By Dr. Boyce Watkins, PhD on May 18th 2010 11:12AM
Filed under: Basketball
LeBron James' attorneys have come on the offensive against rampant Internet rumors that his teammate
Delonte West has been sleeping with his mother. James had his attorneys send out cease and desist letters to
celebrity gossip blogs that were posting this rumor, threatening legal action for those who did not comply.
Frederick Nance, LeBron's attorney, has stated that the rumor is "categorically false" and that "no thinking person could possibly believe such rubbish." Alrighty then.
I am not sure how this effort to stop the massive thing called "the Internet" is going to turn out for LeBron. Celebrity gossip takes a life of its own and other efforts by celebrities like
Gabrielle Union to fight the gossip blogs have not turned out successful. One of the great illusions of celeb power is that you are fooled in to believing that you have the ability to stop and control anything you want. By drawing such attention to the rumor, LeBron's attorneys have now made a few million more people wonder if it is actually true.
At the same time, perhaps some will take the words of LeBron's attorney literally and believe that there is no substance to the rumor. Personally, I could care less about who LeBron's mama is sleeping with - we should congratulate anyone who is able to have access to good, regular sex. Part of me wonders if LeBron and his attorneys should have just left this one alone. If people are having a loud party in the sewer, you might not help yourself by going into the sewer to stop them. It could be better to just cover your ears and wait until the loud party is over.
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Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the author of the new book, "Black American Money." To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. 
Comments: (18)
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By: it's true on 5/18/2010 12:56PM
he just made a bigger deal out of this rumor than it should have been. I know it's true now because why would he go as far as getting lawyers into it. If anyone should be suing blogs it should be Delonte or Gloria (LeBron's mom) smh it true believe it
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By: mzjanuary205 on 5/18/2010 6:01PM
I didn't believe it when I heard it, but I think that by even addressing it, LeBron isn't helping matters. He shouldn't have even responded to the gossip.
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By: All Winners LOVE Winners on 5/18/2010 7:57PM
AMEN...Next!
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By: ADMR on 5/18/2010 8:01PM
The Undisputed TRUTH Hurts.......Ouch.
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By: MigThor on 5/19/2010 6:35AM
It's not true. If LeBron's lawyers were able to take some of the gossip columnists to court and they actually had proof of the rumors, THEN LeBron would be out of lots of money (to his lawyers and the columnists --- although it wouldn't hurt him financially), and it would actually make matters far worse because the proof would be there. I notice the contradiction in humans, you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't. If LeBron didn't try to do something, people would also say they think the rumor's true. He can't win. But generally, I agree that there's nothing he can do about Internet rumors.
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By: skinny Gee on 5/25/2010 11:05AM
Thank You Mig Finally someone with a brain!!!!
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By: Angie on 5/19/2010 9:17AM
Who cares? They are both adults and can sleep with who they choose....hmmm slow news day Boyce?
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By: Barbara Jones on 5/19/2010 11:45AM
Don't these gossip making idiots have anything better to discuss. El Hagg malik Shabazz aka malcolm X, said if a man said something about my mother he would kill him on the spot. Amen to that you trash bashing clowns. You are just like those other folks who make tons of money trashing folks. Why not raise your level of consciousness.
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By: Ron on 5/19/2010 12:37PM
MOVE ON LEBRON YOU ARE IN YOUR PRIME NOW!
Such comments, thoughts and deeds if true. Say alot about the Cav's. Who come from Cleveland. It's a poor refection on the ownership , management and city. I think that team needs new owners.They need to resturcture the entire team with more than one star player. They need at least five star players like Le Bron to really win.
The statement about Le Bron's Mother reminds me of a school yard rumor grade school child would play talking about somebodys mother. It's a poor reflection on the ownership, public relations department of The Cavs , mangaement and cities educational system as well.It does not make Cleveland look good at all.
Think about your image Le Baron and who you attach yourself with. Sounds like you have some haters on your team. -Envy! Winers run with winners. -Cut those loser off Le Baron. They will only drag you down to their low level.
Lebron needs to leave all those loosers behind and go else where among a better class of people. He did all he could the past few years to help that city, but those folks have too much pride, envy win at anything right now.- All their sports teams play like rookies. ( The Browns and Indains are jokes). A city with three sports teams and all of them are self destructive fumbling lossers. -It a sad sight to watch any of them play sports. Something is wrong in Cleveland. They need major changes in that city. Even, Steve Harvey, Hallie Berry, Paul Newman, Bob Hope , Tom Hanks , Langston Hughes (just to name a few) and Moms Mabley left- Now ain't that a joke.-None of them ever returned! Stays alot about Cleveland.The issues is deeper than sports. It's the mindset of the people there!
I hope Le Baron goes to the Knicks or Bulls. I'm sure he'll shine brighter.-Among winners.
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By: JAMES L. WOOTEN on 5/22/2010 2:08PM
first of all you are a idiot.My city is a hard working city, and down to earth folks live here.
second, what the hell management got to do about a rumor.and if there are sleeping together. big deal.
what u don't know is lebron james is a premadonna. not a champion. he tanked those last two games, because he had a attitude with somebody or maybe the coach.or maybe a true rumor.elbow my ass,if you watch this kid the last ten years, he always played with intencedy, those last two games, e played like crap,watch the tape, when him and delonte on the court together, he goes off too the corner and chill, and then watch him when delonte not in. watch him attack the rim and play a little harder. not a lot harder a little.he's been spoiled
and put on a thrown to fast.don't get me wrong,he's a bad boy,has a heart of a champion,but not the mine of one yet.by the way this owner pays big money and he's new,but go back and watch the last two games,if lebron don't play with passion, the team don't either. he coulda beat boston by his self.believe that, he chose not to.if its a rumor, so be it.but remember, gloria is the mother she can choose anyone she wants, shes a young woman..she not old. we had the drive,fumble,shot,game 7, the sweep not the elbow or the affair. but CLEVELAND LIVES ON!!
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