The first non-football event at Infocision

[ZachTheZip]

And it's something that stinks of desperation.

[Spin]

What else would you expect in northeast Ohio?

[Let'sGoZips94]

What else would you expect in northeast Ohio?

Not a championship by now, heck no.

[Buckzip]

This is ridiculous. Quite embarrasing the amount of ass kissing LBJ gets. He is a freaking basketball player and some people are treating him like he is God.

[GP1]

This is so pathetic, it is laughable.

[Spin]

I understand the economic impact, emotional impact that him leaving would cause.

But do we really need to desecrate the U and our stadium for this kind of crap? This will go over about as well as that song/video they made in Cleveland. We're a friggen joke to the rest of the sports world. And the U is trying to become part of it.

[cornbread]

I understand the economic impact, emotional impact that him leaving would cause.

But do we really need to desecrate the U and our stadium for this kind of crap? This will go over about as well as that song/video they made in Cleveland. We're a friggen joke to the rest of the sports world. And the U is trying to become part of it.

Its political.

Chances are good that Lebron is staying. The team has shown a commitment to winning a championship. Best record in the league the past two years. He would look like he was abandoning the team no if he left.

Now local groups and politicians get their name out there attached to the biggest news story to hit locally in a long time. They will be on ESPN and news stations around Ohio.

If he leaves, they can say they tried. If he stays, they can claim some of the credit.

Good thinking on their part.

Doesn't change that it is a little silly.

[ZachTheZip]

I think letting them use the stadium is a way of earning brownie points with the mayor. Plus any press coverage will mention the university and it might bring some Clevelanders down to campus.

Hopefully the pathetic-ness of it all gets associated more with NE Ohio in general and not specifically with the university, who might simply be seen as the only place in town with a venue big enough to hold the event.

[Dave in Green]

Like it or not, LeBron brings more national and international attention to Akron than any other individual in the sports world.

Now, you can say that sports in general should not be that big a deal in the overall scheme of global priorities. But if you follow that route, then why waste time on a sports forum like ZN.O?

For those who do believe that sports can be a positive force in the world, I just don't understand why anyone in the Akron area would not be interested in doing something to try to convince LeBron how much it matters to people in his hometown to keep him in the area year-round. But maybe someone has a good argument for why it would benefit the area if LeBron moved permanently to one of the coasts, and sports fans around the world could go back to ignoring Akron.

Or maybe some here think something should be done to try to demonstrate to LeBron how much his hometown appreciates him and wants him to stay, but just disagree that this is the right way to go about doing it. If so, I'd be interested in seeing some positive alternatives to this event at Infocision.

My initial take on this is that it's the right thing to do, and the right place to do it. Sure, some sports fans around the country will mock the event, but mainly because they want LeBron to ditch Akron, move to their part of the country and play for their favorite NBA team.

[RowdyZip]

Like it or not, LeBron brings more national and international attention to Akron than any other individual in the sports world.

Now, you can say that sports in general should not be that big a deal in the overall scheme of global priorities. But if you follow that route, then why waste time on a sports forum like ZN.O?

For those who do believe that sports can be a positive force in the world, I just don't understand why anyone in the Akron area would not be interested in doing something to try to convince LeBron how much it matters to people in his hometown to keep him in the area year-round. But maybe someone has a good argument for why it would benefit the area if LeBron moved permanently to one of the coasts, and sports fans around the world could go back to ignoring Akron.

Or maybe some here think something should be done to try to demonstrate to LeBron how much his hometown appreciates him and wants him to stay, but just disagree that this is the right way to go about doing it. If so, I'd be interested in seeing some positive alternatives to this event at Infocision.

My initial take on this is that it's the right thing to do, and the right place to do it. Sure, some sports fans around the country will mock the event, but mainly because they want LeBron to ditch Akron, move to their part of the country and play for their favorite NBA team.

Right on. I also don't understand why it would be bad for (potentially) 20k+ getting a glimpse of our D-1 diamond that would otherwise not enter the doors. A lot of folks don't even understand that we ARE D-1. This could open up a lot of eyes as well.

[Zipsrifle]

Like it or not, LeBron brings more national and international attention to Akron than any other individual in the sports world.

Now, you can say that sports in general should not be that big a deal in the overall scheme of global priorities. But if you follow that route, then why waste time on a sports forum like ZN.O?

For those who do believe that sports can be a positive force in the world, I just don't understand why anyone in the Akron area would not be interested in doing something to try to convince LeBron how much it matters to people in his hometown to keep him in the area year-round. But maybe someone has a good argument for why it would benefit the area if LeBron moved permanently to one of the coasts, and sports fans around the world could go back to ignoring Akron.

Or maybe some here think something should be done to try to demonstrate to LeBron how much his hometown appreciates him and wants him to stay, but just disagree that this is the right way to go about doing it. If so, I'd be interested in seeing some positive alternatives to this event at Infocision.

My initial take on this is that it's the right thing to do, and the right place to do it. Sure, some sports fans around the country will mock the event, but mainly because they want LeBron to ditch Akron, move to their part of the country and play for their favorite NBA team.

Right on. I also don't understand why it would be bad for (potentially) 20k+ getting a glimpse of our D-1 diamond that would otherwise not enter the doors. A lot of folks don't even understand that we ARE D-1. This could open up a lot of eyes as well.

Yea, agreed. Why is this a bad thing? At least people are doing something to try keep him here! If there is one thing about NE Ohio that drives me crazy is that everyone stands around and says "somebody should do something". Apparently "somebody" lives in another state....

[Spin]

IMO unless they get Bosh in a sign-and-trade, LeBron is LeGone. Or a real point guard.

I hope I'm wrong.

[ZippyforPresident]

I'll agree that the whole thing is kind of campy, but no more so than the LA Clippers Parade or New York Mayor Bloomberg pitching what a "great place" New York City is to live (eew), or even the President stating that it would be great to see LeBron in a Chicago Bulls uniform. The guy is of such a phenomenal talent that it is maybe "witnessed" (couldn't resist) once or twice in a lifetime, and he's from Akron.

I don't blame the Don for trying to be proactive and create a bunch of "hooplah" that puts the city in the spotlight. And to put it in a purely economic light, LeBron is a "cash cow" for Northeast Ohio, no offense intended to him or anyone else at all, but with the kind of revenue that he generates for the area, it's bound to become somewhat of a political issue (as evidenced by the campaigning of cities and politicians alike for his services).

I also think that in no way does this put UA in a negative light. If anything, I completely agree that it does nothing but showcase the university more than it would be showcased otherwise. So the Info makes it into the national media and maybe gets some more air time on ESPN, since when did that become a bad thing? Remember, there is no such thing as bad publicity. It's more about gaining public interest in a way that makes it memorable to the customer, client, audience... Bad, good, or whatever, as long as it is generating discussion. (i.e. "Infocision Stadium? Oh yeah, that place where there was a riot for LeBron James? Yeah. The Akron Zips play there don't they? Yeah, the Akron Zips, they have a football team don't they? I wonder how they're doing this year? Looks like they have a big game coming up next weekend. Yeah, we should go check it out.") Something like that anyway...

On a side note: I think it would be really fun to see LeBron play with a young talented guard like Derrick Rose. (Preferably both in Cavaliers' Uniforms .)

[Z.I.P.]

The pathetic focus of "LeBron Day In Akron" is that the guy left Akron back in -- I may be off by a year or so here so forgive me, I forget exactly -- 2003. But, as they say, you can take LeBron James out of Akron, but you can't take the Akron out of LeBron James. Will the city's "image" somehow be harmed if James plays in New York or Chicago, rather than Cleveland?

Gimme a break, folks. Akron might be better off, meaning it would gain greater acclaim, if LeBron played in Tokyo or Paris or some other world capitol, rather than in the insular empire. Maybe Bron can get that agent from the United commercial with Mark Cuban? "LeBron only wants to play in Zurich...Amsterdam...Beijing...!"

[Dave in Green]

Moving to Bath Township is leaving Akron? Good heavens, I've been misleading my out-of-state friends by telling them I live in Akron when I actually live in Green. I thought it was like horseshoes, where being close counts. I'll be sure to come clean and tell them all that I've left Akron.

[GP1]

And to put it in a purely economic light, LeBron is a "cash cow" for Northeast Ohio, no offense intended to him or anyone else at all, but with the kind of revenue that he generates for the area, it's bound to become somewhat of a political issue (as evidenced by the campaigning of cities and politicians alike for his services).

I'll bite. How much milk does that cow produce a year in total dollars and dollars in relation to the overall economy of NE Ohio? The Cavs play 41 home games (in a 20,000 seat arena) plus playoffs. Wouldn't they be better off f the Indians were good in lieu of the Cavs. The Indians play 80+ home games a year with 40,000 seat arena.

I'm not buying that LeBron is a cash cow for NE Ohio. LeBron is a cash cow for himself though.

Mayor Don is a joke and if this is the brain-child of his, the city is in bigger trouble than I had thought. This is just grasping at straws.

I have absolutely nothing against LeBron. In fact, I almost feel embarassed for him for having to attend things like this. I wonder if Mayor Don's staff ran this by the LBJ marketing machine before they decided to have this day. Then again, a chance to sell a huge amount of his products during the off season probably isn't a bad marketing idea....Will UofA be smart enough to sell products on the same day or will it be restricted to LBJ stuff?

[InTheZone]

I'll bite. How much milk does that cow produce a year in total dollars and dollars in relation to the overall economy of NE Ohio? The Cavs play 41 home games (in a 20,000 seat arena) plus playoffs. Wouldn't they be better off f the Indians were good in lieu of the Cavs. The Indians play 80+ home games a year with 40,000 seat arena.

I'm not buying that LeBron is a cash cow for NE Ohio. LeBron is a cash cow for himself though.

Mayor Don is a joke and if this is the brain-child of his, the city is in bigger trouble than I had thought. This is just grasping at straws.

I have absolutely nothing against LeBron. In fact, I almost feel embarassed for him for having to attend things like this. I wonder if Mayor Don's staff ran this by the LBJ marketing machine before they decided to have this day. Then again, a chance to sell a huge amount of his products during the off season probably isn't a bad marketing idea....Will UofA be smart enough to sell products on the same day or will it be restricted to LBJ stuff?

If it's in our damn facility we better be able to sell whatever the hell we want GP.

On a side note of sorts, I'm not sure why some of you try to act like Lebron James staying in Cleveland would have some kind of an effect on the U's athletics... Lebron has never done anything for the U outside of attend a couple of games and confisicate footage from JAR cameramen (but really, why should he do anything? he's not a UA alum). If Don the Drunk wants to stroke Mr. James off for political capital, his office might be a better place for that than our shiny new stadium that the city did NOTHING to help us build.

[skip-zip]

I think....

If the goal here is to keep LeBron around, why not do everything we can to convince him to stay? Whether it appears to be cheesy or not?

And, although I don't think this will be a big impact for the University, I do see some benefit in having more people visit Infocision Stadium who might not have previously been in the facility for an Akron football game.

[Buckzip]

This ass kissing is ridiculous

[Captain Kangaroo]

The Cavs play 41 home games (in a 20,000 seat arena) plus playoffs. Wouldn't they be better off f the Indians were good in lieu of the Cavs. The Indians play 80+ home games a year with 40,000 seat arena.

I'm not buying that LeBron is a cash cow for NE Ohio.

LeBron is a cash cow for NE Ohio.

Without him, the Cavs are back to Brevin Knight, Shawn Kemp... and 4k people coming to downtown Cleveland on any given night. He's the difference between the downtown bars and hotels being packed for 45 - 50 nights per year, and them being at 20% occupancy.

If LeBron departs, downtown Cleveland will be a ghost town ... once again.

Turning around the Cavs took one guy. Turning around the Indians takes 12 guys. And the Indians are no where near close to having those 12 guys. The Indians are WAY closer to being the Pirates than the Yankees. Or the Twins for that matter.

Go Zips.

[Spin]

I'll bite. How much milk does that cow produce a year in total dollars and dollars in relation to the overall economy of NE Ohio? The Cavs play 41 home games (in a 20,000 seat arena) plus playoffs. Wouldn't they be better off f the Indians were good in lieu of the Cavs. The Indians play 80+ home games a year with 40,000 seat arena.

I'm not buying that LeBron is a cash cow for NE Ohio. LeBron is a cash cow for himself though.

The bars, restaurants, hotels, parking lots, etc in that area cannot stay open year round if all they have is basically 5 months of baseball crowds to sell to. The arena needs far less workers for small crowds. For AHL games they curtain off entire levels. Sporting goods stores would take a hit. Gas stations along the highways leading to Cleveland. The airport.

We're not only talking about the 20,000 fans per night at those 50+ games per year, we also look at a huge influx of media. Sometimes there are more media reps at the games than the number of paying fans who showed up for some of the Stepien Cavs games.

He is responsible for literally millions of dollars flowing into the local economy. He makes other people wealthy and generates jobs.

He earns every penny he makes.

[InTheZone]

I'll bite. How much milk does that cow produce a year in total dollars and dollars in relation to the overall economy of NE Ohio? The Cavs play 41 home games (in a 20,000 seat arena) plus playoffs. Wouldn't they be better off f the Indians were good in lieu of the Cavs. The Indians play 80+ home games a year with 40,000 seat arena.

I'm not buying that LeBron is a cash cow for NE Ohio. LeBron is a cash cow for himself though.

The bars, restaurants, hotels, parking lots, etc in that area cannot stay open year round if all they have is basically 5 months of baseball crowds to sell to. The arena needs far less workers for small crowds. For AHL games they curtain off entire levels. Sporting goods stores would take a hit. Gas stations along the highways leading to Cleveland. The airport.

We're not only talking about the 20,000 fans per night at those 50+ games per year, we also look at a huge influx of media. Sometimes there are more media reps at the games than the number of paying fans who showed up for some of the Stepien Cavs games.

He is responsible for literally millions of dollars flowing into the local economy. He makes other people wealthy and generates jobs.

He earns every penny he makes.

There's a difference between EARNING every penny he makes, and being WORTH every penny he makes. Worth it? Yes, for the reasons you've cited above. Earning it? No, as a player making that kind of money and with that kind of hype should win championships. Lebron isn't a leader of men, and doesn't have that same killer instinct and "it" factor that Jordan and Bird had, and that Kobe now has. When things get heated, players making that kind of money "earn" their check by stepping up and taking the game over. Lebron starts tossing up halfhazard shots, giving up turnovers, and basically completely folds, and we've seen that every year in the playoffs. So yes, he is "worth" his pay in terms of what he brings to the franchise and local economy financially, but up until this point in his career, he hasn't EARNED anything.

Also, Cleveland will sell out an arena or stadium for any winning team. Having Lebron James on the Cavs is not the only way to have a winning team. The Cavs have a solid core of players outside of Lebron, and if he leaves there are still many players out there in free agency this year to bring in for far cheaper and who may in fact improve the chemistry of the team, and may in fact be guys who are leaders, not simply talented ballers who always want the spotlight on them but then choke when the spotlight gets too bright. Lebron leaving is not necessarily the end of the Cavs success and thus the end of people showing up at Cavs games and buying Cavs merchandise.

[g-mann17]

There's a difference between EARNING every penny he makes, and being WORTH every penny he makes. Worth it? Yes, for the reasons you've cited above. Earning it? No, as a player making that kind of money and with that kind of hype should win championships. Lebron isn't a leader of men, and doesn't have that same killer instinct and "it" factor that Jordan and Bird had, and that Kobe now has. When things get heated, players making that kind of money "earn" their check by stepping up and taking the game over. Lebron starts tossing up halfhazard shots, giving up turnovers, and basically completely folds, and we've seen that every year in the playoffs. So yes, he is "worth" his pay in terms of what he brings to the franchise and local economy financially, but up until this point in his career, he hasn't EARNED anything.

Also, Cleveland will sell out an arena or stadium for any winning team. Having Lebron James on the Cavs is not the only way to have a winning team. The Cavs have a solid core of players outside of Lebron, and if he leaves there are still many players out there in free agency this year to bring in for far cheaper and who may in fact improve the chemistry of the team, and may in fact be guys who are leaders, not simply talented ballers who always want the spotlight on them but then choke when the spotlight gets too bright. Lebron leaving is not necessarily the end of the Cavs success and thus the end of people showing up at Cavs games and buying Cavs merchandise.

Every mentions Lebron & Jordan, and the lack of championships. Jordan didn't win his first championship until he was almost 30. Jordan, Johnson, Bryant, Bird, Pierce & Thomas all had/have solid supporting casts. You take Lebron out, the Cavs have a 30 win team. He has never had a real supporting cast. I also would love to see Lebron playing under the "Jordan" rules. No Zone defenses at all, can start running from the wing and not get called for traveling.

Also remember, the league royally sucked when Jordan was playing.

[Captain Kangaroo]

There's a difference between EARNING every penny he makes, and being WORTH every penny he makes. Worth it? Yes, for the reasons you've cited above. Earning it? No, as a player making that kind of money and with that kind of hype should win championships. Lebron isn't a leader of men, and doesn't have that same killer instinct and "it" factor that Jordan and Bird had, and that Kobe now has. When things get heated, players making that kind of money "earn" their check by stepping up and taking the game over. Lebron starts tossing up halfhazard shots, giving up turnovers, and basically completely folds, and we've seen that every year in the playoffs. So yes, he is "worth" his pay in terms of what he brings to the franchise and local economy financially, but up until this point in his career, he hasn't EARNED anything.

Also, Cleveland will sell out an arena or stadium for any winning team. Having Lebron James on the Cavs is not the only way to have a winning team. The Cavs have a solid core of players outside of Lebron, and if he leaves there are still many players out there in free agency this year to bring in for far cheaper and who may in fact improve the chemistry of the team, and may in fact be guys who are leaders, not simply talented ballers who always want the spotlight on them but then choke when the spotlight gets too bright. Lebron leaving is not necessarily the end of the Cavs success and thus the end of people showing up at Cavs games and buying Cavs merchandise.

Every mentions Lebron & Jordan, and the lack of championships. Jordan didn't win his first championship until he was almost 30. Jordan, Johnson, Bryant, Bird, Pierce & Thomas all had/have solid supporting casts. You take Lebron out, the Cavs have a 30 win team. He has never had a real supporting cast. I also would love to see Lebron playing under the "Jordan" rules. No Zone defenses at all, can start running from the wing and not get called for traveling.

Also remember, the league royally sucked when Jordan was playing.

LeBron never travels. He just Crab-dribbles.

Go Zips.

[Spin]

There's a difference between EARNING every penny he makes, and being WORTH every penny he makes. Worth it? Yes, for the reasons you've cited above. Earning it? No, as a player making that kind of money and with that kind of hype should win championships. Lebron isn't a leader of men, and doesn't have that same killer instinct and "it" factor that Jordan and Bird had, and that Kobe now has. When things get heated, players making that kind of money "earn" their check by stepping up and taking the game over. Lebron starts tossing up halfhazard shots, giving up turnovers, and basically completely folds, and we've seen that every year in the playoffs. So yes, he is "worth" his pay in terms of what he brings to the franchise and local economy financially, but up until this point in his career, he hasn't EARNED anything.

Also, Cleveland will sell out an arena or stadium for any winning team. Having Lebron James on the Cavs is not the only way to have a winning team. The Cavs have a solid core of players outside of Lebron, and if he leaves there are still many players out there in free agency this year to bring in for far cheaper and who may in fact improve the chemistry of the team, and may in fact be guys who are leaders, not simply talented ballers who always want the spotlight on them but then choke when the spotlight gets too bright. Lebron leaving is not necessarily the end of the Cavs success and thus the end of people showing up at Cavs games and buying Cavs merchandise.

It's an entertainment business. He HAS earned everything he's got. He sells more tickets, more shoes, more sweatbands, more T-shirts. Sponsors pay more dollars when a network shows his game. The Cavs are worth at least ten times as much with him on the roster. He makes other people rich, he should get his too.

When Barbara Streisand signs at a concert and the tickets are over $200 each, she EARNED every penny of what she makes. It doesn't matter whether she is at her best, or the band wins a grammy. Her presence makes other people rich, she should get hers too.

By your thinking, Darko Miličić should be in the hall of fame instead of Karl Malone. Shandon Anderson should replace Charles Barkley. They got the rings...

Speaking of Darko, don't forget the fact that without LeBron, there is no NBA basketball in Cleveland.