Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 at 9:00 am  |  29 responses

LeBron James Apologized for Using the Word ‘Retarded’


LeBron told the media that he was sorry for using an insensitive remark to answer one of their questions. From the AP: “LeBron James says he’s sorry for using the word ‘retarded’ in a postgame news conference. The Miami Heat star muttered the word after Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals as he and Dwyane Wade listened to a question about Wade’s takedown of Boston guard Rajon Rondo. James had his hand covering his mouth when he said ‘that’s retarded’ as a reporter asked Wade whether the play that dislocated Rondo’s elbow was dirty.”

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  • irondan21

    This country is way to liberal and easy to offend

  • DNz15′s

    co-sign irondan21

  • Zabba

    Seriously, this is just R-word.

  • http://slamonline.com Spaceship Jay

    That’s retarded.

  • arthur

    Irondan, since what has the word liberal got to do with being offended by the word retarded?

  • arthur

    And then I post a retarded comment. I’ll just co-sign Spaceship Jay and leave it at that.

  • EtheKnickFan

    ummm has anyone taken a poll to get the re-tards take on this?

  • Gman

    Lol, he said IF. ehehehehe Or else he likes the word..no? ahha

  • http://Thundercats.com ThunderCats

    It was a retareded question. Did DWade know that was going to result in his arm bending the wrong way by falling down like that?

  • the truth

    Dumb ass question

  • http://www.twitter.com/dfrance21 Dfrance21

    Whatever happened to sticks and stones… I’m tired of these public figures scurrying to retract a statement they made because someone got offended or took it the wrong way. I can’t wait for an athlete to have the balls and stand up for themselves and say “thats what I said and I don’t care who has a problem with it.”

  • http://www.slamonline.com Max

    Well, that’s *whispers retarded* BS.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Max

    Also Lebron didn’t go to college, he doesn’t know how a microphone works.

  • robb

    So Kobe says f@g while he’s on the bench and everybody gets defensive, but Lebron uses the word retarded during an interview and nobody thinks it’s wrong? What about mentally challenged people? They deserve respect too don’t you think?

  • http://dsjkflf.com Jukai

    I use the word too frequently, and I shouldn’t. Robb is 100% right, and I hope Lebron gets fined for this.

  • http://www.boogiewilliams.com Boing Dynasty

    im still pretty sure he said “SHES retarded”, and he was probably right.

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    Co-sign robb.

  • robb

    @Jukai when Kobe said that and people reacted so strongly, I thought it was exaggerated, I used that word a lot, just like retarded, but then I realized how wrong I was. The fact that we are used to say stuff like that doesn’t mean it’s right and I totally understand that now.

  • robb

    and I won’t call Bosh RuPaul no more

  • http://www.twitter.com/TheDiesel Anton

    Max FTW.

  • http://www.bulls.com Rigo Gonzalez

    I never been a fan of the word personally.

  • http://www.twitter.com/dfrance21 Dfrance21

    @Robb I thought and still think the Kobe thing was blown out of proportion as is this issue. People never have an issue with these things until someone is caught out there. Like you said, you’ve used both words(as do I, not calling you out) but only when people made an issue about Kobe saying did you realize it was wrong and you shouldn’t. I feel if it takes someone to get caught for you to realize you’re wrong than you don’t really think you’re wrong. It’s basically saying if the Kobe/Lebron dust ups never happened, you would have kept on using those words. Everyone knew exactly what Kobe and Lebron meant when they said what they said and while that doesn’t make it right, it also doesn’t mean their character should be attacked. We’re all human and I doubt there is anyone out there that has NEVER said ANYTHING that SOME group would find offensive. With all that being said, LBJ should still get fined because Stern set the precedent by fining Kobe.

  • http://www.twitter.com/dfrance21 Dfrance21

    Lebron could have said that was a “poopyhead” question and a Poopyhead Coalition would have sprouted up calling for his head.

  • http://theurbangriot.com The NUPE

    I’m glad he apologized for offending this segment of the population. Just like I don’t think it’s ‘right’ to say what Kobe said and how I don’t think it makes sense for athletes to compare themselves to ‘soldiers doing battle.’ Certain things are just not necessary to say. It’s just not right to use mentally or physically challenged people in a mocking way. Did I laugh when Damon Wayons played Handy Man on In Living Color – Yep I sure did. But even at the time I knew that was offensive to many. So Kobe and Lebron made mistakes, said they were sorry – so time to move on.

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    robb is 2 for 2!

  • ai come back

    ok kobe DIRECTED the insult at a ref, lebron said that it was a retarded statement that the dwade call was dirty.

  • marc

    I know it was wrong but when I saw it i was laughing because of the way he said it. He was covering his mouth and it just looked funny.

  • j22

    It is insensitive for either word to be used…I teach students with disabilities and they know these words are hurtful and many of them look up to both Lebron and Kobe. What I would like to ask many of you who think, why are people so sensitive or stop making such a big deal is, How would people react if a white player called an official the N word or responded to a silly question in an interview by saying oh that is so black. We would and should all be upset by this so I would like the same respect to be extended to gays, lesbian, persons with disabilities, and anyone else who may be “different.”

  • http://wwww.need4sheed.com Tarzan Cooper

    PEOPLE, PLEASE! they prefer the term ‘mentally hilarious’. thank you.

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