
Batman had one named Robin, and apparently so does NBA player LeBron James. He calls his Savannah. Savannah Brinson, that is -- longtime girlfriend and mother of his two sons.
James, 25, has the Internet (mainly women) in an uproar because of a recent interview in Harper's Bazaar September issue. In it, James called his high school sweetheart his "sidekick."
"A person like myself always needs a great sidekick," James told the magazine. "A person you can rely on no matter the circumstances. And she's that. She's got my back, and I love her for that."
You could hear the gasp from women everywhere as the the interview snippet posted around the 'net. Heads swayed, eyes rolled and fingers snapped as women typed in comment sections exactly how they felt about James calling his main squeeze his sidekick.
I laughed as so many readers got upset over something so trivial. Reading the entire interview, it's apparent that despite his word choice, the couple has a comfortable and healthy relationship. I'm sure Brinson, 24, and James aren't losing any sleep over it. Too many people project their own feelings about their own dysfunctional relationships on the celebrities they think they know. Just because your man calls you "strawberry seed" or "butterfly boo boo" doesn't mean LeBron has to, or that Savannah even wants him to.
In hopes of preserving a level of serenity and peace, here's a list of pet names far worse than "sidekick" that men should avoid. Some men use these nicknames as terms of endearment, but after the "Sidekick Scandal," I warn men to think twice, and I would of hated to see what would of happened if James used any of these words. *Gasp*
Baby Girl
Some women get very agitated when called this, as if their maturity comes into question when it's used. Fellas, watch it. If your woman gives off an air of self-righteousness, snobbishness or has a big ego, avoid this name. Imagine the response if said to the wrong woman: "Un uh, do I look like your daughter? I'm a grown woman, not a little girl..." Oh boy.
Old Lady
On the other end of the spectrum, this is a name that may make a woman think you've become bored with her. Seriously, it's rarely used these days, but calling any woman this no matter how old or young she is a big no-no.
Shawty
Southern rappers have tried and tried to make this name cool, but calling the woman you love this is pretty disrespectful. Because it's so generally used, it has become synonymous with chick or girl, and shawty carries the denotation of a play thing versus the real thing.
My Bi*ch
This might be a term of endearment in more 'hood circles, but no self-respecting woman wants to be equated to a female dog. Yes, Peaches and Alize might love when you call them this, but 9 out of 10 times this name is derogatory, and will NOT work.
Homie or Friend
Calling a woman you are seriously dealing with either one of these terms along with any of these derivations -- buddy, pal, etc -- might get you slapped.
Follow writer Shirea L. Carroll on Twitter @InviteOnly



Comments: (37)
Add a comment
By: jackie smurf on 8/16/2010 3:39AM
Will he ever call her "My Wife?"
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: jackie smurf on 8/16/2010 3:39AM
Not choosing a better word/name to call her shows his immaturity.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Phillytweey on 8/16/2010 1:40PM
In the words of Jill Scott, "Sister, Honey, GUURRRL!" Come on. LeBron did not use a poor choice of words; he called it how he saw it. She is his sidekick. It is clear based on the previous article that this woman wants to be married but finds herself with a man that does not. I think to dismiss this as a slip of the mind is inaccurate. This is really a window on his heart. Listen you can febreeze "pooh" all you want to; it is still "pooh" and that is exactly what this is! It saddens me when anyone settles for less than what they want and need. He should love his sidekick enough to give that to her.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: PRINCESS on 8/19/2010 4:16AM
4 EVERYONE'S INFO LEBRON WAS WITH A WHITE GIRL @ HIS SCHOOL WHILE WITH MS BRINSON....SHE JUST CAUGHT HIM SLIPPING AND BECAME PREGGO! THEREFO HE DIDNT WANT B LIKE HIS FATHER,NOR MOTHER WHO HAS BEEN ON SOME SERIOUS DRUGS & NOT B THERE FOR HIS KIDS! HER FAMILY SURE IN HELL AINT GOING 2 LET HER MEAL TICKET GET AWAY!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Mary on 8/17/2010 5:27PM
All young people have marriage, babies,husbands and wife's all mixed up. Number one the young lady is not too smart, if you have two babies by a man you should not be his side kick, you should be his wife. Young lady why are you not good enough to be his wife. You talk about the white women having all the black men, thats because they are not side kicks they become the wife. Stop being a side kick.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Jassie on 8/20/2010 3:49AM
SHES BEAUTIFUL I HOPE HE MARRIES HER AND UNLIKE A PREVIOUS COMMENT I READ SHE IS A TROPHY AND I DOUBT SHE TRAPPED HIM OBVIOUSLY THEYVE BEEN TOGETHER FOR YEARS SO ITS NOT LIKE SHES SOME ROUND-THE-WAY-GOLDIGGING-WHORE SHE OOZES CLASS SO SOME OF YALL REALLY SHOULD STOP HATEIN AND GIVE PROPS WHERE PROPS SHOULD BE GIVEN!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: fabulouzksaryia on 9/13/2010 10:05PM
Why are people continuously dogging this woman out?? And we pride ourselves on sticking together. Adults are more petty than the younger generation. I think that if Savannah wants to leave Lebron then she will. Up until that point the media and fans have no idea what goes on inside their home. We are on the outside looking in and we, especially you, should mind your own business and worry about your own lives and relationships. If they are happy with their relationship then who are we to judge?
Reply to this Comment | Report This