Lebron James Regrets Naming His Son Lebron James

I kind of hate myself for hating Lebron James less and less as the years go by. Man I'm getting soft.  As a Celtics fan he's still a huge rival; but in his defense I feel like he's matured a little and isn't the same guy who thought it was necessary to have "the decision" and say the Miami Heat were gonna win 15 straight titles.   I just  wanted the C's to beat him on his way out of Cleveland (just like in 2010) more than anything this last postseason. Yeah the C's may have suffered the same fate as Cleveland and been swept by Golden State (although I think they would've for sure won at least one game), but being able to say you sent Lebron out of Cleveland (again) would've more more satisfying than those soap cutting videos that keep showing up on my discover page on insta. The Celts came sooo fucking close, and probably would've beaten the Cavs if Terry Rozier and Jaylen Brown decided to show up in game 7, but they were a young ass team who far exceeded expectations this postseason with the brightest star giving us this moment to remember forever against King James. 

But as I get older,  I can't help but appreciate his game, and all the things he can do with a basketball. The same thing happened to me with Peyton Manning.  I still think Lebron is a huge ass hole with all the drama and antics,  but before he was a gapping ass hole, so I guess things have sorta improved.  I think it's cause as I get older I care less and less about sports as I did when I was a teen or even in my early 20's. If 2011 Dozah was around now he'd kick my ass. 

I gotta give Lebron credit here as he continues to chisel away at the "I hate everything Lebron wall"  that I've had up for a decade with this clip from his new HBO show The Shop. The series has already has stirred some controversy with Alabama and Nick Saban as they both think they're the first person with the idea of a show based around barbershop banter. 

Gotta love how Lebron is sticking to the exact same formula with Jon Stewart playing the role of the token white guy. 

Relax, Jon. He didn't just tell you he has cancer--- it's fucking talk show.

In the clip Lebron says he regrets naming his first born Lebron. 

"Obviously, when I was younger, I didn’t have a dad. So my whole thing was like, ‘Whenever I have a kid, not only is he going to be a junior, I’m going to do everything that this man didn’t do."

Much like how regular non-professional athletes do, Lebron James also has grown and matured with age. I really appreciate him now being able to understand the mistake he made my naming his son Lebron James, Jr. Even though 14 years ago he wasn't nearly as big of a star as he is now, he was still pretty fucking famous with the brightest of futures ahead of him. Everybody had known the name since he was like 15.

Personally, I HATE when people name their kids after them, and I'm talking if like a dentist or cop did. With famous people do so it's even worse.  You're just setting the bar so high from the absolute jump.  I do not envy Jr's at all. Plus Jr's are just so much easier to remember. Like Michael Jordan's kids sucked at basketball but they weren't Jr's and most people likely don't remember their names, so as far as the average fan is concerned they never even existed. They way I see it is you need to let your kids have there own identity and also not be constantly compared to you. To paraphrase what Stevie Nicks once said let them go their own way. Although I completely understand his reasons at the time, they make a lot of sense given his upbringing. Lebron grew up without a father so he wanted to do everything he could do to not be like his, and that he wanted to give his son his name. In a way I can almost admire it, I just think you're putting your kid in a much tougher position than necessary.  So congrats Lebron for understand that now.

As for the show itself. I cannot wait. I fucking love black barbershops, they look so fun, but I have long flowing locks it just doesn't compute.  This may be problematic but I need gay dude or fat white lady cutting my hair.  It's just different, I don't do barbershop cuts. Sometimes for work I have to go into them and it's always a good time, I try to drag out my visits for as long as possible. Lot of great sports talk and ragging on each other. Which are two of my favorite talking points. The positive stereotypes are real AF. Every black barbershop I've ever been to is the same. 

I also love anything (of quality) that gives a more inside look at athletes and celebs as normal people. Given this is an HBO production I don't think quality is something we'll have to worry about. Plus Lebron's whole thing right now is "I'm more than an athlete" and I think this show will broadcast that even more. And I mean look at the fucking crowd in there.... Snoop, Odell, Draymond Green, Maverick Carter (I still don't know who he is but am pretty sure he's a big deal),  Jon Stewart. I'm sure other episodes will have other big names as well, but I just cannot wait to check this show out when it starts and hear what they have to say about life outside of sports and give a more authentic reaction to what goes on the field/court. Between this and Hard Knocks it's a great time to be HBO sports. I'm such a fucking fair person man, I really am praising Lebron for admitting he's made a mistake because I'm pretty sure this is only the 2nd documented time this has ever happened. Anyways The Shop opens up a month from today on August 28th. Only on HBO (and also youtube and twitter, anywhere were clips are shown).