RE: LeBron James

[Panth]

Sorry for the late reply:

So James' can't play HS basketball anymore. Why the big deal? I don't
even think he made a mistake. He did what was good for him and he didn't
hurt anyone. It's not like he made his HS forfeit titles and tournament
earnings like Chris Webber did. 

Lebron was playing for free, the school was making money off him and
OHSAA would have made thousands. Well, he took two jerseys from a store
and he might have received a Hummer. More power to him. If that means
the OHSAA wants to keep him off the court, that's their loss - not
James'.

What puzzles me is the big deal made about his ineligibility. He wasn't
getting paid. LeBron loses nothing. Moreover, he does NOT owe his high
school, or his teammates or his community ANYTHING. On the contrary, one
could make the argument that they owe him, but let's not even get into
that.

He's not a stupid kid and he's not a greedy kid. He could have (and IMO,
should have) dropped HS basketball, taken the millions from Adidas,
hired a private tutor (like more gymnasts and ice skaters do) and just
gone on an Adidas tour (something he was offered). He didn't. He was
willing to play for free and the organization that he was essentially
"volunteering" for decided he broke their rules. 

Ever heard of the Salvation Army telling a volunteer to not come to work
because they didn't pay for their groceries at Krogers? What would we
say if the Food Bank told granny not to come and cook because she was
getting money from Campbell's soup? It really makes me how organization
can think that playing for them FOR FREE is a PRIVILEDGE. It isn't. If
James' is not playing, that's their loss, not his. 

Panth



-----Original Message-----
From: Dan Marshall [mailto:address@hidden 
Sent: Friday, January 31, 2003 4:39 PM
To: address@hidden
Subject: RE: [UC Basketball] LeBron James

Man,  a little harsh for a kid making a mistake...

I mean imagine yourself at 18?(or 19 whatever).... 
make any mistakes? We have to remember he's 19!  I don't care what
people say, we made decisions differently then, and he made a mistake,
How many High School Players are coached on how to keep their amateur
status? Not many of them need to be would be my guess... I certainly am
glad that I didn't have a entire sports nation watching me when I was
that young

I don't think a simple mistake a 19 will keep me from watching him, I
agree it's a shame that the other kids probably won't get to experience
the national championship, but they'll be in the same boat as alot of
us... I mean really, if it wasn't for LeBron James they wouldn't have
experienced alot of things that NO other high Schoolers have had the
opportunity to experience... Like regular season games on primetime
ESPN,  meeting the like of Jordan and Shaq, it would be a little
hypocritical to say that he lost them the experience of a NC without
acknowledging all the experience he was responsible for getting them
right?



-----Original Message-----
From: Michael W Pickens [mailto:address@hidden
Sent: Friday, January 31, 2003 4:14 PM
To: address@hidden
Subject: Re: [UC Basketball] LeBron James








Hmmm.  Stupid kid.  Just cost his team a chance at a National
Championship.
I'm hoping Jamar gets Player of the year.  I know LeBron is young but
you
should be thinking of your team first and he obviously has not.  As a
community I would be ticked.  How many schools can say they have won a
national championship besides Oak Hills?  A once in a life time chance
for
those kids.  Imagine being the first guy off the bench who is probably
not
going to play any college ball, how he feels right now.  It reminds me
of
the time that the Colerain Cardinals had to forfeit the semi final
football
game because of a player having some issues.  I think they would have
won
the state championship that year.  They were very good.  LeBron James
will
have bigger days like being the number one pick in the draft but those
other guys who don't play college ball will now look back at what could
have been.  Take that feeling you have about when Kenyon broke his leg
and
multiply it by 1000 for those kids.

I will never be a LeBron fan and I am glad he is not coming to UC.  He
is a
perfect fit for the NBA.  I'm done and I have said my peace.  Sorry for
that.

M!






James ruled ineligible to finish HS career

------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------
Associated Press


CLEVELAND -- LeBron James, the nation's top high school player, has been
ruled ineligible to play for the rest of the season.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association ruled Friday that James
violated amateur bylaws by accepting clothing as a gift.

Also, the OHSAA said that James' team, Akron Saint Vincent-Saint Mary,
must forfeit its last game since James played in the contest after he
forfeited
 his amateur status. The team is ranked No. 1 by USA Today.

This comes just a few days after James was cleared of any wrongdoing for
accepting a sports utility vehicle as a gift.

Last Saturday, James was apparently given two free "throwback" jerseys
worth $845 at a local clothing store. The story was first reported by
The
Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Ohio High School Athletic Association bylaws state that an athlete
forfeits his or her amateur status by "capitalizing on athletic fame by
receiving
money or gifts of monetary value."

After attending a local high school game last weekend, James and some
friends visited the clothing store "Next," where he picked out two
jerseys --
one of Chicago Bears Hall of Famer Gale Sayers, the other of Washington
Bullets center Wes Unseld.

The Sayers jersey costs $395; the Unseld jersey, $450.

Store manager Derrick Craig said the store's owner gave the jerseys to
James for free.

"We get celebrities in here all the time," said Craig, who would not
identify the owner. "They spend a lot of money and sometimes you just
got to give
 them some love."

Goldring said OHSAA rules stipulate that athletes can't receive any kind
of apparel worth more than $100.

And in the case of a school having a contract with an apparel company --
James' school has one with adidas -- any apparel worth more than $100 is
considered school-issued and must be returned by the athlete at the end
of the season.

Attorney Fred Nance, who represented James and his family, was not
immediately available for comment on Thursday.








"Michael W Pickens" <address@hidden> on 01/31/2003 12:56:55 PM

Please respond to address@hidden

To:   address@hidden
cc:

Subject:  Re: [UC Basketball] LeBron James







Opps that is Matt Terwilliger not "Tewilgler".  I just wrote something
down
quickly and went to find the correct spelling and got derailed.  Next
thing
you know I'm hitting the send button and saying Stoooooooooop but of
course
the stupid computer never listens to me :-(  Probably the lack of ears.

M!






"Michael W Pickens" <address@hidden> on 01/31/2003 12:54:03 PM

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To:   address@hidden
cc:

Subject:  [UC Basketball] LeBron James








According to Espn Lebron James might have received $845 worth of
clothing
from a store in Cleveland.  If he did and didn't pay for them it could
make
him ineligible to play anymore.  I personally think the kid is letting
the
fame go to his head.  Anyway, my question is this.  If he becomes
ineligible can he become the Ohio Player of the year?  If not would
Jamar
Butler be in line to get the award?  I can't wait to see Jamar in a
Bearcat
Uniform.  I also read on the bearcatnews.com that Matt Tewilgler might
make
an early choice soon.  Anyone have an idea if he is leaning towards UC.
It
would be awesome to already have him and Jamar already lined up.  That
should make recruiting a lot easier for Bob and the gang.  Will we then
have two scholleys if he does commit?

BTW - I sure wish someone would give me some love with a signed Kenyon
Martin Bearcat Jersey ;-)

Cut out from ESPN:

You're going to read all this tomorrow in the paper, but remember one
thing, I'm an honor student at St. Vincent-St. Mary with a 3.5
grade-point
average," he said.

James arrived late to the banquet and left early, before Hall of Fame
running back Jim Brown had a chance to meet the 18-year-old superstar.

"I wanted to meet him," Brown said. "He's hot right now. But he'd
probably
be like, 'Jim Brown Who'. LeBron has got it going on."

On Monday, Muscaro ruled that James would not lose his eligibility for
accepting a custom-made Hummer H2 vehicle -- valued at over $50,000 --
as
an
18th birthday gift from his mother. Gloria James provided loan
information
to support her purchase.

After attending a local high school game last weekend, James and some
friends visited the clothing store "Next," where he picked out two
jerseys
--
one of Chicago Bears Hall of Famer Gale Sayers, the other of Washington
Bullets center Wes Unseld.

The Sayers jersey costs $395; the Unseld jersey, $450.

Store manager Derrick Craig said the store's owner gave the jerseys to
James for free.

"We get celebrities in here all the time," said Craig, who would not
identify the owner. "They spend a lot of money and sometimes you just
got
to give
 them some love."