Lebron James Makes Questionable Comments About UNI Basketball Team

If you've played teams sports, you've had a bad loss. Not just a tough one, but a really bad one that made you question the very sport you play. The UNI men's basketball team had one of those moments on the most public of stages when they coughed up a 12 point lead with 44 seconds left to play against Texas A&M in the NCAA Tournament. You couldn't help but feel bad for the Panthers who were seconds away from the Sweet 16. Many pundits and sports stars weighed in and expressed sympathy for UNI. Not Lebron James. The Cleveland Cavaliers star was quoted as saying "I would quit basketball. If I was on Northern Iowa, I would quit."

Now this has obviously ruffled a lot of feathers, especially here in the state of Iowa. How could someone who has played the game of basketball as long as Lebron has say he would just quit after a tough loss? Did Lebron quit each time his team got beat in the NBA Finals? In an age where we over analyze every statement made be everyone, I think this was Lebron speaking off the cuff. I think it was his way of saying that the loss would feel so bad he would want to quit. UNI alum and Panther supporter Kurt Warner weighed in on Twitter.

The bottom line is, the Panther team showed great class even after the tough loss. They showed up for the post-game press conference. Paul Jesperson even did radio interviews in the following days. They may not have won the game, but acting like they have even after the loss, they've earned the respect of everyone. OK, almost everyone. Happy yet Lebron?

[via CBS Sports]