No athlete in America was more reviled during 2011 than LeBron James. Among some, there was a mean-spirited celebration of his failed championship predictions and related baggage that disguised the truly good season he had in reaching the championship precipice. For nearly a year Serena Williams suffered with a blood clot in her lung and foot surgery that precipitated her drop from a 2010 No. 1 ranking to 175th. That was an understandable relief for some and a “gotcha” for others who were jealous or tired of Serena’s in-your-face success.
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