Sure, LeBron James was ruled ineligible by the Ohio High School Athletic Association for accepting two free sports jerseys worth a combined $845 from a clothing store.
Yes, he created a stir with the whole Humvee thing. Of course it’s too bad there was a small accident with the elderly driver. And it’s certainly out of the ordinary for a visiting player’s parents to have to pay higher ticket prices at a bigger arena to see their sons play against James.
But here’s how James can make the PR machine work in his favor: Donate
10 replica Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary jerseys to a charity. That’s right. Beginning Feb. 21 for $90 a pop, you can buy a replica St. Vincent-St. Mary basketball jersey on www.stvm.com.
And you thought selling Wes Unseld jerseys was weird.
NO CAR TROUBLE: With the No. 1 pick in the Women’s United Soccer Association draft on Sunday, the San Diego Spirit selected Aly Wagner, midfielder, from Santa Clara, despite the fact that she doesn’t own a Humvee.
SINGING HIS PRAISES: Mariah Carey will celebrate the soon-to-be-retired-again Michael Jordan in song at the NBA All-Star game. NBA All-Stars Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson had offered to sing in Carey’s place, but Jordan politely declined the gesture.
THANKS FOR NOTHING: Steve Mariucci is close to becoming coach of the Detroit Lions, and Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo, a childhood friend, college buddy and good friend of Mariucci thinks he’d be a great choice. In response, Mariucci says Izzo still has to pay for his tickets just like everybody else.
TOUGH TIMES: Left fielder Pat Burrell hit .282 with 37 homers and 116 RBIs last year. He also struck out 153 times. For his efforts, the Philadelphia Phillies gave him a $50 million, 6-year contract. Eight million clams a year for two-eighty-two? Clip this for the next time you hear pro teams complain about economic troubles.
DON’T GO AWAY MAD: Marge Schott, former bizarro owner of the Cincinnati Reds, is suing the team, claiming she had use of a private box at the Reds’ old stadium and 21 seats that were grouped together, near the field. But in the Reds’ new ballpark, the seats allocated to Schott are scattered about the stadium and are at the back of the premium section. Some people just cannot take a hint.
NOT-SO-SUPER MODEL: Packers Pro Bowl running back Ahman Green could face up to $450 in fines and have his driver’s license revoked for up to one year after he allegedly failed to report an accident in his 2003 Chevy Trailblazer. What’s most shocking: He drives a Chevy.
HOLD THE PHONE: During the Pro Bowl, Terrell Owens described himself as a basketball player in a football player’s uniform. Funny, he could also be a cheerleader in a jackass’ body.
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ANY TAKERS? The Buffalo businessman who had planned to buy the struggling and bankrupt Buffalo Sabres may now back out. Turns out he was told he can’t turn the hockey team into a baseball team and move them to Washington, D.C., until the Expos sale goes through.
SEEING RED: If you care what colors Indiana uses for team gear, check out www.returnthered.com, a site started by an IU grad who wants the school to use red and white instead of the current official colors of crimson and cream. To repeat: Check out the site. If you care.