[LZip]

Me? I've yet to see any evidence provided against my argument. It took me 2 seconds to find evidence via Google that he has helped both Ohio State and Kentucky in recruiting. I'd love to see some evidence that he's helped us as well. Just name me one player in the nine years since he graduated from St. V that James has influenced in any way, shape, or form to come here.

They can't. We are just "wrong". No evidence to back up their claims.

[Zips Win!]

No one has yet been able to produce hard evidence that proves or disproves the value of LeBron's support to the Zips basketball program. In the absence of such data, no one gets to claim victory in this debate. It's a tie.

+1

Best post ever by DIG. Short and sweet.

Yet another example of DIG never taking a stance, yet always riding the fence......

You know, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose..yada, yada, yada....

LBJ is KD's buddy. Great for them...

When LBJ's impact lands us a big-time player or a couple mil, please let me know...

Until then, it's much about nothing...

[akzipper]

+1

Best post ever by DIG. Short and sweet.

Yet another example of DIG never taking a stance, yet always riding the fence......

You know, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose..yada, yada, yada....

LBJ is KD's buddy. Great for them...

When LBJ's impact lands us a big-time player or a couple mil, please let me know...

Until then, it's much about nothing...

I think most Zips fans are waiting for the day that we get national attention, as opposed to just being a side story in Lebrons career and KD being known as a legend that revived our program. Not just some guy who coached Lebron back in HS.

[Dave in Green]

.... Yet another example of DIG never taking a stance, yet always riding the fence......

You know, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose..yada, yada, yada....

Guess it went right over your head. I thought it would be pretty clear to everyone that my stance is that LeBron's association with Zips basketball is a valuable asset because it can help make the program more attractive to quality young players. Just because there's been no proof presented here yet that it hasn't already happened doesn't mean it hasn't or won't. I value assets, and I like them even better when I know for sure that the assets have been leveraged to produce results.

[GP1]

I value assets, and I like them even better when I know for sure that the assets have been leveraged to produce results.

So do I. Results have to measureable in a way that has to be statistically relevant. I see James connection to the basketball program as nothing but an interesting sideshow that has no negative impact on the program. Fans like a good sideshow, but they do little to further the cause.

I believe we get good players here because they want to be involved with a winning program primarily. Playing a pick-up game or two with James over a four year period can't possibly by their primary motivation and I don't even want that kind of player on the team. We need winners, not stargazers.

I don't know why I always have to be the one to bring these things up, but here it goes. Nobody will say these national references of James/Dambrot do more for Dambrot than the basketball program. This article will do almost nothing to bring in a top level recruit or even have enough impact on the memory of someone to cause them to buy one ticket next season. Who is sitting around and saying, "I want to go watch the guy coach who told LBJ he has to do a better job of rebounding"? I don't think this person exists. After eight years and this same article getting republished in some for or another 1,000 times, he would have bought the tickets already. It doesn't hurt the program, but it doesn't help either.

[Dave in Green]

@GP1, I haven't seen anyone here claim that LeBron's association with Zips basketball would be the "primary" reason why recruits would choose UA over another school or fans would buy tickets to Zips games, so it appears we're all pretty much in agreement on that. The difference in opinion appears to be that some believe more than others that it could be one of many influences on the decisions of some recruits and some fans.

Also, any benefits that KD derives from publicity about his relationship with LeBron can be good for the program. As long as KD remains the Zips head coach, anything that benefits him can be leveraged to help benefit the Zips basketball program.

[UAZip0510]

So do I. Results have to measureable in a way that has to be statistically relevant. I see James connection to the basketball program as nothing but an interesting sideshow that has no negative impact on the program. Fans like a good sideshow, but they do little to further the cause.

I believe we get good players here because they want to be involved with a winning program primarily. Playing a pick-up game or two with James over a four year period can't possibly by their primary motivation and I don't even want that kind of player on the team. We need winners, not stargazers.

I don't know why I always have to be the one to bring these things up, but here it goes. Nobody will say these national references of James/Dambrot do more for Dambrot than the basketball program. This article will do almost nothing to bring in a top level recruit or even have enough impact on the memory of someone to cause them to buy one ticket next season. Who is sitting around and saying, "I want to go watch the guy coach who told LBJ he has to do a better job of rebounding"? I don't think this person exists. After eight years and this same article getting republished in some for or another 1,000 times, he would have bought the tickets already. It doesn't hurt the program, but it doesn't help either.

I agree that, despite no evidence of him helping our program, his loose ties can't hurt anything. I guess I just get tired of our fans/alumni/program catering to him when it serves him when he could be making a significant impact to our program (recruiting, arena, etc) and instead chooses to help Ohio State and/or Kentucky.

[skip-zip]

I agree that, despite no evidence of him helping our program, his loose ties can't hurt anything. I guess I just get tired of our fans/alumni/program catering to him when it serves him when he could be making a significant impact to our program (recruiting, arena, etc) and instead chooses to help Ohio State and/or Kentucky.

Were you at Trivia Night last night? Someone won a prize to have dinner with Keith. And French made some type of remark along the lines of "...maybe he'll bring LeBron along with him for an extra bonus".

Akron basketball has a connection with a big-time celebrity. Why would any Zips fan possibly ever get tired of that? I don't even care that he has other teams that he likes. He talks about Akron among his millions of nationwide fans. Once again, the U of A can't buy that kind of publicity.

[Hilltopper]

Were you at Trivia Night last night? Someone won a prize to have dinner with Keith. And French made some type of remark along the lines of "...maybe he'll bring LeBron along with him for an extra bonus".

Akron basketball has a connection with a big-time celebrity. Why would any Zips fan possibly ever get tired of that? I don't even care that he has other teams that he likes. He talks about Akron among his millions of nationwide fans. Once again, the U of A can't buy that kind of publicity.

+1

[LZip]

Were you at Trivia Night last night? Someone won a prize to have dinner with Keith. And French made some type of remark along the lines of "...maybe he'll bring LeBron along with him for an extra bonus".

Akron basketball has a connection with a big-time celebrity. Why would any Zips fan possibly ever get tired of that? I don't even care that he has other teams that he likes. He talks about Akron among his millions of nationwide fans. Once again, the U of A can't buy that kind of publicity.

yeah, im sure KD is going to bring Lebron along with him . If all you have is hypothetical situations (which is all Lebron supporters seem to have), that tells me all I need to know.

[UAZip0510]

Were you at Trivia Night last night? Someone won a prize to have dinner with Keith. And French made some type of remark along the lines of "...maybe he'll bring LeBron along with him for an extra bonus".

Akron basketball has a connection with a big-time celebrity. Why would any Zips fan possibly ever get tired of that? I don't even care that he has other teams that he likes. He talks about Akron among his millions of nationwide fans. Once again, the U of A can't buy that kind of publicity.

If LeBron actually did "show up" for the program in some capacity, he'd certainly make a difference. He could help us in recruiting, getting a new arena, outfitting us in his exclusive "LeBron line" uniforms/gear...but he doesn't do any of those things, he instead chooses to help Ohio State and Kentucky. That's OK - he didn't go to UA, so he had no obligation to do any of that.

Again, the occasional tweets are nice, but it hasn't produced any measurable positive impact to our program.

[skip-zip]

yeah, im sure KD is going to bring Lebron along with him . If all you have is hypothetical situations (which is all Lebron supporters seem to have), that tells me all I need to know.

Read my post again. It had nothing to do with whether LeBron shows up with Keith for the dinner or not. You missed the point.

[Dr Z]

I wonder how different this thread would read if LBJ still played for the Cavs. I'm guessing "extremely" (minus one member).

[Zips Win!]

bonus".

Akron basketball has a connection with a big-time celebrity.

False. The Akron coach has a connection with a big-time celebrity.



Now, when the recruits and dough roll into the University, then Akron basketball will have a connection
with a big-time celebrity.

[Dave in Green]

While I'd like to know more specific details about how Zips basketball has benefited from the LeBron connection, KD makes it pretty clear in this article that it does help recruiting:

“We get to recruit a lot of good players because of LeBron, because of the connection with LeBron.”

"I think it’s a good connection, I think it will stay a good connection and it’s a connection we have to have to take the program to the next level. Without him, it’s a little harder.”

"The kids we recruit, they just know he’s good so as long as we are connected to him, then we’re good.”