*As far as LeBron James’ beef with Phil Jackson for calling his business associates as a “posse,” Cedric the Entertainer is down with LeBron. He told TMZ Sports that LeBron is right … all the way. The word “posse” is “wack.”
James says he was offended by the term — claiming it was used in a derogatory manner toward a group of African-Americans.
Some people have said LeBron James is overreacting — Ceddy Ced is not one of those people.
Here’s what we reported earlier …
*ESPN spent all day Tuesday debating the word “posse” after legendary NBA coach Phil Jackson used the term rather to describe LeBron James’ business partners – a characterization that James found highly offensive and racist.
“Zero,” James said Tuesday, when asked if he had any previous ties to Jackson. “No relationship at all. I had nothing but respect for him as a coach for what he was able to do. Obviously he was at the helm of [the team featuring] my favorite player of all time [Michael Jordan], and also being there growing up and watching him with the Lakers, but I got nothing for him.”
READ RELATED STORY: SHAQ GOT NAKED AT LAKERS PRACTICE? – FIRST LOOK AT NEW EDITION BIOPIC CAST
Jackson, in an interview with ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan published this week, made the statement while discussing James’ move from the Miami Heat to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014 and what it meant for the tenure of Heat president Pat Riley:
“It had to hurt when they lost LeBron,” Jackson said. “That was definitely a slap in the face. But there were a lot of little things that came out of that. When LeBron was playing with the Heat, they went to Cleveland, and he wanted to spend the night. They don’t do overnights. Teams just don’t. So now [coach Erik] Spoelstra has to text Riley and say, ‘What do I do in this situation?’ And Pat, who has iron-fist rules, answers, ‘You are on the plane. You are with this team.’ You can’t hold up the whole team because you and your mom and your posse want to spend an extra night in Cleveland.
“I always thought Pat had this really nice vibe with his guys. But something happened there where it broke down. I do know LeBron likes special treatment. He needs things his way.”
James’ business associate Maverick Carter found Jackson’s use of “posse” troubling, telling ESPN on Monday that he felt compelled to respond, citing the recent debate around coded language.
“It’s the word ‘posse’ and the characterization I take offense to,” Carter said. “If he would have said LeBron and his agent, LeBron and his business partners or LeBron and his friends, that’s one thing. Yet because you’re young and black, he can use that word. We’re grown men.”
James elaborated on the subject Tuesday morning.
Get the rest of this story here at EURweb.
We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!
