Add Feedback | Send this Article | Published 2/07/03

Graphic By: Jonelle Thacktson

Lebron’s mother Gloria, who doesn’t work, was able to get a loan to purchase a $50,000 decked-out Hummer. They investigated that but came up with nothing because it was a loan (Yeah right, we’ve all seen "He Got Game." We know where this story is going, and all Lebron needs is a girlfriend named LaLa). So he’s cleared to play despite playing in a car that cost more than most folks in his town make in a year, but he’s suspended after getting a couple of free jerseys?

This is the most hypocritical thing the people who run the Ohio high school sports could have done. You can’t ask a 17 year old kid to sit there and let a bunch of people he doesn’t know make thousands of dollars off of him, and then the minute something is offered to him for free, turn his head and say “No, this is wrong.” Should James have known better than to have taken the jerseys? Yes, but by no means is this grounds for ending his spectacular high school career.

All this controversy is about is the car. The decked-out Hummer. The fact that James is driving around in a $50,000 car and couldn’t get suspended made the Ohio high school athletic division look like a bunch of fools. And it only got worse. Then, in defense of his mother (who should also receive some of the blame here), James drove a little remote controlled Hummer around the basketball court before a game as if to shove it in the face of the people investigating him and say "You can’t bring me down.” That little slap in the face is more than likely what caused this pathetic little investigation into free basketball jerseys to take place.

Should James have someone at his side to let him know right from wrong in situations like this? Yes. He’s only 17 for goodness sake, but all of that is for naught now. James did not put in an appeal and more than likely the decision to suspend his career will remain intact.

So what does he do now? Just sit and wait. Just sit and wait for that day in June when NBA commissioner David Stern calls his name first in the NBA draft. After that the NBA millions will come. Then even more millions from shoe and soft drink companies. It’s a shame to see James's high school career come to an end. However, in five months I believe he’ll be so rich that he’ll find a way to get over it.