ESPN Pulls LeBron James Story, Continues to Shred Own Integrity

by Rohan on Jul 28, 2010 12:56 PM CDT

You've no doubt heard about the LBJ-in-Vegas story that was published on ESPN this morning and promptly pulled. I'm sure they'll find some reason for its removal, but it was a fascinating read.

You can find the full story here.

Some of the more.. interesting snippets, after the jump:

James' circle includes Randy Mims, seated to his right at the center of the table, Maverick Carter, seated at the head of the table, and Richard Paul, seated in front of James. The quartet makes up the initials behind LRMR Marketing, the management firm James founded almost four years ago with his buddies.

Seated to the right of James is Chris Paul, whose brother, C.J., is seated across from him. The New Orleans Hornets point guard has seen how James has positioned himself to win a championship by signing with the Miami Heat and joining forces with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and has reportedly considered a similar move himself. The truth is, in James' dream world, the duo he would love to play with for the next decade would be Wade and Paul, his two closest friends in the NBA. Paul has been like a brother to James since the two were in Las Vegas four years ago for USA Basketball training camp, when as a rookie he carried James' and Wade's bags to and from the team bus.

Carter, LeBron's childhood friend and manager, begins dancing around James like Puff Daddy in a Notorious B.I.G video. A giant red crown-shaped cake is brought over to James while go-go dancers dressed in skimpy red and black outfits raise four lettered placards that spell out, "KING." Carter grabs a bottle of Grey Goose and pours a quarter of it on the floor and raises it up before passing it off.

Toward the end of the night, Boston Celtics forward Glen Davis walks past James' party and looks at the scene up and down several times like a painting in a museum, soaking in the images of the go-go dancers, the "King" sign and the costumed man delivering bottles of champagne. Davis shakes his head and walks on.

Couple awesome reactions twatted by M. Moore and T. Ziller:

Dang. When Glen Davis thinks you're acting a fool...

Did Chris Paul decide not to join LRMR after the Vegas weekend? I can't imagine why!

And so, the greatest offseason in the history of the league spins merrily along.

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Comments

This was really funny

Until I realized that Chris Paul has to be thoroughly aware of all of this, and is either participating or complicit in the shenanigans. Which makes me kind of sad. Maybe I hold Chris to a standard that’s too high.

It makes me wonder: if I was that wealthy, famous, and powerful, would I be doing the same thing? I’d hope not, but considering how many athletes and politicians and bankers and executives seem caught up in this type of stuff, I don’t see why I’d be any different. And that disgusts me.

by Brian Ball on Jul 28, 2010 1:54 PM CDT reply actions

I couldn't view...

…the full document because I am not registered with Google docs….I am not sure I want to after reading the snippets…. Good for Big Baby

by 3ptace on Jul 28, 2010 2:25 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

Deadspin to the rescue

If it’s unsavory, they’re all over it:

http://deadspin.com/5598719/read-espns-spiked-story-about-lebron-among-the-naked-ladies-in-vegas

by Brian Ball on Jul 28, 2010 2:40 PM CDT up reply actions

The newest spin on this article and why it has been taken back is that it insinuates that the plan is to trade Bosh for Paul. We wont catch a break.

by berlinhornets on Jul 28, 2010 2:43 PM CDT reply actions

here is a link to that spin: http://blogs.thescore.com/tbj/2010/07/28/does-lebron-james-want-to-trade-chris-bosh-for-chris-paul/

by berlinhornets on Jul 28, 2010 2:44 PM CDT reply actions

Screw that

If we trade Chris Paul to Miami it would pretty much give them 5 championships. We would be the 2nd most hated team next to Miami. I have faith that Dell Demps won’t cave in no matter what.

by Nola4Ever on Jul 28, 2010 3:21 PM CDT reply actions

Unfortunately

The comment about Paul carrying LeBron and Wade’s bags in 2006 (Wade I could maybe understand, coming off of the Finals MVP and all) speaks a lot about his assertiveness in certain situations.

I love Chris Paul as a player and as a person. But when it comes to the personal relationships we’ve been allowed to see from a glance, he looks like the hugest follower in my opinion.

"You play to win the game."

by MrWayneKeller on Jul 28, 2010 4:11 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

+1

It’s pathetic. He was never like that at Wake. And he is our leader, but when push comes to shove, when he’s with “the boys” he’s content to play 2nd-fiddle. We don’t need to get rid of him under any circumstances & IMO trade Collison + someone for personnel that will make the team competitive enough + Paul so as to keep CP, but it’s absolutely sad 3’s such a follower. Step up Chris, you don’t need to follow schmoozers, be your own man

by Grand Tanyon Sturtze on Jul 29, 2010 1:32 AM CDT up reply actions