Let me start by saying I’m not a sports fan. Let me add--I’m not allowed to watch the Steelers at all. Every time I walk into the room when they’re playing something bad happens on the field. So, I’m banished.
However, my son-in-law, Rich, is a huge sports fan. When we were visiting over Christmas he mentioned that LeBron James, a former Cleveland basketball player now playing for Miami, made a comment about not wanting to play a game on Christmas Day. Let me say--Whaaaaaaa! Big freaking baby! He's turned his Cleveland fans against him when he went to Miami as a free agent, now he whined about playing basketball on Christmas.
He plays--plays for a living. Sure, it’s a professional sport but it’s still a game. Does he think the firemen, hospital staff, police, and others want to work on Christmas? Did he even consider how many military men and women won’t be home for Christmas--not even in the same country? What makes him so special?
LeBron is still a baby in the game of life and he grew up watching sports on Christmas Day, yet he took basketball as his career. Just as each nurse, cop, and fireman knew they’d be working or called out on that day when they choose their careers but they sure don’t make the money the he makes. As for our military men and women--they live with the knowledge every day they may not even seen another Christmas Day.
I can understand his desire to have the day off but he does have other options. He can celebrate the holiday on another day. Many of us have to do that so we can be together as a family. Is he so special, in the game of life, he can’t see anything but his needs? Our military men and women don’t even get that option.
What’s my aim here, you’re probably wondering? How many of us will feel this way about our fans if we make it big? Do you think Queen Nora (LeBron is King James) ever gets tired of the long lines of fans wanting her signature at the conferences she attends? I see her patiently sitting at the table and signing, signing, signing. I can’t say she’s always smiling but then again, I’m not always smiling either. I have her signature and several others too and I’ve stood in those long lines and yet every author has thanked me, yes--thanked me, for stopping at his or her table and getting his or her signature. Writers are a rare breed. We may do all of our work at home but every writer I’ve met appreciates his or her fans.
Maybe King James needs to meet Queen Nora to learn how to be gracious to his fans and how not to keep offending them.
Denise Pattison
12 comments:
Nice to see you here, Denise. I love your post because sometimes we forget we are all part of the human race and we all have our duties both with work and family. It's when we think we are above the fray that we start losing our fans and maybe our sport, or songs or stories suffer because we don't try as hard anymore. I saw that when I worked in the music business.
I really swear when I get published, I will gladly autograph my books. :)
Thanks, Paisley. I was going to take your advice about what to post but this topic kept popping into my head. Something about LeBron's comment just kept bothering me.
I agree, when they think they are above the fray they are losing an important part of what made them accomplish so much.
Hi, Denise. Great post. You have to wonder about these people who make mega millions and then complain that they have to work to earn it is really sad.
My immediate family didn't celebrate Christmas until New Year's weekend, because that's when we would have the grandchildren. My siblings, mom and I spent 1-2 Christmases without my dad, because he was in Vietnam, doing his job.
All of those who are rich and famous because of fans, need to remember who made them rich and famous in the first place. The Fans are the important people....
Thanks, Anna.
I didn't get to spend Christmas with my children. We had Christmas with my son and his family in NV and then we went to TX to have Christmas with my daughter and her family. Two years now I haven't had my children and grandchildren together for Christmas but we make do.
LeBron has no idea how lucky he is to be able to be with his family on Christmas Day or not. Unlike your dad who spent a few of his Christmases in Vietnam, or any military person so far away from home.
I can not tell you how many Christmases we spent with my husband at work (cop) missing the kids opening their presents. Life is hard, deal with it, dude!!
Exactly, Jill! He's whining about something the rest of us have to deal with--to keep the streets safe, to take care of the sick, to rescue people from disasters.
Your husband missed a lot and I know he felt it, just like you and the kids did but you knew he was doing what he had to do.
Welcome to Voices, Denise. Give me Nora's long lines of fans, and I swear I'll melt in smiles.
Me too, Mona, me too. I'd be more than willing to do a book signing on Christmas Day, too.
So glad you joined us here at Voices, Denise. Welcome! When I get published, I will be honored to do a book signing on any day of the year. [Fingers Crossed!] See, I said 'when' not 'if'. :)
Denise, I just had to comment--sorry I'm so late in doing so. Our family always worked around holidays with my husband's job (firefighter). Christmas 2005 all we had with our son was a pic of him in Iraq holding the Christmas stocking we mailed him.
LeBron needs to grow up!
Denise,
I'm not a sports fan, either and thoroughly enjoyed your post. You are so right. Many people have to work on Christmas and other holidays.
Great post, Denise, and welcome to the blog.
People like him need to remember the many sacrifices our military make for a morsel of the salary he makes and their job is what's keeping his job alive and well.
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