It says more about
us as a society than athletes -- that we expect them to just accept whatever abuse we dole out because of their income (and in this case possible income). It's a microcosm and physical manifestation of the ideal that money
is literally everything, which is a bankrupt sentiment to even begin to adhere to. It says that we (collectively) ourselves aren't shyt, and have the moral turpitude of a sewer rat. I can say whatever I desire to you because you make X amount of dollars a year, and you can't respond in kind. A person with a faulty moral compass that only pointed in one direction wouldn't even partake in such a heavily rigged affair. But, we do. They would see the absurdity of the proposition. But, we don't. Money is extremely ephemeral. You've all seen 30 for 30: Broke. At the end of the day, you have to be able to get up in the morning and look at yourself in the mirror as a man. You have to be able to live with yourself. Everyone isn't going to be okay with being called this or that because they're making this much or are going to make that much.
Just to be clear, I think there's a huge distinction between normal fan jeering (i.e. You suck. Booing, etc.) and the personal taunting a lot of fans say or do. I think the former is fine, the latter is indicative of our abject moral failing. With the removed threat of asswhoopings, people are able to be their true-selves, which is pieces of shyt. That's why I respect dudes like LeBron. The thing with his mother and Delonte West, whether it's true or not, imagine hearing that shyt EVERYWHERE you went for a whole damn year? You already know how brehs feel about their mom's (I always remember Malcolm X saying he didn't talk much about his mother, because he felt he could easily kill a man that was wayward towards her). Imagine hearing this from complete strangers that openly talk shyt to you about your mom? It would be straight
status. He's a bigger man than most.
If they can say why can't everyone?
He was already there. Maybe took one step
