According to a source with first-hand knowledge of James' plans, the Larry King interview that was shot Tuesday and will air Friday on CNN was only the beginning of his elaborate scheme to draw unprecedented attention to his courting. James, according to the source, is in discussions with Nike to create a new shoe for every visit along his free agent path starting July 1. The shoes would have the date of the visit printed, with James already having scripted his itinerary for the Free Agency Tour 2010.
The source insists that he'll head for New York first to visit with the Knicks, and then spend time with the Nets. Chicago will be next, with the Bulls hoping he wants to follow in the footsteps of Michael Jordan and become the Windy City's beloved star. Depending on the level of sustained public interest and the discussions with the teams in the respective cities, James will decide at that point whether to continue on to Miami and possibly Los Angeles to see the Clippers.
That final stop would be Hollywood style in every way, with James simply putting on a show intended to create buzz in yet another big city and maintain the mystery of where he will go. And for what it's worth, the source expects James to return to the Cavaliers by the time the circus comes to an end.
Sam Amick of Fanhouse. I love you, LeBron. You make it so easy to hate you.
UPDATE: Nike says this isn't actually happening, according to Darren Rovell.
almost 2 years ago
Mike Prada
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I've come around on Lebron...
I love the kid. I haven’t had this much fun hating somebody since Laettner.
It's not that easy to hate a mediocrity.
"Sarchasm": The gap in understanding which occurs when one attempts to be self-deprecating on behalf of others.
Can we get DeShawn Stevenson and Soulja boy to hit every city the day before?
Hogs Haven. On Twitter. And Facebook.
by Kevin Ewoldt on Jun 4, 2010 10:53 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Dude
I never thought I’d hate someone more than Kobe..
I swear I wish there was a media boycott of LeBron in effect until he signs somewhere
twitter.com/rashad20
I love Kobe now....
He’s turned into my 2nd most favorite player – he’s the anti-LeBron…
He’s what LeBron WANTS to be – but will never be…..
So, now Kobe is a favorite of mine – just because Kobe’s winning Chips – and it has to eat at Bron……
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
by Rook6980 on Jun 4, 2010 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
From Kobe hater to lover as well
I think I hated him so much in his early years because the Lakers were TOO dominant with him and Shaq
Jackie McMullan followed up that film study with a nice article:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2010/columns/story?columnist=macmullan_jackie&page=kobefilmstudy-100604
shine like bald head, smoke trees call me log head
I've come around some on Kobe too
I still don’t want to hang with him after the game, but his game is just so amazingly gorgeous to watch. Lebron’s domination is vastly less aesthetic.
by Elvin_is_my_Elvis on Jun 4, 2010 2:21 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Its amazing how well he’s been able to repair his image since the rape scandal. Tiger Woods should take note.
by zl on Jun 5, 2010 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Let's play a game:
Words/phrases associated with Kobe Bryant: Fearless, Killer Instinct, Assassin’s Mentality, Competitive Fire, Fourth Quarter, Ultimate Confidence, Mental Toughness, Will to Win, Intestinal Fortitude, High Basketball IQ, Insane Skill Level, Work Ethic
Words/phrases associated with Lebron James: King, Chosen 1, Hop Step, Crab Dribble, Travel, Free Agency
Anyone care to add more?
This is why LeBron James is good, but Kobe Bryant is GREAT. Kobe, much like gilbert, never had anything handed to him: aside from being 6’6", Kobe was not blessed with natural physical gifts like LeBron’s huge frame, Michael’s large hands, or KD’s long arms. Yes Kobe was a douchebag in his former years, but he had to work extremely hard and study the game to get to where he is now, originally being the 13th pick and coming off the bench competing with van exel and eddie jones for minutes.
LeBron’s always been the Golden Child, everything was handed to him: Number 1 pick, immediate franchise player role, leverage over management, inordinate amount of media attention.
by Marine4Life51 on Jun 5, 2010 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions
You and me both
"I say he does have to shoot me now! So shoot me now!" --- Daffy Duck
by George Templeton on Jun 7, 2010 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
If there was such a boycott, ironically,
nobody would have made up this fictive example of LeBron’s self-involvement.
It’s all of a piece, here, in NBA reporting land – where Dwyane Wade saying he’ll talk to a couple of his fellow free agents becomes a “summit.”
"Sarchasm": The gap in understanding which occurs when one attempts to be self-deprecating on behalf of others.
In fairness to the rest of the world
We have a special relationship with Dominique James that the rest of the league doesn’t share. Three straight years of first round exits did this to us.
This is ridiculous
It seems he’s putting more time and effort into this whole free agent thing than he put into trying to win a championship. That what separates Kobe from Lebron to me. Kobe is all about winning and Lebron is all about attention and making money.
Exactly
It is what separates him from Kobe and MJ. Way more into attention then winning.
Ever notice how Lebron’s highlight dunks are fast breaks then he points to the crowd. MJ’s on the other hand were on people like Ewing where he would stand over them with that “in your effin’ face” look.
He’d rather have everyone compete over him then he himself compete for a title.
shine like bald head, smoke trees call me log head
LOL that would be awesome
…. but David Stern will never allow anything like that to happen. I’m sure he’s pissed because the Cavs aren’t playing the Lakers in the Finals rightnow
This is a ridiculous thing to say for several reasons
but I kind of feel like everyone else is learning what Wizards fans already knew. We tried to warn you.
Ridiculous Upside, where developing talent and winning are not mutually exclusive.
by Jon L on Jun 4, 2010 1:21 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
yup
and it’s exactly why wiz fans (obviously not all, but many) embraced gilbert so much. he was in some ways the opposite of lebron – everything earned, nothing given, not necessarily humble but the ego came with a bit of a wink.
"how ironic - you came here with a mouse in a bottle, now YOU are the mouse in the bottle" - B.M. Smith
by little stevie colter on Jun 4, 2010 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions
I swear it seems like
The word “douche” was made just for Lebron. Even if the story may not be true, it certainly seems like it could be, which is the sad part about it.
I have a new favorite wish and it is this
I hope that Bosh and Wade sign together somewhere and leave LBJ out in the cold struggling in his team’s mediocrity.
whoa - danny ferry resigns abruptly
very very interesting.
"how ironic - you came here with a mouse in a bottle, now YOU are the mouse in the bottle" - B.M. Smith
by little stevie colter on Jun 4, 2010 2:17 PM EDT reply actions
Here We Go
Mike Brown was first, now this. I’m guessing Shaq or Jamison will be offering some quotes about team chemistry or poor organizational moves next?
To be fair
His contract was up after the season, so it probably was a mutual parting of the ways. I don’t know.
mutual yes -
but you can’t help wonder what it means for next year.
"how ironic - you came here with a mouse in a bottle, now YOU are the mouse in the bottle" - B.M. Smith
by little stevie colter on Jun 4, 2010 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions
That is very suprising...
But at the same time can understand. He dosen’t want to be the scapegoat if Cleveland does in fact lose LeBron.
by TheRealBigMike on Jun 4, 2010 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh yeah
and how arrogant is it that James had to go on Larry King, as opposed to, I don’t know, a sports show?
Arrogant and not all that smart
Larry King’s ratings are awful right now. He’d get better exposure on a lot of sports shows.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
by Jake Whitacre on Jun 4, 2010 10:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Dude.
Larry’s last name is King. Come on, now.
We're from the city with the highest murder rate in the country. Why WOULDN'T they call us the Bullets?
by Bullet Nation in Exile on Jun 5, 2010 2:01 AM EDT up reply actions
You're not seeing the merchandising opportunities, here.
Think “suspenders.”
"Sarchasm": The gap in understanding which occurs when one attempts to be self-deprecating on behalf of others.
by feral on Jun 5, 2010 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Danny Ferry has just joined Mike Brown...
on the scrapheap in Cleveland. Are they going to name LeBron playing coach and GM?
you know the scary thing is
they actually might do that.. i dont know about coach but definitely GM LOL
by Young Wook Lee on Jun 4, 2010 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions
he'll be the first player/GM
think about how much attention grabbing that’ll do, that will surely have lebron coming back to the cavs
by Young Wook Lee on Jun 4, 2010 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions
The Blog-a-Bulls site was interesting about Brown.
Essentially, when the Bulls showed a glimmer of interest in Brown (before apparently hiring Thibodeau), they couldn’t decide how they felt about that. If LeBron would entertain the idea, they were much more enthusiastic; if not, they wanted nothing to do with Brown.
If LBJ’s every gesture had this much influence on the court, he’d be able to sweep entire opposing teams into the third row with a single head fake. People are out there trying to read his mind – and making up thoughts when they can’t, as we saw with this fake story. Cleveland’s entire front office is vacating in ritual seppuku because he might leave.
Amazing.
"Sarchasm": The gap in understanding which occurs when one attempts to be self-deprecating on behalf of others.
I laughed, I cried
I wasted an hour or so of my life watching Larry King interview Lebron James.
Least interesting professional athlete of all time.
Stern's quote about the free agency summit was PRICELESS
“I was wondering whether they would get together, eight players and they’ll all look at D-Wade’s ring?”
We're from the city with the highest murder rate in the country. Why WOULDN'T they call us the Bullets?
by Bullet Nation in Exile on Jun 5, 2010 2:17 AM EDT reply actions
Pure foolishness....
Last season it was the dunk tape. If this has any sembelence of truth, I do hope Nike is getting their proper agent fee……
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