all over downtown Tehran?

 

[Chuck~Taylor]

I know he's a basketball player and everything, but I'm still a little shaky about this. LeBron James is not your average basketball player. The guy is a business man. He has a number of endorsement deals and his name is very popular all around the world and he's said many times that he wants to become a billionaire. This guy didn't take basket weaving 101 during high school(dont' remember his gpa, but it was pretty good). He's an intelligent guy. So I'm pretty sure he knows where Darfur is.

 

[Cousin Jeffrey]

This story ran in the Plain Dealer, along with a lot of other outlets. David Aldridge did a column on it in Philly.

I don't blame LeBron, and yes I very much doubt he knew even the slightest about Darfur and I'd bet a year's salary he had no idea it was in the Sudan, for not immediately signing off. He has a lot more to worry about, as far as relations with the Chinese and business concerns thanks to Nike, than the average Cav. He has set himself up as this budding "global icon" so he has to check with his people before he does anything that would be considered newsworthy. I give credit at least for him not giving us the "Chinese buy sneakers too" line, a la MJ. Good for Newble for doing this, though.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Good for LeBron. If you don't know **** about the topic, don't sign it.

I think it's great that Ira Newble is aware enough and active enough to draft the letter, but seriously, if you don't have the slightest idea what it's about it's hollow and meaningless to sign on.

And since I seriously doubt that LeBron has ever heard of Darfur, it seems utterly chicken**** to accuse him of protecting his business interests in China.