LeBron James Voices Support for Richard Sherman, Shreds Ridiculous 'Thug' Label

Richard Sherman sparked quite the media firestorm after his game-winning play for the Seattle Seahawks, one that allowed them to advance past the San Francisco 49ers and into the Super Bowl that will take place in New York.

Even baseball legend Hank Aaron has weighed in on the controversial corner, breaking a span of Twitter silence that stretched out over six months:

@RSherman_25 - hang in there & keep playing as well as you did Sunday. Excellent job - you have my support.

Now that list of supporters includes Miami Heat superstar LeBron James.

Thanks to his boisterous interview, brash attitude and unrelenting penchant for trash-talking, Sherman has been called quite a few derogatory words and phrases, all of which completely overlook a couple key facts.

LeBron wasn't going to stand for that, so he took to Twitter to express his thoughts:

I don't know one "thug" that graduated from Stanford and also working on their Masters! Dont judge a book by its cover

Did King James stop there?

Of course not, as he went on to show his support for Sherman in the upcoming game against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos:

Keep going ham on the field @RSherman_25! Best of luck in the SuperBowl dude.

According to B/R's Ethan Skolnick, LeBron also respected Sherman's passion, even if he felt the NFL's self-proclaimed best cornerback came across in a fashion that didn't allow his message to be received with clarity:

Re: that last @KingJames tweet. Spoke to him about Sherman on MON. His take? Respected his passion, could have been a bit less "boisterous."

If you're willing to keep an open mind, it's tough to disagree with LeBron.

I mean, I get that those who are rooting for the Broncos in the Super Bowl may not wish Sherman well when he travels to the Northeast two weekends from now. But as for the "thug" message, that's certainly a valid point by the NBA's reigning MVP.

What exactly was so thuggish about what Sherman said?

The claim that he was the best? The claim that Michael Crabtree was a "sorry receiver"? The loud voice and intent on looking right into the camera? The intentional ignoring of Erin Andrews' first question?

Maybe he didn't handle the interview in the best way possible, coming across in far more arrogant fashion than he presumably intended, but his outburst was more the result of passion and victory than him being a "thug."

Listen to LeBron, and try not to throw around labels in willy-nilly fashion.

Perhaps Sherman will be just as thankful to you as he was to the world's best basketball player.

Keep going ham on the field @RSherman_25! Best of luck in the SuperBowl dude.

Lebron not making himself any more likeable by those who already can't stand him...

I call them how I see them and Sherman isn't a thug.

His outburst was a bit much, but dig deeper. This guy is a pretty damn good guy on the field and off.

^^^^ I agree..........Sherman is playing a highly emotional game and he is an emotional guy on top of that just found out he going to the Super Bowl.....I've seen countless NFL players over the years (ex-players or current players) say when they get on a NFL field they turn into someone completely different than the person they are off the field due to the nature of the game...Thus, it doesn't surprise he was still in that mode after they put a mic in his face......Sure, we hear about some NFL players that get in trouble off the field at times, but there are many that don't including Sherman up to this point although I'm sure some will be patiently waiting to say "see, told ya Sherman a thug" even if it is something minor in the future that is off the field.

"Thug"....code speak for uppity negro in media circles when writing a column or referring to a black athlete. Term has also been adopted over the years by closeted racist fans when referring to opposing players.

moocow said:

"Thug"....code speak for uppity negro in media circles when writing a column or referring to a black athlete. Term has also been adopted over the years by closeted racist fans when referring to opposing players.

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this.

the term thug has been bastardized, it no longer is a violent person or a criminal it's somebody who speaks out of turn, that people don't like or respect, usually in reference to black players but not exclusive to. Aaron Hernandez is a thug, say what you want about Sherman, he may be loud, he may be brash, he may not be your style and you may hate him, all that is fair tho Im a fan, but he is no Aaron Hernandez, or anywhere close to being a thug.

To put it nicely and in terms everyone can understand, Sherman showed zero class when the game was decided.....he may be a great DB and good person off the field, but what he did when Erin gave him the microphone was uncalled for...

Aaron Hernandez (Patriots) = THUG

Richard Sherman (Seahawks) = Passionate and emotional

2 totally different classes of athlete

Richard Sherman is without question a flat-out THUG

Don't see how anyone could dispute this

It isnt just this latest incident

He cheats, he is a caught steroid user, he talks nonstop trash to classy players like brady for no reason, wears ridiculous dreadlocks, etc
etc etc

Walks, talks and acts like a thug=THUG

SURF EAGLE

NFLTrends said:

Aaron Hernandez (Patriots) = THUG

Richard Sherman (Seahawks) = Passionate and emotional

2 totally different classes of athlete

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I'm not denying Hernandez being a thug but what does that have to do with football? They both play/played with passion and emotion. Sherman isn't a thug, just a classless punk. He wouldn't bust a grape in a food fight.

I know one thing richard sherman is better @ life when compared to Aaron Hernandez

I think its great - you always want the best to be humble but sometimes you have to lose that humbleness to be the best.

VIEJO DINOSAUR said:

To put it nicely and in terms everyone can understand, Sherman showed zero class when the game was decided.....he may be a great DB and good person off the field, but what he did when Erin gave him the microphone was uncalled for...

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We don't know all the details of what was said between the two, but FOX shoved a microphone in the guys face 3 minutes after an intense NFC championship game was played. I've got no problem with him being 'real'.

SURF EAGLE said:

Richard Sherman is without question a flat-out THUG

Don't see how anyone could dispute this

It isnt just this latest incident

He cheats, he is a caught steroid user, he talks nonstop trash to classy players like brady for no reason, wears ridiculous dreadlocks, etc
etc etc

Walks, talks and acts like a thug=THUG

SURF EAGLE

Click to expand...

You have no idea what you're talking about. Completely clueless and it shows clearly.