KRON, Ohio -- Two days after Zydrunas Ilgauskas took out an ad in The Plain Dealer to thank the fans of Cleveland for their support, LeBron James placed a similar ad in the Beacon-Journal in Akron.
The ad, which runs on the back of the paper's front section, also features photos of James from Akron events. One of the many Akron events James is involved in is his annual bike-a-thon downtown, which takes place this week. James will hand out 400 bikes on Saturday, then join a mile-long ride on South Main Street. In the past, the mile ride was followed by an eight-mile trek, but that has been canceled.
While James praised his hometown of Akron, he made no mention of Cleveland, where he played at Quicken Loans Arena for seven years as a member of the Cavs. He signed with the Miami Heat as a free agent in July.
Here is the text of the ad:
"To My Family, Friends and Fans in Akron:
"For all my life, I have lived in Akron -- and for that, I am truly a lucky man.
"It was here where I first learned how to play basketball, and where I met the people who would become my lifelong friends and mentors. Their guidance, encouragement and support will always be with me.
"Akron is my home, and the central focus of my life. It's where I started, and it's where I will always come back to. You can be sure that I will continue to do everything I can for this city, which is so important to my family and me. Thank you for your love and support. You mean everything to me."
He then signed "LeBron" at the bottom of the ad.
