they have got to televise this ....... seriously
He'll need to ride in the safety of the Jamesmobile.
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Finally it's apparent you're trolling.. with that
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No boos as LeBron bikes for charity in Ohio
By Hal Habib
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
AKRON, Ohio — The King ascended his throne once again Saturday morning, even if that throne happened to be the saddle of a bicycle.
LeBron James hosted his annual bikeathon on a sun-splashed morning, proving you can go home again even if you're halfway out the door, leaving the local Cleveland Cavaliers to take your talents to the Miami Heat.
No hard feelings, Akron appeared to be saying Saturday morning in James' first public appearance here since The Decision. James joined 400 neighborhood kids for his annual "King for Kids Bike-A-Thon" to benefit Akron's Urban League and YMCA.
There were no discernible boos. No burning of jerseys. No burning of bicycles, either.
"I don't care where he goes," said Akron's Jamall Vaughn, 35, a painter wearing James' Cavs jersey. "We still love him."
Maybe so, but the event was scaled down and security was beefed up, witnesses said.
James crossed the finish line following his 1-mile ride and was surrounded by a seven-man security team that fit into two categories: armed (members of Akron's finest) and arms (biceps so large they obscured the rest of their bodies).
If that sounds like a Secret Service detail, well ...
"We all know that kids are our future and if we continue to empower kids and make them believe that they have a bright future, then we never know," James said while briefly addressing the crowd. "There might be the next Barack Obama sitting there, sitting on the bikes. Or the next LeBron James. Or the next Oprah Winfrey."
James was easy to pick out for a few reasons: 1) He was three times taller than everyone else; 2) His glittering watch appeared to cost as much as every bicycle on the street, combined; 3) He had an entourage.
"This is probably the most precious -- the best day for the year," James told the crowd, "because I'm able to give back to the city I grew up in, the city that I love."
Wearing a red "Enjoy Akron" T-shirt, James did not field questions from the media. He never mentioned Miami but did address fans in Cleveland, where his jerseys were burned when he exited.
"I want to thank you for the last seven years," he said.
Watching his son participate was Marcellus Ripley, 43, a press operator from Akron wearing a James jersey. Ripley said he was "hurt" the night he saw such jerseys in flames.
"He's given all of his seven years to Cleveland, devoted, and all of a sudden, now he makes a move, everyone turns their back," Ripley said. "It's a decision he has to make for himself. Once you're a free agent, you have to do what you have to do."
Even Ripley cringed at the thought of what will happen when the Heat visits Cleveland.
"It's going to be a lot of animosity," Ripley said. "A lot of fans are going to be hurt, and that's why I think there was going to be a bigger crowd today. I think there are still a lot of people sour about him leaving and they stayed home."
Damon Haley, executive producer of the event, said the 8-mile ride for adults was eliminated not because of James' departure but because of tough economic times.
"This is a huge turnout," Haley said. "I think it's reflective of how Akron feels about him and understands one of their own, knowing it's a tough time for him and the people letting him know that they're here for him."
Very classy from Akron, it's sad that they have to be so close to Cleveland and the rest of Ohio..
How can anybody hate this man?.."We all know that kids are our future and if we continue to empower kids and make them believe that they have a bright future, then we never know," James said while briefly addressing the crowd. "There might be the next Barack Obama sitting there, sitting on the bikes. Or the next LeBron James. Or the next Oprah Winfrey."
i lol'd irl
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