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Ball Don't Lie

Fri Nov 20, 2009 4:25 pm EST

Cleveland rejects new LeBron James mural

By J.E. Skeets

A new mural of Cavaliers superstar LeBron James(notes) may be too much for city officials in Cleveland.

And by "too much," I mean too little "Forest City" references and clothing.

The Cleveland Planning Commission tabled Nike's request to replace a massive 10-story mural of James that hangs from an office building across from the Cavaliers' Quicken Loans Arena. Nike wants to replace the famous "We Are All Witnesses" banner with the semi-creepy one pictured above — LeBron, shirtless and lizard-like, "preparing for combat" with nothing more than a cold, hard stare and a basketball.

According to Tom Breckenridge of The Plain Dealer, city design officials rued the fact that "Cleveland" and "Cavaliers" have no presence on the proposed banner. LBJ wears a Cavs jersey on the current mural.

Certain officials also took offense at the excessive skin and "war" reference, especially at a time when U.S. soldiers are fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. (Not to mention Delonte West's latest troubles.)

As such, the committee has decided to shelve the mural request, with a recommendation that Nike come up with "something more positive" and maybe a reference or two to the Cavs or Cleveland.

Good idea. Might I suggest this? (I'm kidding, Cleveland. Relax.)

Cheers, Waiting For Next Year.

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230 Comments

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  1. Irish
    1. Posted by Irish Fri Nov 20, 2009 4:43 pm EST

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    WFYN will always be waiting for next year. losers
  2. ballers inc
    2. Posted by ballers inc Fri Nov 20, 2009 4:49 pm EST

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    cool no story
  3. Phil M
    3. Posted by Phil M Fri Nov 20, 2009 4:50 pm EST

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    Where are all the conservatives at? Shouldn't they be on here saying "let businesses be businesses"
  4. Espo
    4. Posted by Espo Fri Nov 20, 2009 4:52 pm EST

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    I bet they are already putting the mural up in Time Square as we speak.
  5. MAX_IN_MISSOURI
    5. Posted by MAX_IN_MISSOURI Fri Nov 20, 2009 4:59 pm EST

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    You're just cruel with that pic, skeets.....
  6. the Voice of Reason
    6. Posted by the Voice of Reason Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:01 pm EST

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    'semi-creepy' doesn't even begin to cover it.
  7. Joe S
    7. Posted by Joe S Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:02 pm EST

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    once lebron leaves what will they do with that
  8. curtis
    8. Posted by curtis Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:06 pm EST

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    I still don't understand why LeBron has a Venetian lion tattooed on his chest. Does he despise the Genoese? Does he want to sack Constantinople again? What's the deal?
  9. Greatest Ever
    9. Posted by Greatest Ever Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:10 pm EST

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    A lizard going to battle seems like a strange ad campaign. Sounds like the Nike marketing is suffering a serious mental block.
  10. NewYork
    10. Posted by NewYork Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:13 pm EST

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    Wow Skeets, you shill.
    I knew you wouldn't let us all down by not giving us our daily dose of King Frickin' James.
    Good boy.............. you damn puppy.
  11. NewYork
    11. Posted by NewYork Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:15 pm EST

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    Someone please make the case that LeBron isn't over-hyped and overexposed.
    I can't wait to hear all you King James nutthuggars explain this sh!t.
    Good luck.
  12. Steve F
    12. Posted by Steve F Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:19 pm EST

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    to Curtis, #9. His logo is a lion head because Lebron is the "king" and the lion is the "king of the jungle."
  13. 1914 Sigma
    13. Posted by 1914 Sigma Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:23 pm EST

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    lolol..@ Post #9
  14. Steve F
    14. Posted by Steve F Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:27 pm EST

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    to 11 New York, lebron is my fav player so ill try to explain this without hugging his nuts too hard (i dont wanna hurt my man). U cant knock lebron or his fans for being exposed, but u can knock the media for that. Hes so exposed because so many people like him and the media feels like they can connect to the public by using lebron to get their attention. He is exposed because mentioning him makes you money.So, overexposed? yes. overhyped? thats a different story. When you talk someone up a lot, and he produces as expected, you have hyped him up just right. If lebron was putting up 20,5,5 he would be overhyped. That asian chick golfer is overhyped, lebron is just popular.
  15. Alex C
    15. Posted by Alex C Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:29 pm EST

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    did they ever think that nike may not have wanted to endorse cleveland the 7th most dangerous city in the country and instead play to their audience out there
  16. .
    16. Posted by . Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:31 pm EST

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    prepare for NEW YORK
  17. Anton
    17. Posted by Anton Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:34 pm EST

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    #6 and 9 - lol.
  18. Todd N
    18. Posted by Todd N Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:42 pm EST

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    brilliant Nike!!! lets advertise and try to sell our shoes and apparrel by.... showing lebron with no clothes on.... No shoes, no shirt, no mural....
  19. Zidane
    19. Posted by Zidane Fri Nov 20, 2009 6:00 pm EST

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    we are still waiting Lebron ....... still waiting. i won't get my season pass until they announce that King James has sign with the KNICKS lol.
  20. Jason
    20. Posted by Jason Fri Nov 20, 2009 6:01 pm EST

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    they should hang this mural up in New York City like the old picture of Joey harrington
  21. KneeJerkNBA
    21. Posted by KneeJerkNBA Fri Nov 20, 2009 6:01 pm EST

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    At least it's not Marky Mark in Calvin Kleins.
  22. dj_peavy
    22. Posted by dj_peavy Fri Nov 20, 2009 6:06 pm EST

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    2 #6an7 I really doubt if you guys can call him ugly probably just jealous ya probably can't get a girl just sit around being couch potatoes probably some white dudes dat cant play ball i am wat black man would call himself the Voice of Reason lame dawg get a life
    P.S. get a girl stop dreaming about being LBJ a heck of a baller
  23. Mike
    23. Posted by Mike Fri Nov 20, 2009 6:11 pm EST

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    love the delonte west reference...
    maybe he should be on the 10-story banner, with a M-16, grenade launchers, shotguns, and maybe a lance (they are the CAVILIERS after all)
    lol
  24. Anthony
    24. Posted by Anthony Fri Nov 20, 2009 6:29 pm EST

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    ^ (#26) agreed.... delonte is def prepared for combattt!

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