The position of LeBron James's head, with both the halo and flames framing him, is no accident. Ever consider that his white headband has the same effect?
These images are from an ESPN3 story about LeBron's "Q" rating, or his likeability to the general public.
That team name, "Heat", always was a little too convenient. I mean, a flaming basketball. Yea. Let's play some 21 in Hell. Make-it-take-it.
"Heat" is only a little better than the name it beat out in a contest: The Miami Vice. Imagine those headlines:
Vice On A Winning Streak.
Vice Win it All.
"The Vice" would have eventually been reconsidered and changed. Maybe. At one time, people got vocally righteous about removing the old Washington, D.C. franchise name: The Bullets. And what did they change it to? THE WIZARDS! So we are okay with warlocks? Yes, we are. That's old news.
10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.
11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
(Deuteronomy 18:10-12, KJV)
There is a small movement to change the Wizards name, back to the Bullets. That may well be for the best. We now watch so many murders, and listen to such depraved music, that "Bullets" won't offend people anymore. Especially when the team plays in the White House's shadow.
We could say we are at a strange point in America's race relations. But the United States' whole history of obsession with skin color has been strange. Bryant Gumbel doesn't help when, in the words of mainstream media, he "evoked" slave-master criticisms of NBA commish David Stern during the lockout.
He made the comments on his HBO show Real Sports, and his commentary sparked controversy, as Gumbel meant it to. He's too experienced a journalist and TV personality to not have considered the backlash. He must have thought it through, because he's fanned these flames several times in the past.
No one talks about Bryant Gumbel until he says these things. So he must be considered suspect.
Gumbel is probably right: in his heart, Stern (and the other NBA powerbrokers) do see the players as "boys" in the literal, business, and diminuitive sense. All heads of companies and industries think this way about the little cogs of people, doing the grunt work. Makes it hard to understand why any Average Joe Schmoe would ever side with the very wealthy, on just about anything.
Observe how your boss's boss's boss treats you, when he or she strolls through for the yearly visit. And remember that it's not always simply sweat and hard work that gains worldly success.
People who've never cracked a Bible have heard Jesus's words: "And again I say
unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a
rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." (Matthew 19:24, KJV) This verse says: you give me a man who's acquired great wealth, and I'll show you a man who's likely in love with the world.
The fact is, we are all property. In the flesh, anyone reading this is working for someone else. Shelter, food, clothes, transportation... the rest is a bonus.
On a spiritual level, you are either of the devil, or you belong to the Lord. You and everyone else must choose, even David Stern. Our President, past presidents, and the leaders of all of the other countries, have already made their choice. Watch them carefully and see for yourself. More importantly, ask: Who are you working for?
