Another Winner Admits Doing Drugs

LeBron James is to basketball what Michael Phelps is to swimming: by far the best athlete in his sport on the planet. And like Mike, the Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star is exposing himself as an admitted dope smoker. Only this time, it's voluntary, in the form of a forthcoming book that recounts how teenage success went to King James' head:

"I was arrogant, dubbing myself "The Chosen One," James said. "In hindsight, I should have kept quiet, but I also was what I was, a teenager where every reporter in the world seemed to be rushing toward me at once."

James also revealed he and his teammates smoked marijuana one night after getting access to a hotel room in Akron.

Deadspin's Tommy Craggs reacts:

It's a little parable, you see. He "struggled" with fame and as a result indulged in a harmless and all but legal drug that has been used by roughly a hundred million Americans. It'd be like saying LeBron struggled with fame and as a result indulged in a bacon cheeseburger, except that bacon cheeseburgers are not actually harmless.

Sadly, we still live in a country where a hugely successful individual's private recreational choices are not just news, but have to be revealed only in cautionary, past-tense morality tales.

Still, this represents another brick being knocked out of the wall of national denial we have about a substance that should have never been made illegal. Winners smoke pot, losers smoke pot, Barack Obama smoked pot, Arnold Schwarzenegger smoked pot, Michael Phelps smoked pot, Rex Hudler smoked pot, Bill Walton smoked LOTS of pot, I've smoked pot, you've probably smoked pot, and for the vast majority of us (with the possible exception of Bill Walton) it's had next to nothing to do with the general conduct and outcome of our lives. I can't wait to live in a country where I never again feel like admitting an uninteresting thing about my boring private life is one micro step toward correcting a massive injustice and an ongoing national lie.

So thanks, LeBron, keep on dunking, and apologize to no one.

Comments

[jtuf]

Telling someone you smoked pot is still much more socially acceptable than telling someone you want to legalize pot.

[polio robot]

"I can't wait to live in a country where I never again feel like admitting an uninteresting thing about my boring private life is one micro step toward correcting a massive injustice and an ongoing national lie."

I can't wait until my drug of choice is not even worthy of discussion or testing as a condition of my employment.

I guess when you used cannabis is only important if it's within 30 days of your war on some drugs piss test.

[hmm]

I've said it a few times. There needs to be a, "This is your athlete on drugs." parody of the retarded ass egg PSA.

[IceTrey]

Maybe he was smoking pot when he got dunked on the other day?

[P]

Another athlete caught using enjoyment enhancing substances. Why can't they just settle for their bodies natural level of enjoyment?

[Shelby]

by far the best athlete in his sport on the planet

Kobe Bryant might have something to say about that. When it's your lede, it kinda undercuts the article's credibility.

[Episiarch]

LeBron, you made me feel like a jerk for trusting you. Just like when my friend Richie swore he wasn't taking drugs and then he sold me my mom's VCR and then later I found out he was taking drugs.

[Kobe Bryant]

You can't put me down like that Welch, without at least saying it to my face. Meet me tomorrow at a Colorado hotel. Don't be late.

[peachy]

At the least, he was smoking something when he ordered the dunk tape confiscated... way to turn a half-hour curiosity into a month-long sensation, O Genius of PR.

[Elemenope]

Anybody else getting a banner ad that says "Say NO to drugs, say YES to life."? Cause that's funny.

I've said it a few times. There needs to be a, "This is your athlete on drugs." parody of the retarded ass egg PSA.

That would be excellent.

[hotsauce]

I have many issues with drug warriors, but one that gnaws at me is why they NEVER advocate prosecuting people for past use. Bill Clinton, LeBron James, President Obama. I say let's lock em all up. If drug use is bad and wrong then it should be prosecuted. We would prosecute murderers if they copped to past crimes. Why should smoking dope be any different? (Keep in mind that drug warriors think drug use is not just a crime against yourself but also one against society.)

[Shelby]

hotsauce,

Well, statutes of limitations might have something to do with it. I'll bet LeBron (or his lawyer) made sure he didn't cop to anything still legally subject to prosecution. Not that I object to your point in principle.

[Elemenope]

Well, statutes of limitations might have something to do with it. I'll bet LeBron (or his lawyer) made sure he didn't cop to anything still legally subject to prosecution.

Also, without corroborating evidence or witnesses, all you really have is a guy who has *claimed* to commit a crime. Bragging idly is not really enough for a prosecution.

[hotsauce]

No doubt there are SOL issues that raise practical limitations for LEOs and other drug warriors. I like to take that line of argument, though, when discussing drug use with coworkers and friends. Their heads explode with dissonance.

[snit?h]

Bragging idly is not really enough for a prosecution.

Hearsay idle bragging is plenty.

[Shawn]

except that bacon cheeseburgers are not actually harmless

In half a sentence he went from boring, yet correct to just another sanctimonious ass.

[Rich]

I once saw a locker room decorated with the slogan "Sports, not Drugs". However, one of the jocks had written in "just" after "not".

[h-dawg]

Actually, I never smoked pot. There was that one time my roommate had some girls over and he pushed a bong under my face and whispered, "come on, don't embarrass me." But I didn't inhale. I swear to god. I may have been the only person on earth who believed Clinton on that and nothing else, but seriously, I can't stand smoke.

Needless to say, my objection is a matter of personal taste. I don't care what LeBron or Matt does.

[B]

"I was arrogant, dubbing myself "The Chosen One..."

Holy shit. In today's political climate how fucking awesome is that quote?

[hmm]

It's not that refreshing. Athletes compete with each other or themselves on a regular basis, the ego tends to get a check on a regular basis and there is always some asshole waiting in the wings to take you out. Hell James just got (semi) stuffed by a college kid. You don't see the same competition in politics. There is no ego check and once your in getting rid of you is next to impossible if you aren't limited.

[Steve Smith]

LeBron James is to basketball what Michael Phelps is to swimming: by far the best athlete in his sport on the planet.

Thanks for the concise explanation as to who this "Lebron James" fellow is. It's telling how white the libertarian universe is that your readers may have trouble wrapping their heads around the admission of a youthful indiscretion by one of the most well-known athletes in America, unless you can put in context by comparing him with someone no one else had heard of before last summer.

[HeadTater]

Looking at how successful people who smoke pot have become, I propose that marijuana consumption should become a part of our regular school curriculum.

Has Brownies for the elementary school kids and vaporizes for the secondary school (that would bring a whole new meaning to high-school).

[HeadTater]

Pot smoking students would cut down on violence in schools too.

[JB]

by far the best athlete in his sport on the planet

Athlete? Maybe. Player? Doubtful.

[troy]

It's telling how white the libertarian universe is that your readers may have trouble wrapping their heads around the admission of a youthful indiscretion by one of the most well-known athletes in America, unless you can put in context by comparing him with someone no one else had heard of before last summer.

He's right. I wonder if the Messiah's new health care plan includes melanin transfusions for the chronically caucasian.

[John C. Randolph]

Telling someone you smoked pot is still much more socially acceptable than telling someone you want to legalize pot.

I've never smoked pot, and I'm in favor of legalization.

-jcr

[mark]

I've never done coke, and I'm in favor of legalizing that...

Oh, and I've never sold short financial stocks, denied the Holocaust, driven very far without my seat belt, or sold a kidney. But I'd defend your right to do that too!

[Kilo]

"It'd be like saying LeBron struggled with fame and as a result indulged in a bacon cheeseburger, except that bacon cheeseburgers are not actually harmless."

Or it would be if weed was harmless.
I've smoked a lot and grown quite a bit. Not enough to make me think the medical research is written by fairies or part of some global conspiracy though.

[Matt Welch]

It's telling how white the libertarian universe is that your readers may have trouble wrapping their heads around the admission of a youthful indiscretion by one of the most well-known athletes in America, unless you can put in context by comparing him with someone no one else had heard of before last summer.

Either that, or I wanted to compare him to a famous athlete potsmoker!

[John-David]

Matt Welch - PWNING fools is his business.

[SugarFree]

You know what... how about enough with "libertarians are geeks" posts. OF COURSE WE ARE GEEKS. Most of us are white, most of us are guys, and we spend huge chunks of the day chatting on a libertarian message board. You really ratiocinated your way into our secret past, Sherlock.

Coming here and revealing that you "figured" out we are geeks is the equivilent of going to Esty and saying "I bet most of you know how to knit! hurr hurr."

[Zeb]

Doesn't everyone in the NBA smoke pot?

[gabe]

mad props to sugarfree.

This reminds me of the part of 6 mile where Eminem tells off black guy in that awesome rap off!

yo yo
Steve Smith,

You know what? yo yo....ya I'm a geek

I'm readin bout geopolitical issues 7 days a week.

the yield curve, g-8 summits, collapse of the dolla.
collapse in faith of the fed makes ME wanna holla.

I took calculus in 11th grade
If I wasn't good at math I would have never got laid.

I'm white. I dance like my dick...
stiff and spasmatICK

I can't jump and I like my computer
I get upset when it freezes and I have to reboot her

I have allergies that make me sneeze.

I keep some tissue in my pocket
if I'm on the streets i can do a awesome snot rocket

I don't judge people or ideas by the skin color of the people talkin

I wonder if you do
why else would you bring up the fuckin subject?

suck it bitch

[Warty]

Steve, you look like a shaven albino gorilla. Jesus Christ, do you hammer in nails with your forehead or something?

[JB]

6 mile

Was that the edited version?

[mouthbreather]

Episiarch, Nice Futurama reference!

[Steve Smith]

Steve, you look like a shaven albino gorilla. Jesus Christ, do you hammer in nails with your forehead or something?

Damn straight !!! Although I'm getting too old to open up beer bottles with me eyesockets.

[Karl]

He could become president one day. For the last 16 1/2 years the US has been under the reign of presidents who have used one or more Schedule I controlled substances in their youth.

Ironic how the White House is filled with non-violent drug "criminals" just the same as prisons.