King of Akron

[Dr Z]

Finally, some good news. Was it me, or am I the only one who noticed Z could touch the rim without jumping, yet had every other shot blocked.

Diminishing skills, just like Bernie when he got his ring.

[Dr Z]

Should be an interesting article by Ian Thomsen when it comes out..."The man with the plan (not LeBron that changed the NBA)"

Video of Greg Heisler photographing the cover shot

[Dr Z]

For those of you that thought LBJ wouldn't step foot back in Akron, he was home yesterday according to his twitter account.

LBJ takes some shots from Seth Myers last night (starts at 3 minute mark)

[Dave in Green]

Feelings about LeBron's move appear to have a high correlation to how one feels about the Cavs and Cleveland in general. For those who only care about LeBron and his direct association with Akron, it doesn't matter so much where he plays as long as he creates a legend that somehow partially rubs off on Akron. For Clevelanders and Cavs fans everywhere, the view is much different.

What seems to be coming more and more into question is the effect of LeBron never having made a total, longterm commitment to Cleveland and the Cavs. By not signing a longterm contract with the Cavs and setting himself up for free agency and the real prospect of leaving, he made it more difficult for the Cavs to get commitments from the type of players who are following him to the Miami Heat. His failure to make a longterm commitment to Cleveland and the Cavs may have helped create a self-fulfilling prophesy that the Cavs couldn't win chamipionships, making it even easier for him to walk away.

This is now being painfully rubbed into the faces of Clevelanders and Cavs fans everywhere as more and more news comes out about the personal effort LeBron is putting into helping attract as many good players as possible to Miami. Compared with his previous commitment to Cleveland and the Cavs, his present commitment to Miami and the Heat appears to be much greater.

This may mean little to those who only care about LeBron and Akron. But the absolute poison it's creating among Clevelanders and Cavs fans everywhere should not be underestimated.

[Spin]

I'm not going to lie, I'm on the fence on this one.

I'm all for supporting the home boys, like hoping Sonnanstine does well, even against the Indians. And I understand these kids are this way, and they're immature.

But Bron really pushed the envelope on being likable or watchable.

[GP1]

it doesn't matter so much where he plays as long as he creates a legend that somehow partially rubs off on Akron.

I still don't understand this savior mentality. What on God's green Earth could rub off of LBJ, onto Akron, that would make Akron a better place?

[Spin]

The "savior" monicker came from him coming/going to the Cavs, and saving NBA basketball in Cleveland. Attendance was very bad (the worst in 15 years), the team was worse, and there were other cities calling on the Gunds to sell or move. In his first year attendance went from 11,000 to 18,000 and the Cavs stayed in town.

I'll give him that much, he kept Cleveland from being a minor league hockey town in the winter.

[tbozeglav]

When lebron didn't sign a maximum-length contract a few years back, it really made me wonder what he was up to. If he was as committed to Cleveland if he was telling everyone he was, he would have signed a long-term deal to give him the best chance to live up to the word.

Ill admit it, before this decision I thought LeBron was a man of his word. What we all learned is the painful truth of the immaturity of an athlete surrounded by peers of the same upbringing, not people who could provide the advice and support needed during a decision like he had. He let a lot more people down than just Cleveland by making a mockery of the Cavs and I hope one day he realizes what he did. He can come back to Akron all he wants, but it will be VERY difficult to ease the anger many have towards him. I can only imagine what will happen when the Heat play the Cavs at home.... let's hope the concession stands aren't selling beer in any kind of bottles.

[Dave in Green]

it doesn't matter so much where he plays as long as he creates a legend that somehow partially rubs off on Akron.

I still don't understand this savior mentality. What on God's green Earth could rub off of LBJ, onto Akron, that would make Akron a better place?

Well, if you're looking for absolute proof of some kind, I'm not aware of any. There's a general belief among many people that having a famous person from a specific geographical area can have positive effects on the area. But the degree of effect would be dependent on a lot of different variables. There are individual examples out there. For example, Fairmount, Indiana, focuses big-time on the fact that James Dean was born there. Apparently a lot of people visit Fairmount and spend money there to take part in the many activities related to James Dean.

I suppose the question back to you would be, how could LeBron's fame as potentially the greatest basketball player ever to play the game not have more of a positive than negative effect on his hometown as long as he continues to say good things about his hometown?

I think the jury is out on this one, and no one really has a definitive answer, especially since LeBron's latest move does little to enhance his claim to greatest basketball player ever. The greatest basketball player ever should be able to bring even the Cleveland Cavs an NBA championship, and in this, LeBron failed, turned tail, and ran.