LeBron James

[dimbee]

Did 'BronBron do any dancing yesterday? I didn't catch the game. He'd be a great one for Dancing With The Stars if the schedules didn't overlap one another.

[mj4life]

I dont know if yall saw that Reggie Miller-Knicks special on ESPN, but they showed old clips in the late 80s and early 90s of the Knicks. And maaaaaan!!! Guys used to be physical as hell back then. They allowed hand checking, guys were getting in fights and knocking guys down for trying to lay the ball up or dunk. Today, because of the image of the players, Stern has "softened" the game up and made it flashier. Think about it, if guys today tried to pull the stunts that Laimbeer, Charles Oakley, & Mahorn used to do, they'd be ridiculed in the press and get long suspensions. Those guys used to do poo and then sit out 1 game. LOL. The game has changed, and its a new era. But I agree, I miss the rivalries and guys can be too friendly nowadays. Kevin Garnett was jawing off heavy to LeBron at the end of the game too.

caught that about reggie vs knicks, also remember some of classic pistons vs bulls, bulls vs. knicks and celtic vs. lakers. those teams didn't like each other and it made for great tv

[King Taharqa]

King to star in blockbuster movie this summer

As I'm sure you already know, LeBron James is "probably not playing" in this summer's world championships. And while that didn't sit well with USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo, LeBron James has other commitments. Namely, "Fantasy Basketball Camp," a basketball comedy that's filming over the summer. Hey, a guy has to put food on his family.

With a name like "Fantasy Basketball Camp," we could have guessed what the flick was going to be about. But thanks to the Melodie Smith at the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, we don't have to. Action!

Writer-director Malcolm D. Lee ("Soul Men," "Undercover Brother") will direct "Fantasy Basketball Camp," a comedy set to star LeBron James, the Hollywood Reporter said.

"The story centers on five men who come to Las Vegas to live out their fantasy by attending the LeBron James Adult Basketball Camp, only to end up dragging James into their various life issues," THR said.

Peter Steinfeld ("21," "Be Cool") is writing a new draft of the script, which was originally penned by Hollywood writing vets Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel.

From the writer of "21" and "Be Cool?" Very excellent. There's no way this will be as good as "Just Wright," but that's true of every sports movie ever made, and most movies in general. Apparently, it's the year of the basketball movie and no one told me.

Needless to say, we should all be very excited about this movie and buy tickets as soon as possible. After all, two of LeBron's biggest influences — Michael Jordan and Shaquille O'Neal — both made movies and those turned out spectacularly. This is a can't miss.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Get-excited-mdash-the-new-LeBron-James-movie-i;_ylt=Akky9H5ZNcUbcfXbIrEZAdW8vLYF?urn=nba,232458

[Crixtala]

My favorite part of the article...?

Hey, a guy has to put food on his family.

What? LOL

[dimbee]

I hope he shows off his dancing skills in the movie.

[King Taharqa]

John Wall to join LeBron James Marketing Firm

For LeBron James, this has been the year of chasing everything: a championship, an MVP and the unfolding hysteria of the biggest free-agency filing in history. Yet beyond dominating the game, James has harbored hopes of controlling elements of basketball’s commerce and that’s the reason he’s spent more than a year pursuing the next big star, the University of Kentucky’s John Wall.

James befriended Wall at his All-American camp as a high school senior, traveled to campus to watch him play and even enlisted rapper Drake to woo Wall to LRMR, James’ fledgling marketing company.

Now, multiple NBA, agent and sneaker industry sources say Wall is close to partnering with the firm. As the projected No. 1 pick in the 2010 NBA draft, perhaps the most-hyped pro prospect since James himself, Wall will have his marketing and endorsements guided with the perks of a partnership with the globe’s biggest basketball star.

James’ childhood friend, Maverick Carter, is the CEO of LRMR and responsible for running his management company. Carter’s had a consistent presence with Wall’s AAU coach and surrogate, Brian Clifton, for months, and Clifton offered nothing to dispute the word of sources who say James and Wall are going into business together.

Clifton insisted there’s nothing “formal in place” with LRMR, and an announcement wouldn’t happen until Wall completes paperwork to enter the draft. Still, Clifton told Yahoo! Sports, “Maverick is a really good friend and does a tremendous job. It would be smart on anybody’s part to work with him. He’s done some very innovative things. He has an innovative way of thinking.

“The areas they’re moving into would be beneficial to John or any kid. They can select who they want to work with, and it’s absolutely flattering to be considered. These guys are young enough and new enough that what they’re doing hasn’t been around to be in vogue. I don’t think it’s much of a gamble or a long shot. They’re doing a lot of things right, in my opinion.”

With James’ own massive marketing platform – much of which was negotiated under previous agent Aaron Goodwin – most would say the expertise consists simply of sorting through a forest of elite offers. This will be the first true test for LRMR. Those in the industry have mostly scoffed at the young, inexperienced Carter and the rest of the high school pals that comprise the company. All they have to do is answer the phone, doubters insist. Now, they’ll get to prove themselves with Wall.

In the short term, they’ll be negotiating a sneaker deal that promises to invigorate a stagnant market for young players. Reebok is banking that Wall can be its product’s face with the demise of Allen Iverson, and multiple sources say the company’s prepared an offer that could be worth $3 million-$4 million annually. Here’s the test for LRMR: Does it have the chops to get Wall more than the traditional shoe deal?

“Wall isn’t going to be LeBron, but he’s the most-hyped player to come since him,” a rival sneaker industry official said. “And, sometimes, hype is just as important as talent.”

LRMR briefly represented O.J. Mayo and used James to recruit Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Jonny Flynn out of Syracuse a year ago. Sources say James has played a significant role in recruiting Syracuse’s next lottery pick, Wesley Johnson.

Nevertheless, LRMR has struggled financially with little, if anything, but James’ own marketing money floating the company. From salaries and offices, lawyers and private jets, 5-star hotels and expense accounts, there’s been far more going out than coming into the company, sources say.

If Carter is short on credentials, his close association with James delivers him the ultimate back-stage pass in the industry. At All-Star weekend in Dallas, Carter was invited into a small gathering between the NBA’s most powerful player agents and Players Association executive director Billy Hunter. “That was the one way the union could guarantee that LeBron would show up for the meeting with the owners,” a prominent agent said.

Because of James, Carter has cachet. Everyone has to take meetings with him. What LRMR has tried to sell to players is this: LeBron can’t take every deal offered him. Sometimes, his hand-me-downs are better than anything else out there. They tried hard to recruit New Orleans star Chris Paul(notes) away from Octagon, but sources say Paul ultimately balked at the idea of purchasing equity in the company.

“They needed Chris a lot more than Chris needed them,” a league marketing source said.

James will go back again and again for Kentucky’s stars. Rival agents gasped when close associate, William Wesley, walked into a Wildcat game with rapper Drake. As one said, “How the hell can I compete with that?” James has made himself part of the Kentucky program. Kentucky coach John Calipari has deftly positioned himself as a favorite of James, hiring one of his high school teammates, Brandon Weems, in his basketball operations, and treating James like an honorary alumnus. It’s good for Calipari’s and James’ recruiting.

“People have made more of that relationship than those two have,” Clifton said. “John’s been at school. He isn’t a professional. But to have a chance to rub elbows with someone of LeBron’s stature is something any kid in the sport would love. John has tremendous respect for LeBron and his accomplishments, and obviously there’s going to be a ‘cool’ factor…”

What college star doesn’t want to trade phone calls and text messages with James? As long as there’s no money or services given, there’s no violation. “Yeah, I have a relationship with him,” James told the Cleveland Plain Dealer earlier this season. “A really good relationship. With not only John, but his family. We talk all the time.”

No one can doubt LeBron James’ ambitions. He wants to be the biggest mogul this sport’s ever seen and he’ll likely start with the molding of the next big star’s career. As he chased that championship, that MVP, James made it his business to chase John Wall, too. Yes, this is ambition like no one’s ever seen in the sport. And yet as James discovered, it’s one thing to come into the NBA with hype and famous associations, but another to live up to it all.

“What you do on the court is what matters,” Clifton said. “If you focus on your affiliation with LeBron and don’t take care of your business and don’t become the guy you’re supposed to be, it does very little good.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AvxB2thXQ6_VmEeZ.qQATYO8vLYF?slug=aw-lebronwall041310

LeBron James, your favorite basketball player's favorite basketball player.

[King Taharqa]

I hope he shows off his dancing skills in the movie.

Did it bother you that Wall did that silly dance at UK all last year? Or is it different when LeBron does it?

[dimbee]

There is a significant difference, KT, between dancing in the tunnel with your teammates before a game and stopping after a dunk to do some stupid little dance (rather than hustling back down the court). Wouldn't you agree that there is a difference between the two, KT? Furthermore, isn't one of these people an 18 year old amateur and the other a supposed professional?

[CarolinaPride5]

Gotta love LeBron, not playing with team USA this summer because he has a movie to film! LMAO! You will never see or never have seen Kobe do ish like that. LeBron is a great player, but needs to straighten up and stop being so childish.

[King Taharqa]

There is a significant difference, KT, between dancing in the tunnel with your teammates before a game and stopping after a dunk to do some stupid little dance (rather than hustling back down the court). Wouldn't you agree that there is a difference between the two, KT? Furthermore, isn't one of these people an 18 year old amateur and the other a supposed professional?

LeBron is a professional showman, and like many athletes sometimes he puts on a show. Its no different than Steve Smith celebrating after getting a 1st down or scoring a TD. Or one of the Bears lineman getting hyped and doing a dance after getting a sack on a QB. These are paid athletes who are paid to perform and entertain. This is not little league or pee wee we're your primary goal is to "teach the game", this is not amateur sports. We're not worried about "feelings" at this level, so I dont understand why LeBron gets singled out for celebrating and showing emotion in his sport. And if this is the biggest knock on him as a sportsman and athlete, what does that say about him overall?

[King Taharqa]

Gotta love LeBron, not playing with team USA this summer because he has a movie to film! LMAO! You will never see or never have seen Kobe do ish like that. LeBron is a great player, but needs to straighten up and stop being so childish.

LeBron's never demanded his team trade him because he wasnt good enough to get them out of the 1st round every year. That was your boy Kobe just 3 years ago. And Kobe sat out the US team in 06. So its not like he hasnt done this before either. The Lakers winning the past couple years has made people forget alot of Kobe's childish antics. He was nowhere near as grounded or humble as LeBron is at age 25. Very few 25 year olds on this planet could handle the instant fame, success, and money that LeBron has gotten as well as he has. Thats why he's not as polarizing and is so much more likeable than Kobe ever was.

[Britneck]

You know he is demanding a title and the Cavs put people around him just like Kobe or he is out? He extended his contract last time only because the Cav's started putting people around him to get him a shot at a title. Thats with a lot of big players. Not just Kobe. My only knock on Lebron was him not playing these last games of the season. Yes he is a showman and people pay good money to see him play. I go and see the Cavs every year and it sure as hell isn't to see Boobie Gibson. Everyone compares him to Jordan and he would play no matter how far their lead was. And he wouldn't dance after a dunk.

[dimbee]

LeBron is a professional showman, and like many athletes sometimes he puts on a show. Its no different than Steve Smith celebrating after getting a 1st down or scoring a TD. Or one of the Bears lineman getting hyped and doing a dance after getting a sack on a QB. These are paid athletes who are paid to perform and entertain. This is not little league or pee wee we're your primary goal is to "teach the game", this is not amateur sports. We're not worried about "feelings" at this level, so I dont understand why LeBron gets singled out for celebrating and showing emotion in his sport. And if this is the biggest knock on him as a sportsman and athlete, what does that say about him overall?

The difference between 'bron-'bron's dancing and the examples you cite are the football players are celebrating in deadball situations. Your guy's taking time to dance a little jig during live game action. "Ooooh, I just dunked again! Let me take a second to make sure everyone is watching me and do a little butt wiggle, shoulder bounce dance. Everyone watching??"

Lame.

Look, my point is that if Lebron wants to be the standard and set the standard, then he needs to start acting like it.

[King Taharqa]

Look, my point is that if Lebron wants to be the standard and set the standard, then he needs to start acting like it.

He already is the standard (which is why you frequent & comment in this thread so much).