LeBron James may go from idolized to immortalized in his hometown.
A GoFundMe account has been established with a goal to raise $1 million to sculpt and erect a life-size statue of James in Akron Adidas Mika Zibanejad Jersey , where he began his basketball career before becoming a superstar with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Aaron Carey, who like James played at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, began the campaign to raise money to honor the three-time NBA champion.
”We want to do this with the fans,” Carey told the Akron Beacon-Journal . ”We want fans to be able to thank LeBron for what he has done for Akron and the Cavs.”
Carey told the newspaper he has been in contact with artist Omri Amrany, who has created statues for basketball greats Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
James was touched by the gesture.
”First of all, thank you,” he said Monday when informed of the movement. ”It would be cool, not only for myself, but for my family and all the people that had anything to do with this journey thus far. I’m appreciative even of the thought.”
The 33-year-old is trying to advance to the Finals for the eighth straight time. To do that Orlando Brown Jr. Jersey Ravens , the Cavaliers must eliminate the Boston Celtics, who have a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series entering Monday’s Game 4.
An initial rendering of a possible statue by Amrany shows James soaring toward the basket, with his right arm cocked back to deliver a dunk while wearing his signature Nikes and his No. 23 high school jersey.
Carey said a site for the statue has not been finalized.
”We really want this to be in Akron,” he said. ”We talked to (Cavs owner) Dan Gilbert and he wants to put one up in Akron after LeBron retires.”
James laughed when asked if he had a preference on how the statue would depict him.
”I don’t have a particular pose in mind,” he said. ”I think it’s the thought that counts, it’s pretty cool.”
Carey said a marketing campaign is underway to attract donors with deep pockets. The first 15 donors to contribute $30,000 or more would receive a limited edition miniature replica of the statue, signed by the artist.
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When the Denver Broncos reported to training camp they were met by cushy new team and position meeting rooms and an expanded training room that features two cryogenic chambers and a flotation pod along with other amenities courtesy of a $9.5 million facilities face-lift that capped a five-year, $45 million renovation.
An even bigger upgrade is the $56 million one on offense.
General manager John Elway signed quarterback Case Keenum to a two-year, $36 million deal and acquired right tackle Jared Veldheer from Arizona.
Then, he bolstered his backfield by drafting running back Royce Freeman out of Oregon and receivers Courtland Sutton of SMU and DaeSean Hamilton of Penn State.
They are the pillars of a 10-member draft class that's led by first-rounder Bradley Chubb and has already drawn raves for its depth of talent and knowledge. All 10 spent four years in college honing their crafts Cheap Saquon Barkley Jersey , a reversal of last year's draft class that was loaded with projects and problems.
The Broncos haven't bolstered their offense like this since the Peyton Manning era, and with Keenum, they're no longer bogged down by a QB competition like they were each of the last two summers 鈥?unless you count Paxton Lynch and Chad Kelly's battle for the backup job.
"We're a better football team," Elway said Friday on the eve of training camp. "We have some better depth. I think Case is a big part of that. ... Now, we have to all come together. It's about getting continuity on the offensive line as well as the young wide receivers getting up to speed. As well as the young running back.
"So, offensively, I'm excited about it, especially with Case" leading the way.
So is coach Vance Joseph.
"I think it's huge to have a starting quarterback in place," Joseph said. "In at league that's built for parity, from the top to the bottom of the roster every team's got talent. But the one position that makes a huge difference is quarterback. And we do have one in place. So, that's exciting for our team."
No more splitting snaps. No more getting used to two different cadences or throwing styles.
And no more wondering.
"It's given us clarity for our football team Authentic Logan Paulsen Jersey ," Joseph said. "We're not guessing who the quarterback's going to be. We're not guessing who the leader's going to be."
In Sutton and Hamilton, the Broncos finally have receivers who can not only take pressure off Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders but also apply some pressure to the veteran starters who were smothered by D-backs last season.
"Adding those two young guys, they're going to help us," Joseph said. "In this league it's about matchups, it's about getting 1-on-1s. When you have two guys and you have no tight end threat, not halfback threat, the defense can easily bracket those two guys.
"When you have three and you have a guy like Jake Butt in the slot, it's going to be hard for teams to do that."
Butt missed his rookie season while recovering from ACL surgery, which caused him to slip into the fifth round in the 2017 NFL draft. But the Broncos believe that if he can stay healthy, his presence is like adding a first-round talent to the offense.
The Broncos jettisoned veteran C.J. Anderson in the offseason in a cost-cutting move, leaving a group of running backs long on promise but short on experience Weston Richburg Color Rush Jersey , including rookies Freeman, David Williams and Philip Lindsay along with second-year pro De'Angelo Henderson and third-year pro Devontae Booker.
"It's a young group, but I like that," Joseph said. "From a halfback perspective, you want guys who are young because that means they are healthy. Healthy. Willing. Open-minded."
Notes: Joseph said it's up to WR Carlos Henderson, who failed to report to camp, whether he has a future in Denver: "He's having some family problems right now and it's strictly on Carlos whether he wants to continue to play football." ... Joseph said LG Ron Leary (knee) and RT Veldheer (foot) will both be eased into the lineup. The only player on PUP will be WR Jordan Taylor, still recovering from hip surgeries.
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