RealCavsFans

**Smooth** · 07-22-2009, 07:53 PM

Bill Livingston: New LeBron James book tells of a 'shooting star' always willing to learn lessons
by Bill Livingston/Plain Dealer Columnist
Wednesday July 22, 2009, 6:31 PM

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- LeBron James smoked marijuana during his junior year in high school. Three other members of the Akron St. Vincent St. Mary starting five smoked with him. Another drank alcohol.

All this took place in a hotel room in Akron the players "had gotten access to," in the guarded words of "Shooting Stars," a book to be released in September. It amounts to James' life story through his tumultuous high school years.

Before getting judgmental about this, it is wise to remember the players were teenagers. Those who were saints as young men and women can cast the first stone. In his NBA career, James has never been in serious trouble with the law.

Co-author Buzz Bissinger, whose "Friday Night Lights" is considered one of the best books on high school football ever, writes "Shooting Stars" in James' voice. The title comes from the name of James' first AAU team in Akron, but it has other meanings. A shooting star in astronomy is actually the blazing path a meteoroid traces as it enters the Earth's atmosphere and burns out. It is really a falling star.

James' junior season ended in the only state championship game he lost, a result, he feels, of the arrogance he and the rest of the team developed after he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated on Feb. 18, 2002. He calls it "karma," a key concept of various Indian religions. Here, it means bad habits that developed during the season led to an unsatisfactory end to it.

It seems to be an honest book. James says most of the players reformed after coach Dru Joyce II found out about their use of the hotel room, but Sian Cotton defied the coach and still played.

James is brutal in his view of former Ohio High School Athletic Association head Clair Muscaro, who pursued him for various transgressions his senior season with the zeal of Lieutenant Philip Gerard on the tail of Richard Kimble. From my dealings with Muscaro, including his blanket denial of a column I wrote about state administrators rooting against Catholic schools in the press box, I believe James.

The book details the many people who wanted SVSM to fail, from the Akron black community, who made the players outcasts after they spurned the mostly black public school Buchtel for mostly white, Catholic SVSM; to other schools, alarmed by the coast-to-coast flesh-peddling of the players by SVSM officials, an extravaganza James now deplores; to basketball purists, who sniffed that no mere high school kid could be that good.

The aftermath of the state finals loss has relevance today. James shook every Roger Bacon player's hand that day, but coach Joyce had to bring his son, Dru III, back from the locker room to do the right thing. It contrasts to the deposit James made in the karmic bank last season when he snubbed victorious Orlando players and then dodged his post-game news conference.

An only child who kept his life together despite a troubled upbringing, James craved companionship with others and turned his teammates into the family he never had. No wonder he is so willing to pass the ball.

As a boy, he was always disappointed when Akron's name was almost never on maps of the USA in his geography book. He set out to make the city proud. He did just that, and also changed the landscape of possibility here.

http://www.cleveland.com/livingston/..._tells_of.html

TheBigLeBronski · 07-22-2009, 08:03 PM

If it turns out he puffed some crappy mexican herb in a blunt, I would be dissapointed. But if someone hooked him up with the dank and a nice pipe, then sweet.

**MYoung23** · 07-22-2009, 08:04 PM

This revelation isnt new. He admitted this before he was drafted.

http://espn.go.com/magazine/vol5no26next.html

Quote:

December 10, 2002

..."People ask me if it's a hard decision going to the NBA, but I've made harder decisions," he says. "Decisions about smoking or going to school, or stealing from a store or not stealing. Those are harder decisions. Yeah, I smoked weed. When it's around family, around friends, of course you want to try it. I tried it a couple of times. But when you get on the court and your wind ain't there, that's when you've got to just stop doing it. So the NBA decision ain't a hard decision compared to that."...

The Shoulder · 07-22-2009, 08:05 PM

Everybodys done a lil puff puff pass

ive also wrote before at parties he use to bring a box of condoms and say "whos fuckin me tonight?"

**The Man Called X** · 07-22-2009, 08:23 PM

Please, no one is going to convince me he still doesn't toke up.

cmstophe · 07-22-2009, 08:27 PM

I'd be surprised, with the shape he's in and the endurance he has. But a lot of athletes still do it...maybe he's just that gifted.

Juice22 · 07-22-2009, 08:30 PM

I still Smoke it up and look at me, I'm still kick ass

**MYoung23** · 07-22-2009, 08:34 PM

He'd be retarded to keep doing it. You have to really be committed to getting high to keep doing it in the NBA. Once youre in the program you get tested more and you can get suspended just for not following the program. It's not worth the hassle or the PR hit.

blank964 · 07-22-2009, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayGee

Everybodys done a lil puff puff pass

ive also wrote before at parties he use to bring a box of condoms and say "whos fuckin me tonight?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by camakazee

False. Condoms were not included.

Signed,

LeBron James Jr.

Arguably the funniest rebuttal I've ever read on RCF!

Mdog1 · 07-22-2009, 08:35 PM

Wow if he still does it that is amazing that he is in as good of shape as he is. I mean I have done it and I feel winded a lot recently so I had to quit.

**The Man Called X** · 07-22-2009, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MYoung23

He'd be retarded to keep doing it. You have to really be committed to getting high to keep doing it in the NBA. Once youre in the program you get tested more and you can get suspended just for not following the program. It's not worth the hassle or the PR hit.

It's 4 tests a year. Considering they are accomplished athletes with a very low body fat percentage, they could be clean for maybe a week or 2 and pass a piss test.

GaryBriggs · 07-22-2009, 08:59 PM

Who is sexing motumbo?

4everfan23 · 07-22-2009, 09:18 PM

What high schooler would pass up weed when all there friends are smoking it and your the coolest kid in school?

Cavatt · 07-22-2009, 09:26 PM

Gotta eat brownies, but only in the offseason.

4everfan23 · 07-22-2009, 09:31 PM

Skip will go crazy about this

07-22-2009, 07:53 PM	#1
Smooth Status: Watching You Watching Me Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Be Lo The Radar Posts: 9,074 Fav Cav: Harrison Barnes Past Fav: '08-'09 Delonte Thanks: 2,545 Thanked 13,079 Times in 2,694 Posts	New LeBron James book tells of a 'shooting star' always willing to learn lessons Bill Livingston: New LeBron James book tells of a 'shooting star' always willing to learn lessons by Bill Livingston/Plain Dealer Columnist Wednesday July 22, 2009, 6:31 PM CLEVELAND, Ohio -- LeBron James smoked marijuana during his junior year in high school. Three other members of the Akron St. Vincent St. Mary starting five smoked with him. Another drank alcohol. All this took place in a hotel room in Akron the players "had gotten access to," in the guarded words of "Shooting Stars," a book to be released in September. It amounts to James' life story through his tumultuous high school years. Before getting judgmental about this, it is wise to remember the players were teenagers. Those who were saints as young men and women can cast the first stone. In his NBA career, James has never been in serious trouble with the law. Co-author Buzz Bissinger, whose "Friday Night Lights" is considered one of the best books on high school football ever, writes "Shooting Stars" in James' voice. The title comes from the name of James' first AAU team in Akron, but it has other meanings. A shooting star in astronomy is actually the blazing path a meteoroid traces as it enters the Earth's atmosphere and burns out. It is really a falling star. James' junior season ended in the only state championship game he lost, a result, he feels, of the arrogance he and the rest of the team developed after he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated on Feb. 18, 2002. He calls it "karma," a key concept of various Indian religions. Here, it means bad habits that developed during the season led to an unsatisfactory end to it. It seems to be an honest book. James says most of the players reformed after coach Dru Joyce II found out about their use of the hotel room, but Sian Cotton defied the coach and still played. James is brutal in his view of former Ohio High School Athletic Association head Clair Muscaro, who pursued him for various transgressions his senior season with the zeal of Lieutenant Philip Gerard on the tail of Richard Kimble. From my dealings with Muscaro, including his blanket denial of a column I wrote about state administrators rooting against Catholic schools in the press box, I believe James. The book details the many people who wanted SVSM to fail, from the Akron black community, who made the players outcasts after they spurned the mostly black public school Buchtel for mostly white, Catholic SVSM; to other schools, alarmed by the coast-to-coast flesh-peddling of the players by SVSM officials, an extravaganza James now deplores; to basketball purists, who sniffed that no mere high school kid could be that good. The aftermath of the state finals loss has relevance today. James shook every Roger Bacon player's hand that day, but coach Joyce had to bring his son, Dru III, back from the locker room to do the right thing. It contrasts to the deposit James made in the karmic bank last season when he snubbed victorious Orlando players and then dodged his post-game news conference. An only child who kept his life together despite a troubled upbringing, James craved companionship with others and turned his teammates into the family he never had. No wonder he is so willing to pass the ball. As a boy, he was always disappointed when Akron's name was almost never on maps of the USA in his geography book. He set out to make the city proud. He did just that, and also changed the landscape of possibility here. http://www.cleveland.com/livingston/..._tells_of.html

07-22-2009, 08:03 PM	#2
TheBigLeBronski Status: Future D-Leauger Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,287 Fav Cav: Maurice Williams Past Fav: Larry Nance Thanks: 649 Thanked 913 Times in 499 Posts	Re: New LeBron James book tells of a 'shooting star' always willing to learn lessons If it turns out he puffed some crappy mexican herb in a blunt, I would be dissapointed. But if someone hooked him up with the dank and a nice pipe, then sweet. __________________ I hope they launch an investigation to find the sniper who shot Varejao. -Scott Skiles you are not going to catch me doing the Stinky Leg. I ain’t doing no Stinky Leg. -Delonte West I could ask LeBron [James] to sign something. -Zeeeeee

07-22-2009, 08:05 PM	#4
The Shoulder Status: Post Man AKA Toast Man Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The Wood Posts: 844 Fav Cav: LeBron Past Fav: Damon Jones Thanks: 561 Thanked 348 Times in 129 Posts	Re: New LeBron James book tells of a 'shooting star' always willing to learn lessons Everybodys done a lil puff puff pass ive also wrote before at parties he use to bring a box of condoms and say "whos fuckin me tonight?" __________________

07-22-2009, 08:27 PM	#6
cmstophe Status: Repping Ohio Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,459 Fav Cav: None Past Fav: Mark Price Thanks: 5,008 Thanked 4,410 Times in 2,256 Posts	Re: New LeBron James book tells of a 'shooting star' always willing to learn lessons I'd be surprised, with the shape he's in and the endurance he has. But a lot of athletes still do it...maybe he's just that gifted.

07-22-2009, 08:30 PM	#7
Juice22 Status: LBJ MVP 09 Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 361 Fav Cav: LBJ Past Fav: Mark Price Thanks: 0 Thanked 75 Times in 45 Posts	Re: New LeBron James book tells of a 'shooting star' always willing to learn lessons I still Smoke it up and look at me, I'm still kick ass

07-22-2009, 08:34 PM	#8
MYoung23 Status: Black Dante Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 8,056 Past Fav: Mark Price Thanks: 3,088 Thanked 15,647 Times in 4,428 Posts	Re: New LeBron James book tells of a 'shooting star' always willing to learn lessons He'd be retarded to keep doing it. You have to really be committed to getting high to keep doing it in the NBA. Once youre in the program you get tested more and you can get suspended just for not following the program. It's not worth the hassle or the PR hit. __________________ The Ninth Circle - the lowest circle of Hell for the treacherous, the betrayers. ....At the bottom of the well Dante finds himself on a huge frozen lake. This is Cocytus, the Ninth Circle, the fourth and the last great water of Hell. Here, frozen in the ice, are punished sinners guilty of treachery against those to whom they were bound by special ties...

07-22-2009, 08:59 PM	#12
GaryBriggs Status: Team Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Burlington, VT Posts: 501 Fav Cav: JJ Past Fav: Larry Nance Thanks: 540 Thanked 463 Times in 141 Posts	Re: New LeBron James book tells of a 'shooting star' always willing to learn lessons Who is sexing motumbo? __________________ the cowardly lion has no heart.

07-22-2009, 09:18 PM	#13
4everfan23 Status: All Star Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Chi-Town Posts: 3,287 Fav Cav: J.J Hickson Past Fav: F U Lebron James Thanks: 1,116 Thanked 1,251 Times in 588 Posts	Re: New LeBron James book tells of a 'shooting star' always willing to learn lessons What high schooler would pass up weed when all there friends are smoking it and your the coolest kid in school? __________________

07-22-2009, 09:26 PM	#14
Cavatt Status: All Star Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 3,297 Fav Cav: Z Past Fav: Mark Price Thanks: 4,505 Thanked 1,147 Times in 653 Posts	Re: New LeBron James book tells of a 'shooting star' always willing to learn lessons Gotta eat brownies, but only in the offseason.

07-22-2009, 09:31 PM	#15
4everfan23 Status: All Star Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Chi-Town Posts: 3,287 Fav Cav: J.J Hickson Past Fav: F U Lebron James Thanks: 1,116 Thanked 1,251 Times in 588 Posts	Re: New LeBron James book tells of a 'shooting star' always willing to learn lessons Skip will go crazy about this __________________