duncan228
11-20-2009, 11:40 PM
Cleveland rejects new LeBron James mural (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Cleveland-rejects-new-LeBron-James-mural;_ylt=AvAlCH3ru.KCksRAF4wVtue8vLYF?urn=nba,20 4018)
By J.E. Skeets
Ball Don't Lie
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_nba_experts__39/ept_sports_nba_experts-770351953-1258749437.jpg?ym9HJPCDVqeQzDYD
A new mural of Cavaliers superstar LeBron James may be too much for city officials in Cleveland.
And by "too much," I mean too little "Forest City" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland) references and clothing.
The Cleveland Planning Commission tabled Nike's request to replace a massive 10-story mural of James that hangs from an office building across from the Cavaliers' Quicken Loans Arena. Nike wants to replace the famous "We Are All Witnesses" banner (http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/2008/04/large_lebron1.jpg) with the semi-creepy one pictured above — LeBron, shirtless and lizard-like, "preparing for combat" with nothing more than a cold, hard stare and a basketball.
According to Tom Breckenridge of The Plain Dealer (http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2009/11/cleveland_design_officials_giv.html), city design officials rued the fact that "Cleveland" and "Cavaliers" have no presence on the proposed banner. LBJ wears a Cavs jersey on the current mural (http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/2008/04/large_lebron1.jpg).
Certain officials also took offense at the excessive skin (http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2009/11/nikes_proposed_new_lebron_mura.html) and "war" reference (http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2009/11/cleveland_design_officials_giv.html), especially at a time when U.S. soldiers are fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. (Not to mention Delonte West's latest troubles (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Breaking-news-Delonte-West-arrested-on-weapons-?urn=nba,190545).)
As such, the committee has decided to shelve the mural request, with a recommendation that Nike come up with "something more positive" and maybe a reference or two to the Cavs or Cleveland.
Good idea. Might I suggest this? (http://www.afro.com/Portals/1/sports/Lebron%20James%20NY%20photo.JPG) (I'm kidding, Cleveland. Relax.)
Cheers, Waiting For Next Year (http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/?p=20897&preview=true).
By J.E. Skeets
Ball Don't Lie
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_nba_experts__39/ept_sports_nba_experts-770351953-1258749437.jpg?ym9HJPCDVqeQzDYD
A new mural of Cavaliers superstar LeBron James may be too much for city officials in Cleveland.
And by "too much," I mean too little "Forest City" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland) references and clothing.
The Cleveland Planning Commission tabled Nike's request to replace a massive 10-story mural of James that hangs from an office building across from the Cavaliers' Quicken Loans Arena. Nike wants to replace the famous "We Are All Witnesses" banner (http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/2008/04/large_lebron1.jpg) with the semi-creepy one pictured above — LeBron, shirtless and lizard-like, "preparing for combat" with nothing more than a cold, hard stare and a basketball.
According to Tom Breckenridge of The Plain Dealer (http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2009/11/cleveland_design_officials_giv.html), city design officials rued the fact that "Cleveland" and "Cavaliers" have no presence on the proposed banner. LBJ wears a Cavs jersey on the current mural (http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/2008/04/large_lebron1.jpg).
Certain officials also took offense at the excessive skin (http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2009/11/nikes_proposed_new_lebron_mura.html) and "war" reference (http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2009/11/cleveland_design_officials_giv.html), especially at a time when U.S. soldiers are fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. (Not to mention Delonte West's latest troubles (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Breaking-news-Delonte-West-arrested-on-weapons-?urn=nba,190545).)
As such, the committee has decided to shelve the mural request, with a recommendation that Nike come up with "something more positive" and maybe a reference or two to the Cavs or Cleveland.
Good idea. Might I suggest this? (http://www.afro.com/Portals/1/sports/Lebron%20James%20NY%20photo.JPG) (I'm kidding, Cleveland. Relax.)
Cheers, Waiting For Next Year (http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/?p=20897&preview=true).