The Rise Of A Star : Lebron James

In 1999, when this essay was published, something as simple as a cellphone was a revolution to the American people. Conversations anywhere with no wires involved! Wow! Looking back now, American seemed pretty simple in 1999. This is the same for Michael Jordan – once upon a time, Jordan was JUST a basketball player. LaFeber’s essay illustrates for us the rise of the young Jordan from his middle-class family in racist North Carolina through his college years and eventually into the NBA where he became an international sports icon. LaFeber tells the story of how Jordan caught the eye of Nike CEO Phil Knight and goes on to explain how Knight transformed Jordan into the face of a multi-billion dollar international corporation. LaFeber also fills us in on race and sports issues surrounding Jordan and how that played a part in Nike’s growth. LaFeber shows us how race effected middle-class Michael Jordan at a young age and how he was able to overcome this and grow into the star he is today.

I have overcome lots of obstacles in my life. They weren't the easiest to overcome, but I did it. There is one obstacle I had to go through which made me a strong individual mentally and physically. I lived in New Jersey for my entire life. I grew up there, I had all of my family and friends in Jersey. I was sure my future was going to rely in Jersey. During 7th grade, I got the news that we were going to move to North Carolina. I was thrilled to move to another state. As each day passed, I thought how I would have to start in a new school and make new friends. Every time it struck me knowing that I would have to start a new life. I was nervous not knowing what would happen to my future. I wanted to stay in New Jersey because I was scared of

Most African American that want to make it to the National Football League (NFL) or the National basketball League (NBA), do not realize there is a slim chance to none of actually going into a professional sport. Gates writes “African American youngster has about as much of becoming a professional athlete as he or she does of winning the lottery” (1). Not many African American youngsters know that there are “12 times more black lawyers than black athletes” or there are only 1200 blacks who play in a professional sport (1). There are 12 times more black professionals that are in the communities accommodating to the needs of those who need the assistance with either legal or health issues. The youth can achieve greatness in today’s society by getting a degree and forming a foundation to make enough to be financially stable.

Bryant’s accomplishments, competitiveness, and work ethic is very inspiring to the fans of sport. Playing for one of the biggest franchise team for 20 years and winning five championship is something no other player has done except Kobe Bryant. Bryant has also maintained his high level performance in the most competitive league by spending time on his craft for many hours and extending his time on recovery by icing and playing less minutes during each game. One of the most inspiring moment in Bryant’s career is him coming back from torn achilles during the game against the Golden State Warriors in 2013. Bryant tore the tendon as he fell from getting a shooting foul, he stayed on the court and made his two free throws which led to a remarkable win. His eager to win a game is ambitious than any players. At the age of 34, it is very difficult for top athletes to come back from serious injury but Bryant never gave up so he embraced his injury to put himself through a very intense rehabilitation to bounce back from his step back. In the article “Kobe Bryant: I inspire myself by inspiring others” Kobe Bryant stated “ when people say you can’t come back from that…. I’ve had those doubts about myself but i’m not gonna cower to those doubts. I’m not going to be scared” This quote demonstrates how inspiring Kobe is because his willingness to fight back his serious injuries and embracing the fear that is created by others and

In the collegiate world of sports, basketball has become an increasingly recognized sport among African Americans, predominantly males. The hope of any young basketball player is that one day a scout will come and recruit them into stardom The question that presents itself as a problem to the lucky few who are chosen to go professional, is whether or not an education is more important than a million dollar shoe deal, “The NCAA's (1998) annual six-year study reported that only 33% of Black male basketball players graduated, (Chronicle of Higher Education, 1999). Individually, basketball reported the lowest graduation rate in all divisions,” (Robinson, 2004:1). Basketball players have become so idolized in the eyes of young

The book ‘Shooting Stars’, is and autobiography written by Lebron James and Buzz Bissinger, provided a fantastic read. Published in 2009, the book briefly covered Lebron’s early life while spending the majority of the time covering his teen years. The reader is informed about the struggles that Lebron and his single mother faced through his early years. He had to move houses often due to financial circumstances and thus found it hard to make friends. James soon found a passion for basketball and formed a strong bond with his 4 best friends: Dru Joyce the 3rd, Romeo Travis, Sian Cotton and Wille McGee. They combined to create ‘The Fab 5’ and began on a journey to win the ‘National Championship’. They began to feel invincible as a result of

Lebron James, the first pick taken in this year’s draft, may be the prototype for an athlete having immediate fame and wealth by jumping straight to the NBA. Almost undoubtedly, he has set the bar for years to come. Before he even played in an actual NBA game, he already had his own commercial and shoe deals. When he was a senior in high school, ESPN and ESPN2 were already publicizing his regular season games whenever they had the chance. Amazingly, as a junior in high school, he was already being considered the next Michael Jordan (Broussard).

Did you know that LeBron James’s 1st sports team were the South Rangers, a football team? LeBron James, the famous basketball player, born in Akron, Ohio, started off as the stereotypical boy that you would find in a rough neighbourhood. Through determination, skill, practice, etc. LeBron was able to climb out of the stereotypical hole he was born into, and the beginning of that fight sparked the start of a life full of achievements, money, excitement, and has also allowed LeBron to give the kind of comfort and security to his family that he never had as a child. Fatherless boy to Basketball legend, LeBron James has not led a boring life.

Lebron James is the MVP (Most Valuable Player), for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He lead the team to the championship in basketball and won it all. Earlier that year Lebron came back to Cleveland Cavaliers from the Miami Heat with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Why leave when you have a big 3 on your team? He said he wanted to go home for his last few years of basketball. If you ask me I think he'll be in the league for at least more 5 years. Lebron is seventh on all time scoring 200 point over Shaquille O'Neal.

Lebron James has the dribbling skills of a point guard and the physical grit of a power forward. He can dunk from almost the free throw line, and also drain the threes. There are few players in that category in the NBA. Kevin Garnett may be in that small list. Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson would be they are retired.

On March 23, 1992, a legend was born. For Example, As a kid who grew up in West Orange, New Jersey he always had a one up in basketball. In high school, Kyrie Irving attended Monclair Kimberely Academy where he averaged 25 points per game, 10.3 assists per game , 4.8 rebounds per game , and 3.6 steals per game. Irving switched high schools because he felt he needed a bigger challenge. For instance, At Monclair Kimberely there wasn’t anybody who could possibly guard him. At St. Patrick high school, Irving averaged 17 points per game, 6.0 assists per game, 5 rebounds per game, his junior and senior year. During high school he played AAU for the MAC Irvine fire , which he led to their third New Jersey tournament of

The first few seconds of your first earthquake are disconcerting. You don’t know what’s happening. The undulation, the noise, the inability to focus -- it’s all disconcerting. But once you’ve been in a few, you know the feeling. You don’t relax, but you don’t panic, either.

Michael Jeffrey Jordan and Shaquille Rashaun O’neal were two great basketball stars that changed the name of the game forever. Jordan came from a large city in upstate New York where his parents “fared well financially with incomes from their jobs and James’s Air Force pension” (Porter 2). O’neal came from the largest New Jersey city where his mother gave birth to him at the age of eighteen and went on welfare (Nelson 2). Both of these young men left a legacy in the basketball world but from two very different aspects.

LeBron James is my role model, he is a great basketball player, and he is also a great person. LeBron was drafted into the NBA in 2003, straight out of a high school named St. Vincent St. Mary. His rookie year he averaged 20.9 points a game, that’s more than most players in their entire NBA career and that’s pretty good. LeBron is a great player, person, and teammate. He is one of the best in my book.

"I am honored [sic] to participate in a project that is trying to help single mothers who are struggling to make a living and raise their kids, because that perfectly describes my mother when I was growing up. You think LeBron James is a champion? Gloria James is a champion too. She’s my champion," he