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View Full Version : LeBron James wins dunk event, but fans boo



KoriEllis
03-25-2003, 06:03 AM
www.kansascity.com/mld/ka...473859.htm (http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/5473859.htm)

CLEVELAND - Triumph and controversy seem to follow LeBron James everywhere he goes.

He can't even escape it at something as innocuous as a McDonald's All-American Game-related slam dunk contest.

James won the Powerade Jam Fest dunk competition Monday night at Woodling Gym on the Cleveland State campus.

The decision drew some boos from a standing-room-only crowd of 2,800 fans - many of whom were unfamiliar with a scoring system that penalized contestants for missing the same dunk twice.

James had the crowd roaring with two preliminary-round dunks in which he caromed the ball off the backboard and rammed it home with two hands. On his final dunk of the night, the St. Vincent-St. Mary senior lobbed the ball high in the air and caught it at rim level, slamming it two-handed behind his head.

"It was great to be in a competition with this caliber of talent," said James, who wore red-and-white Reebok shoes.

His final score of 250 points was four better than runner-up Von Wafer, a Florida State recruit from Texas. Michigan State recruit Shannon Brown of Maywood, Ill., placed third with 167 points.

Brown generated the biggest ovation of the night with a one-handed, 360-degree

dunk that followed a length-of-the-court dash. Some fans figured that one to be the winner, but Brown had earlier missed a dunk twice earning an automatic zero from the judges.

The celebrity panel of judges included: Cavaliers' Dajuan Wagner, Darius Miles, Carlos Boozer, DeSagna Diop, former Cavalier Larry Nance and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.

The event can be seen on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. EST on April 4.

SHOE BUSINESS

Nike is believed to be the front-runner in signing James to a lucrative shoe and apparel contract. But adidas president of basketball operations Sonny Vaccaro laughs at rumors of James being on the verge of signing a contract with The Swoosh.

"It would not be prudent for LeBron or the James family to be signing anything yet considering adidas has not even made an offer," Vaccaro said. "I'm not saying he won't sign with Nike, but the family is going to want to maximize the offer.

"I have not talked to (James' mother) Gloria or (Attorney) Fred Nance about an offer. (Nike CEO) Phil Knight is not going to get LeBron cheap."

Reebok negotiator Thomas Shine said he would not talk to James until he declared himself eligible for the NBA Draft.

Nike spokesman Mark Shapiro characterized negotiations involving his company as "nothing but rumors and speculation at this point."

dallasmaverickslose
04-07-2014, 01:41 AM
:wakeup

dallasmaverickslose
04-07-2014, 04:10 PM
On a side note, I didn't know kori was a guest.

tlong is not alone anymore...