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'Be the Bad Guy' Tonight, LeBron

Winning is 'the only antidote' for raucous boos

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 2, 2010 12:32 PM CST

(Newser) – Hey, LeBron: When you hit the court tonight in Cleveland with the Heat, you’ll face a seriously nasty crowd. And there’s only one response for that, writes Dave Zirin in the Nation. “Be the bad guy.” Play hard, and “when the crowd starts raining the hate, put your hand by your ear and demand they go louder.” Michael Jordan showed how it's done.

Thus far, you’ve been “listless” on the court, and your so-called dream team is struggling. “Before this season, you were King James.” Now, “unless you quit the Heat to take your talents to a leper colony, the hate will always be there. The only antidote in our sports culture is winning,” Zirin writes. “They say in Cleveland that you broke their hearts. Now you need to rip the pieces out of their chest.”

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Miami Heat's LeBron James continues to dribble after falling as Washington Wizards' Alonzo Gee defends in a game last month. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

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Be emotional off the court. On the court, be Lee Van Cleef. Be Tony Montana. Be Nino Brown. Be the bad guy. - Dave Zirin

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'Be the Bad Guy' Tonight, LeBron

Winning is 'the only antidote' for raucous boos

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