• March 29, 2024

What Do LeBron James & Donovan McNabb Share In Common?

At the NBA Finals post-game news conference, a reporter asked LeBron James, “What it’s going to take to win a championship?”

He responded, “I can only prepare myself each year. In the summertime I’ll put a lot of hard work into my individual game, try to bring my individual game to a team, and I work hard every day as an individual to go out there and perform at a high level for my teammates and for myself. I got close. Won two more games than I did in ’07 and hopefully next time I get here I’ll win two more games than I did in ’11.”

In that statement Lebron James is saying, “well I’ve done all I could do, I bring my talent to a team its up them to win.” In the statement Lebron mentions he got close in 07, in his mind none of the other guys on the Cleveland Cavaliers had nothing to do with their Eastern Conference title. Next he says won two more games in the 2011 NBA Finals than he did in 2007 Finals.

Is James suggesting Wade and Bosh had nothing to do with any of the Miami Heat’s wins this season? Lebron’s comments show he does not have the attitude of a winner, it’s the attitude of an egomaniac. Even in today’s sports world, it is a rarity for an egomaniac to be a Champion. Philadelphia Eagles fans learned this first hand when Donovan McNabb was the team’s quarterback.

Lebron’s comments after the Miami Heat’s game 6 series ending loss to the Dallas Mavericks sound eerily similar to Donovan McNabb’s 2008 off-season comments after the Eagles were eliminated in the 08 NFC Championship Game.

McNabb like James deflected the blame.

“We were winning when I left the field” McNabb said in a 08 off season interview referring to the Eagles’ defense giving up the lead late in the fourth quarter.

As Eagles fans know, McNabb had a chance after that to regain the lead, but like James came up short late in the 4th quarter.

Like James, McNabb was basically saying, “I did all I could do.”Champions do more when then did all they could, that is why they are champions. The thought “I did all I could” is really saying “when it got tough I gave up”.

Late in the fourth quarter of game 6, the Mavericks made it tough for Lebron James and the Heat to force a game seven. The Heat still had a chance to fight back with three minutes left to play, they just needed a player to step up and take control of the game. The Heat signed Lebron James to be that guy, but on Sunday Night, the assignment was too tough for Lebron so he passed the ball off and did not take many shots.

Lebron took the easy way out, and as a result of taking the easy road he remains with-out a championship ring. It was a 9 point game with two minutes left, and not one Miami player bothered to foul. Sure it looked bleak at that point, but would it hurt to try and make a comeback?

The defense giving up a late touchdown in the 2008 NFC Championship game, obviously made it tough for McNabb and the Eagles offense to win the game, the Eagles still had a chance to win but McNabb is not a champion, so when it got tough, he could not bring the team back all he could do is make excuses.

Losers always have an excuse Champions always have a solution. The reporter who asked Lebron what needs to be done to win a championship, wanted a solution, but Lebron is not a champion, so Lebron did not have one.

Dirk Nowitzki is a Champion, in 2006 when the Mavericks lost to the Miami Heat, Dirk did not play well in the post, he came up with the solution, he worked on it, got better and 5 years later became a Champion.

Magic Johnson (also a champion) had a solution for Lebron James he mentioned on ABC’s post game broadcast Sunday. Johnson stated that for Wade and James to win, Lebron is going to have to be more of a post player than a slasher like Wade.

In order for James to accomplish this, he would have to change his style of play, it would most likely hurt his statistics, but it could result in Lebron James becoming an NBA Champion.

It makes sense, but Lebron will not make that sacrifice, he is not a champion, he’s an egomaniac, which means he is always right and everyone else is wrong. Who can blame Lebron? He grew up in a world where he was told how great he was since he could tie his basketball shoes.

Jerry Brennan

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mimitaro
mimitaro
June 14, 2011 4:02 am

Far out this is the kinf of bullcrap I was talking about in the last article about Lebron. Your 3rd and 4th paragraph give us your opinion on his quote. I didnt read it AT ALL in the way you described in those paragraphs. Just leave the dude alone and admire his basketball skills as a fan of the game and spot with the negative sports reporting.

mimitaro
mimitaro
June 14, 2011 4:10 am

THIS IS HOW I READ IT:

“I can only prepare myself each year”

Fair enough, cant control other players, can only look to better perfect your own game.

“In the summertime I’ll put a lot of hard work into my individual game”

Its the summer. Everybody goes there own ways. Everybody has to work on their INDIVIDUAL game.

“try to bring my individual game to a team”

Bring what hes learnt over the summer to next years Heat team, as everybody else in the team will also do.

“and I work hard every day as an individual to go out there and perform at a high level for my teammates and for myself”

Speaks for itself.

“I got close. Won two more games than I did in ’07 and hopefully next time I get here I’ll win two more games than I did in ’11.”

The question was directed at HIM. NOT the Miami Heat. So of course he is going to reply in the first person.

AND IN REPLY TO YOUR OPINION:
“in his mind none of the other guys on the Cleveland Cavaliers had nothing to do with their Eastern Conference title”

Not that its what he was implying… but thats pretty much FACT. This year proved that.

Rocko
Rocko
June 14, 2011 4:48 am

Yup…you’re exactly correct mimitaro I concur 100% with your statement. Also referring to McNabb; he didn’t have any real weapons at his disposal besides T.O. and Westbrook. The coaches and FO put it all on #5’s shoulders and expected him to come up with the solutions without even being able to call audibles at the line of scrimmage like Brady and Manning are allowed. Hopefully Vick can bring us home a SB with the weapons at his disposal. McNabb gave us some great years though.

DDCar
DDCar
June 14, 2011 6:56 am

Why should anyone leave him alone, when every time he opens his mouth he sounds more & more like a selfish, condescending, spoiled, arrogant, egomaniac, & sticks his foot in it. He’s a jackass, & I can’t believe anyone with any sense, can defend him, after the last few weeks. He’s a choke, just like McChoke. Good article Jerry. Mim read between the lines of what he is saying. Your reading into it wrong. IMO.

Jon Hart
Jon Hart
June 14, 2011 7:57 am

Wow ron glover this guy jerry got you beat out. This was one of the worst articles i ever read on this site. The worst. You start off by twisting the mans words just like the rest of the heat haters. The hate for him has gone to a whole nother level, to the point that its ridiculous and absurd. i understand you guys not wanting the heat to win and thats fine no arguement from me about that, i rooted for them but it has spilled over to how he looks and walks and talks and i hate him and yada yada yada. I know you guys need someone to hate since Mcnabb is no longer here but dag give it a break. Some of you guys have said he doesnt deserve the money he has and fame, thats jealousy and envy. He obviously deserves it bc hes worked hard for it, youve blown everything he does out of proportion….

Mimitaro, Excellent points. I too didnt read all of this trash. These guys have lost there minds. Jerrry should have thought a few more times about sending this article out, but instead he made an emotional decision and basically tried trashing bron bron using brons own words but twisting them in a weird distorted way. Get your brain checked jerry b before you write and send such a horrid article twisting another persons words and comparing donovan mcnabb who lost just about every nfc champ game besides 1 to Bron Bron who lost 1 east finals game and 2 nba finals…

jakedog
jakedog
June 14, 2011 8:24 am

excellent article, nails it, and the diva followers are making excuses for their divas just like or worse than the divas themselves, I am glad somebody writing for Gcobb had the guts to make this comparison between McNabb and James

Gotta Luv It
Gotta Luv It
June 14, 2011 8:55 am

Yo G. I hope this cat Brennan is not on the payroll…This article is TRASH

paulman
paulman
June 14, 2011 9:01 am

I think they (Lebron/McNabb) both had overbearing Moms who spoiled and sheltered them as children,and who also happened to like Campbell’s Chunky Soup and that they are both from the Midwest..

Gotta Luv It
Gotta Luv It
June 14, 2011 9:01 am

….I was lookin for that post you made earlier…I wanted to re-read for arguments sake as well….yeah but I think you are correct and agree totally …
also what country are you in cause I think you mentioned that you were not in the U.S.

jroc757
jroc757
June 14, 2011 9:14 am

LMAO@Jakedog……….. Look Lebron got what he deserves……. Only thing I could say about their differences is that McNabb never bashed his former teammates……. Mo Williams said that “Dallas just healed my Heart”……..!!!!! From a former friend of Lebron’s to say such……. I think that their the same when there behind closed doors…….. Remember Mcnabb’s…… “They made a BIG MISTAKE”! (comment)….. I’m pretty much sure Lebron told Mo Williams and his friends in Cleveland a bunch of tall tales…….. (Before the move to Miami)…….

YANKEESFAN2
YANKEESFAN2
June 14, 2011 9:21 am

Also, McNabb and James can not bring their team from behind…McNabb hasnt had a fourth quarter comeback since what? 2005? Lebron James has never won a series after his team trailed 3 games to 2…Eat tthat Lebron lovers….

jroc757
jroc757
June 14, 2011 9:22 am

Mcnabb never said….. I didnt have any weapons……. Mcnabb just worked with what he had and made the best of it…… Lebron with addition of Mo Williams, and Antoine Jaminson with Shaq and a few others wasnt pleased with Clev. addition to the team….. Clev. tried but Lebron had to ride with D-Wade and Bosh aka Lady Gaga and Cher to form the Miami Housewives……. LOL…… And what a finale it was LOL!!!!! The old German SCHIZER all over Lebron’s will to win a championship……. not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4, not 5, not 6, not 7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well it sure isn’t going to be 7………..

Ironic how the mavs won in 6 and Lebron’s new jersey is #6……..

jroc757
jroc757
June 14, 2011 9:31 am

You can compare the both of them as far as dancing before the game as well…… Mcnabb with his guitar crap and Lebron shaking his ass before a game and then they end up blowing a good moment to actually win a game……… Mcnabb has more class than Lebron James though…. I have to give him that…..

atra1781
June 14, 2011 9:56 am

I heard Reebok is endorsing a new line of shoes for Lebron called “The Whiner” and they come with a Dvd of all the choking moments in history. its 2 Dvd set.

fran35
fran35
June 14, 2011 10:00 am

Great article. Good comparison, although I don’t think McNabb has an ego that is as large as Lebron. However, Lebron intimated that he is not at fault, much as McNabb did after losses. The whole “I can only work on my individual game” is crap. The guy is such an individual. As bad as Iverson was, he never threw his teammates under the bus like that. The guy made it to the finals with Eric Snow, Aaron McKie, Tyrone Hill and George Lynch. As selfish as he could be, the little guy always put the onus to win on himself and took the blame and was never scared to try and put the team on his back in crunch time.

DDCar
DDCar
June 14, 2011 10:47 am

BWAHAHAHA!!! The Whiner! ATRA, classic! Also because he wants to be like Mike, his new Hanes undershorts line will be called- the ball less crotch briefs or ball hugger briefs for all of his sack slurpers & apologists to wear. JH will be 1st in line for those bad boys. LMAO!

BirdoBeamen
BirdoBeamen
June 14, 2011 11:51 am

Absolutely GREAT article and SPOT on. Of course the Lebron nut gobblers are going to hate on it, but you called it how you saw it Jerry and its one of the best articles I ever read.

There’s a reason 80 percent of America hates Lebron.

Him using the word “I” is enough for me. That’s all he does. It’s always about HIM and HIS accomplishments.

As for the rest of you that still defend him, just keep throwing your “Sixers” fanhood into the fire — this is the same man that said the Sixers were breakfast to him in the playoffs. Something to fill his stomach up for the rest of the “day” (playoffs).

illfreeze
illfreeze
June 14, 2011 12:13 pm

I agree with mimitaro. I don’t like lebron either but this article is complete spin. Good thing gcobb can’t read or he would fire you for this pathetic article Jerry.

BirdoBeamen
BirdoBeamen
June 14, 2011 12:25 pm

illfreeze — what exactly is he spinning? Provide examples.

dawkplex1221
dawkplex1221
June 14, 2011 12:50 pm

mimitaro , i agree with you all the way. The media loves to spin things around. Thats what they live for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dawkplex1221
dawkplex1221
June 14, 2011 12:51 pm

jroc, mcnabb did say they didnt have any weapons, do you not remember the report saying “mcnabb went to reid and said they need more playmakers”. Thats saying the same thing. Theres no difference there

dawkplex1221
dawkplex1221
June 14, 2011 12:56 pm

Mo Williams, and Antoine Jaminson with Shaq!!! hahahah, Now i love me some shaq but he was over the hill by the time he got there. Jamision and Mo are not consistant help by any means. Look at all the past champions. They all have 2 or more guys that can consistantly score 20 plus points or more. Your telling me that jaimison and mo williams are those guys???? HAHAHAHHAHAH now thats funny. compare them to ray allen, paul pierce, and garnett, or duncan,ginobli and parker, or even this year with dirk and terry!

jroc757
jroc757
June 14, 2011 1:06 pm

@Dawk…… The way Lebron handled the situation…….. Saying he didnt have any help…….. The word ANY is a very powerful word among guys you call your SO CALL FRIENDS………. Mcnabb had more class because he knew he was going to be an Eagle the following season……. Lebron had his mind already made up to be a Heat…….. When they lost against the Celtics in the playoffs….. We all knew Lebron was going elsewhere……. Mcnabb said it like James did but in a respectable mannner……. I need more playmakers!!…. I can respect that as a teammate and a fan as well……. Hell everyone knew Mcnabb need players to help him out…….. But the Cavs did add pieces to help them excuse me “HIM” to have the best record in the league and set themselves for good position in the playoffs…….

Look I’m a Magic Fan…… Dwight Howard needs help……. He’s the most likable guy and deserves a ring more than anybody in this league……. Getting Derron Williams or Chris Paul would help Dwight so much…… I’ll give up J.J. Reddick, B. Bass, J. Nelson and R. Anderson 1st. rd. pick for D. Williams and Humphries……. I dont think anyone would want Turkulo or G. Arenas………. It would be nice to see a team wanting either of the two…..

jroc757
jroc757
June 14, 2011 1:23 pm

@Dawk….. They had the best record 2 years in a row……. If Lebron is the so call star……. AKA the chosen one……. King James……. He had pieces to win a championship…… He got to the finals against the Spurs and was swept 4-0…… Whats next????? Lebron didnt have the right coach to get him over the hump!!!!!!!

jroc757
jroc757
June 14, 2011 1:37 pm

J.J. Hickson
A. Jaminson
M. Williams
B. Gibson
Z. ILgauskas
A. Verejao
J. Moon
A. Parker
D. West
Shaq
L. James
Leon Powe

Not a bad lineup……. They had a great record during the regular season….. But thats what Lebron is……. A great Regular season player…….

Stevo
Stevo
June 14, 2011 1:44 pm

wow- waste of words. G, why you let people contine to trash McNabb is beyond me. I know you want the hits on this blog but really man.

The man is gone people. Let it go. Stop slamming the man. He DID leave the field with the lead that year. He gave this Eagles team a shot every year. We can argue about how good he was or was not but this heap of crap was toooo much.

jroc757
jroc757
June 14, 2011 1:45 pm

@Dawk….. Lebron was happy with the for Jaminson……. He said that the Cavs are getting pieces to help me out…….. As a matter of fact he wanted a trade for Jamison……..

dawkplex1221
dawkplex1221
June 14, 2011 2:19 pm

Jamison was the best free agent at the time, unfortanatley there was no one else. I look at the lineup you posted and i agree not a bad lineup, but thats not a championship lineup. Who in that lineup are you going to get consistant points from other then lebron? Compare that lineup to any of the past champions and youll see that, that lineup is just not good enough. Thats why the spurs swept them. Look at the spurs lineup. Sure the cavs dominated the league that year. There was no other competition. Just like the years of the buffalo bills. Four superbowl appearences, only one of those years did they really desevere to be there and win. All the other years there was inferior competition. Listen lebron didnt give himself the nickname king james the media did. Witch putts me to my article that the media has a huge blame in this. The media claimed he is the chosen one and he was the next jordan and all that garbage.( But we know there will never be another jordan period! I truly believe that. He accomplished to much in his carrer for anyone to come close………….) Not him, the decision wasnt his idea, it was the media. You know as well as i do how they are we dealt with it for years with mcnabb. And they have only made things worse. Lebron is 26, a kid. You cant expect him to be perfect hes growing up.

dawkplex1221
dawkplex1221
June 14, 2011 2:21 pm

Everyone said when he came out in the nba that he wore jordans number. Who the hell didnt have a jordan jersey or wanted to where his number he is the greatest of all time. I wanted his number in highschool lol

jroc757
jroc757
June 14, 2011 2:45 pm

@Dawk…. I have no love for Lebron because everytime he played Orlando he wants to drop 50 pts. against them……. LOL……. Look him getting the old powder and dusting his hands and clapping them in the air while the game is on hold for him…….. I think Lebron was a cocky egotistical Everybody hates Chris looking Prick……. If that aint star status……. “Wait everyone let me powder my hands and clap in the air for everyone to see”!…… guess what he deserves what the media offers him……. Jordan sat there shooting jumpers and chewed his gum with his teammates……. Gametime Jordan performed……. Lebron sat and hide!!!!!!! Lebron brought this on himself…….

jroc757
jroc757
June 14, 2011 2:50 pm

@Dawk…… Remember Noah and the Bulls were playing Lebron and the Cavs and the Cavs were up big dancing “Lean wit it rock wit it”, “Chicken noodle soupin”, “Soldier boying”, “Shaking ass on the sideline”, Noah told Lebron…… “Man you corny dude”!………. Lebron made himself a household brand for the media to EGO SWAG his image……. He bit the bait and look at him now….. Jordan may have been a gambler and cheater…… But when it came to work…… Jordan performed at all levels of greatness…….

dawkplex1221
dawkplex1221
June 14, 2011 3:20 pm

hahah I know your an orlando fan jroc757 we have had that conversation before. But notice during the playoffs this year lebron stopped the powder act. The guy is trying to grow up a little. As far and the chicken noodle soupin lol hahahah (im dieing right now with that stupid song). I dont look at it as cockyness or any of that. I look at it as fun. Almost like a chad johnson. I played sports my whole life and in college. It was all about having a good time. We forget that when it comes to proffessional sports! Thats one thing i loved about mcnabb. He enjoyed playing he had fun. At times a little to much but for the most part he had fun. Also remember those years king jame was 19-24. A kid man!!! I didnt straighten up my life till i was 25 thats when it hit me! enough with the partying and balogny and lets get this thing together. Back then people grew up much faster by 24 had 2 kids and were married. Its a different generation. I dont think he brought this on himself. I think he was him and the media brought this on him. Put the media of now back in jordans day. My god bruce bowen would be the dirtiest player to ever play the game!!! lol. I got nothing against orlando and i think dwight needs more help also. If the guy goes to LA who can blame him. Nelson is not enough help to get this guy a championship, nor is turk anymore.

dawkplex1221
dawkplex1221
June 14, 2011 3:26 pm

It was a different league when jordan played. I mean crap….. How often did you see flops back then like you do now. The king of flopping manu ginobli himself. Throwing himself to the floor. Guys on dallas acting like they got hit in the eye when they clearly didnt on the slow mo replay. Thats why you cant compare!

mimitaro
mimitaro
June 14, 2011 4:23 pm

@Dawk It was easier to drive it in back in the day too as guys were smaller, not neccessarily in height but also size/weight. Take the Lakers big 3 for example, imagine trying to get in between those towers for the easy layup.

Anyway, still cant believe people are lapping up this crap breakdown of a quote by Mr Brennan.

SportsBum
SportsBum
June 14, 2011 5:44 pm

I must admit. As much as I hate LeBron and think he is a egocentric, arrogant, overrated sore loser…… This article is reaching. I didn’t read any of what you are trying to say with what he said. I did think he was trying to put people down, because he is a sore loser and he was mad with his comments before, but nothing bad with these.

DDCar
DDCar
June 14, 2011 7:52 pm

I agree Stevo, F^@K McNabb. Reid knew what he was doing. McNabb is cooked. GENTS, just remember all the good times he gave us. Even though he choked in the big one, he is arguably the greatest QB, we ever had. Let it go guys, you’ll feel better. I now do. Man, this lock out is getting old. But they just said on NFL Network that, framework for a handshake deal has been agreed upon today, at secret meetings. They better not F^@K this up!

fran35
fran35
June 15, 2011 10:37 am

@Dawk
Dude,
catch a clue. Jamison is a career 20 points per game player. That is more than Jason Terry, who was Dirk’s #2. Jamison can light up the score board. Lebron had a good team built around him in Cleveland, he just could not step up when needed. The world saw it, it is not just my opinion–the guy looks like a deer in headlights during crunch time.

Butch007
Butch007
June 15, 2011 11:12 am

This is such an apples to oranges comparison it’s ridiculous that it saw the light of day here on GCobb.com, I’m pretty disappointed.

Jerry Brennan is obviously one of the many long time Donovan McNabb haters here in Philly that got a little publishing power and decided to go off the cliff with it. Should there be a next time I hope he’ll think better of himself.

Just to humor the article a little bit the only three things James and McNabb have in common is that both are confident guys, both are incredibly talented and neither has won a championship yet. McNabb is classy, James is classless. McNabb is selfless, James is selfish. McNabb does not play defense and James does… therefore stating the obvious about the ’08 season is nowhere near the comments that James made which sound the same as the comments he made with the much less talented Cleveland team. James won’t admit it, but at crunch time he needs to hand the reigns over to Dwayne Wade. McNabb only another two years (one if the Eagles had a decent O-Line last year) to win a championship.

Rasheed1
Rasheed1
June 15, 2011 12:57 pm

the similarities I see in Lebron & McNabb are these:

* they are athletic specimens

*they both seem too timid in the clutch

*they both take alot of off the wall criticism from fans when both are model citizens and players with good work ethic

comments by Lebron and McNabb are over analyzed to the point that its ridiculous

dawkplex1221
dawkplex1221
June 16, 2011 10:26 am

, check the stats kid, playoffs jamison averaged 15 a game, during the season 18 a game, compare that to other players that have had help, ray allen, pierce, garnett, or the spurs big three, or the lakers big 2 or. Terry in the last 3 games avergered 24 a game. Terry is one of the best three point shooters in the game. Jamison shoots floaters and nothing else. Anyone building a champion team would take terry over jamision. so dont even try to compare that.

fran35
fran35
June 16, 2011 9:48 pm

@Dawk
Hey son, I checked the stats kid. Fo realz, I am still right. Jamison is a 19.7 points per game player while Terry is a 16.2 ppg for his career. While you may not like Jamison’s shot, he is an effective #2 scorer that fills it up better than Terry. And since I am spittin mad logic son, ESPN has Jamison at a higher efficiency rating of 16.93 to Terry’s 15.87. But yo son, don’t let stats get into the way of you supporting Bronbron. Your view of Jamison is much more important than statistical analysis.

Keepz it real PLAYA!

runtheball09
runtheball09
June 18, 2011 7:43 am

what do lebron james, donovan mcnabb, and obama all have in common? they’re all megalomaniac choke artists.

phillywill
phillywill
June 20, 2011 5:27 pm

if he aint have an ego he’d be andre igoudala
tough to find a superstar guard (wing player) without an ego
ur prob not in the nba
mike jordan started greatest ego ever so who cares

phillywill
phillywill
June 20, 2011 5:28 pm

how does obama make the comments
nothing has changed here i see