What do you mean he hasn't earned it yet. He IS that school. He has put that school on the map for years to come. He has plenty of earned it. Who cares? That's not the point. Really, nobody would care if this kid was shitting in a cardboard box and eating rotten apple cores for dinner if he wasn't the talent that he was. So for people to say they're concerned about his welfare is a load of crap. Do you honestly care and show direct concern for the 15 year old small time crack pusher in the not-so-swell area of your city? Of course you don't. So why should anyone care if he's making too much money now as opposed to 6 months from now. It's a bullshit concern that people have for him. Nobody will actually care for this kid five years from now if he should shatter his back in a car accident tomorrow and have no NBA career to head to. So why shouldn't the kid take a few nicities along the way - after all, he IS still a kid. What 17 year old wouldn't want the coolest car in school if he knew he could have it? Like I said earlier, it's not like he's going to college next year. He is turning pro. No ifs, ands or buts about it. Who is he hurting if he has a flashy new car now as opposed to in a few months from now when his season - and effectively his school year - is over?
I'm sure "King James" feels pretty upset over people making money off him. God, that's awful, people making money on a kid. He should receive cash in truckloads. I mean, he's earned it right? I mean the school is looking out for it's best interests, which means tapping this kid dry, so why shouldn't he cash in? Please. It's just another case of the country getting all wet over some kid who throws a ball into a hoop. I could care less if he has a Hummer. I think the school he plays for is a joke. The arguement that the James pub is just like a tennis player or golfer is something I tend to agree with. If the kid can play, the kid can play. But we can't forget that this kid represents a school, and the school has a bigger responsiblity then to make sure "King James" is placed properly in the spotlight. St. V's isn't some boarding school, or some place where the nation's academically changelled come to sharpen their basketball skills. The school was there before James, it will be there after James. James didn't make that school and the school shouldn't be catering to this public "need" for something to hype.
Okay, for the most part, I agree with your post and understand it. But there's a few things here: I remember that very well. And I think that that was a great - if ballsy - thing to do. But here's the difference: In college, there is the NCAA and that's it. You get slapped with a death penalty by the NCAA and you're done. So if a kid is going to get your school in trouble or if the kid is acting like Funderburke (and a few not as known players, too, right?) then it is in the best interest of the school to get rid of the problem and move on - lest face the possible sactioning of the NCAAs. But in High School if the same thing comes up, you get sancioned by the OHAA (in Ohio, obviously.) So what? What's that do, eliminate you from playing in the tournement and forfeit regular season games in which the offender played in. That's it. What it does NOT do is make you is A) not play those regular season games in the first place. B) Not play out of state games. C) play a more flexible schedual of higher quality tournements. And most importantly, what it DOES allow is for you to no longer have to follow their rules and thus negotiate your own television contract with ESPN, play as many tournements as you like - whenever and wherever you like. This is huge. And before you say that this won't matter after this year because he'll be gone, think again. Besides the fact that this team can do just fine nationally without LaBron (I'm certainly not saying that they'd be nearly as good, mind you, but that they'd do fine,) but they can also make a great deal more money for the school by playing in these invites all over the place. It's a win/win situation for the school. He's a kid. That's it. A kid. He'll still be a kid when he get's to the NBA next year when people are bashing him for not scoring 40 points a game. People WANT this kid to fail. We as Americans live to see people fall from grace.
How? Do you honestly believe that they're going to be pissed at LaBron if they have to forfeit games they know they won? Not one tiny bit.
Did you ever play team sports? If some cocksucker had done something self-centered enough to make my state champion baseball team forfeit our title, we would have kicked the shit out of him, superstar or not.
But you'd've busted your ass to wit that title as a team. These kids know full well that the only reason they are where they are is because of LaBron. They'd do okay without him, but they certainly wouldn't come near winning a state title - let alone the USAToday National Title.
Going backwards a bit - how would they have to forfeit games? How is his HS eligibility in question - taking a loan to buy a car is an NCAA rule, not a Ohio HS one.
A quick search of OHSAA's rules of eligibility for boy's basketball turned up absolutely nothing on recieving money in any way. I think that's just because they've never been in the situation to have to deal with it. They simply probably never thought of it. I was basing my thoughts of ineligibility on the assumption that they used similar rules to that of the NCAA. If there is in fact no rule against taking money (or having your mom take money) then that even further proves my point that this is all just a big stink about nothing.
Agreed. The NCAA rule is based on securing loans against future income potential. And from what I've heard from various journalists covering James, OHSAA do not have such a rule. I think that making a stink on an objective, rule violation basis is irrational with James. However I do agree that the entire scenario can be handled with a lot more perspective from all parties - but thats a subjective view that people around the country are entitled to have. Those of us who attended Catholic High Schools should be a little frustrated at the way SVSM are acting - or should I say, not acting. I expect such national scheduling from bandit, non-sanctioned private schools, but not a school that should be helping to raise a well rounded person, not a basketball academy. But, maybe Im spoiled by the Washington area Catholic schools I grew up with. I bet you LeBling wouldn't have lasted a week at DeMatha. Kinda funny to me that he's gonna win the award named after Morgan Wooten this season. And I dont care about the economics, buying your kid a expensive, disgusting SUV when they are in HS is bad parenting (my view - dont have to agree). Whether you are a CEO from Beverly Hills, or a welfare mother from Akron. Sure, people should not be looking at LeBron and his family to set a good example for their personal and family lives. But, others can certainly use them as an example for a lot of things wrong in our country. Sorry - I'll get off my soapbox.
Is it wrong that I hope he fails miserably and is out of league and penniless before the season even starts??? The quotes from his mother alone have sent me into a fury.... Time to relax now.... Hate him...reason #113 why I stopped watching professional basketball.
Just when you think it couldn't get any better: The Akron Beacon Journal says the car was shipped in after being pimped out by a company called 310 Motoring Automobile Specialists in California. A portion of their client list: • • NBA Clients • • A.C. Green • Antawn Jamison • Anthony Peeler • Antoine Walker • Antonio McDyess • Austin Croshere • Avery Johnson • Baron Davis • Bo Outlaw • Bobby Sura • Brent Barry • Brian Shaw • Bryon Russell • Chauncey Billups • Chris Dudley • Chris Gatling • Chris Mills • Chris Webber • Cliff Robinson • Corey Anderson • Corey Maggette • Corliss Williamson • Courtney Alexander • Damon Stoudamire • Derek Anderson • Derek Fisher • DeShawn Stevenson • Desmond Mason • Devean George • Dickey Simpkins • Elton Brand • Erick Dampier • Gary Payton • Gilbert Arenas • Glen Rice • Howard Eisley • Jahidi White • Jalen Rose • Jamal Crawford • Jamal Mashburn • Jason Caffey • Jason Terry • Jeff McInnis • Jermaine O’Neal • Jim Cleamons (Coach) • Juwan Howard • Kareem Rush • Kenyon Martin • Kevin Garnett • Kobe Bryant • LaPhonso Ellis • Larry Hughes • Lindsey Hunter • Luc Longley • Lucious Harris • Marc Jackson • Marcus Fizer • Melvin Ely • Michael Olowakandi • Morris Peterson • Nick Anderson • Patrick Ewing • Paul Pierce • Penny Hardaway • Quentin Richardson • Rashard Lewis • Robert Traylor • Rodney Rodgers • Ruben Patterson • Sam Cassell • Sam Mack • Samaki Walker • Scottie Pippen • Shammond Williams • Shareef Abdur-Raheem • Shawn Marion • Stephan Marbury • Steve Francis • Tim Thomas • Tony Delk • Tyrone Hill • Tyronn Lue • Vin Baker • Vonteego Cummings • Walter McCarty • • NFL Clients • • Aaron Beasley • Blaine Bishop • Chad Johnson • Corey Fuller • Curtis Conway • David Boston • David Terrell • Daylon McCutcheon • Deuce McCallister • Henry Thomas • Jamal Lewis • Jeff Graham • Keyshawn Johnson • Lawyer Milloy • Marcellus Wiley • Marcus Robertson • Orpheus Roy • Peter Warrick • Ray Crockett • Ray Lewis • Tebucky Jones • Thomas Jones • T.J. Houshmandzedeh • Warren Sapp • Willie Howard • Willie McGinest • • MLB Clients • • Brian Jordan • Eric Davis • Gary Sheffield • Hideo Nomo • James Baldwin • Marquis Grissom • Ray Lankford • Ray Durham • Rickey Henderson • Brandy • Britney Spears • Craig Bullock - Sugar Ray • Cuba Gooding • DeMarco Farr - Fox Sports • Denzel Washington • Dr. Dre • Duane Martin • Ed Lover • Faith Evans • Flex Wheeler - Body Builder • Floyd Mayweather - Boxer • Goodwin Sports • Harold Reynolds – ESPN • Heavy D • Ice Cube • Impact Sports • IMX • Irv Gotti • Janet Jackson • Jennifer Lopez • Jermaine Dupree • John Salley - Fox Sports • Justin Timberlake • Juvenile • Kenny Smith - Turner Sports • Lashawn Daniel - Producer • Leor Dimani - Limp Bizkit • Lil’ Wayne • Mack 10 • Manny Fresh • Marc McGrath - Sugar Ray • Mary J. Blige • Master P • Maurice Green - Olympian • Nelly • Orlando Jones • Overbrook Entertainment • Pharrell Williams - Producer • Phillip Atwell - Director • Priority Sports • Queen Latifah • Raphael Saddiq • Ray J • Rodney Jerkins - Producer • Rushion McDonald-Producer • Shemar Moore - Actor • Slim - Cash Money • Steve Harvey • Steve Stoute • Swizz Beatz • Tigger - BET • Timbaland • Tiny Lister - Actor • TQ • Tyrese • Xzibit
As for OHSAA "not having a rule against it" I would direct you to Section 10,4-10-1 to wit: ..An athlete forfeits amateur status by: (c)Capitalizing on athletic fame by receiving money or gifts of monetary value It's vague, but the intent is perfectly clear. Still, for AFL: FWIW, the inestimable Terry Pluto, one of the best anywhere, largely agrees with you: http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/sports/columnists/terry_pluto/4942005.htm but he DOES include a caveat: [Yes, there is big money being made off James, but all the publicity will be worth enormous dollars to him in a few months. With every magazine cover, every ESPN broadcast, every bit of hype, his value to the shoe companies increases -- and that is where the giant payoff will soon come. So people are using James, and he's using his celebrity to make him more attractive to companies that will want to pay him to endorse their products. James has been living in the world of pro athletes ever since the Sports Illustrated cover of a year ago. When he broke his wrist this summer, he was treated by Michael Jordan's doctors. Shaquille O'Neal and other pros have attended his games. He has some of their cell phone numbers, and several pros advise him. For LeBron James and many of those around him, high school basketball has become a business. Very big business. And that's not about to change.
I have seen something on TV about that company and the vehicles that they customize. Very impressive stuff, to say the least. There IS a reason why that client list (that Bill provided) is SO long.
So if they can prove that (say) Adidas hooked up his Mom with the "loan", than its a violation? They'll probably be trying to figure that out forever.
Watch MTV's "Cribs" or read DUB Magazine www.DubMagazine.com and you'll see many of their rides on display. I wonder when King James will make the obligatory appearance in DUB.
I try NOT to watch MTV much anymore. That channel went to hell a long time ago when they decided that showing videos wasn't NEARLY as important as crap like "The Real World" or whatever the ************ that is called. I just remember (dating myself here) when MTV actually showed videos, all the time, except for the occasional "Rockumentary" or that game show, "Remote Control". MTV was much better there
Great line by Bill Livingston on Kornheiser today. "You simply can't have only two TV's in your Hummer"
I don't think anyone else needs to be involved. If they can show that his mom used Lebron's athletic talent as collateral, then he would be in violation of the rules. Here's my guess: Loan from family/close friends: cool Loan from adidas/booster/shady shyster: not cool Bank loan: cool Bank loan approved based on Lebron's earning potential: not cool
How 'bout loan based on no collateral whatsoever? I got me a loan about 9 times the size of Labron's mom's loan with absolutely nothing to show for it. Granted, I happen to know people to make that happen, but one could just as easily obtain a one year no interest, no payment loan to purchase a car with absolutely nothing down.
Some people can, sure. Happens every day. (That's how we end up, every ten years or so, with a rash of bank failures) But of those people, such as yourself perhaps, who have this kind of juice with a bank, how many are unemployed single mothers on ADC living in Federal housing?
True, I'm not as bad off as her perhaps, but I am a single guy with nothing more that 11K claimed on my taxes and a horrendous track record for paying back creditors before I got my loan. It's all a matter of talking to people.
On the other hand, last night against Mentor he scored 50 points including ELEVEN threes. Coach Joyce said he was "on" No crap, coach, ya think? Still, it answers one question at least: How is the kid under pressure? But two other items of note: First, before the game he had a message for everyone: He sat down on the floor and played with a remote control Hummer. This is either incredibly clever or incredibly stupid. I'm going with the former. (Line of the day to the wiseass who wanted to know who paid for it) And in a great example of what good, solid professional PR people can do for you, there's this: Little Davonte Greer lost his house and sister in a fire on New Year's Day. Last night, Davonte found himself wearing a LBJ T Shirt and sitting on the bench next to LBJ. Bron told a reporter "He's my little man" http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/4950611.htm Nice thing to do? Absolutely. Professional PR? You betcha. Kid is being handled very, very well. Not at all surprising for a kid who has BOTH Michael Jordan and Kobi Bryant on his speed dial. Literally. And Gloria don't care what you think either: