LeBron James

[King Taharqa]

Akron planning day to honor The King

CLEVELAND (AP)—LeBron James, Akron’s greatest export this side of rubber tires, is being honored with an event in his hometown.

The NBA’s two-time MVP will be recognized on June 19 at “LeBron Appreciation Day” in the University of Akron’s InfoCision Stadium. The celebration is aimed at convincing James to re-sign with the Cavaliers in July, when he is eligible to become a free agent.

Akron community and civic leaders, including Mayor Don Plusquellic, are scheduled to participate in the free event for James with a goal “to bring together as many people as possible to send a unified message of support to our hometown hero LeBron James.”

It is not yet known if James will attend.

The 25-year-old James will hold his annual bike-a-thon in Akron in August.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Au6ByPAyq.S4cEuObGcbz2aLvLYF?slug=ap-lebronday

[King Taharqa]

REPORT: LEBRON COULD BRING $2 BILLION TO CHICAGO

Crains Chicago Business recently published an article examining the potential impact a LeBron James-to-Chicago move could have on the Windy City.

The so-called "LeBron effect" could tally up to as much as $2.7 billion for Chicago, according to University of Illinois at Chicago economist John Skorburg, who was consulted as part of the report.

Skorburg's projection was specifically geared toward Chicago, but one would expect the impact would be similar -- or possibly even greater -- in a similarly sized market. James could possibly bring even more money into a larger market like in New York City, and his impact on a Dallas-sized market would also be substantial.

A few other interesting tidbits from the Crains report:

--LeBron's star power could be just as big as Michael Jordan's was at the peak of his career, according to the report. They cite "the proliferation of digital media and the global reach of today's NBA" as reasons for James' massive popularity and potential earning power.

--James makes $28 million in annual endorsements.

--James' impact on Chicago could be seen last season even when he was a member of the visiting team. A restaurant owner was quoted as saying business more than doubled on the four occasions James played in Chicago last season.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/053110dnspolebronbillions.562ae25e.html

[King Taharqa]

KING SPEAKS WITH KING

CLEVELAND (AP)—One month from the start of the NBA’s free agency frenzy, LeBron James said he’s not close to making any decision.

However, he has handicapped his field of suitors.

The Cleveland Cavaliers lead the pack.

In his first interview since the Cavs’ season ended with a shocking, second-round loss to Boston, James told CNN’s Larry King that Cleveland “does have an edge” to re-sign him when the greatest collection of free agents in league history hits the open market on July 1.

King, who interviewed James at the two-time MVP’s home near Akron on Tuesday, asked the superstar if Cleveland has “an edge going in?”

“Absolutely,” James said in a portion of the interview released by the network. “Because, you know, this city, these fans, I mean, have given me a lot in these seven years. And, you know, for me, it’s comfortable. So I’ve got a lot of memories here. And so it does have an edge.

“It’s going to be a very interesting summer and I’m looking forward to it.”

Before sitting down with King, James had not talked any media members since the Cavs were eliminated by the Celtics, who then knocked off Orlando and will meet the Los Angeles Lakers in the finals starting Thursday.

James believes the Celtics can beat the Lakers and win their 18th NBA title.

The New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, New Jersey Nets and Los Angeles Clippers are among a group of teams expected to make a strong push for James, who is humbled by all the attention as well as recent comments by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who wants him to sign with the Knicks, and President Barack Obama, who would like to see him step into Michael Jordan’s shadow with the Bulls.

James seemed intrigued by the Clippers and the chance to play near Hollywood.

“They’ve got some really good players. Some really nice, solid pieces that, if they add a free agent here or a free agent there, it could be a really good team. It’s a great city. But at the same time, it’s not always about the city. It’s about winning. If you put me and Bosh on the same team, if you put me and Dwayne Wade on the same team, a lot of teams would be much better. You know, the Cavs would be much better.”

And while he’ll consult with advisers, family and friends, James said the choice of his next team will up to one person.

“It’s going to be me,” he said. “I’m going to have to sit down and say ‘where do you want to play’?

James has spent all seven seasons as a pro with the Cavs, who offered him a contract extension last year and can give him $30 million more than any other team in a maximum-length deal.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Ag7bvUW_eraVgimVpQs8HgaLvLYF?slug=ap-lebron-larrykinginterview

The interview will air Friday night on CNN.

[King Taharqa]

LeBron makes dramatic appearance at Akron rally for him

AKRON, Ohio (AP)—LeBron James turned his big bash into a surprise party.

With thousands of hometown fans already gone or leaving “LeBron Appreciation Day” on Saturday, James stunned everyone by walking through a side gate into nearly empty InfoCision Stadium on the University of Akron’s campus— after the event officially ended.

As fans screamed and pushed to get closer to the two-time NBA MVP, James, who lives a short drive from the school, made his way down to the playing field. James was then presented with a gorgeous crystal trophy, which had to be pulled out of a box after being packed away.

“Akron is my home, it’s my life,” James told the crowd after accepting the city’s first Hometown Hero Award. “Everything I do is for this city. I’m going to continue to do great things. I love every last one of you all. Akron is home.”

James was then escorted through a door to the football team’s locker room and waved to fans before disappearing almost as quickly as he arrived.

Before James’ shocking entrance, nearly 4,000 fans celebrated all things LeBron.

They came to honor the local kid, who has put Akron on the map but who will soon decide if he wants to stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers or sign with another team. James has remained noncommittal about his future, and is not expected to address his plans before free agency begins on July 1.

The 25-year-old did not commit to organizers that he would be at the event, which was sponsored by local businesses and the city. He did not address free agency during his 10-minute stay, his second public appearance since his season ended with a second-round playoff loss to the Boston Celtics.

James and his agent, Leon Rose, recently met with Cavs officials and have been in communication with the team throughout the offseason.

While making plans to attempt to re-sign James, the team is also in the midst of a coaching search. Earlier this week, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo turned down an offer to coach Cleveland, saying one of the reasons was the uncertainty about James’ future.

The Cavs have had contact with other candidates and hope to interview former New Orleans Hornets coach Byron Scott.

For a while, the closest thing to a James sighting was Danny Hopkins, a 27-year-old from Akron who won a LeBron-look-alike contest.

“People always come up to me and say, ‘Hey you look like LeBron,” Hopkins said. “I can’t help it.”

During the one-hour ceremony, fans listened to proclamations from city leaders and watched a video message from Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel, a former Cavs ballboy who revealed that he keeps a LeBron James bobblehead on his office desk in Columbus.

“Everyone in the state of Ohio wants you to be a Cavalier forever,” Tressel said. “We have great things we can do down the road and we can’t do them without you.”

Hundreds of fans waited on a line snaking around the stadium before the gates opened at 10 a.m. Once inside, they received free T-shirts commemorating the event and watched “More Than A Game,” a documentary about James and four childhood friends on the stadium’s scoreboard.

Several fans sported James’ No. 23 jersey and there were signs pleading with him to re-sign with the Cavs, who can offer James more money than any other team on a maximum contract.

Ken Metz brought a home-made flag with the word “Hope” spray painted on it.

“There’s no way he can leave,” Metz, a 19-year-old from Parma, Ohio, said as he surveyed the crowd. “It’s all here for him. He built his empire here.”

For some in the crowd, the thought of saying goodbye to James is hard to fathom.

“We have watched him grow up,” said Krista Stakleff, who came with her brother, Brandon. “You just feel like he is family. You don’t want to see him go.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Ao2jxm2coQ.gdOMSkmlHZ1i8vLYF?slug=ap-lebronday

[King Taharqa]

LeBron James leads charge into free agency

The free agency period has opened, with LeBron James leading perhaps the deepest group of players to ever hit the open market in the NBA.

Teams could begin making their pitches at 12:01 a.m. this morning, and some were getting started quickly.

The New Jersey Nets and Knicks are scheduled for visits today to Ohio to meet with James, the two-time MVP who heads the class. Hip-hop mogul and minority owner Jay-Z is going to be a part of the recruiting team for the Nets during free agency, and not just when they meet with his good buddy, James.

The list also includes other All-Stars such as Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Dirk Nowitzki, Amare Stoudemire and Carlos Boozer.

“We’ve never had anything like this in my time that I can remember,” New Jersey Nets president Rod Thorn said.

In an unexpected turn of events, the Cavaliers are in “serious talks” with former New Orleans coach Byron Scott, a person familiar with Cleveland’s dramatic and drawn-out search told The Associated Press. Scott, who was presumed to have fallen behind Lakers assistant Brian Shaw on the Cavs’ list, could be named their coach by today.

The person said Cleveland has not yet offered Scott the job, “but is moving toward an agreement with him.”

Scott, a two-time NBA coach of the year, was believed to be a leading candidate to replace Phil Jackson in Los Angeles if the 11-time champion retired. Jackson is expected to announce his plans later this week, but Scott’s renewed interest in Cleveland - hours before James hit the free agent market - could indicate Jackson will return to try and win a third straight championship with the Lakers.

Shaw is reportedly Jackson’s preferred choice to take over in Los Angeles.

The Cavs have been without a coach since firing Mike Brown after five seasons. Brown’s dismissal, less than two weeks after the team fell short of a title with a second-round loss to the Celtics [team stats].

http://news.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/other_nba/view/20100701lebron_james_leads_charge_into_free_agency_midnight_madness/srvc=home&position=recent

[BF91]

To be honest, the two best places for LeBron to go from a strictly basketball standpoint are Chicago and New Jersey. Both of those team already have established players at the two most important positions in basketball: point guard and center. New Jersey also has the coach with the highest active winning percentage in Avery Johnson.

[Boltergeist]

Coco weighs in

I don't care where LeBron James ends up... As long as it's not at 11pm on TBS.

[DaCityKats]

jersey is the sleeper in all of this.with budding star at the 5 and star at the 1 this team could do something.favors will develop and williams is nice they just might can make a run. and they can bring in someone else like another 4 or 2 joe,david, chris with lebron that is scary.

[DynastyRTR]

predictions:

Nets:

PG-Devin Haris

SG-Joe Johnson*

SF-LeBron James*

PF-Derrick Favors

C-Brook Lopez

Heat:

PG-Mario Chalmers

SG-Dwyane Wade

SF-Paul Pierce*

PF-Michael Beasley

C-Amare Stoudamire*

Bulls:

PG-Derrick Rose

SG-Ray Allen*

SF-Rudy Gay*

PF-Chris Bosh*

C-Joakim Noah

Knicks:

PG-Chris Duhon

SG-John Salmons*

SF-Danillo Gallinari

PF-Carlos Boozer*

C-David Lee

[Wither]

Lebron will go to the Bulls or the Heat, or stay in Cleveland. I just don't see the Nets in his future.

[Epistaxis]

Rudy Gay to the Griz.

[DudeNamedJeremy]

i think lebron signing with the bulls would kind of be a slap in the face to cavs/fans after what noah said about the city

i guess money talks though

[King Taharqa]

KNICKS POWERPOINT PRESENTATION TO THE KING LEAKED!

The Knicks just finished pitching LeBron James. Their main selling point: You could make a billion dollars playing in New York. You can't earn anything close to that anywhere else.

To make the case, they commissioned a study from marketing consultant Interbrand that says LeBron could earn close to $1 billion over his lifetime in salary and endorsements if he makes Madison Square Garden his permanent home--their high-end estimate sees him earning as much as $2 billion. That outshines the estimated $700 million he’d likely earn in Cleveland, the $690 million in Chicago, and $600 million in Miami.

Over the past year, Forbes estimates that LeBron earned $43 million in salary and endorsements (including Nike, State Farm Insurance, Coke, McDonalds and Upper Deck) playing for small market Cleveland. Good money, but a billion dollars it is not.

http://blogs.forbes.com/sportsmoney/2010/07/lebron-james-what-the-knicks-told-lebron-new-york-and-make-billion-dollars/

Click the link and scroll to the bottom to see the actual presentation.

[Wither]

I don't think the money is THAT big of an issue for Lebron. Why does everyone assume that it is?