I don't really know how I can paraphrase this so I will just let you read it all right here:
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LeBron James is again using his worldwide appeal to help lift his hometown.
The Cavaliers star will host a trio of events at Akron's Perkins Park this weekend, starting with today's unveiling of five refurbished basketball courts.
The ceremony, which begins at noon, is the first of a busy weekend for James. He will lend a helping hand throughout Saturday and Sunday's King of the Court, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament also taking place at Perkins Park.
Perkins Park bitches
James will wrap up the weekend Sunday night when MTV and Nike team up for the filming of "Nike Battlegrounds: King of the Court,'' a documentary-style show in its third season.
A large turnout is expected throughout the weekend, especially for the taping of Battlegrounds, which is scheduled to begin airing on MTV and MTV2 in late August.
In the newest season of the show, James issues a challenge to fellow NBA stars Ben Gordon of the Chicago Bulls and Andre Iguodala of the Philadelphia 76ers. Their mission: assemble two teams, one from Gordon's native New York, another from Iguodala's native Illinois.
After weeks of training, trials and tribulation, players who made the two teams finally meet at Perkins Park to battle for playground supremacy.
James serves as the host and emcee of the finals, which will air as an hour-long season finale in October.
"LeBron is bringing in some talented individuals to play basketball for entertainment,'' said Pastor Jimmy L. Taylor, staff pastor of The House of The Lord, a church James attended as a youth. "I think it does place Akron on the map with respect to LeBron James.''
James' latest act of benevolence comes less than a month after he gathered hundreds of riders for his first King for Kids Bikeathon, which raised money for Akron-area YMCAs and the Akron Urban League.
Today's ceremony will mark the completion of 10 renovated city courts by James and NikeGO (a community affairs program under the shoe company Nike) in the past two years.
The partners refurbished five courts last year.It was at a ceremony last year when James challenged Buchtel High student Naomi Blake to make two free throws. If she sank a pair (which she did), James and Nike promised to renovate five more courts.
Two of this year's court renovations are at Perkins Park, while Lane-Miller Sports Complex received two and Morgan Park got one renovation.
"I think LeBron has showed his commitment to the Akron area,'' said Taylor, whose 50-member church choir will sing two songs at halftime of the Battlegrounds game. "He has a desire to try to do uplifting and positive things for the area.''
The weekend at Perkins Park is expected to attract a large gathering. Rap artist T.I. is scheduled to perform.
Hip-hop icon Jay-Z is also rumored to be attending the event, but those reports couldn't be confirmed.
King of the Court, the 3-on-3 tournament, will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
A 3-point contest, dunk contest and one-on-one contest are all scheduled for tournament founder and director Chris Dennis' tournament. James will have his hand in that, too.
"(LeBron) and his mom will come out and help us with product giveaways for the kids,'' Dennis said. ``He'll be part of the charitable side of things.
"All the free stuff that the kids get, he and his mom will hand out personally.''
Three separate events in three days.
All benefiting Akron.
The common denominator -- James, the internationally recognized superstar who just won't forget about his hometown.
"This is all free to the community,'' Taylor said. "I think that's exemplary.''
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Speechless over here..speechless. This is why LeKing won't leave...too much pride.
7 comments:
Mr. LeBlog, this is very very cool. I think its freaking great to see guys who are making the kind of money he does actually do something good for the community that people can experience. So my hat's off to LeBron. The only thing that irks me, and this is a very small thing in light of what LeBron's actually doing, is that he is using "The King" to help market these charitable events. Now, again this is a very small thing considering what he's doing, and I realize its a powerful marketing tool. But hosting "King for Kids" and "King's Court" is a little pretentious, and kind of slights his actions. I mean, great, he's a superstar, there's no denying that. But 'King' just makes him sound really freaking high and almighty and is contrarian to what he's out there doing. Sure, he's high and almighty on the court. Off the court I think he, or his marketing peeps, should consider a change.
Again, I honestly think this a very cool thing. I just hope the guys out there working his image reconsider calling LeBron 'The King' in his charitable endeavors. It kind of takes something away from the great things he is doing. That's alls I'm sayin. Flame away Cleveland faithful.
Dude, it's his nickname. If you can't accept that LeBron is the King of the Court, then you better take your ass back up to Dee-troit to watch Darko warm the bench.
i mean, no one can disagree that he's king of the court, not even myself. its just that off the court, especially when he's doing good for his subjects, would it kill the guy to go by his real name, which is equally recognizable? <sigh> alright, alright. ill keep it to myself from now on.
DEEEEEEEEETROIT BAAAAAAAAAASKETBAAAAAAALLLLL
smoochie boochies
Good concession. But it's ok to call yourself the King off the court if it fits- such as calling an event the King of the Court. That is like a double entendre- sort of like saying Detroit Rocks.
touche. or what about cleveland rocks?
is it almost football season yet?
Except Cleveland does Rock. Or at least are mayor isn't a hoodlum running around the country with his gangster suit and fedora spending the taxpayer's money.
I have recently become a LeAkron resident again and will be in attendance at the King of the Court festivities. I'm pretty pumped to be in the King's presence outside of Gund Arena. LeDetails to follow....
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