[skip-zip]

CK made the claim that LeBron benefits our recruiting (which would certainly impact our program) , while some (like myself) respectfully disagree due to lack of evidence.

So, I'll ask again. You're saying that Akron basketball having an association with one of the biggest athlete/celebrities in the world is not a benefit? If so, where is YOUR evidence?

Maybe we should just tell him to stay away, since it can't possibly be helping our visibility that, among other things, he has millions of Twitter followers who see him talking about the U of A?

[Captain Kangaroo]

CK made the claim that LeBron benefits our recruiting (which would certainly impact our program) , while some (like myself) respectfully disagree due to lack of evidence.

If, say 8 years ago, Kobe Bryant decided to take a liking to the Zips...adopted them as "his" team (since he didn't attend college)...and Kobe attended some Zips games...tweeted about the Zips...held summer camps @ UA for national, elite HS players...talked up KD in national publications...bought the kids his insanely popular (with youth) gear etc. Would that be considered a plus for the program?

[LZip]

If, say 8 years ago, Kobe Bryant decided to take a liking to the Zips...adopted them as "his" team (since he didn't attend college)...and Kobe attended some Zips games...tweeted about the Zips...held summer camps @ UA for national, elite HS players...talked up KD in national publications...bought the kids his insanely popular (with youth) gear etc. Would that be considered a plus for the program?

1. Bron has probably attended as many, if not more OSU games than Akron's. He tweets about OSU just as much. How are we "his team." His camp?? Yea, he's taking it to Las Vegas, and I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't bring it back. None of these "elite HS players" that he has brought to Akron have chosen to play here. How does that benefit us? He's talked up KD..these high school recruits don't sit on the internet all day and read SI articles. He didn't "buy" them anything. That would be illegal. He sponsors the team. If he didnt, we would be getting the same "free" gear from adidas, nike, or whatever.

Nobody him being associated isn't in anyway beneficial to the University, but him saying a nice sentence or two about his HS coach in an SI article doesn't benefit us in anyway, let alone be "invaluable" or "priceless" publicity. Nobody who read that article is going to change their opinion on Akron.

[Captain Kangaroo]

1. Bron has probably attended as many, if not more OSU games than Akron's. He tweets about OSU just as much. How are we "his team." His camp?? Yea, he's taking it to Las Vegas, and I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't bring it back. None of these "elite HS players" that he has brought to Akron have chosen to play here. How does that benefit us? He's talked up KD..these high school recruits don't sit on the internet all day and read SI articles. He didn't "buy" them anything. That would be illegal. He sponsors the team. If he didnt, we would be getting the same "free" gear from adidas, nike, or whatever.

Nobody him being associated isn't in anyway beneficial to the University, but him saying a nice sentence or two about his HS coach in an SI article doesn't benefit us in anyway, let alone be "invaluable" or "priceless" publicity. Nobody who read that article is going to change their opinion on Akron.

I was always under the assumption that the Zips didn't pay for their gear...that they had an equipment sponsor. And I thought their shoe sponsor was Nike, due to the LeBron connection? You say that isn't true. I'd be curious if anyone else had info on the topic.

If "he tweets about OSU just as much as Akron" that makes him a bigger Zips fan that 99.9999% of the people in the United States. I think it is cool that the NBA, multi-time MVP tweets about the Zips as much as he does Ohio State.

[LZip]

I was always under the assumption that the Zips didn't pay for their gear...that they had an equipment sponsor. And I thought their shoe sponsor was Nike, due to the LeBron connection? You say that isn't true. I'd be curious if anyone else had info on the topic.

You are correct. They don't pay for their gear. They get their gear "free" but in return they must wear it (advertise). With or without Lebron we would be getting "free" gear.

[Captain Kangaroo]

You are correct. They don't pay for their gear. They get their gear "free" but in return they must wear it (advertise). With or without Lebron we would be getting "free" gear.

But not LeBron gear...which doesn't mean much to you or I, but does to 17 year old kids.

To quote Will Smith - "I asked them for Adidas, and they bought me Zips."

[Dr Z]

1. Bron has probably attended as many, if not more OSU games than Akron's.

Probably? I have seen LBJ at a dozen Zips games at the JAR and at the Q during the MAC tourney, I have never seen him at two OSU games.

[skip-zip]

1. Bron has probably attended as many, if not more OSU games than Akron's. He tweets about OSU just as much. How are we "his team." His camp?? Yea, he's taking it to Las Vegas, and I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't bring it back. None of these "elite HS players" that he has brought to Akron have chosen to play here. How does that benefit us? He's talked up KD..these high school recruits don't sit on the internet all day and read SI articles. He didn't "buy" them anything. That would be illegal. He sponsors the team. If he didnt, we would be getting the same "free" gear from adidas, nike, or whatever.

Nobody him being associated isn't in anyway beneficial to the University, but him saying a nice sentence or two about his HS coach in an SI article doesn't benefit us in anyway, let alone be "invaluable" or "priceless" publicity. Nobody who read that article is going to change their opinion on Akron.

How much do you think it would cost to equal the exposure through paid advertising that the U of A gets from just one Tweet to millions of followers from a celebrity like LeBron ?

[UAZip0510]

So, I'll ask again. You're saying that Akron basketball having an association with one of the biggest athlete/celebrities in the world is not a benefit? If so, where is YOUR evidence?

Maybe we should just tell him to stay away, since it can't possibly be helping our visibility that, among other things, he has millions of Twitter followers who see him talking about the U of A?

It's up to you to prove the benefit to recruiting. Name me one recruit who listed one of the reasons he came to UA as the connection to LeBron.

Again, I'm not saying it hurts...just that his minimal impact on this program is largely overblown.

[UAZip0510]

If, say 8 years ago, Kobe Bryant decided to take a liking to the Zips...adopted them as "his" team (since he didn't attend college)...and Kobe attended some Zips games...tweeted about the Zips...held summer camps @ UA for national, elite HS players...talked up KD in national publications...bought the kids his insanely popular (with youth) gear etc. Would that be considered a plus for the program?

It's odd, I just did a Google search...I found this:



And this...



...for some reason though, I can't find any pictures of LeBron wearing the gear of "his adopted team"...maybe it's because he never wore any and hasn't attended a Zips game since Travis/Joyce graduated?

Also:

- Our team is sponsored by Nike, but we do not get the unique "LeBron line" gear that he has given to Ohio State, Miami, and Kentucky. He just lets us advertise his logo in our arena.

- His tournaments are no longer being held here


Again, nobody is saying it's a bad connection to have. There's just zero proof that the little that he has done has made any measurable impact on our recruiting efforts, which means his impact on our program has been minimal at best (which is obviously still better than nothing).

[ZachTheZip]

He goes to OSU and Kentucky to be seen and to self-promote. He goes to Akron games to support his former coach and, previously, his former teammates.

[LZip]

He goes to OSU and Kentucky to be seen and to self-promote. He goes to Akron games to support his former coach and, previously, his former teammates.

yeah, because he doesn't have a relationship with guys like Jared Sullinger and John Calipari.

[Zips Win!]

It's odd, I just did a Google search...I found this:



And this...



...for some reason though, I can't find any pictures of LeBron wearing the gear of "his adopted team"...maybe it's because he never wore any and hasn't attended a Zips game since Travis/Joyce graduated?

Also:

- Our team is sponsored by Nike, but we do not get the unique "LeBron line" gear that he has given to Ohio State, Miami, and Kentucky. He just lets us advertise his logo in our arena.

- His tournaments are no longer being held here
Again, nobody is saying it's a bad connection to have. There's just zero proof that the little that he has done has made any measurable impact on our recruiting efforts, which means his impact on our program has been minimal at best (which is obviously still better than nothing).

Perrfectly said! Lebron is Dambrot's friend. Period. Love those shoes...

[Zips Win!]

What do y'all think when LeBron refers to UA as Akron U when he's giving some of that publicity? Just curious.

I cringe! It's a complete lack of respect when folks know better...

[UAZip0510]

The only downside to LeBron is that both times they have made the NCAA Tournament, the CBS announcers spent almost as much time talking about Keith Dambrot being his former coach than the Zips players that worked so hard to get to The Dance. I wanted to scream when they played Notre Dame - I feel like it was all they talked about the first 5-6 minutes. Our players deserve that spotlight and attention.