LeBron James: The man bleeding in the arena

The only statline James’s critics were interested in was that he was now three from eight in the NBA finals, in contrast to Michael Jordan’s flawless six for six record.

Last Sunday, as LeBron James limbered up in the Boston TD Garden for the decisive Game Seven of the eastern conference finals, the TV cameras zoomed in on the his Nikes to study their various — and curious — hand-penned hashtag inscriptions.

One boot was a nod to family: His mother, wife and kids. The other was adorned with a few shorthanded motivational slogans, the most striking being ‘Man In The Arena’.