We like our sports figures to be honest and genuine in their words.

We don’t want them to retreat behind mindless cliches, preferring that they say what is on their minds and speak from their hearts.

By all means give it to us straight. 

Except, of course, when they do.

This week is an apt illustration of the perils of both ends of that on fronts from South Beach to Sao Paulo, basketball to soccer. 

Take, for example, LeBron James’ infamous "not two, not three, not four …" speech about stringing together championships when he first put the band together in Miami. 

Think he hasn’t heard that echo in his ears the past few days as San Antonio has surged to a 3-games-to-1 lead in the NBA Finals?

Then, there is Juergen Klinsmann, the German-born coach of the U.S. team in the World Cup. His transgression, if you want to call it that — and a lot of people seem to — was playing down his team’s chances of somehow winning the word’s most sought-after championship. 

Well, summarily burying them, really, before even Group "G" the vaunted "Group of Death," gets a chance to.  

"We cannot win this World Cup because we are not at that level yet," Klinsmann said. "For us, we have to play the game of our lives seven times to win the tournament."

This was before the U.S. had been installed as 100-1 underdogs on some betting lines.

Das sandbagging? Hardly. Defeatism? Nope. 

With Teutonic rectitude, he reaffirmed his comments Wednesday in Brazil well in advance of Monday’s opener against Ghana, saying, "For us now talking about winning a World Cup, it is not realistic. If it is American or not, you can correct me."

Actually, that’s the point. Klinsmann was hired in 2011, one year after the U.S. elimination by Ghana in the last World Cup, to remake America’s team along German lines, changing a team culture. 

And German soccer, it has been said, is about as subtle as an elbow to the ribs.

It would have been easier and undoubtedly more palatable to fall back on a cliche or invoke the example of the 1980 Olympic hockey team.

Never mind that even before Klinsmann’s pointed pragmatism few expected the U.S., whose best finish was the semifinals in 1930, to emerge from this 32-team field with its first World Cup.

 But hearing it from the coach was something else. And, on many fronts, it was deemed nicht gut, especially for someone charged with building not only the team but national attention for the sport here.     

You get the feeling the outcry isn’t just about Klinsmann’s blunt words. It is also about ousting the iconic Landon Donovan, who was a stunning late cut from the team, and the sensibilities it has riled.

All of which have made Klinsmann a man under considerable scrutiny entering the U.S.’ opener. That’s something James knows a little about as his own trials move to San Antonio.

Not that it figures to stop either of them. Really, would you want it any other way?

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.