By many eyewitness accounts, there was a major two-handed dunk thrown down by Xavier's Jordan Crawford on Monday, during a pickup game at the LeBron James Skills Academy in Akron, Ohio. Not a big deal, really, because highlight-worthy dunks happen in summer pickup games all the time, especially when there's nothing at stake and the defense can at times be non-existent.This one, however, was a big deal. And not just because the dunk in question happened on the head of LeBron James himself, but because we will likely never be able to see it -- thanks to a rep from Nike allegedly confiscating video of the incident shortly after it took place.
Nike basketball senior director Lynn Merritt confiscated tapes from two photographers – one being freelancer Ryan Miller - filming Monday night's games in which James played with the college players for the LeBron James Skills Academy.Presumably, the decision was made that by allowing this video to get out and appear on YouTube, it would somehow be damaging to LeBron's reputation, which is obviously something that the people of Nike don't want to have happen. But by making sure no one will ever see the clip by confiscating tapes, they honestly could not have done a worse job of handling the situation.
Miller had been filming for about 15 minutes - which included footage of the high school players - and was approached almost immediately after Crawford's dunk over The King.
Second, and likely of more importance to the folks at Nike, is the fact that this story has spread like wildfire over the internet. It's already popped up on several major sports blogs, and Twitter is blowing up on the subject, with people sending around old video clips of LeBron getting dunked on, and even making their own Nike-themed posters of the now infamous event.
Bad move, Nike. And let's not forget, this comes after an unexpected playoff exit, and a controversy about sportsmanship when LeBron didn't shake hands with the Magic players or speak to the media until two days later.
By letting this video out, a relatively small number of people would have seen it, and that would have been that. By preventing it from seeing the light of day, Nike is adding to the increasing perception that LeBron is a prima donna, who is interested in nothing more than self-promotion.
I'm pretty sure that's the exact opposite of the message that the company wants to send.
LeBron James Photos
Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James tours the site of the annual Allen & Co.'s media summit in Sun Valley, Idaho, Wednesday, July 8, 2009. A minor controversy erupted at the LeBron James Skills Academy on Monday night, July 6, when two videographers recorded a pickup game in which Xavier's Jordan Crawford dunked on James. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
AP
LeBron James, left, and Daniel "Boobie" Gibson are seen at the 9th Annual BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2009, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
AP
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 28: NBA player LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers walks onstage to accept the BET Award for Best Male Athlete during the 2009 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 28, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** LeBron James
Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 28: NBA player LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers accepts the BET Award for Best Male Athlete onstage during the 2009 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 28, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** LeBron James
Getty Images
LeBron James is seen at the the 9th Annual BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2009, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
AP
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 28: NBA player LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers accepts the BET Award for Best Male Athlete onstage during the 2009 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 28, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** LeBron James
Getty Images
Tyra Banks, left, present LeBron James with the best male athlete award at the 9th Annual BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2009, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
AP
NBA player LeBron James onstage at the 2009 BET Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on June 28, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. 2009 BET Awards - Show The Shrine Auditorium Los Angeles, California United States June 28, 2009 Photo by John Shearer/WireImage.com To license this image (57805793), contact WireImage.com
John Shearer/WireImage.com
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Lebron James accepts the Best Male Athlete award at the BET Awards '09 in Los Angeles June 28, 2009. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni (UNITED STATES ENTERTAINMENT SPORT)
Reuters
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 28: NBA player LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers accepts the BET Award for Best Male Athlete from TV personality Tyra Banks onstage during the 2009 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 28, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tyra Banks;LeBron James
Getty Images
Comments (Page 1 of 7)
Kobe would of just dunked on him back... oh wait, LBLoser is nowhere near close to kobe. my bad
such a homer.
Yea right!!! Get real.
Kobe's a wife cheater number 1!
U r sooo right lj is nowhere near Kobe
No, the loser is Nike for having a rapist/cheater on their payrole. Nike go away - "Just do it"
so true...nike is the culprit here...and anyone talking about rape must know something about rape and could a rapist...
kobe is a bum he will never be as close to lebron number ever so cut it out shaq made kobe dummy lebron is already made soo get ur facts rite idiot
J-FRESH, you shouldn't be calling others idiot when you yourself can't spell for beans, IDIOT!
No big deal in a pickup game anything can happen. But I would like to see the video. My question is, why do they keep showing LBJ with that MVP shirt, we get it-now you gotta win some championships.
Obviously it is a big deal. I hate the fact that this player self-glossed himself as the "king". Nike and ESPN are sell-outs by propping this guy up. What about all the footage of him dunking on tiny high school kids? Rumor has it Jordan Crawford had on a Reebok shirt. If so Reebok should re-create the dunk with the LeBron puppet getting "posterized". --I'm out--
Can someone tell me what gives Nike the right to confiscate a persons property?
just a guess there could be alot of reasons. its private property, and they would get cut off from anything nike or lebron if they didnt.
Money
Nike Reps are all "Witlesses" and are only there to protect the image of the choken one.
my god!!! learn to spell!!!
If somebody has never been dunked on or had their shot blocked,they have never played basketball to begin with.Who cares?
Damn Mr. G. You know what you are talking about. Thank you for that, it is so rare in the bloggosphere
Like the article said, really stupid move from Nike and LeBron.
what was this? the kennedy assasination? Is this the new Zapruder film? Is nike gonna give it back with certain parts edited out?
This is ridiculous. Lebron got dunked on twice by courtney Lee and he was a rook. I really hope it was the Nike folk and not Lebron himself who bitched about it.