Sports

LeBron James Angers Fans By Not Giving Them a Free Chalupa

by Jon Azpiri | November 19, 2008 at 11:48 am

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Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James was booed by his hometown fans after he denied them a chance to win a free Chalupa from Taco Bell.

The fast food chain offers fans at Cavs games a free Chalupa if the home team wins and scores more than 100 points. With seconds remaining in their game against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Cavs were winning 99-93. Rather than trying to score a quick basket to bring the score to 101, King James simply dribbled the ball until time ran out.

James had wowed fans earlier in the game with a free-throw line dunk, but fans turned on him by game's end. Cavs fans voiced their displeasure by booing James as the clock ran down.

James, for the record, wasn't too happy about it.

Anyway, LeBron said "I can't believe people who buy season tickets get worked up over a g-- d--- $1 (blank) taco."

Last month, Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett became a national hero by giving everyone in the US a free taco as part of Taco Bell's "Steal a Base, Steal a Taco" promotion, where the chain offers free tacos to everyone for the first stolen base of the World Series.

James, however, decided against giving fans free food, saying he was just following the order of Cavs head coach Mike Brown. Last season, Cavs forward Anderson Varejao was chastised by Brown for scoring a quick bucket at the end of a game to get the score to 100 points so fans could get a free Chalupa.

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jordan

at 11:55 on November 19th, 2008

I agree with LeBron on this one, actually.

JeffHuang

at 12:48 on November 19th, 2008

Me too. Lebron did the right thing there. No one likes it when the other team runs up the score even if it is for a free chalupa

kryss (not verified)

at 13:05 on November 19th, 2008

ima a cavs fan of course my hometown and i agree wit lebron thats childish and the 1 of da reasons why our teams doesnt win championships because da fans always turn on em

mazevedo

at 15:19 on November 19th, 2008

I am the only one with Anderson varejao on this one! Score the Basket and give the people who worship you a free Taco, the game was already won! Way to be selfish from my point of view! haha

Jon Azpiri

at 17:46 on November 19th, 2008

I remember going to a Vancouver Grizzlies game years ago where something like this happened. The Grizzlies were about to get a rare win and if they scored more than 101points, everyone would get a free spaghetti dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory. With the clock winding down, the Grizz were stuck at 100. They tried two or three times to get one more basket, but missed every shot. The crowd ended up booing them off the floor. The fans were mad because they didn't get free food but, unlike LeBron, the Grizzlies actually tried. Leave it to the Grizzlies to find a way to screw up one of the their few wins.

Tim E. (not verified)

at 10:32 on March 2nd, 2009

Believe me, as a trailblazers fan, I've had the displeasure of two free chalupas in the past. I don't turn my coupons in anymore. Those things are friggin' hideous. I think Lebron did his fans a favor.