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Lebron James asks court to block association's ruling

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by Rockets34Legend, Feb 4, 2003.

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  1. Rockets34Legend

    Rockets34Legend Member

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    http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2003/0204/1503833.html

    CLEVELAND -- LeBron James' attorney asked a court Tuesday to block a ruling that barred the basketball high school superstar from playing the rest of the season.

    Attorney Fred Nance filed the request in Summit County Common Pleas Court.

    The 6-foot-7 senior was declared ineligible on Friday by Ohio High School Athletic Association Commissioner Clair Muscaro for accepting two free "throwback" sports jerseys worth $845 from a clothing store.

    James, who is expected to be the No. 1 pick in this year's NBA draft, sat out the first game of his career Sunday.

    If the court blocks the ruling, James would be cleared to play pending an appeal. His school, St. Vincent-St. Mary, will play in the Isles Prime Time Shootout in Trenton, N.J., this weekend.

    James was expected to appeal the decision to the OHSAA.

    If James appeals the agency's ruling, he must do so in writing. The appeal would be heard by a seven-member board of control -- not including Muscaro -- on Feb. 13 in Columbus.

    OHSAA spokesman Bob Goldring said the appeal could be heard before that date if the panel decided to call an emergency meeting.

    School officials have said they will abide by the OHSAA's ruling and not contest James' exclusion for the remainder of the season.

    While James was temporarily stripped of his eligibility, the Fighting Irish (14-1) -- who forfeited a game in which James was ruled ineligible -- stayed No. 1 in the latest USA Today rankings for the fourth straight week.

    On Tuesday, James said in an interview with former NFL star Deion Sanders on CBS' "The Early Show" that he was sorry he took the jerseys.

    "If I had known I was violating anything, I would've never done it," James said. "I would've never jeopardized my eligibility. I would've never jeopardized my team.

    James, saying he has a 3.5 grade-point average, thought the store was rewarding him for his schoolwork.

    St. Vincent-St. Mary coach Dru Joyce said James returned the jerseys to the store last Friday.

    Store owner Robert Rosenthal refused comment when told of Joyce's claim.

    Afterward, University of Akron police and James' own security personnel kept reporters away from him, clearing Rhodes Arena so Sanders could talk alone with the 18-year-old superstar.

    James hasn't spoken to local reporters since being ruled ineligible.

    The OHSAA found that the Cleveland store gave James the Gale Sayers and Wes Unseld jerseys for free, in exchange for James posing for pictures to be displayed on the walls.

    Muscaro ruled James broke an amateur bylaw "by capitalizing on athletic fame by receiving money or gifts of monetary value."

    St. Vincent-St. Mary has four regular-season games remaining before the state playoffs.
     
    #1 Rockets34Legend, Feb 4, 2003
  2. B

    B Member

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    Is this for real? Damn, I had a better GPA in HS and I never got rewarded with jerseys for my school work. :D

    B
     
    #2 B, Feb 4, 2003
  3. Rockets34Legend

    Rockets34Legend Member

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    I bet you he was B.Sing his GPA. Just to look good for ESPN. Or he had to sleep w/ his teachers to get that GPA.
     
    #3 Rockets34Legend, Feb 4, 2003
  4. PhiSlammaJamma

    PhiSlammaJamma Member

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    or maybe he earned those grades.
     
    #4 PhiSlammaJamma, Feb 4, 2003
  5. rocketfan83

    rocketfan83 Member

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    3.5 is incredible for his situation. Kid is always on TV he knows theres no reason to make grades since he will have millions within a year. And hes still making grades. Thats nice to see hes sounds like a bright guy.
     
    #5 rocketfan83, Feb 4, 2003
  6. Smokey

    Smokey Member

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    I'm sure a little future donation to St. Vincent St. Mary's has absolutely nothing to do with his grades...
     
    #6 Smokey, Feb 4, 2003
  7. rocketfan83

    rocketfan83 Member

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    Some of you guys are coming out sounding kind of ignorant saying stuff w/o any facts. Making claims wiith nothing to back it up. Guy has a 3.5 who are you to say that he dosent? Sounds like a bunch of sterotypes are being thrown out.
     
    #7 rocketfan83, Feb 4, 2003
  8. UTmo

    UTmo Member

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    #8 UTmo, Feb 4, 2003
  9. 4chuckie

    4chuckie Member

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    I know there are lots of people who are extremely book smart with no street smarts, but...

    Seems tough for a kid with a 3.5 GPA to think a store owner would give him $850 worth of merchandise for his GPA. or maybe in Akron it does pay to be smart :)
     
    #9 4chuckie, Feb 5, 2003
  10. Rockets34Legend

    Rockets34Legend Member

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    or maybe he didn't.
     
    #10 Rockets34Legend, Feb 5, 2003
  11. Rocketman95

    Rocketman95 Hangout Boy

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    But why assume he didn't. I think that's pretty ****ty.
     
    #11 Rocketman95, Feb 5, 2003
  12. rocketfan83

    rocketfan83 Member

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    I agree, if that his 3.5 GPA is overall that is really good and he probaly didnt see all this coming when he first started high school. MAYBE his teachers are a little easy on him but its wrong to think he didnt earn them.
     
    #12 rocketfan83, Feb 5, 2003
  13. Rocketman95

    Rocketman95 Hangout Boy

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    #13 Rocketman95, Feb 5, 2003
  14. RocksMillenium

    RocksMillenium Member

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    You can't "BS" your GPA, trust me a school isn't going to do that considering the number of people who are digging into his background, and I think it's ridiculous to accuse a kid of not earning his grades just because people don't like the fact that he is getting pub. He slept with his teacher to get the grades, I mean that is just pathetic. Let it go, he is obviously earning his grades, I haven't seen anybody who can deny otherwise. It's funny that Rome ripped on Lebron said he shouldn't fight to get his eligibility this and that, and while he was ranting the ruling came down that he was re-instated.
     
    #14 RocksMillenium, Feb 5, 2003
  15. Apollo Creed

    Apollo Creed Contributing Member

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    I believe he earned those grades, but him saying that he thought the store owner gave him those jerseys for them is just flat out ridiculous. Any previous dislike I had for the kid has now increased ten fold. Jesus, you think if he's so smart, he could've thought of a better lie.
     
    #15 Apollo Creed, Feb 5, 2003
  16. 4chuckie

    4chuckie Member

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    So please explain how Dexter Manley graduated HS and made it thru part of college when he couldn't even read? Dexter was a NFL prospect (and future Red Skin) who got by, so why couldn't other athletes? Did your HS football/basketball coach not teach classes in HS? I would bet not many would fial one of their star players, even if they deserved it.

    I'm not saying he didn't earn the grades but to say it is impossible for students to "get" grades because of their athletic ability is not happening.
     
    #16 4chuckie, Feb 5, 2003
  17. rocketfan83

    rocketfan83 Member

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    I could see how may thought of it. Mabye the owner was like your playing ball your already known nation wide, every thing you do is being watched by the media. You got so much pressure on you to perform well. And still have a 3.5.
    Of course this is doubtful but lets face Lebron getting a 3.5 is alot more difficult than an average student getting a 3.5. assuming that there is no foul play which to date there is no eveidence.
     
    #17 rocketfan83, Feb 5, 2003
  18. Apollo Creed

    Apollo Creed Contributing Member

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    It doesn't matter if it's harder for him than anyone else, bottom line is that both he and the store owner knew those jerseys were not given for grades. That's just complete and utter bull****. And the fact he actually tried to pull that off, make us believe that garbage, I take that as an insult.
     
    #18 Apollo Creed, Feb 5, 2003
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2003
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