(Image Source: Miami Heat)

BY JIM FLINK

O’Brian: “Do you think there’s a role that race plays in any of this?”
James: “I think so at times. It’s always, um, a race factor.”
Carter: “It definitely played a role in some of the things coming out in the media. Things that were written for sure.” (CNN)

LeBron James and his manager Maverick Carter -- playing the race card -- in response to all the negative coverage James has received since bolting the Cleveland Cavaliers, and taking his talents to South Beach. Was it race -- that caused so many people to turn sour -- on the NBA superstar? Or -- was it just megalomania.

We’re sifting through the storm of reaction to that 13 seconds of video from CNN, ESPN, CBS Sports, Yahoo and Fox Sports.

First -- the topic of whether race played a role -- cut a wide swath across ESPN programming. Here’s a sampling.

Wilbon: “I’m glad to see LeBron stick his chin out there. Black athletes used to do this all the time, damn the consequences. And I’m not saying LeBron James is now Muhammed Ali, or Arthur Ashe, or Jim Brown -- but he didn’t run from this. And he gains respect in my book.”

Adande: “Well as the media let’s quote them accurately. Carter said a role. LeBron James said a factor. Neither of them said it was the overwhelming factor.

Plaschke: People were mad at them because they were young, and entitled, and arrogant...didn’t have anything to do with their color.”

CBS Sports Mike Freeman says, even if there’s a part of James’ statement that is true, this is still a smokescreen.

“James isn't wrong; there is truth in his statements. ... James is trying to have it both ways. He has catered to corporate America, mostly ignored issues that affect people of color, and then when so many people turned on James, he's now suddenly seeing the racial light.”

And on Fox Sports, Jason Whitlock says, ok, racism exists -- but not here.

“Racism exists. It touches the lives of millionaire black athletes, too. ... Just admit you were dead wrong and apologize. The people unwilling to accept your apology and move on are the people who have a problem with your skin color. The rest of us are just tired of seeing athletes do dumb (stuff).”

Finally, Yahoo’s Trey Kirby says, he has no idea whether race plays a role -- but who cares. When James committed to televising “The Decision” -- he made a bad one. The rest -- doesn’t matter.

“People who consider race when deciding how they feel about someone are more than happy to use these sort of statements against a person. Because they are stupid. People should hate "The Decision" because it was stupid, not because of LeBron James' race.”

So what do you think? Race Factor? Or scapegoating?