LeBron James attracted a crowd of nearly 25,000 to his official homecoming to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, and saved the biggest moment for last.
Surrounded by family, friends and fans in a city welcoming him home, James delivered a line he has been waiting to say for four years.
“I love you,” he told the crowd of nearly 25,000. “I’m back.”
Photo: AFP
James then dropped the microphone and left the stage as fireworks exploded about InfoCision Stadium, illuminating the Akron sky.
The NBA superstar, who resigned with Cleveland last month, on Friday said he intends to play the rest of his career with the Cavaliers, the team he returned to after winning two NBA titles in Miami.
When he signed a two-year, US$41 million contract that included an option after one year, there was speculation he would one day test free agency again. The contract made Cleveland fans nervous, but they can now relax.
“I don’t plan on going nowhere,” James said. “I don’t have the energy to do it again.”
James, who returned to Northeast Ohio after four seasons with the Heat, was welcomed back with open arms.
Fans waited in line for six hours for a prime seat for the event on the University of Akron campus, not far from where the 29-year-old James bounced his first basketball.
The welcome-home party coincided with James’ annual “I Promise” campaign for area children sponsored by his family foundation.
“It’s pretty amazing,” James said. “To know you can do things for people, give them hope, give them inspiration — it means a lot to me. I understand to these kids. I’m more than a role model. I’m a superhero to them. I’m a father to them. I’m a brother to them, whatever the case they want me to be on that particular day.”
Although he was playing for the Heat, James said his heart was always home and he realized it was time to return.
“It just hit me,” he said. “Sometimes you just have a feeling. You realize what’s going on and what’s happening. It just hit me.”
James may be joined at the Cavaliers by All-Star forward Kevin Love, who is expected to be traded from Minnesota this month.
“I’m going to be very excited to have him,” James said. “His basketball IQ is very, very high. I had an opportunity to spend 32 days with him on the 2012 Olympic team. It’s funny. I always told Kevin Love: ‘You’re very good, man.’ He always thought I was blowing smoke. I always told him he was going to be a reason why we won the gold medal, and he played a huge role for us. So I’m looking forward to it. He’s a great piece.”
As for David Blatt, the former Maccabi Tel Aviv coach hired by Cleveland in June, James did some research on his offense and likes what he has seen.
“I watched all his clips from him coaching Maccabi and I kind of broke them down to see how I fit and obviously I can fit in every position on the floor,” he said.
James is looking forward to playing with Love and All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving, neither of whom have played in an NBA playoff game.
“I’m going to have to teach, lead and inspire those guys,” he said. “But my No. 1 goal is to win the championship here. It would be the greatest achievement in my life as far as on the court. Hopefully it will happen. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two