LeBron James

In only his second year in the NBA, LeBron James became just the 5th player to average at least 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists for an entire season, along with Oscar Robertson (6 times), John Havlicek (2 times), Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan (1 each). Probably not coincidentally, Wrangler was the initial sponsor of his father's #3 Chevrolet from 1980 until 1987. Frustration with Cleveland management have fueled talk that James will leave the franchise when his rookie contract expires, although James has denied that he is looking to leave the organization. He was also featured in a commercial for Wrangler jeans that used the aforementioned song as its background music. Despite his prodigious talents, James failed to lead his Cleveland Cavaliers to the playoffs in his first two years in the league, while fellow 2003 Draftees Carmelo Anthony and Dwayne Wade experienced some playoff success. has appeared in print advertisements for Drakkar Noir Cologne, one of the sponsors of his race car, and in the video for Sheryl Crow's song "Steve McQueen", which pays tribute to the late film star famous for his car chase scenes. [1] (http://www.snopes.com/photos/commercials/lebron.asp) A similiar commercial involves Mike Vick of the NFL throwing a pass into the upper deck of a stadium during practice. Dale Jr.

The Coca Cola brand Powerade sports drink included James in a series in which an off duty sports reporter and crew accidently catch James during his teams practice making 5 shots in a row from full court which was made possible by computer effects. He has expressed interest in pursuing an acting career. On March 2005, bubble gum brand Bubblilicious launched the "Lebron James Lemon Lime" flavor. Dale Jr.'s looks have helped his media presence. Much like one of his predecessors, Michael Jordan, James has been signed by many companies to sell their products via advertisements, including Coca Cola, which contracted him to sponsor their Sprite product. Fans have alleged that the change was approved, in the hopes of saving NAPA Auto Parts as a team sponsor. At 20 years and 110 days of age, he is more than two years younger than the previous record holder Kobe Bryant (22 years 161 days) and Magic Johnson (22 years 231 days). Many of Earnhardt's fans have criticized the leadership at DEI, especially Teresa Earnhardt for her approval of the crew change.

On April 19, 2005, after recording 32 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists against the Boston Celtics, James became the youngest player to reach 3,500 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists. Teammate Michael Waltrip took the pole position for the Pocono 500, further bolstering the argument that Waltrip may have gotten the better end of the crew change. Barry was 21 years, 261 days old when he scored 57 for the San Francisco Warriors against the New York Knicks, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. A recovery seems unlikely, considering that Johnson and second place Greg Biffle have dominated most of the first 13 races of the season. At 20 years, 80 days old, James eclipsed Rick Barry as the youngest player to score 50 or more points in a game. Earnhardt must be within 400 points of the leader by the 26th race to qualify for the Chase for the Championship. On March 20, 2005, James scored 56 points in a loss to the Toronto Raptors. is 15th in the points standings, 414 behind leader Jimmie Johnson.

The second-year star reached the mark at 20 years, 20 days, breaking the record held by Lamar Odom, who was 20 years, 54 days when he posted a triple-double for the Los Angeles Clippers on December 30, 1999 -- James' 15th birthday. As of June 11, 2005, Earnhardt Jr. On January 20, 2005, James achieved yet another milestone as he became the youngest player in league history to record a Triple-double with 27 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists as the Cavaliers rolled to a 107-101 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. finished fifteenth in the Aarons 499 at Talladega Superspeedway, suggesting that DEI may have lost its advantage at the restrictor plate tracks to rival Hendrick Motorsports. At 19 years, 272 days old, James was a full 277 days younger than Bryant had been when he reached the mark. At one point he was as far back as 29th. Subsequently, Earnhardt Jr. Kobe Bryant had previously held the record, having reached his 2,000th point at 20 years, 183 days. On February 20 2005, Dale fell short of winning back-to-back Daytona 500 races, placing third after struggling with an ill-handling car for much of the race.

On November 27, 2004, he scored his 2,000th point, becoming the youngest player ever to attain that mark. Rondeau served as Earnhardt's crew chief until the Coca Cola 600 weekend when he was replaced with DEI chief engineer Steve Hmiel. James is often associated with fellow rookie sensation Carmelo Anthony, though he has begun to separate himself as he continues to improve while Carmelo's image has taken multiple hits. Peter Rondeau, a Chance 2 employee who also helped Earnhardt win the Busch Series race at Bristol in August, became the crew chief for Earnhardt in 2005. He was named Rookie of the Year and nearly led his team, previously the worst in the NBA, to the playoffs. became the crew chief for the DEI #15 driven by Michael Waltrip for the 2005 season. During his rookie season, James largely met the extremely high expectations placed on him. would be promoted to the team manager position for the DEI corporation, while Tony Eury, Jr.

Cleveland confirmed his selection as the #1 pick over a month before the draft, and contract negotiations were concluded some time in advance. At the close of the 2004 season it was revealed that Tony Eury, Sr. Because James was seen as a consensus first pick, the 2003 NBA Draft Lottery was described by many as the "LeBron Lottery." James's hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, successfully drew the first pick. Truex went on a charge late in the 2004 Busch Series season, and clinched the championship at Darlington, with a strong finish, making Earnhardt the winner of both a driver's championship (1998 and 1999) and an owner's championship (2004). He then signed a contract with Nike for $90 million over 7 years. Earnhardt as an owner was more proficient. To the surprise of no one, LeBron officially declared for the draft on April 25, 2003. That incident, combined with two consecutive DNF's in the playoffs, eventually dropped him out of the running, and finished fifth in the 2004 Nextel Cup playoff.

He also earned MVP honors at the McDonald's All-American Game, the EA Sports Roundball Classic, and the Jordan Capital Classic. However, he was penalized 25 points for use of an obscenity during the television broadcast, in violation of a NASCAR rule prohibiting participants from using obscene language. Basketball and to the All-USA First Team. He was able to qualify third for the NASCAR ten-race playoff, and won his fifth Nextel Cup win of the season (a career high) was also his fifth win at Talladega (another record). Mary won a third state title, and James, for an unprecedented third time, was named Mr. In the fall, Junior became the first driver to sweep the weekend meet at Bristol by winning both the Busch race and Cup race in the same weekend. Despite the distractions, St. Vincent-St. The burns did not affect Junior in the long run.

James's team was forced to forfeit one of their wins as a result. and his stepmother Teresa Earnhardt) and his DEI team mate (John Andretti) in the middle of the races. James appealed, and a judge blocked the ruling, reducing the penalty to a two-game suspension, allowing him to play the remainder of the season. The burns prevented him from finishing two races where he was replaced by Martin Truex, Jr. (driver for Chance 2 Motorsports, co-owned by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. When James later accepted two jerseys from a Cleveland sports store worth $845 in exchange for him posing for pictures to be displayed on its walls, the OHSAA stripped him of his eligibility. He suffered second and third degree burns on his neck, chin, and legs. Under the OHSAA guidelines, no amateur may accept any gift valued over $100 as a reward for athletic performance. The car burst into flames with Junior still inside.

Gloria James touched off a firestorm of controversy when she was allowed to use her son's future earning power as collateral to secure a bank loan to buy an $80,000 Hummer H2 for his 18th birthday, prompting an investigation by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA). crashed the Corvette he was testing for an American LeMans Series race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California. Celebrities such as Shaquille O'Neal were attending his games, a few of which were being televised nationally on ESPN2 and on pay-per-view. won the Daytona 500, 6 years to the day after his father won his only title in the "Super Bowl Of Motorsports." In July, during on off-weekend from NASCAR, Dale Jr. The petition was unsuccessful, but it led to an unprecedented level of attention on him as he entered his senior year. "King" James was already on the covers of Sports Illustrated and ESPN The Magazine. In 2004, Dale Earnhardt Jr. LeBron then attempted to declare for the NBA draft, petitioning for an adjustment to the rule stating that a player must finish high school in order to be eligible. Still, Junior rallied to score two more wins at Talladega, a pair of Bud Pole Awards and an 11th-place finish in the final standings.

Mary failed to defend their title as it moved up to the more-challenging Division II. finished no better than 30th. Vincent-St. In the three races following Fontana, Earnhardt Jr. St. He struggled after enduring a concussion at Fontana in April -- an injury he did not admit to until mid-September. He also began using the nickname "King" James. In 2002, Junior had a roller-coaster season.

Basketball and a spot on the All-USA First Team. The season of emotion produced nine top-fives and 15 top-10 finishes, as well as two Bud Poles. In James's junior year, he averaged 29 points and 8 rebounds and was once again named Mr. That Talladega victory earned Junior a Winston No Bull 5 $1 million bonus. He added to his resume by being first-team all-state in high school football. The second victory came at Dover, Delaware, in the first race after 9/11 and the third was in the EA Sports 500 at Talladega--the site of his father's final victory. Basketball" and USA Today selected him for the All-USA First Team, making him the first sophomore to be honored with such a nomination. The first win came when the series returned to Daytona, the same track where Junior's father had died a few months earlier, for the Pepsi 400.

He was named Ohio's "Mr. He didn't stay down for long, though. Junior scored three emotional victories and came back to finish eighth in points. Mary won another state title. Just as his father would have done, Junior raced at Rockingham the following weekend, but crashed on the first lap and finished in 43rd-place. Vincent-St. As Junior finished second, his father died on impact with the wall. He averaged 25 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals as a sophomore as St. The first major event of the season occurred in the final corner of the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500--Junior's father crashed.

Mary High School 2000 State Championship team. came into the season assuming that the biggest obstacle he would face would be a sophomore slump, instead the year proved to be one of the most tumultuous and memorable seasons the young driver has experienced. Vincent-St. In 2001 Earnhardt Jr. James first captured attention following a solid freshman year for the Division III St. Lee, Richard and Maurice Petty had previously accomplished the feat. His combinations of size, strength, and athletisism have many people predicting him to become the greatest player of all time. That occasion was only the second time that a father had raced against two sons.

Although he primarily plays the small forward position, he is capable of playing point guard and shooting guard as well. Junior did have a part in recreating one Winston Cup milestone in 2000 when he competed with his father and brother Kerry in the Pepsi 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Today James, who stands 6 feet 8½ inches (2.05 m) and weighs 241 pounds, is one of the most versatile players in the NBA. Kenseth ultimately scored a 42-point victory in the rookie race. A neighborhood couple befriended the boy and taught him basketball, for which he almost immediately showed a gift. It didn't pan out that way, as frequent challenger Matt Kenseth outran Junior in the Daytona 500, and never let up in his run to the title. The identity of James's father has always been a mystery; the Akron Beacon Journal has reported that he is dead. Before his Winston Cup rookie season in 2000, many thought Earnhardt Jr. was the front-runner for the Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award.

Born to a single mother, James was raised by her and a succession of her boyfriends, many of whom had criminal records. With his father's guidance and his own experience on the short tracks throughout the Carolinas, he was ready to take a bold step forward. LeBron James (born December 30, 1984 in Akron, Ohio) is an NBA basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers. won consecutive NASCAR Busch Series Championships in 1998 & 1999. ISBN 1886228744. Earnhardt Jr. Morgan, David Lee: LeBron James: The Rise of a Star, Gray & Company Publishers 2003. There, he developed an in-depth knowledge of chassis setup and car preparation, while racing against Kerry and their sister Kelley.

ISBN 0312322291. Within two seasons, the young Earnhardt had honed his driving abilities to the point of joining the Late Model Stock Car division. Martin's Griffin 2003. His first race car was a 1978 Monte Carlo that he co-owned with older brother Kerry. Jones, Ryan: King James: Believe the Hype, St. began his professional driving career at the age of 17, competing in the Street Stock division at Concord (N.C.) Motorsport Park. Earnhardt Jr.

He currently drives the #8 Budweiser Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr. (born October 10, 1974 in Kannapolis, North Carolina) is the son of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt. NASCAR. List of famous NASCAR drivers.