After witnessing LeBron James' post-game antics following the Cleveland Cavaliers' 103-90 defeat at the hands of the Orlando Magic, it seems clear that LeBron isn't as perfect as he can sometimes appear to be.
LeBron averaged 38.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 8.0 assists during this series - astounding numbers for the 24 year old MVP who is on track to be one of the greatest NBA basketball players ever.
But when it was all said and done, it was the Magic marching into the NBA finals, leaving LeBron and his Cavs, who won an NBA best 66 games this season, covered in blue and silver confetti.
And while the Magic celebrated and the rest of the oh-so-supportive Cavs sulked, LeBron dashed out of the building without as much as a backwards glance.
Regardless of who's to blame for Cleveland's loss, the sudden breakdown of the previously steamrolling Cavs, who had already broken out the brooms twice this post-season, seemed to shock LeBron just as much as it did everyone else. It frustrated him to a point of vulnerability. It showed a weakness in his seemingly flawless game.
Perhaps it was the perfect image that he has upheld up until this point, but this sudden display of unsportmanlike conduct has really been a big deal in the media.
But in reality, to me anyway, it isn't.
The fact is, LeBron has kept a clear track record up until this point. He has been as gentlemanly as can be in a league filled with wannabe thugs.
Clearly, LeBron's failure to congratulate the Magic and address the media was a show of poor sportsmanship. There should be no argument over that, it's indisputable. Being a good sport is being able to shake the hands of the person who beat you. LeBron failed to do so. Debate over.
Regardless, I really do think he deserves a break. Its clear what he did was wrong, and he will undoubtedly learn from it. The real focus should be this:
Despite appearing superhuman at times, LeBron James is just as human as you and I.
What LeBron showed following his abrupt exit from the post-season was that he has human qualities. For once he was vulnerable. For once he was relateable, displaying the same type of emotions I do whenever I lose a game of Madden '09. For once he wasn't the super freak athlete. He wasn't King James, he was LeBron James, a commoner like the rest of us.
If this incident shows anything, it isn't that LeBron is a bad role model, its that maybe, just maybe, he's a human after all.
