Report: ESPN to air LeBron James’s decision Thursday

[celeb_2006]

(Jeezus H., this guy and his cronies just do not stop do they)

Report: ESPN to air LeBron's decision Thursday - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

AKRON, Ohio (AP)—Broadcaster ESPN reported Tuesday that James will announce his future NBA plans during a one-hour special on its network Thursday.

ESPN’s Chris Broussard said James’ “representatives” contacted the network and asked for the unusual arrangement.

It is not known which team James will join or where the announcement will take place.

The two-time NBA most valuable player and a marquee name in a stellar free-agent class also featuring Dwyane Wade(notes) and Chris Bosh
(notes), recently met with six teams—the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets.

Both James’ publicist Keith Estabrook and ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz declined comment to The Associated Press.

Citing anonymous “independent sources,” Broussard reported James’ group requested they be allowed to sell sponsorship for the special with proceeds going to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

James’ agent Leon Rose and business manager Maverick Carter did not return phone calls and e-mails from the AP seeking comment.

Earlier, all his fans got was a tweet out of James.

James opened a Twitter account and posted his first message on the social networking site. Although he provided no information about his future plans, he offered something as the NBA awaits the decision on where he’ll play next.

“Hello World, the Real King James is in the Building,” said the tweet from KingJames, which by 11 p.m. EDT had more than 187,000 followers.

After arriving for the second day of his skills academy on Tuesday four hours later than expected, James spent six hours at Rhodes Arena in meetings and playing ball with several Cavaliers teammates against high school campers before heading home. He didn’t speak to reporters before pulling away in his customized Dodge pickup.

“That’s the question,” Cavs teammate Daniel Gibson(notes) said when asked what he thinks James will do. “I don’t know.
I’m here with the hanging-out, having-fun LeBron. I’m not out here with the business LeBron.”

Estabrook confirmed the superstar joined Twitter, a place where Wade and Bosh often post details about their public lives off the floor.

In the past, James poked fun at athletes for giving details of their daily routines on Twitter and Facebook, but at the prodding of New Orleans guard Chris Paul(notes), his U.S. Olympic teammate and closest friend in the league, James
decided it was time to join the fun.

There have been various reports that Toronto was working on a sign-and-trade deal with Cleveland for Bosh, and that James is trying to convince him to join the Cavaliers.

However, a person familiar with the talks said the Cavs have spoken to the Raptors and several other teams but that no players have been discussed and nothing is close to being finalized. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations.

Cleveland can offer James a maximum-length deal worth $30 million, more than any other team. But if they re-sign him, the Cavs would have no more money to sign a player of Bosh’s stature unless they open room under the salary cap. Teams can not sign players before Thursday, one day after the new salary-cap figure is announced.

Miami and Chicago could be interested in making a similar deal with the Raptors.

While James is the star attraction in this summer’s stacked class of free agents, other players have either stayed home or found a new one. On Monday, Amare Stoudemire agreed to a five-year deal with the New York Knicks and said he would continue to recruit James to join him.

[AliceInWonderland]

so when did he decide? has he yet? hope its the knicks and hope they beat the lakers next year

[Syd]

[AliceInWonderland]

[MontanaMama]

I don't begrudge him leaving, that's his right. I'd have been disappointed, but the way he handled it, he's absolutely destroyed his "brand." He didn't even inform the Cavs beforehand and he better hope that the notoriously fragile Wade doesn't have another injury, because he'll be playing with Bosh (who not nearly as good as his contract) and 3 other D-leaguers, as it stands his bench is going to be all nobodies dragged off the street. I just can't get over how truly horribly he handled this, from a pr and class standpoint.

[MrsDark]

Oh joy. More sports assholes coming to Miami....

[Sojiita]

I don't begrudge him leaving, that's his right. I'd have been disappointed, but the way he handled it, he's absolutely destroyed his "brand." He didn't even inform the Cavs beforehand and he better hope that the notoriously fragile Wade doesn't have another injury, because he'll be playing with Bosh (who not nearly as good as his contract) and 3 other D-leaguers, as it stands his bench is going to be all nobodies dragged off the street. I just can't get over how truly horribly he handled this, from a pr and class standpoint.

I agree. What an ego driven asshole he is. At this point, he is making Kobe look Christ-like. Fuck. Him.

[AliceInWonderland]

it was, dare i say, retarded. a retarded move all around, even his choice

and sorry for saying "retarded" but its what popped into my head!

[angelais]

[msdeb]

i figured it would be Miami, but i still pissed away 30 min of my life watching the NBA analysts on ESPN babble on.

I follow Kenny Mayne on Twitter and he tweeted this:

1. Kenny_Mayne
   Miami Jai-Alai upstaged yet again. about 3 hours ago via

[Sojiita]

it was, dare i say, retarded. a retarded move all around, even his choice

and sorry for saying "retarded" but its what popped into my head!

Actually it is ok now to say retarded, because the retarded(or those formerly called retarded) are no longer retarded, they are officially 'developmentally disabled'. They used to be called "MRDD" for short, (Mentally Retarded/Developmentally Disabled) but now it is just "DD".


so tard away on the celebs!!!!

[kingcap72]

There was absolutely no reason to have an hour-long special for Lebron's decision. Especially since it was pretty obvious leading up to it that he was going to Miami, so the entire thing was anti-climactic. I would've liked for him to come to New York, but I can't blame him for going to Miami.

But with that said, I'll happily root for Lebron and the Heat to shift the balance of power. I hate the Celtics and I refuse to root for the Lakers as long as Kobe is there.

[BITTER]

[SHELLEE]

While getting ready for work, I watch the morning news. Well today, instead of the usual shootings that happened during the night in Miami, all they had was LeBron James. UGH.

[Syd]

I like LeBron. I don't care WHERE he plays. I just don't want to FUCKING HEAR ABOUT IT anymore.