If LeBron James knows two things, it’s basketball and marketing. Not necessarily in that order. So with that in mind, and the fact that his annual Bike-a-Thon in Akron is this weekend, we probably should not be surprised that this open letter of thanks to the city appeared in the Akron Beacon-Journal this morning. I suppose thaht it’s rather cynical of me to assume that the letter is nothing more than a PR ploy, but can you blame me? I mean, the man’s track record is pretty clear. And readers of the Cleveland Fox-8 TV web site seem to agree.
Full text of the ad following the jump.
* LeQuit Lames is a childish self centered arrogant ****, maybe those Lames were he’s from “Akron” may not have hard feeling about the lame leaving. But us true CLEVELAND fans are still **** at the way he left. If the lame cornball wanted to leave there were plenty if better ways of going about it than his “Decision” I hope him and his decision ride the bench and get no ring or championship ….. — Mrs. Jones.
* You’re just copying Z — he has class. The arrogance continues…. — kathie
Full text of ad:
“To My Family, Friends and Fans in Akron:
“For all my life, I have lived in Akron — and for that, I am truly a lucky man.
“It was here where I first learned how to play basketball, and where I met the people who would become my lifelong friends and mentors. Their guidance, encouragement and support will always be with me.
“Akron is my home, and the central focus of my life. It’s where I started, and it’s where I will always come back to. You can be sure that I will continue to do everything I can for this city, which is so important to my family and me. Thank you for your love and support. You mean everything to me.
(signed) LeBron”
More reaction:
* Hello LeBron. I was born at Akron City Hospital in 1960. I’ll be 50 this Saturday. On behalf of all of North East Ohio, true sports fans, fans of humanity and this wonderful area that truly needs something to cheer about, GO SCREW YOURSELF. You’re not “one of us.” You’re a coward and a traitor. A KING does not leave his kingdom. You left us when we really needed someone like you… you betrayed us and made us a laughing stock. Countless businesses and children who looked up to you will suffer because of your glory grabbing, selfish and respectless decision. Thanks for NOTHING LeCon Shames. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. We’re ashamed of you. — William Lee Shafer, Akron
* Cleveland, He keeps right on taking the cheap shots at us. We all know where you were from Lebron but unfortunately you wore a jersey that read Cleveland Cavaliers not Akron Cavaliers — The realkingskid1
The Akron newspaper ad was transparent, but will it work? LeBron just needs to get through this weekend without protesters, then he’s home free. Until the Heat play at Cleveland for the first time, that is.
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LeBron Uses Newspaper Ad to Thank Akron, Not Cleveland [Fox8 News]
LeBron James Thanks Akron in Newspaper Ad, Cleveland Conspicuously Absent [The Last Angry Fan]
