http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2003/0131/1502001.html James ruled ineligible to finish HS career -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Associated Press CLEVELAND -- LeBron James, the nation's top high school player, has been ruled ineligible to play for the rest of the season. The Ohio High School Athletic Association ruled Friday that James violated amateur bylaws by accepting clothing as a gift. Also, the OHSAA said that James' team, Akron Saint Vincent-Saint Mary, must forfeit its last game since James played in the contest after he forfeited his amateur status. The team is ranked No. 1 by USA Today. This comes just a few days after James was cleared of any wrongdoing for accepting a sports utility vehicle as a gift. Last Saturday, James was apparently given two free "throwback" jerseys worth $845 at a local clothing store. The story was first reported by The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Ohio High School Athletic Association bylaws state that an athlete forfeits his or her amateur status by "capitalizing on athletic fame by receiving money or gifts of monetary value." After attending a local high school game last weekend, James and some friends visited the clothing store "Next," where he picked out two jerseys -- one of Chicago Bears Hall of Famer Gale Sayers, the other of Washington Bullets center Wes Unseld. The Sayers jersey costs $395; the Unseld jersey, $450. Store manager Derrick Craig said the store's owner gave the jerseys to James for free. "We get celebrities in here all the time," said Craig, who would not identify the owner. "They spend a lot of money and sometimes you just got to give them some love." Goldring said OHSAA rules stipulate that athletes can't receive any kind of apparel worth more than $100. And in the case of a school having a contract with an apparel company -- James' school has one with adidas -- any apparel worth more than $100 is considered school-issued and must be returned by the athlete at the end of the season. Attorney Fred Nance, who represented James and his family, was not immediately available for comment on Thursday. Couldn't he wait 5 more games? Well, I can't say I feel sorry for him, though I had hoped this kid wouldn't let people down with crap like this. Is he still being mentored by that ex con?
The real question is, why would anyone pay that much for those jerseys?. I think they're cool, but $845 for two, no way.
So...if a family member were to give him a pair of new Jordans, he couldn't accept them?? Screw that...I'm sure he walks around with the OHSAA guidelines all the time and looks up what is and isn't acceptable. He's better off, anyways...now, he won't have to worry about getting injured...
I don't understand why the OHSAA kept looking for something wrong. They need James a whole lot more than James needs them.
No kidding. Im sure he has a pocket guide to OHSAA rules and regulations every where he goes. Those bastards use him for economic gain and then screw him. They dont deserve him.
Screw that...I'm sure he walks around with the OHSAA guidelines all the time and looks up what is and isn't acceptable. Seriously? This is pretty standard stuff for amateur athletics - you just don't profit off of it. If he didn't know the rules after the Hummer incident, he's getting some really bad advice.
Darn. Someone beat me to it. Oh man... it's all over Akron-Cleveland media. BIG headlines tomorrow. Yeah, it looks like LeBron James is done forever in High School sports. But it's likely only the beginning of his professional career. Remember that Michael Jordan sat out his Senior year of High School B-Ball. But then, he didn't exactly have the national media breathing down his back in those days. A-Train, you're right. It does seem like the OHSAA was out to get him -- Just when you thought the Hummer incident was over. I'm certain that his mother is PISSED. And whoever gave him the jerseys will have the ire of many in this area, despite the chance he had to turn them down. But coming from other people in Akron, I'm sure I just heard a collective sigh of relief. For every person who thinks James is the greatest thing to come out of Akron since the Goodyear Blimp, there is an equal number who seem to be tired of seemingly every other headline in the Akron Beacon Journal bearing his name. Me? I just wanted to see the guy play. At any rate, there goes those $7.95 games on Time Warner Cable! I'm also laughing at the scalping eBay bastards who bought up all of the tickets for the Irish's remaining regular season games. Now, I doubt that they'll even bother to move the sectional, district, regional and state games that St.V may play in the state tournament.
Well the ex-con was pushed out of his life a few weeks ago. I can't remember where I read that. Personally, I am one for harsh punishments where they are due, especially with the "overpaid, get out of jail free card" aspects of athletes. But in this instance, just let him play!!! The OHSAA is being so stupid when THEY could've marketed off of him all along. So now the remaining games (and playoffs?) are overpriced high school basketball games being televised. They're being so knit picky about everything he does. Just let him play! It's not like it's a full season, it's a few more games. But on the other hand, $845 is a lot for 2 jerseys (Wes Unseld?!?!!?). Of course no one but professional athletes would buy them. You gotta wonder what the owner was thinking. This was last Saturday, even with the Hummer controversy going on, how could the owner and not necessarily LeBron (remember he "chose" two he would like) not realize it. Oh well. To LeBron: See ya in training camp!!! Also, now LeBron has more time to focus on what's important here. His studies. Good luck on those SAT's!
For one thing, he did nothing wrong with the Hummer incident. It got completely blown out of proportion and the evidence eventually led to the dismissal of the case. Secondly, if I was in LeBron's position, I would have also accepted the jersey's if the guy offered them to me. That $100 cutoff is so dumb. So, would that mean that LeBron could go into the store 5 separate times and end up receiving $500 dollars worth of gear, but the second he takes something for $101 dollars, he can no longer play?? They should have at least just asked him to give the jerseys back and/or suspend him for a game.
I think it's absurd. But whatever. At least it will send a message and set a precedent to follow. So now that he's inelligible is their a way to get into the NBA? Any loopholes?
For one thing, he did nothing wrong with the Hummer incident. It got completely blown out of proportion and the evidence eventually led to the dismissal of the case. Yes it was. And you'd think in the process he'd have learned why it nearly became an issue in the first place - that receiving gifts from outside sources is not allowed. Secondly, if I was in LeBron's position, I would have also accepted the jersey's if the guy offered them to me. That $100 cutoff is so dumb. So, would that mean that LeBron could go into the store 5 separate times and end up receiving $500 dollars worth of gear, but the second he takes something for $101 dollars, he can no longer play?? They should have at least just asked him to give the jerseys back and/or suspend him for a game. Say what you want, but these are standard rules - high school, college, everywhere that's amateur. OSHAA has rules - violate this, and you're disqualified - period. You don't get special treatment because you're popular.
Major, do you really think LeBron knew that he had a $100 cutoff?? I doubt he would have taken it had he known. Again, there was nothing wrong with the Hummer incident. His mother got a loan and paid for the car. There is proof of that. Completely okay.
the Hummer incident. It got completely blown out of proportion and the evidence eventually led to the dismissal of the case. Are we talking about LeBron or Clinton? rimshot
I'm sure that's tearing him up inside. What will the future hold for him now that he can't play highschool ball now? Hmmm, I wonder ... Also didn't his highschool team already play their last game of the season last week?
No And they have some road trips and tournament where they will have some pretty pissed off hosts, as well as PPV games left.
i know people here are defending him but the whole situation is screwed up. his parents are terrible because they don't even try to protect their kid from this kind of stuff, instead they participate in it. if his parents were using some restraint and not buying freaking hummers with loans then maybe this whole thing never would have got out of hand. i don't know some people may think its dumping on him, but i think his parents are terrible. i know there is only so much you can do to shelter your kid from the media spotlight, but that doesn't mean you have to be apart of his promotion. you should still be his parents and tell him what is allowed and what isn't. it's the same thing with c-webb and his dad. he may be a good guy, but he is a bad father for participating in illegal activity and not putting his foot down against that kind of stuff. its just the whole disregard for the rules here that bothers me. its pretty clear he didn't have his team's interests in mind or else he wouldn't have given a lot of thought to accepting or having his family buy anything high profile. i dunno...the whole situation around lebron bothers me.
