Apparently, LeBron James got dunked on in a pickup game by Xavier's Jordan Crawford at his basketball camp this week. And a couple of videographers were taping it. And then a Nike official (with LeBron's approval) demanded the tapes so it wouldn't get out on YouTube or something.
This is according to CBSsports.com's Gary Parrish, generally a reputable source on basketball stuff. So let's assume it's true (Nike's excuse was that the session shouldn't have been taped in the first place). And assuming that, my response would be:
Oh, c'mon.
Is LeBron really that image-conscious? And wouldn't LeBron or the Nike folks realize that taking away the tapes quite likely would backfire into a bigger story, as it has now? As I write this, a version of this story sits on the main homepage of several of the sports world's most popular websites.
This is just silly, and LeBron and Nike are both getting what they deserve on it -- more publicity than such a dunk, in a pickup game no less, would ever otherwise get. What, we don't know that LeBron is vulnerable? The Orlando Magic proved that in the playoffs, just as some NBA team has proved every year.
At this point, it doesn't matter whether footage of the dunk surfaces or not. Just the fact that it's out there, that people know about it, should be enough to make LeBron and Nike remember that image is NOT everything.
Act like a real person -- one with true vulnerabilities -- and people are going to like you better, LeBron.
We're moving!
9 years ago
Posts
21 comments:
Scott: You're ignoring the fact that they have never allowed videotaping of after hours stuff at this camp. Isn't this a matter of Nike just enforcing their policy? Why wouldn't they confer with LBJ? He runs the camp.
Him getting dunked on is fine.
Suddenly allowing anyone to go in and videotape scrimmages/scout players is not.
are you ignoring the fact, it was ok to roll footage up to the point he got dunked on?
I'm sure if they were not allowed, it would have been checked at the door.
Nice try though...
So what if LBJ was yammed on. LBJ is not perfect and how was he supposed to defend himself from it happening? How would it have looked if he laid a NBA Playoff foul on the Jordan Crawford when it is a pickup game. Both parties have too much to lose in case of an injury.
The fact that the other guy was wearing a pair of Reeboks might have something to do with it...
So far all I have seen in NIKE tried to confiscate the file, nothing about LBJ walking over and demanding it. Up until this point, with the exception of the last game in Orlando, he has been a good sport. Stop trying to make something more than it is. He's human, he will get dunked on. Anyone who believes otherwise (including NIKE and himself) if foolish.
Scott: There are two sides to every story. Get the facts before you further spread gossip and innuendo.
Here is a reporting which sounds more like the truth....
by Brian Windhorst/Plain Dealer Reporter Wednesday July 08, 2009, 9:22 PM
LeBron James has certainly had dunks performed over him before, such as this slam by Detroit's Antonio McDyess in 2006. But a dunk by Xavier's Jordan Crawford on Monday is getting national attention thanks to the reaction of Nike officials at James' skills camp in Akron.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- To read the Internet, it would seem winning the NBA Most Valuable Player Award has dramatically thinned LeBron James' skin. That and one of the world's largest corporations apparently has to flex its muscle to protect a 6-8, 260-pound man.
In the latest James' Web controversy on Wednesday, CBSSports.com reported that Monday night at Nike's LeBron James Skills Academy at the University of Akron, officials confiscated tapes from two videographers after James had been dunked on by a college player during a pickup game.
To make it worse, the report said, James instructed Nike bosses to take the tapes as if he were Don Barzini in the famous wedding scene from "The Godfather."
It's a funny story indeed and instantly spread virally across the web and soon went into the talk-show machine. The problem is, just like earlier this week when James made headlines for something he never said to Trevor Ariza in a phone conversation, it isn't the whole story.
According to Nike and James himself, nothing of the sort happened.
Oh, he certainly got dunked on. Xavier University's Jordan Crawford slammed it right over him and probably experienced quite a surge in Google hits because of it. James has been dunked on many times in his career and it has become the career highlight of several players.
Nike said taking the tapes had nothing to do with the dunk and more to do with a violation of the media procedures of the event. The James Skills Academy brings together the top high school and college players in the country and is open to the media. After those sessions, however, there are often pickup games that James and several of his Cavs teammates take part in. The media is permitted to watch but not permitted to do interviews or film.
"Nike has been operating basketball camps for the benefit of young athletes for decades and has longstanding policies in place regarding what events are open and closed to media coverage," Nike spokesman KeJuan Wilkins said.
"Unfortunately, for the first time in four years, two journalists did not respect our 'no videotaping' policy at an after-hours pick-up game Monday evening following the LeBron James Skills Academy."
According to Nike officials, both journalists understood the mistake and handed over their tapes without making a fuss. Neither cameraman was available for comment Wednesday night.
As for James, there was no shame. He takes pride in getting to know young up-and-coming players and taking them on the floor. James is not in top form. He took a month off following a five-hour surgery to remove a growth from his jaw last month and then spent three weeks taking care of business and getting some vacation time in Washington, New York, the South of France, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
Not that he's taking anything away from Crawford, who apparently threw down an impressive jam.
"Jordan Crawford is a great player, LeBron has been dunked on before, it's no big deal," said a source close to James. "It was a pickup game and it happened in competition."
James doesn't mind getting shown up every now and then either, after all last year he lost two games of HORSE to a warehouse worker in California as part of a promotion for Cub Cadet.
King Lame.
You are talking about a poor sport to begin with, LOL. Did the NBA ever fine him for walking off the court or did they turn a blind eye because it was him?
Lame jocks.
To anyone justifying what happened here, don't you think if they caught footage of Lebron dunking on someone that it would show up in his next Nike commercial?
I was the poster of the first post, and I'll post again just to respond to the latest poster:
Look around and read about the story: Fowler did a very poor job of jumping the gun instead of getting all of the facts. Videotaping is NOT ALLOWED for after hours pickup games at the camp. It never has been. The two people with cameras were doing it without permission and Nike was within its power to enforce its non-videotaping policy.
As for Lebron dunking on someone else? I don't think there's a shortage of clips of that already.
Hey Lebron, why don't you win a ring and then pick and choose which footage is allowed to be released to the public. Jordan and Pippen were dunked on by John Starks, you didn't see them complaining. Oh that's right, they already had three rings at that point.
Win a title. Monopolize your image. It's bad enough we had to watch those homo-erotic puppet shows with you and Kobe.
Lebron's a baby and Nike is a monopoly. Both of their ego's are nauseating.
Lebron is a little bitc*!!
LBJ = Lyndon Baines Johnson
Scott: would you be bringing this up if Lebron were a Tarheel?
It would have been great publicity for his camp,if he would had let the film be shown. If you come to Lebron James basketball camp within a week you will be dunking over him.
Just reading through the comments.. It looks like the sorry BOBCATS fans are just a bit too women-like. SO WHAT.. LBJ or NIKE has no real personal dealings with you and your REAL life. Funny how people put SO MUCH into people that are really distant from they're daily lives. (I would bet you read the National Eq. and all the other "check-out" mag'z. Listen to all the TMZ and ENT. TONIGHT) WHO CARES!!! Until it involves my child, friend, family member, friends of family what someone else do w/ there time and money is fine with me. (As long as it doesn't bring hurt, harm, nor danger to me and mine... **** as I step down from my soapbox*** lol
Scott,
Why not just put links up to the crap you read online instead of wasting your time and ours. Your "commentary" is worthless. Sarah Aarthun is being "paid to party" - at least she's doing something.
What a whiner. After his lack of sportsmanship in the NBA playoffs earlier this year, and now this, I have no use for this overgrown baby. Go get your diaper changed LeBron.
No, James wasn't fined for walking off the court. There's no NBA rule suggesting a player can't leave for the locker room any time he pleases.
Despite all this that you wrote, he is still one of the best players in the NBA right now, Kobe who??.
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