Letter: UNI team should be proud of season

I feel the comments made by LeBron James about the University of Northern Iowa Men's Basketball Team after their loss to Texas A&M were offensive. Those young men played their hearts out and what they deserved to hear were positive comments that were compassionate and empathetic. Not being joked about by someone they probably admired; before he made negative comments about them.

James would understand their hurt and disappointment if he had ever played the game for something other than money or himself. A lot of these young men will never play competitive basketball again, at least not at the Division I level. Given other negative comments made and behaviors exhibited by James, that are rude and disrespectful, his employer and teammates are now fed up with and are addressing.

Kids look up to athletes and sometimes try to copy them, how they play the game and how they think they behave off the court. How would James feel if similar comments were made about his sons, then read across the country via the Internet? It seems James does not care about what he says, what he does, or whom it hurts. The UNI Men's Basketball Team had an outstanding season and they should be proud of what they achieved this season. I am, and I am quite sure there more than a few Iowans that are also.

Stephen Canty Sr.

Cedar Rapids