LeBron James gave a shout-out to Olympic hero Michael Phelps in his acceptance speech for Sports Illustrated‘s Sportsperson of the Year Award this week.
James, who won the award for leading his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, to its first-ever NBA title, said he hadn’t written his speech but was speaking “from the heart.” Immediately after thanking Sports Illustrated for honoring him with the Sportsperson of the Year award, James mentions Phelps’ as one of the great athletes to compete in the year 2016:
“There were so many unbelievable achievements in 2016, and we’ve seen so many great athletes,” James says. “Obviously, Mike Phelps, you got – we talk about you at the crib so much, man. You are literally a fish. Literally. Like, I have no idea how you do what you do. You would definitely win the game that me and my boys play – let’s see who can stay under the water the longest and not come up. You’re not invited to that game, by the way.”
Phelps is one of just two sports stories James specifically brings up in his recounting of the year, the other being the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series. James is one of two two-time winners of the Sportsperson of the Year award, the other being Tiger Woods. Phelps was honored with the award back in 2008 after winning 8 gold medals at the Beijing Olympics.
You can watch the video on the Sports Illustrated site by following this link.
Michael Phelps became a hero again by getting clean and getting back in the pool and winning.
Makes for a much happier ending to the story than a retired swimmer with a drinking problem.
Yes Lebron, he swam like a fish, and he competed like a shark (just ask Chad LeClos).
LeBron is a quality person. He does a lot of charity work, and brings some much-needed enthusiasm to Cleveland.
Except Phelps supports Steph curry over Lebron. Everyone knows how arrogant Lebron is to opponents in his own sport I mean he is the equivalent of Chad le Clos or Milorad Cavic filled with hate for the opponent and only wishes to brag about themselves.
Michael Phelps, Michael Jordan, Steph Curry all have one thing in common and that is that they respect ALL opponents within their own individual sports and are never satisfied with their own performance but they don’t publicly acknowledge it rather they are humble about the wins. When Lebron wins he is like a wild African gorilla pounding his chest with the need to celebrate so that the whole world knows his achievement, he did… Read more »
“He is like a wild African gorilla.”
Uhhhh I feel like you wouldn’t make that comparison to Phelps or Garret Weber Gale after the 400fr relay in Beijing. Even though they went animal mode. Of course, Lezak was in the water. And I didn’t mention Cullen…
Why is that?
And Michael Jordan is commonly regarded as a cocky, I’m better than you type of person. You need a little bit of that to be an elite athlete.
As for Jordan respecting all his opponents… “Shoot, you f#&king midget.”
I think all if not most top elite athletes are arrogant to a point. I think when your the best of the best at what you do it’s hard not to be.
Wild African gorilla? I know these are hyper-sensitive times but in any era that’s stepping way over the line.
Who cares if someone trash talks in a sport like basketball Lebron, knows he’s the best currently playing and one of the top 3 ever. He has earned his right to brag. Steph may be the best shooter in the league but it don’t matter cause nobody can do as many things as well as Lebron James. Dude earned his right to talk smack like all the other greats. Curry ain’t at that level
I think this comment should be removed.it is offensive and racist.
Idi bre pa se leči.
uuuuuuuh, you talking about the same Michael Jordan that was second in trash talk only to reggie miller? the same Jordan that punched a teammate in the face at practice because he wasn’t giving 100% and told mike to calm down? and if we want to talk about pounding the chest after win, I’m about 99.9999999999999999999%+1% more sure that phelps has actually physically beaten his chest after winning. see 09 worlds as example. plus he gets on the lane lines, splashes water, flashes the number of golds he has gotten, number of Olympics made. oh but then he gives them a hand shake!!! yeah so do all other athletes. Just say you don’t like LeBron and move on man.
oh and just for another little tid bit,
MJ likes to remind people all the time, he has 6 championships.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjtieHW24DRAhWp6IMKHQcqD2MQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Faugustm.photoshelter.com%2Fimage%2FI0000ryl1ZdzYc_o&psig=AFQjCNF-ZDBk9oH19TZi0aUsfcEwZLpapg&ust=1482252643571392
phelps showing off
http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjXqark24DRAhUhxoMKHRnwCFMQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F2649253-michael-phelps-becomes-1st-american-male-swimmer-to-qualify-for-5-olympics&bvm=bv.142059868,d.cGw&psig=AFQjCNHF7wQrS-NxIdjYZh9zKswQNZSMDQ&ust=1482252708090629
and chest beating…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XUsPFzy7jw
Nice how respected he is by other athletes, very positive for the sport in general.
Boss
Pretty awesome.
VERY awesome!!
Phelps makes swimming mainstream. Won’t be the same without him.
I wonder if Fina made a big mistake banning the high tech polyurethane suits. It was a bit ridiculous for the athletes and fans, but for the first time swimming was on the front page outside of them Olympics.
Yes, those suits were selling like crazy and lots swimwear companies were making a nice profit. Hurt them and in turn their ability to sponsor athletes