Gotta Give It Up To Lebron For Going Out Of His Way To Congratulate The Young Recipient Of A Special Olympics MVP Award During The Game Lat Night

(Source) – LeBron James gave one fan a surprise he won’t soon forget. During the Cleveland Cavaliers’ game against the Boston Celtics Tuesday night, Dec. 15, James was in a time-out huddle when he looked up and saw that the home-team Celtics were honoring 16-year-old Aaron Miller, a Special Olympics athlete. During the huddle, James noticed that Miller was wearing a special version of James’ shoe line that was designed for customers with special needs. The Zoom Soldier 8 shoe comes with a single strap instead of laces, making it easier to get on and off for people with disabilities. Seeing his shoes on Miller, James decided to go over and say hello. He was greeted with Miller’s thrilled expression. Miller was born with brain damage and was told by doctors he would be physically and mentally paralyzed for life. However, after “thousands of hours” of surgery and physical therapy, Miller now competes on his school’s golf and basketball teams, Fox Sports reported. After the game was finished, James handed Miller the shoes he’d worn on the court that night, Cleveland.com reported. Now Miller has two pairs of LeBron James’ signature collection shoes. “When I saw that, when I saw his story, it was just like I felt like I was a part of him,” James said, the outlet reported. “I was just showing him my respect and gave him my shoes. And it was well received by him. It’s not for you guys, it’s not for the fans. It was for him.”

I know part of working for Barstool means you’ve gotta have “I hate Lebron” in your handle but I never really subscribed to that. I don’t know if it’s because I’m not the world’s biggest basketball fan or because I acknowledge that I’d be a little odd too if I started getting ESPN covers at like 13, but it doesn’t really matter because this isn’t about why I like or dislike Lebron. It’s about how you’re an asshole if you can’t give it up for him here. Like him or dislike him, love him or loathe him, if you find an excuse to put down what Lebron did there, going out of his way mid-game to literally make the life of a special needs athlete, then you’re a dickhead. Sure, if you were a super cocksucker you could acknowledge how Lebron going for the handshake was pretty ridiculous, and how he didn’t need to wipe his hands off so fiercely and immediately, as if Aaron had cooties, but all that’s unnecessary. Even though I just said it, I do truly mean that. Hats off to Lebron for legitimately everything about this story: creating the shoes, noticing the shoes, taking time to go over and put a huge smile on that kid’s face, and giving him your own kicks as a take home gift. All of it is topnotch stuff. Well done.

And a bigger hats off to Aaron for destroying the odds and playing sports after being told he’d be physically and mentally paralyzed for life. Incredible to see someone who received that diagnosis standing up and rooting on the Cs like any old Green Teamer.