Stop the presses: Jesse Jackson has come to the defense of LeBron James. Mind you, no one asked him to, no one cares what he says, and some of his word choice was predictably ridiculous – but he defended the NBA star, alright! Naturally, he compared bitter Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, whose open letter to fans tore into James after he bolted the city, to a “slave master.” In a harshly-worded statement, the civil rights leader took Gilbert to task for his comments regarding LeBron’s decision last week to sign with the Miami Heat. Jackson says, “He speaks as an owner of LeBron and not the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers. His feelings of betrayal personify a slave master mentality.” “He sees LeBron as a runaway slave.” Jesse goes on, “LeBron is not a child, nor is he bound to play on Gilbert’s plantation and be demeaned. He has been a model citizen and has inspired the children of Akron, Cleveland, the State of Ohio and the United States.” Okay, look. No one is arguing James was bound to play for Cleveland and no one else, but it’s crystal clear why no sports fan outside South Florida likes him right now. The egotistical superstar didn’t simply abandon his hometown, he strung it along, then delivered the news in an absurd, staged primetime special on ESPN. Then he was introduced as a member of the Heat in a similarly bombastic, over-the-top event in Miami the next night, cementing his me-first villain status . What a d!ck move . Dan Gilbert may be glossing over his own role in James’ departure, and may even be unnecessarily bitter, but his berating of LeBron was in many ways justified – and certainly didn’t evoke any hint of “slave owner mentality.” Get real, Jesse.
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Jesse Jackson Defends LeBron James, Calls Cleveland Owner a "Slave Master"
