Russakoff Rules
DunkGate 2009 Rolls On
By Lee Russakoff
Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:43:13 GMT
Above is would-be Internet superstar Jordan Crawford talking about the facial he laid on King James at the Lebron James Skills Academy Monday.
For those of you who missed the story yesterday, Crawford, a 6-foot-4 guard who plays for Xavier, threw down a nasty dunk on the head of LeBron at James' academy. Several cameramen filmed the "incident," but LeBron had Nike seize all video evidence of the posterization in an effort to hide his shame. (For more info on the tomfoolery, check out my blog from yesterday.)
The LeBron/Nike camp is now claiming they confiscated the tape because the cameramen at the event violated the academy's established "no videotaping" policy. If you buy that, I have a cashier's check from a Nigerian prince I'd like you to cash.
Here's Nike's official statement:
"Nike has been operating basketball camps for the benefit of young athletes for decades and has longstanding policies in place regarding what events are open and closed to media coverage. Unfortunately, for the first time in four years, two journalists did not respect our "no videotaping" policy at an after hours pick-up game Monday evening following the LeBron James Skills Academy."
Did I miss the coup, people? Did Nike and King James overthrow our democracy and replace it with their own Kim Jong Il fascist autocracy? Should we all be acknowledging our reverence for Supreme Leader James daily?
What's next?
Did LeBron shoot a 38-under par on his first golf outing? Did he bowl 300 on his first trip to the lanes?
I mean, man-up Bron-Bron.
If you are going to start seizing video and controlling the media, you might as well go all the way. (Is there still time to get a copyright for a giant rabbit-skinned low mid?)
Your Feedback |
Email me at russakoffrules@comcast.net; follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/russakoffrules.
The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Message Edited by Lee_Russakoff on 07-09-2009 11:42 AM
Comment
Dude, let it GO, already. We know it's July and the sports journalism pickin's are a little slim right now, but Jeez... if there's a written "no videotaping" policy, that's the end of it. Period. It wouldn't matter if the footage was of a camper flying through the air, doing a Triple Lindy over Bron-Bron's head, and dunking with one hand while translating Cicero with the other... or footage of a different camper picking his nose on the bench. Either way, no one was allowed there with a video camera.Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:26:32 GMT | jerseyguy
Comment
I am sick of athletes who think they can change the rules and or make them up as they go. As far as LeBron goes, hey, there's always going to be a challenger to your game, always someone who will eventually knock you off your self imposed throne. If I could say anything to Mr. James I would tell him to man-up and admit this kid is another phenom, just like you were, not that long ago. Mr. James should take the high moral road and show the tape and be proud of the kid who we will hopefully be cheering for in the NBA in the future. Of course, asking some athletes to take a high moral stance would be like asking fish not to swim. It aint gonna happen unfortunately, for all of us. Mr. James could show himself to be a bigger man than just his physical height, however, I am not going to hold my breath.Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:27:28 GMT | Little-Green
Comment
I think what happened after the playoffs this year we all learned what level of maturaty Lebron is at. He's still yound and has a lot of growing up to do.Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:36:25 GMT | wclark22
Comment
Whether you think it's fair or not, that's probably the reason they have a no videotaping policy - to protect egos. Guess who's not goint to be invited back to next year's academy?Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:14:03 GMT | buddhaman
Comment
First off Nike has the contract with Lebron and if their contract indicates that videotaping of games and training sessions is prohibited then they have every right to confiscate the tape.Secondly, I doubt very much that Lebron even cares that Jordon dunked on him....it's basketball...this happens to even the very best players in the world. I would wager that if you looked hard enough you could find a video of someone dunking on MJ, Kobe or any other NBA superstar! What's the big deal?
Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:17:47 GMT | jhill10616
Comment
EGO. First, I am a girl...I luved playing growing up. I respect Lebron as an athlete, he has skills. Luv him for that. Can I say EGO...a college kid slammed on you, get over yourself. Why do these camps to help kids if when you show up & they out dunk you, you take it to the heart...it's alright Lebron it was only a game and you out of all people should know this.Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:21:17 GMT | sochoa
Comment
I am not surprised. I have always thought of him as a thug and an uneducated one at that. What kind of parent does not stress how important an education is? He goes from high school to the NBA with no education, no chance to grow up. He is just being a brat. Nike is lying about this no videotaping rule, if it did exist - they would have forced them to stop taping before they starting dunking or not allowed the cameras in the gym.Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:22:33 GMT | chgokamper
Comment
Years ago Connie Hawkins, (who was still banned from the NBA), dunked on Wilt Chamberlain, (who was the most dominant player on earth at the time) during the Rucker Tournament. Wilt got so angry that he went berserk on Hawkins dunking the ball on him several times and made the "Hawk" look bad. Even Connie Hawkins stated in his book that he wished he had never embarrassed Wilt like that. There were no cameras at this event but I wish there were. LeBron, by his actions just made his video a classic. Even if it is never seen, it is now the stuff of legend and basketball folklore just like the story above.Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:43:39 GMT | T-Russ
Comment
Slow news week hey?Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:06:24 GMT | justaiualumni
Comment
he is a punk!!! treats his mother like dirt in front of the media, gets understandably mad after getting manhandled in the conference finals, so he leaves wont shake hands like a man(?) leaves without talking to the media. see a pattern?who would ever think this years MVP would take a tape of himself getting slammed on by a collage player grow up king james no one can keep a crown for ever even only an imaginary one note to the king seems like a very smart collage kid to me but you most likely would not understand that either punk!!!Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:28:42 GMT | houseman
Comment
man up? to attend, you agreed to "no video". man up to that.there is a legend that babe ruth pointed out lou gehrig, lou then pointed out joe di maggio, joe chose mickey mantle, and the mick picked thurman munson, all as "next greats". i do not know the truth of this, but have heard it multiple times. let's not
lose sight of mr. james for what he has not shown to be, a suicidal, wife beating, convicted pedophile, ear biter. or even
a depraved sponsor of dog fighting. i have heard nothing about substance abuse, or hgh, etc. let's hope he takes the tapes back to his team, and says without interference(ncaa violations), we need to sign this guy. shaq will probably be gone, and i will need help (i'm betting you don't get d. wade)
as for kings, elvis (rock) james brown (soul) michael jackson (pop - and why do pedophiles keep popping up?) are all dead. freddy mercury was the queen of rock. (and when he passed, you wondered how he got aids; never thought to question where the name of the band came from) so we still have the queen of soul - aretha (we need respect) and the queen of disco - donna. and sir elton, but he's just a **bleep**.
and Q.E. II and keith richards are still alive. give lebron a break.
Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:30:30 GMT | parrotparent
Comment
He would have been better off just letting the video be seen- this would all be over by now. There is going to always be someone better sooner or later.Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:30:37 GMT | JazzyLady5058
Comment
Get over it "King" James. Stick a pin in your ego!!! You are an ATHLETE not the King of the world or President of the U.S.A. Fact is that this kid dunked over you and embarrassed you. Show the world that you are human and release the tape. Instead of making up some story about not allowing cameras. Be a role model for the young kids out there, something I believe you fail to be.Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:38:08 GMT | Charlie76
Comment
I totally agree- and the NBA gave him the MVP award...why??? He is a poor example for the sport and very immature! The sooner he realizes that the world does not evolve because he is in it the better he will be...can you blame his parents for the cockiness that he has or can you blame the NBA for making him a monster?Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:09:16 GMT | cme-now
Comment
Wow, what an EGO.. I was listening to a sports radio station this morning, they were saying that the tape was actually rolling for about 15 minutes before the dunk on James happened and it wasn't until then that they decided to confiscate the tape. For those first 15 minutes though they didn't seem to have a problem with Labron and his training session or what ever it was being taped.Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:20:51 GMT | KevK
Comment
you would think LeBron would be proud of this young man, it was LeBron's Skills Academy right? How childish of LJ...shameful, we should be supporting young talent, not trying to hide it because of one's inflated ego. Grow up LJThu, 09 Jul 2009 19:32:45 GMT | HM40
Comment
Why would you assume he is uneducated? Because he didn't go to college? You have no idea what knowledge he has so you should be careful about what you assume.Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:33:39 GMT | Tamicca
Comment
Show the video and laugh it off. End of event. Good PR for LeBron & Nike.Color them foolish as now it's an "incident" and will get media way beyond its importance (near zero).
If I was an NBA star, so what if I laugh at myself once in a while?
Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:10:39 GMT | astonmartindb5
Comment
your right, michael finley dunked on mj when he was a senior in high school. mj got so mad he dunked on finley and threw the ball at him. it was number 1 highlight on sportscenter, maybe lebron remembers thatThu, 09 Jul 2009 20:14:21 GMT | Tatasid