LeBron out

[kreator]

SportsTalk: Is the Ruling Fair?
James Ruled Ineligible After Receiving Free Jerseys

By TOM WITHERS
.c The Associated Press

CLEVELAND (Jan. 31) -- LeBron James was ruled ineligible to play for the rest of the season because he accepted free sports jerseys, bringing a sudden end to the basketball star's celebrated high school career.

The decision Friday by Ohio High School Athletic Association commissioner Clair Muscaro came four days after James, a senior at Akron's St. Vincent-St. Mary, was cleared after receiving a $50,000 sports utility vehicle from his mother.

Last Saturday, James was given two retro jerseys -- valued at a combined $845 -- for free from a clothing store, the OHSAA said. The jerseys honored former Chicago Bears running back Gale Sayers and former Washington Bullets center Wes Unseld.

Muscaro's ruling means St. Vincent-St. Mary, must forfeit Sunday's win over Akron Buchtel, dropping its record to 13-1. The Fighting Irish, ranked No. 1 by USA Today, have five games left in the season, plus state playoff games.

James can appeal the decision in writing. Gloria James said through attorney Fred Nance that the family was "deeply disappointed'' with the ruling and was evaluating its options.

"We're going to abide by the ruling,'' said coach Dru Joyce, who said he could not comment on a possible appeal. "We think that maybe there are some facts, that I don't know what they are, that could change things. But the bottom line is, that we're moving on as a team.''

As Joyce spoke outside the school's gym, passengers in a cars driving by shouted, "Leave LeBron alone!'' and "It's all your fault!''

James' now-famous Hummer was moved after the news briefing, and it was unclear whether the 18-year old star was picked up or still in the building.

Even if James doesn't play another high school game, the ruling has no bearing on his future as a professional. The 6-foot-8, 240-pound player is considered the best prep player in the country and is expected to be the No. 1 selection in June's NBA Draft.

Although he hasn't officially declared himself eligible for the draft, Friday's ruling might prohibit him from playing in college because of NCAA rules.

"There could be possible eligibility ramifications with his participation in an NCAA school,'' said Bill Saum, a director in the NCAA's enforcement department. "The broad scope is, an athlete may not receive a benefit because of his athletic talent. We would have to see in our investigation if that's why he received these jerseys.''

Muscaro reviewed a report that James received the jerseys at Next Urban Gear and Music in exchange for posing for pictures to be hung on the store's walls.

The association's rules say an athlete forfeits amateur status by "capitalizing on athletic fame by receiving money or gifts of monetary value.''

"In talking with the store's personnel, I was able to confirm that on Jan. 25, the merchant gave clothing directly to LeBron at no cost,'' Muscaro said. "This is a direct violation of the OHSAA bylaws on amateurism, because, in fact, LeBron did capitalize on athletic fame by receiving these gifts.''

Robert Rosenthal, the store's owner, did not return a message seeking comment.

Muscaro said he asked school administrators at St. Vincent-St. Mary on Friday for a chance to speak with James.

"But LeBron did not want to speak with me,'' said Muscaro, who added that in his 14 years as commissioner, he'd never invoked the rule to declare an athlete ineligible.

Gloria James disputed Muscaro's account that he tried to contact her son.

"In fact, none of us was even notified by OHSAA that an investigation was under way, much less permitted to provide any information,'' her statement said. "We do not understand how this could be considered a fair process.''

James has received an unprecedented amount of attention for a high school player. As a junior, he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, which dubbed him 'The Chosen One.' His teams games are followed nationally, and James' popularity forced school officials to move home games to the 5,900-seat Rhodes Arena at Akron University.

The school also scheduled games around the country so James and his teammates could face quality opponents in NBA-size arenas in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Greensboro, N.C. James attracted near-sellouts at those venues.

Nike and Adidas have been waging an off-court war for James, who was projected to earn up to $20 million for an endorsement deal. OHSAA spokesman Bob Goldring said that because James no longer is an amateur, he is free to sign any deal he chooses.

Goldring said the OHSAA is not investigating James or the school for any other infractions. St. Vincent-St. Mary plays Canton McKinley on Sunday.

Muscaro was concerned that the OHSAA would be accused of giving James preferential treatment if he didn't rule him ineligible.

"Naturally, LeBron is talented and he's noted nationally and internationally, but as far as this association is concerned, we will treat him the same as all our other athletes,'' he said.

Muscaro said his ruling was not an accumulation of evidence, and it was specific to James receiving the two jerseys.

Sayers' blue No. 40 Bears jersey, and Unseld's red-white-and-blue striped No. 41, are two of the oversized throwback jerseys popular with pro athletes who can afford to buy them.

James refused to comment about the jerseys Thursday night at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards; he was honored as the area's top high school athlete for the second straight year. He did allude to "all the controversy that's going on with me'' during his acceptance speech.

"I'd like to thank my teammates for helping me through all this,'' he said.

On Monday, James drew attention by driving around a new custom-made Hummer H2, which he received as a present for his 18th birthday. His mother, Gloria James, provided loan information to prove she had purchased the vehicle.

[Hz915]

aahh, you beat me to it...that makes me smile

[kreator]

It's just plain stupidity on his part. He had to know that accepting free stuff wasn't the best idea.

[Squalo]

that's horsecrap. how is this any different than shoe companies, clothing lines, and gear companies throwing tons of product his way? while did violate the rules, he shoudl be able to give the jersies back and still be able to play. let's not forget he just turned 18 a few weeks ago. How many dumbass things did you do when you were 18? everything he does is reported, even a small fender bender that wouldn't make news in a local paper. cut the kid some slack.

[Shogun]

For reals. It's free stuff. Hec, I get free fast food all the time!!!
They had in on him. It's sad, actually. He made the school close to or over a million this year. It's way to sad to see. The had the ax poised and ready.

[kreator]

It's his own fault... He knew that accepting those jerseys would forfeit his eligibility. He wasn't getting free crap from any of those clothing lines or shoe companies or he would have been gone a long time ago. I don't care how old the kid is, he knew it would cost him and he did it anyway. I agree that he shouldn't be getting the amount of attention from the media that he is, but he certainly isn't doing anything to help matters.

[ResidentRice]

Ehhh, the commission had to let him go basically.

But if I were deciding, I'd make him give back the jerseys, and tell him if he so much as whines about the decision in the media, I'd be on him like a fly's on horsepoop looking for the next infraction.

And yeah, the kid just turned 18. Isn't his life hard enough without taking away the ENTIRE basketball season from him? I mean, come on guys. Whatever, he can wipe his tears on the multi-million dollar endorsement check right after he blows his nose on his multi-million dollar NBA contract.

[Squalo]

Originally posted by kreator
It's his own fault... He knew that accepting those jerseys would forfeit his eligibility. He wasn't getting free crap from any of those clothing lines or shoe companies or he would have been gone a long time ago. I don't care how old the kid is, he knew it would cost him and he did it anyway. I agree that he shouldn't be getting the amount of attention from the media that he is, but he certainly isn't doing anything to help matters.

ESPN.com: NBA

Monday, February 3, 2003
James on jerseys: 'Yes, I'm sorry'

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ESPN.com news services

LeBron James will apparently be speaking on television before he appears in front of an appeals panel.

Deion Sanders filmed an exclusive interview for CBS' "The Early Show'' with James, who has not yet addressed his ineligibility and had refused interviews for weeks.

“ You know, if I had known I was violating anything, I would've never done it. I would've never jeopardized my eligibility. I would've never jeopardized my team. ”
— LeBron James from his interview with Deion Sanders

In the interview, which will air Tuesday morning, James said he didn't know he was violating any rules.

"You know, if I had known I was violating anything, I would've never done it. I would've never jeopardized my eligibility. I would've never jeopardized my team," James told Sanders. "When I went in [the clothing store], you know, I was just going in there as being, you know, another player and they was trying to reward me for my good grades."

James also showed remorse after being ruled ineligible by state high school officials for accepting two free "throwback'' jerseys from a trendy clothing store in Cleveland.

"Yes, I'm sorry," James said in the CBS interview. "There's nothing I'm more sorry about, you know, than disrespecting my teammates. ... I love them to death. ... I'm so proud of them, you know, to be able to stick it out for me."



As Sanders took James into the stands to chat, LeBron's mother, Gloria James, screamed at photographers trying to get a picture of the two high-profile athletes.


Sanders also turned down interview requests, speaking only to a Washington Post reporter he knows.


"I was curious to see what kind of guy he was,'' Sanders said of James.


Sanders is puzzled by the rule that has sidelined James for now.


"I never heard of a rule like that,'' Prime Time told the newspaper. "If we really did our homework, I don't think we would have anyone eligible.''

Meanwhile, the Ohio High School Athletic Association issued a statement Monday saying they didn't have an appeal from James.

A spokesperson said the OHSAA had no reason to move up its next meeting that would handle appeals on Feb. 13 until there is an appeal that needs to be reviewed in an emergency session.

The spokesperson said they would next comment on James if an appeal had been filed. OHSAA commissioner Clair Muscaro also issued a statement saying there were too many media requests for him to answer, and that's why he will only have a statement when there is an appeal, if one comes at all.

James' attorney, Fred Nance, did not file for a temporary restraining order Monday that would allow James to resume playing in Summitt County, Ohio.

James missed the first game of his celebrated career on Sunday. And without James, who is expected to be the top selection in this year's NBA draft, Akron's St. Vincent-St. Mary survived its closest game this season, edging Canton McKinley 63-62.


James didn't come on the school's team bus to sold out Rhodes Arena at the University of Akron, arriving about an hour before tipoff flanked by campus police and some of his own security personnel.


Wearing a cap pulled down over his eyes, and a black T-shirt under a St. Vincent-St. Mary gold suit, James laughed while shooting a few jumpers as his Fighting Irish teammates warmed up.


Many in the crowd of 5,900 showed their support for the 18-year-old James with signs. One read: "Let LeBron Play Please.'' Another said: "Hey Clair Be Fair'', a reference to Muscaro.


A group of St. Vincent-St. Mary students wore "We Love LeBron'' T-shirts, and shortly before the game started, James posed for pictures with Canton McKinley's cheerleaders.


James took a seat in the middle of his team's bench, and when he wasn't cheering for his teammates, he sat nervously chewing his nails during the tight game.


When St. Vincent-St. Mary opened an eight-point lead in the final minute, Canton McKinley called timeout. James then walked away from his team's huddle and clapped along with the crowd as the band played the school's fight song.


Muscaro ruled on Friday that in taking the jerseys, James broke bylaw 4-10-1 (c) which states "an amateur forfeits his or her amateur status by capitalizing on athletic fame by receiving money or gifts of monetary value.''


Before the game, coach Dru Joyce said James returned the jerseys to "Next Urban Gear and Music'' on Friday and was on his way back to Akron when Muscaro handed down his decision.


Joyce insisted that James didn't go to the store looking for a handout, and had no idea he was going to get the jerseys for free from the store's owner, Robert Rosenthal.


"'Bron walked in and he said, 'Let me know what you want','' Joyce said. "He's an 18-year-old kid. What's he supposed to do.''


At the time, James was unaware of the consequences of accepting the free gifts, Joyce said.


"He didn't think it was a big deal, so he said, 'I'm going to take the jerseys back.' He wanted to do the right thing. I applaud him for that.''


Joyce also contested Muscaro's claim that he had tried to speak with James and was turned down.


"The school's officials never told LeBron that Clair called,'' Joyce said. "LeBron never had the chance to talk to him.''


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[kreator]

He can say what he wants, but he knew what would/could happen.

[Shogun]

He might have had a vague idea, but who can really fault him?
He's a kid who is going to get everything, not a kid with it already. There's nothing better than free and I don't see why he wouldn't take it. He's smart enough not to break the rules. And even smarter to realize that he can buy them in mere months. I think it was out of plain childish ignorance; don't fault him for that.

[Hz915]

I'll blame him and his mother for it. He's 18 and should know better. And his mother should be providing leadship and direction for him. Not taking out a 50k loan for a pos car for him. She should be there for him to provide answers for him, not to use him as her meal ticket for the next decade.

[Baboon]

Cripes, give the kid a break, for crying out loud. If this was any other high school player in the country, nobody would care about the jerseys and the player would not be ruled ineligible. But because this is Lebron James, they are stripping his eligibility. If they are going to do this, they better clamp down on ALL high school players across the country. What a frickin' joke.

[kreator]

Originally posted by Shogun
He might have had a vague idea, but who can really fault him?
He's a kid who is going to get everything, not a kid with it already. There's nothing better than free and I don't see why he wouldn't take it. He's smart enough not to break the rules. And even smarter to realize that he can buy them in mere months. I think it was out of plain childish ignorance; don't fault him for that.

You're telling me that with that entourage he has following him wherever he goes he "might have had a vague idea"? Some told him what would happen that's for sure. Especially after the whole Hummer investigation I have no sympathy for him whatsoever. He knew what he was getting himself into and he did it anyway.

Originally posted by Hz915
I'll blame him and his mother for it. He's 18 and should know better. And his mother should be providing leadship and direction for him. Not taking out a 50k loan for a pos car for him. She should be there for him to provide answers for him, not to use him as her meal ticket for the next decade.

I agree with you 100%.

[Geoffrey]

what an idiot.

well, it won't matter.. this is all for publicity anyways. He will be the next ghetto superstar NBA player with all the tatoo's and expensive cars, lots of ho's etc.(who, me? jealous ) In a few months, it will all be in the past.


He knows exactly what he is doing, creating publicity for himself.

[Shogun]

I agree with baboon.

Originally posted by Kraw
what an idiot.

well, it won't matter.. this is all for publicity anyways. He will be the next ghetto superstar

I resent those comments. Ghetto superstar!!!!!!!! Mya sings that song better then you

[kreator]

Originally posted by Shogun
I agree with baboon.

Shogun you're being delusional. Kraw is 100% right. He doesn't care about high school basketball. He just wants more publicity. Negative, positive, it doesn't matter, as long as the camera is on him he's happy. He knew what he was doing, he's not a "kid".