Posted May 15, 200619 yr This article appeared in Friday's Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060512/SPORTS0102/605120329 KEY to the CITY Cleveland reaps benefits of James' rise to stardom Joanne C. Gerstner / The Detroit News CLEVELAND -- Three years ago, the Cavaliers prayed for hope. As losses on the court grew, so did fan apathy. The city was obsessed with the fortunes of the Browns and Indians. The Cavaliers barely registered. Then luck smiled on the Cavaliers. They finally won -- the No. 1 pick in the 2003 draft lottery... "There is no way (James) can fully appreciate the impact he is having," Nance said. "If this keeps going the way it is, I think it will transform Cleveland." You can re ach Joanne C. Gerstner at (313) 223-4644 or [email protected].
May 15, 200619 yr I wonder if Bernie Kosar's return to Ohio (after graduating from Miami in 3 years) had as much impact on Cleveland (back in the mid 80s) as LeBron does now?
May 15, 200619 yr I agree Lebron has been good for the city, but I think it is a bit much to imply that he is one of the main things driving our downtown renewal.
May 15, 200619 yr Oh goody. Now let's just put a roof on Browns Stadium, host a Super Bowl, and Cleveland will be right up there with Chicago and New York. Yawn....
May 15, 200619 yr Well, they better put some more good ball players around him, or he will be gone the first chance he gets. I hate to say it, but maybe even that won't be enough, remember Orlando was great with Shaq, but he wanted the bright lights of the big city, (LA obviously).
May 16, 200619 yr Its amazing how much impact Lebron has had on Cleveland. As a outsider I will admit that him and him alone actually makes me want to visit Cleveland again. Hes giving the city an identity and thats important.
May 16, 200619 yr I wouldn't say he's giving us an identity because I'd like to think that we had that. But yeah, he has raised the city's profile some.
May 16, 200619 yr I wonder if Bernie Kosar's return to Ohio (after graduating from Miami in 3 years) had as much impact on Cleveland (back in the mid 80s) as LeBron does now? If the Cavs go to the playoffs in five straight years, win the Central Division in four of them, go to the conference championship in three years and get lots of songs written about them and Lebron (as was done for the Bernie and the Browns), then Lebron will have done as much for the Cavs and Bernie did for the Browns. I was 18 when Bernie agreed to come home to Northeast Ohio, and I can't begin to tell you how excited I was. I was a huge Browns fan back then. I remember there was a song on the radio that summer (of 1985) about Bernie coming home, so I wasn't the only one. It was an electric time that got even better as Bernie grew as a player. When the offensive line lost some of its better players to injuries and free agency in the 1988 and 1989, Bernie the pocket passer got hurt and was never as successful as he was in 1986 and 1987. But those were some wonderful years even though we didn't make the Super Bowl. I've soured on professional sports since then for a variety of reasons, but I still have many of those games from the 1980s on video. I watch them on the rare occasion to remember an era when I still admired sports stars, the Browns organization seemed rock solid, and the future was limitless. I'm sorry -- what team were we talking about?? :laugh: "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 16, 200619 yr I wouldn't say he's giving us an identity because I'd like to think that we had that. But yeah, he has raised the city's profile some. I've always been amazed by just how much a single marquee player can raise the city's profile. I was traveling in Switzerland in 2000 and my friend was paying for something with his Cleveland Cavs credit card and the guy behind the desk immediately started in with, "Shawn Kemp hasn't been doing too well this year, has he?" And this was Shawn Kemp! I can only imagine the kind of reaction you'd get from ordinary people for LeBron!
May 16, 200619 yr I agree that the article simplifies a huge issue, but there's no doubt in my mind that Lebron has made a huge impact on certain things. As the article states, the Cavs were down and getting worse. Imagine the impact of building a new arena with public money and then either losing the team or continuing to get only half the seats filled throughout the season. In its simplest form, that's half a million less visitors coming Downtown for the Cavs alone each year. And now with the playoffs and the growing identity of the team beyond our own region...you can't argue that there isn't an impact that's bigger than basketball.
May 16, 200619 yr Well, they better put some more good ball players around him, or he will be gone the first chance he gets. I hate to say it, but maybe even that won't be enough, remember Orlando was great with Shaq, but he wanted the bright lights of the big city, (LA obviously). Totally different rules from when Shaq left ORL and now. It would be a major financial mistake for LeBron not to sign with the cavs...it would completely affect his salary and raise potential for the rest of his NBA career. Now you might say "Well, if he goes to LA or NY he will get more money in endorsements". He already makes more money in endorsements than any other NBA player. In todays world, it doens't matter where you play.
May 16, 200619 yr ^actually, his nike contract does indeed say he'd make more if he went to play on the coast. but he would be smart to stay put just for the simple reason that he currently has a better chance of winning a championship with the cavs than with any coastal team. besides, i think lebron is more interested in winning it all than money. he has money. plus, he seems happy being a homeboy where he knows he can concentrate on his game much easier. now if only all the pistons success did anything for detroit - ha.
May 16, 200619 yr ^actually, his nike contract does indeed say he'd make more if he went to play on the coast. but he would be smart to stay put just for the simple reason that he currently has a better chance of winning a championship with the cavs than with any coastal team. besides, i think lebron is more interested in winning it all than money. he has money. plus, he seems happy being a homeboy where he knows he can concentrate on his game much easier. now if only all the pistons success did anything for detroit - ha. When did you see his contract? LOL :? I to thnk he's better suited here in cleveland its not like were a low rung media market.. and as our local economy improves its all his to win!
May 16, 200619 yr ^actually, his nike contract does indeed say he'd make more if he went to play on the coast. but he would be smart to stay put just for the simple reason that he currently has a better chance of winning a championship with the cavs than with any coastal team. besides, i think lebron is more interested in winning it all than money. he has money. plus, he seems happy being a homeboy where he knows he can concentrate on his game much easier. now if only all the pistons success did anything for detroit - ha. Actually that is a myth created by the NY media. According to a Cavs beatwriter (I think it was Brian Windhurst of the ABJ) the Nike contract has NO incentives for moving to a larger city. Some of his smaller endorsements do, but Nike is the cash cow. And like I said, he is already #1 in the NBA in endorsement dollars...can't do much better than #1. Lebron has publicy stated that his goal is to win a championship for Cleveland and that he will sign his extension this summer. No player has ever turned down a max contract offer, and while LeBron has been the 1st to do many things, he won't be the 1st to do that.
May 16, 200619 yr Let's not forget the impact of new development one great sports player can have. Take Chicago for example. If any of you remember what Chicago looked like before and after the Michael Jordan years. Before Michael... After Michael... I rest my case. :-D
May 17, 200619 yr Pure comic genious! Where did that before pic come from? That's actually a very interesting looking little area there. It looks Middle Eastern/North African.
May 17, 200619 yr Actually, it's some anonymous corner in Palestine. It you could remove the chaos and violence, I can see a viable and potentially vibrant neighborhood that I'd might like to visit one day. Too bad, though for now...
May 17, 200619 yr Looks like East Cleveland! :-o How do we get on these tangents!?!? "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 17, 200619 yr ^boo! KJP, you should be ashamed! I think that if Lebron signs his extension this summer, then we'll have Burke...rather Jamestown...built out by 2012 with over 2,000 residential units, 20 million square feet of office space, 10 million square feet of retail space, and 25 acres of public space and parks. By the way, that will also be the year that we win our 4th straight championship!
May 17, 200619 yr I think Lebron and Nick Costas should run against eachother for Mayor. Then were talking.
May 17, 200619 yr Lebron publicly stated that he will sign the extension? When did that happen? Sometime near the beginning of the season, I believe. There's an audio clip of it that they play on WKNR all the time. He says "I can't wait to sign my extension" and "Let me spell it out for you...I am not going anywhere." The national media conveniently ignores this.
May 17, 200619 yr Winning pays Gateway businesses thrive on crowds, cash Wednesday, May 17, 2006 Emily Hamlin Plain Dealer Reporter The crowds will come again -- and Cleveland businesses already smell the money. The Cavaliers' win over the Detroit Pistons on Monday night in the second round of the NBA playoffs guaranteed another game at The Q arena and another fan frenzy in the Gateway District... www.cleveland.com
May 24, 200619 yr ^actually, his nike contract does indeed say he'd make more if he went to play on the coast. This was widely reported but the Akron Beacon Journal debunked it. The Nike contract does not have kickers for playing in a major market (LA, NY, CHI). "Some of his other endorsement deals do, but they represent much, much less than he can get by re-signing for a max contract in Cleveland."
May 24, 200619 yr Great article, "Winning Pays." I hadn't seen that yet. I always assume that business is up down there when the teams are doing well, but it's nice to see it in print as well!
May 25, 200619 yr If these bar and restaurant owners were smart, they'd stash away some of the cash they're pulling in now, and put it in an interest-bearing reserve fund. Since sports teams always go through up and down cycles, bar and restaurant owners could tap those funds in the bad times. I say this only because I hated to see many of the Gateway area spots close a few years ago when the Indians and Cavs were both on the down cycle. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 25, 200619 yr I love LeBron as much as everyone else, but my Cleveland cynicism is creeping up, and I hope we don't peg our hopes on his back. LeBron is a real civic morale booster, but we need to be able keep pushing toward positive change whether LeBron is in the Q or somewhere else.
May 26, 200619 yr ^actually, his nike contract does indeed say he'd make more if he went to play on the coast. This was widely reported but the Akron Beacon Journal debunked it. The Nike contract does not have kickers for playing in a major market (LA, NY, CHI). "Some of his other endorsement deals do, but they represent much, much less than he can get by re-signing for a max contract in Cleveland." sure? i mean abj? no bias there.....
May 26, 200619 yr ^actually, his nike contract does indeed say he'd make more if he went to play on the coast. This was widely reported but the Akron Beacon Journal debunked it. The Nike contract does not have kickers for playing in a major market (LA, NY, CHI). "Some of his other endorsement deals do, but they represent much, much less than he can get by re-signing for a max contract in Cleveland." sure? i mean abj? no bias there..... I always go to the Beacon for my Cavs info. Windhorst always has the real deal -- perceived bias or not. I don't see any bias, though.
May 27, 200619 yr ^actually, his nike contract does indeed say he'd make more if he went to play on the coast. This was widely reported but the Akron Beacon Journal debunked it. The Nike contract does not have kickers for playing in a major market (LA, NY, CHI). "Some of his other endorsement deals do, but they represent much, much less than he can get by re-signing for a max contract in Cleveland." sure? i mean abj? no bias there..... Would you have prefered the Chicago Tribune or a newspaper from outside of Ohio to put your worried mind to rest?
May 30, 200619 yr This past weekend I had a few events to attend in Miami. The Heat and Piston's played on Saturday afternoon and believe it or not. I saw more people wearing "king james" jersey's than Shaq or Wade! I cannot tell you how many people are reppin' LeBron's jersey! and on another note. With a) the Eastern Conference finals b) urban beach weekend and c) miami Sizzle all going on at one time in Miami. The city core is a complete ghost town. I plan on sending the pictures to the editors of the Plain Dealer so they can see what a DEAD downtown looks like. The next time someone says cleveland (and I'll even throw c-bus and cinci in the mix) has a dead downton. I'll be sure to whip out the miami picture. dead...dead....dead at 2pm on a Friday.
June 3, 200619 yr http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0606/gallery.exciting/content.15.html look whos number 1
June 3, 200619 yr http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0606/gallery.exciting/content.15.html look whos number 1 During this Heat/Pistons series, these "journalists" keep touting Dwayne Wade like he's the next Michael Jordan and they'd MUCH rather have him than LeBron. That really gets me. LeBron doesn't have a Shaq on his team, and the Heat's role players seem to kick in more offense than the Cavs. Seems like a retarded statement, anyway. If LeBron played on the Heat, they'd be unstoppable.
April 4, 200817 yr LeBron's tournament returning to Akron Dick Russ Created: 4/3/2008 4:55:03 PM Updated:4/4/2008 12:14:12 PM AKRON -- For the third straight year, the King James Shooting Stars Classic will bring the country's top young basketball stars to Akron. The official announcement was made Thursday by Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic and Dru Joyce II, Lebron's coach from the age of 10 up through high school... www.fox8.com (link expired)
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