I can't tell if this is a truly significant thing, or something beyond trivial, but the Ohio State Buckeyes will not be wearing the traditional Nike logo on their uniforms during the NCAA tournament. Instead, they'll be wearing the LeBron James Nike logo (you can get a better look at it here).On one hand ...
Never before have the lines between professional and amateur basketball been that blurred. You've got a group of college student athletes taking the floor wearing the logo of a man who had absolutely no use for college. LeBron's very presence almost makes a mockery of college. Not only is he so far past the idea, of college, but now he gets to actually brand the young men who aren't. I'm sure it didn't need it, but imagine the boost that gives to LeBron's ego.
And from LeBron's perspective ... he wants to be a "global icon"? I say this puts him more than halfway there. You see corporate logos on uniforms. You see the Nike swoosh, the three stripes of adidas, the RBK vector ... and now the LBJ23. Is he on that level? And did he get there while playing the most uninspired basketball of his career?
But on the other hand ...
Maybe it's just another corporate logo. Maybe it's just Nike goofing off a little bit, throwing a bone to their star endorser. Maybe it means nothing.
Feels like it does, though.




















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-28-2007 @ 6:53PM
Youngone328 said...
Well,If You Think About He Is From Ohio and Might Have Went There Had The One Year Rule Been In Effect When He Came Out Of High School,So What's A Better Way To Show His Support?
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2-28-2007 @ 8:27PM
Mary Beth Hall said...
Educations? Success? Messages?? The way I see it, LeBron had the opportunity to start his career early, knowing that it will probably end early. The only bad message that all of these athletes send to the average kid that needs to stay in college, is that there is "fast, hard" money, if only... The sad thing is, all of the income earned by the students that graduated with James, will never come near his endorsements alone. That is the problem. Athletes, even though they have shorter career periods, make so much more than people who work hard for every penny they make. (shrugs) The irony is, it is the hard working, hard won money that idolizes, and makes it possible for the athletes to gorge. So I say, the university athletes should wear t-shirts and underwear and concentrate on winning on their own talents and idenities
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2-28-2007 @ 9:15PM
Richard Jones said...
Why is it that jackasses have to make stupid comments comparing pros to working stiffs who "work hard and earn every penny" If anything LeBron is under paid he generates a considerable sum of money for Nike and the
Cavs
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2-28-2007 @ 9:17PM
Gamecock Man said...
it's interesting how nike is attempting to make lebron as ubiquitous as jordan was at his height. the thing is, lebron has yet to accomplish many of the things that jordan had by the time he was all over every television screen and the air jordan logo was on all sorts of atheletic clothing. nike really wants that star power back...
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2-28-2007 @ 11:11PM
Lloyd Ribner said...
Gamecock man
there are many things you must understand...you can not compare lebron to MJ for many reasons....a) they come into their prime in different eras...MJ in a time where few games were on national tv while lebron has 5 sportcenters a day with half of his games on national...not to mention High School games on ESPN.....b)lebron will never be michael no matter how many rings he ever does win....this is because michael was the 1st...first with his own shoe, his own commercials, baggy shorts...not only is he the best player of all time, he also revolutionized the game both on and off the court...this all coming from a Knick fan whos childhood was tormented by the man...lebron is just another one of the many Next Jordans...but this time with a lil more media frenzy
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3-01-2007 @ 11:09AM
Potato said...
Is it just me or is the LBJ23 logo pretty weak. It doesn't look good. It looks overly busy. When I think of logos, the first handful that come to mind (The Swoosh, The Golden Arches, Mickey mouse Silohoutte, Jordan Jumpman, Adidas 3 stripes, etc) are all very simple.
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3-01-2007 @ 3:37PM
Sherry said...
Why would Ohio State wear LeBron's logo? He didn't attend college so what is the message Ohio State is trying to send? "Hey look kids, see what I did and I didn't even have to go to college"! Oh... lets not compare him to MJ. MJ earned his iconic status.
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3-01-2007 @ 5:08PM
Jordan said...
I think it is pathetic that Ohio State agreed to wear the logo, especially considering college bball is suffering enough from players skipping college for the pros. Lebron never once considered college, why would you take the tournament away from those that have. Lebron and M.J. should never be in the same sentence...the kid has far far more to prove before he can even hold M.J.'s sneakers.
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3-01-2007 @ 5:20PM
hoopfan23 said...
screw lebron james if i were ohio state id be embarassed. kid didn't go to college why is he on a college teams uniforms. My dream would be to have lebron match up against jordan in jordan's prime and get absolutly torn up. the next micheal jordan? youve got to be kidding. anybody can drive to the basket and have refs call a foul for them.
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5-08-2007 @ 4:26AM
SCOTT A. MASINO said...
WILL THESE JERSEYS BE AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE ???? WHEN ? WHERE?
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3-08-2007 @ 11:38AM
lilboyblu said...
Don't see what the big deal is with the logo. He's proven so far to be a good role model, so what's the big to-do? There are far worse things that he - and Nike - could be doing. He certainly doesn't yet deserve to be compared to MJ (who DOES??), BUT - MJ wouldn't have eben the same player had he not gone to college, so Bron-Bron seems to have a leg up on him in that regard. Just something to consider. Certainly two of the big factors in MJ's greatness are consistency and LONGEVITY - so it'll take time before we see just how "MJ" LJ is.
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3-08-2007 @ 11:52AM
Possum said...
Yeah blah, blah, blah... LeBron isn't as good as Jordan, blah, blah. Who cares? You're comparing apples to oranges. They're two completely different players who came from two completely different eras. The game has changed so much since Jordan was in his prime. Jordan revolutionized the game. It's like comparing Wilt to Shaq. It's not as dramatic but the same idea is there. Wilt is not the greatest center of all time. He played in a league where he was one of few 7-footers. If the same Shaq played back then he would have scored 400 points. The majority of the top 50 players Jordan played against in his prime wouldn't even start today. The game is different. Jordan was ahead of his time. Players are better now than ever before. They train different, etc. P.S. who cares about the logo? It's all marketing. LeBron probably had nothing to do with it.
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3-08-2007 @ 5:03PM
Lin said...
Oh my, so much envy. I am a retired educator and I think LeBron made a wise decision to sign with the pros right out of high school. And to those who say he will make more than his high school teammates who will have to work for a living - walk in LeBron's shoes for a week and then say he doesn't work hard. I think he earns everything he gets. And, for your information, Gamecock Man, LeBron has the record for many milestones all ready. What is with you people? You sound like a bunch of spoiled jealous kids. I wish only the best for LeBron. He is a very good role model for young people who are talented. He is a reverent, modest young man who walks the walk and doesn't have to talk the talk. He likes to win and he always gives his teammates their due. If you watch many of the Cavs games, you will see that 'Bron is one of their greatest cheerleaders. GET OFF HIS BACK. If you don't like him, don't watch him. The rest of us will enjoy seeing him succeed. And, I think the logo is very clever. GO 'BRON!
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3-08-2007 @ 7:39PM
Lin said...
Oh my, so much envy. I am a retired educator and I think LeBron made a wise decision to sign with the pros right out of high school. And to those who say he will make more than his high school teammates who will have to work for a living - walk in LeBron's shoes for a week and then say he doesn't work hard. I think he earns everything he gets. And, for your information, Gamecock Man, LeBron has the record for many milestones all ready. What is with you people? You sound like a bunch of spoiled jealous kids. I wish only the best for LeBron. He is a very good role model for young people who are talented. He is a reverent, modest young man who walks the walk and doesn't have to talk the talk. He likes to win and he always gives his teammates their due. If you watch many of the Cavs games, you will see that 'Bron is one of their greatest cheerleaders. GET OFF HIS BACK. If you don't like him, don't watch him. The rest of us will enjoy seeing him succeed. And, I think the logo is very clever. GO 'BRON!
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3-11-2007 @ 12:30AM
tutu said...
Yall just haters, u all fat kids sittin on inet and readin hateful articles about him,MJ was in college, and got his first ring while he was 28,besides,he got better players around him, look at LBJ, he got useless players around him,its one man game, and he got it, when you all were 21,first thing u all did probably went to bar to drink, while that kid, scored 30 points agains pros
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3-20-2007 @ 3:49PM
Steve said...
Quit complaining. Ohio St. wearing the L23 logo is no different than Georgetown having the Air Jordan logo on their uniforms. Did MJ go to Georgetown? Don't think so. It's a NIKE logo, and nothing else.
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