Stormtrooper

Execute order 66! Or something like that. This one is straight from the "couldn't make it up" files: According to Gary Parrish of CBS Sports, Nike is supposedly blocking any and all taped footage of Xavier's Jordan Crawford posterizing LeBron James, which happened at the LeBron James Skills Academy earlier this week.

Turns out, there were at least two cameras rolling Monday night when Crawford dunked on James during a pick-up game here at the LeBron James Skills Academy. It was a two-handed jam, the kind that would've circulated quickly on YouTube. But Nike officials eliminated that possibility shortly after the dunk happened by allegedly confiscating tapes from various cameramen.

Freelance photographer Ryan Miller was one of the cameramen shooting the game.

He told CBSSports.com that Nike Basketball Senior Director Lynn Merritt took his tape.

"He just said, 'We have to take your tape,'" Miller said. "They took it from other guys, too."

Worth noting is that there is no policy against filming at the LeBron James Skills Academy, and Miller said he had been filming all day without incident. Nobody ever told him to stop. Nobody ever said there was a problem...until after Crawford dunked on James.

"LeBron called Lynn over and told him something," Miller said. "That's how I knew his name was Lynn. LeBron said, 'Hey, Lynn. Come here.'"

Minutes later, Miller said Merritt demanded his tape.

"There's nothing I can think of besides LeBron just not wanting it online," Miller said. "It's a good story to tell people, I guess. But then again, I'm kind of pissed. I lost my tape."
Wait, what? Mr. Check My $tats, Mr. Look-At-Me-I'm-The-MVP doesn't want video circulating on YouTube of him being jammed on by some college kid?! I can't tell you how NOT shocked I am. Let's just say that sound you just heard certainly wasn't my jaw hitting the floor. Between this situation, the egomania t-shirts and that whole "I'm a winner and winners don't have to shake hands" thing, LeBron sure is coming off as kind of a douche lately.

[Hat Tip: Brandon Hoffman of BallerBlogger.]

Labels: , ,

68 Comments:
Blogger GonzoPal said...
"...here you are, the biggest douche of the universe..." *singing*

Blogger AnacondaHL said...
This has Streisand Effect written all over it...

Blogger Cortez said...
And the sensitive bitch trend continues unabated.

Looks like that handshake nonsense & the crab dribble delusion does fit a certain pattern.

Pay attention all you kids out there on the internets who play basketball for fun or profit, pay close attention.

If you haven't been dunked on ever then all that means is that...

a) You've been playing against nonathletic bums your entire life.

b) You been playing near-zero defense (especially help side defense) your entire life so you're an embarrassment and a defensive liability anyway, dunk or no dunk.

Dunk = 2 points.
Layup = 2 points.
Luck of the Irish toss-up that happens to go in = 2 points.

Being a sensitive girl about being dunked on. = 0 points.

Do the math.

Blogger Will said...
Maybe Nike didn't want the rest of the A-10 getting psyched out before the season even starts.
Or maybe LeBron is overreacting just a liiiitle bit

Anonymous Barry said...
Why would they just give up the tapes though? A momentary lapse? I don't think the Nike personnel held him at gunpoint.

Anonymous Axe Head said...
Here's a picture of the dunk.

(got this on TrueHoop comments)

Blogger Nick Flynt said...
Too bad they couldn't confiscate the tapes of the Cavs getting swept by the Spurs and then losing to the Magic this year.

Wah wah wah.

I remember after they went fo-fo, everyone thought they were going fo-fo-fo...but oh no...they went fo-fo-f*** we're out of the playoffs.

This is like when Jordan got beat at that basketball camp he ran and then stopped playing the campers the next year.

But he didn't confiscate the guy's tapes when he (the guy) beat him. That dude made copies and gave them to everyone he knew.

It was on Truehoop a while back.

Anonymous Anonymous said...
King Krab is an egotistical jerk, made by Nike, end of story.

Blogger Wild Yams said...
LeBron is being unbelievably silly with this nonsense. If no less than Michael Jordan is cool with a video of him losing a game of one-on-one to some corporate schmo with a bad knee being out there on the web, then surely LeBron can suck it up that he got dunked on by a Division 1 college player in a game that didn't matter.

BTW, I love the Stormtrooper pic. Here's another similar one for you.

Blogger chris said...
Barry: Well, as Mike Chatfer proved, even a chair leg can be effective in the right hands.

Blogger Trev said...
Really what's worse for your image King Crab?

1) Getting dunked on by some kid at a camp and having it seen on you tube by maybe a couple thousand people.

2) Getting dunked on by some kid then demand the largest shoe company in the world confiscate all copies of said dunk, basically ensuring that every one on the planet will now KNOW you got dunked on by some kid at a camp and not just youtube basketball junkies and that your an over sensitive vag.

Smooth move King Crab/Nike.

Blogger Nick Flynt said...
Dammit Yams. You said the same damned thing as me, but with a link.

We should team up to be the Odd Couple Writing Team.

Blogger Unknown said...
I'm not saying the story ISN'T true, but you guys sure don't need much convincing. I could see it happening, but we are just going off what one camera man says? What am I missing?

Blogger Cortez said...
"I'm not saying the story ISN'T true, but you guys sure don't need much convincing."

That's because...

a) James is establishing a track record of being a whiny bitch.

b) It's perfectly reasonable to believe one basketball player got dunked on by another.

c) What would the incentive be for a freelance cameraman to make such a story up? (and have others players who were there tell the exact same story)

"I could see it happening, but we are just going off what one camera man says? What am I missing?"

A personal filter on rationality of your initial question.

Anonymous Shrugz said...
you know if he just let the video out or you know upload it himself
he'd be feeding his carefree persona (you know the joker that was laughing with his teammates)
but now he's just increasingly being a stuck up little brat

Anonymous Karc said...
I blame this more on Nike than LeBron. They are the ones who totally panicked and ignored a simple thing called the First Amendment. This is the same company that made Tiger Woods, Michael Jordon, and Lance Armstrong thank Roger Federer in an ad five seconds after a marathon match with Andy Roddick at Wimbledon. Nike seems to be starting a new "Witness Protection Program."

Yahoo talked to Crawford and the cameramen. Unless they are all total liars (they may be, I don't know), this probably did happen.

And Trev has a point. The Youtube clip will be forgotten in a week. The "Lebron is a coward for not letting us see a kid dunk on him" talk will last ALL season.

Blogger Will said...
I'm with Barry on this one. If Nike had tried to make me give up the tape, there is no way I would just roll over and give it up.
WV: whien LeBron sure likes to whien a lot lately.

Blogger AK Dave said...
Agree with Cortez. If you've never been dunked on, it's because you're not playing any D.

Karc- what commercial was that? Link? Man I was bummed that Roddick lost. I had my "in your FACE" speech all planned out for AnacondaHL, who referred to Andy as "tennisbawful" the other week. Damnitall!! Foiled again! And I was THIS CLOSE to being right about something for a change! Andy Roddick with another Wimbledon-boner. >_<

Anonymous Anonymous said...
@karc

it was reported that lebron called over the nike rep and talked to him shortly before the tapes were confiscated

Anonymous Barry said...
Chris: Man, I can't wait for the season to start at the Staples Center. Odom should be there too, that would be AWESOME.

Blogger Wild Yams said...
Buck Nasty - I hate when that happens! I can't see unapproved comments till Mr. Bawful approves them, so we end up posting the same thing :)

Jacob - See Axe Head's comment above with a photo of the dunk if you're really that doubtful.

Karc - You blame Nike more than LeBron? You must have skimmed over the part where LeBron immediately grabbed a Nike representative and told him to get that tape. Too bad you don't give Kobe the benefit of the doubt on negative items in the press the way you do with LeBron, but I guess that wouldn't mesh with your agenda.

Blogger Unknown said...
Timeout. A few things...

1. I'm not doubting that he got dunked on. That's not what I'm questioning.

2. You don't REALLY think that picture that Axehead posted was real? Please look at it again. They are in their respective uniforms. That would be a bizarre camp. That picture is clearly photoshopped.

3. I'm not doubting that the videotapes were confiscated. What I'm skeptical of is whether or not LeBron asked Nike to take the tapes.

4. The cameraman doesn't have to be lying. He could be mistaken on whether or not the directive was from Lebron.

xoxo,
Jacob

Blogger Unknown said...
Okay, I went back to take a second look. Seriously, look at that picture that was posted. How could you possibly think that's real?

Blogger Cortez said...
"See Axe Head's comment above with a photo of the dunk if you're really that doubtful."

That's clearly a fake.

"Too bad you don't give Kobe the benefit of the doubt on negative items in the press the way you do with LeBron"

Kobe is arrogant and wants to be like Mike.

James saves hurricane victims, works with retards (similar to Pat Healy), stages the most fan-tab-ulous sideline antics ever and walks old women across the street.

Big difference!

Blogger Nick Flynt said...
Wild Yams - I thought that pic was photoshopped...?

Blogger JMizz said...
Lebron's main problem is that he WANTS to be a global icon and has stated it as a goal. It just has to happen. He is the guy now who is always telling anyone who listens "I am a competitor." No real competitor needs to say it all the time, they just compete. Ugh.

Blogger Bakes said...
@ Wild Yams

But but, Lebron is "The Chosen One"! He can do no wrong! Surely this isn't true and no one was a "witness" to this supposed slanderous incident!

Didn't you know that when it rains the bottoms of Lebron's shoes don't get wet?

Anonymous Ruben said...
oops, I think LeBron packed another sad.
It's weird because until recently, LeBron gave off the impression that he was a good-hearted, fun-loving basketball player (I guess that would be the anti Kobe). The hosting the MTV[?] awards show, the game of HORSE he lost, etc... So my question is whether a young Kobe was originally more like LeBron, and/or is LeBron turning into Jordan/Kobe? Or is this really just a sad natural occurrence of a filthy talented- and rich- superstar? I don't want to be that cynical about money and fame. Tell me I'm wrong, somebody. Perhaps in 30 years time, we will all be watching an internationally televised funeral for another self-proclaimed King. As long as Stevie is still around, I'll look forward to it.

Anonymous Anonymous said...
And somewhere on Earth, if you listen closely, you can hear the sound of DeShawn Stevenson laughing maniacally...

Blogger AK Dave said...
WY- you know that "dunk pic" was photoshopped, right? I mean, it's still awesome and all, and I have no doubt that this happened, but...

Anonymous Czernobog said...
So every single one of these assholes went "Durrr... OK" when asked for the film? What a bunch of assholes.

Blogger AnacondaHL said...
Oh my GOD. Am I the only person here that knew Yams was being SARCASTIC when presenting the photographic evidence!

Come on readers of Basketbawful, get your sense of humor in order!

Anonymous Geert said...
And this is why a photographer or cameraman always has to pack extra tapes or memorycards you can give up if someone like this occurs. It would be so awesome if tomorrow the guy reveals he only gave up his backuptape or something.

Blogger AK Dave said...
AHL- easy dude. Sarcasm doesn't come across in 10pt arial very well. That's why emoticons and (/sarcasm) tags come in handy. 90% of communication is non-verbal, so it's not that surprising, really.

BTW, you're an asshole and I hate you.

Come on! I was being SARCASTIC!! CAN'T YOU SEE THAT??

:D (/sarcasm)

What?

Anonymous Geert said...
Oh, and if I was Adidas' PR-dude I would send a commandoteam to Nike HQ to steal the tape and use it for an impossible is nothing!!! commercial.

WV: unfunt, as in "Nike stealing the LBJ-dunk Gate tape is very unfunt"

Anonymous Anonymous said...
Seriously. If you can't catch on to the fact that that was a joke you need to reevaluate your life. Thats so obviously photoshopped I can't believe it was actually brought up.

Blogger Nick Flynt said...
I thought he might be...but then I thought, "He might have not looked for long..." So really, I gave him the benefit of the doubt.

Blogger chris said...
BREAKING SNOOZE:

Shawn "I'm not happy in Phoenix" Marion may be traded to the lair of an Internet billionaire!

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4314637

Anonymous KobesNeyeG said...
This is like the Kennedy assassination. Guys in suits rush out and seize any and all film. The film is returned days later with certain frames missing

It will be declassified in a 100 years.

Some grainy cell phone vid is gonna show up on youtube and will be slowed down and analyzed to death on Sportcenter.

Anonymous Karc said...
AK Dave: here's the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZo1kOeHB40

@Wild Yams - I blame Nike more than LeBron. That does not mean James gets a pass, because his behavior in the last couple of months clearly has him acting like a total coward and a total diva. I can't take anybody seriously who wears a shirt calling himself the MVP when his TEAM got destroyed in the Eastern Conference Finals. It took six years, but his "fame" is finally starting to get to his head.

Nike could have solved this in five seconds. If Crawford was wearing Nike shoes when he dunked on LeBron (even if he wasn't, just photoshop them in), leak the video as an ad. Use the publicity to make millions. Instead, they bowed down to the King. I mean, the ad I have on top clearly shows that they own the best players in the world, and they know how to manage them. Just because James calls fetch doesn't mean they should come running. They are better than that. Or, at least I thought they were.

Blogger Wild Yams said...
Those guys weren't actually playing in a vacuum of space next to a giant swoosh? Actually, the real tell-tale sign is that they're both wearing home jerseys, so this wouldn't make sense unless Jordan Crawford wanted to go all Ricky Davis and figured the only way he'd posterize LeBron is if he surprised him with a dunk on his own basket after LeBron inbounded it to him.

Blogger Unknown said...
"AnacondaHL said...
Oh my GOD. Am I the only person here that knew Yams was being SARCASTIC when presenting the photographic evidence!

Come on readers of Basketbawful, get your sense of humor in order!"


Was he really? I thought it was their(Nike) offical banner, didn't pay that much attention.

Blogger BJ said...
In a related WTF, Messrs. Cuban and Nelson might not have had their heads completely up their asses when they wrote Erick Dampier's contract:

http://www.dallasbasketball.com/fullColumn.php?id=1810
-bj

Blogger Will said...
Some simple research would reveal that Crawford is #55, while the dunker in the photo is #5 making him Derrick Brown

Anonymous zakface said...
What we don't have evidence of is whether Lebron ordered the Nike rep to confiscate the tapes. We also don't know whether Nike just wants to use it for their own purposes and will at some point be releasing the tape, and that they just didn't want some schmo getting all the hits for posting the video first. Of course it could just be Nike protecting their golden boy, but we have no proof of that either.

I will choose to withhold until Lebron or Nike actually comments on the situation.

Anonymous Sean said...
This lbj dunk cover up does look bad for him if true, but im sick of hearing about the mvp tshirts. Personally I have shirts that I wear from wrestling tournaments I won in high school, teams I was on, an alumni shirt from college, etc. All of these celebrate personal accomplishments and such. Is it really that awful to wear a shirt like that? Especially if it is for such a great accomplishment? I don't know, but if LBJ is a douche for doing it, then so are thousands of others who have shirts, bumper stickers, etc. that commemorate accomplishments of themselves/their kids. Since when is winning the mvp of the NBA only a source of pride when your team also wins the championship that year?

Blogger AK Dave said...
"Those guys weren't actually playing in a vacuum of space next to a giant swoosh?"

Really. Next someone is going to tell me that BadDave doesn't really play for the Spurs and have his arm around Eva Longoria in his profile pic. And I don't want to hear that. LA LA LA I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!

Blogger Cortez said...
"I will choose to withhold until Lebron or Nike actually comments on the situation."

James's comments aren't credible in the least.

He was claiming his "crab dribble" was not a travel days after he supposedly looked at the replay.

And winners don't shakes hands.

Odds are he asked the Nike reps to get those tapes just as reported.

Anonymous Shrugz said...
you know I think I was the only one who never liked lebron
especially since he said I want to be a global icon, the first billionare athlete, etc etc
and championships is the last on the list.

His body language and eyes give off arrogance, but at least his mistrust in others have provided him with a tight nit group of his close friends so he'll probably not fall into those scams.

He wants others to shake his hands when they lose but dear gawd he shouldn't have to. Media always protects him makes excuses for him. it's like an NBA mandate that you can put out a bashing article as long as someone else writes an excuse for them.
(Same with the refs I'm sick of hearing how good they are by the announcers and colour commentators YEESH) *End Rant*

Anonymous Anonymous said...
I wonder what they're teaching in LeBron James Skills Academy... crab dribbling and good sportmanship, perhaps?

Blogger drbearclaw said...
"Nike could have solved this in five seconds. If Crawford was wearing Nike shoes when he dunked on LeBron (even if he wasn't, just photoshop them in), leak the video as an ad. Use the publicity to make millions."

Well, it was at the Lebron James Skills Camp so there is a 99% chance that they were all wearing LBJ shoes, at the very least Nike. And honestly, not to be all over Lebron and/or Nike's collective jocks, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if they did keep the footage for the purpose of flipping it around and making it some kind of awesome ad campaign. If they don't do this, then yeah Lebron and Nike are all just a big group of bitch asses.

Blogger Dunpizzle said...
Princess Crab is his new nickname

Off topic, but have you heard Ron Artest's tribute to Michael Jackson!? This should be on everyone's mp3 player.

Blogger Unknown said...
"His body language and eyes give off arrogance"

Good god. Is this Freedarko? Let's keep the criticisms legitimate. I don't like that 'global icon' crap either, but his 'eyes and body language?'

Blogger CassavaLeaf.com said...
lately?

the guy is a douche...ALWAYS

Blogger Unknown said...
Oh, and sorry to be the one to say it, but, "See Axe Head's comment above with a photo of the dunk if you're really that doubtful," does not seem sarcastic at all. There are a number of ways you could say it to sound sarcastic. That is not one of them. For example...

"If you don't believe he got dunked on, look at that UNDENIABLE proof that Axe Head posted."

"You don't believe that it happened? Why don't you take a gander at that crystal clear picture that Axe Head posted. How can you deny that."

And yes, I realize that I'm a complete douche bag for giving examples and calling Wild Yams out for not looking at the picture close enough.

i know i know it's the summer league and no one cares..

but, Moses Ehambe has a 5-trillion going spread over 2 games for OKC. what is the record for longest consecutive trillion?

Anonymous iamhe77 said...
I would like to see dunking on King Crab as a goal for players this coming season.
To top it off, when it happens maybe the dunker could take an imaginary picture of James using the "invisible camera" hand gesture.

Blogger AnacondaHL said...
Every sarcastic phrase doesn't seem sarcastic. He didn't need to be not-subtle because of how not-subtle the picture was. I promise you this is how all sarcasm in text form operates, but you don't believe me see Axe Head's comment above with a photo of the dunk if you're really that doubtful.

(advanced apologies for being an insensitive-clod if every reader of a blog entitled BasketBawful is suffering from dementia or autism.)

Blogger Will said...
ESPN should also be included in this WotN for their lame-ass coverage on sportscenter. First they give a blurb on the event and claim that no video was available because Nike doesn't allow video to be taken at James' camp. Later they go back and say that because Crawford was wearing Adidas they won't release the video. Riiiiight that's why there's no video.

Blogger Unknown said...
Well, I'm fairly new around these parts so maybe I should give Wild Yams more credit, but Cortez comments on here as much as anyone and he felt the need to point it out to Wild Yams as well. Or, let me guess, Cortez was just being sarcastic as well for pointing it out.

Blogger AnacondaHL said...
Oh also, about the T-shirts, usually they are for team accomplishments, like stated above, not for personal ones. No one ever un-ironically wears a t-shirt blaring your own personal achievement. The only high profile personal attire I can think of is the Green Jacket, and you don't see those winners walking around with that thing on. So I think pointing out the bawful of those T's is valid.

Blogger Cortez said...
"Or, let me guess, Cortez was just being sarcastic as well for pointing it out."

Crikey! It would seem we have a possible infinite loop of sarcasm!

I wasn't sure if he [Wild Yams] was serious or not (and based solely on his typical rational comments I'm leaning toward not) but Axe Head's original comment didn't have a bit of sarcasm, implied or otherwise.

That picture is so clearly fake that I suppose an argument could be made that presenting it in any fashion is sarcasm.

But who knows? There are people in the world that think Candance Parker can match up successfully with a god-damned former blue-chip college recruit/NBA power forward!

I love bringing up old shit!

Blogger Wild Yams said...
Sean - "This lbj dunk cover up does look bad for him if true, but im sick of hearing about the mvp tshirts. Personally I have shirts that I wear from wrestling tournaments I won in high school, teams I was on, an alumni shirt from college, etc. All of these celebrate personal accomplishments and such. Is it really that awful to wear a shirt like that?"

I think most people have shirts or hats or stickers or whatnot from similar events they've participated in, and that's pretty common and I don't think is an example of douchebaggery. However, to use your example, let's say you went to a wrestling tournament and won it and then went out and had your own shirt made that said "Sean: 2009 Lafayette Wrestling Tournament Champion" or something similar and you wore that around. That's a better example of what LeBron is doing with his "LBJ MVP" shirt, and that's why he's a douche for wearing it. A closer comparison to what you're describing would be like if he was seen out wearing a Cavs shirt, which wouldn't be odd at all. It's just either sad or pathetic that someone who is already so rich and famous as LeBron is still feels he's not getting enough attention and decides he needs to make and wear a shirt trumpeting an individual award he won (even though his team got embarrassed in the playoffs).

Blogger Diosnomeama said...
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/LeBron-James-and-the-Tale-of-the-Never-Seen-Dun;_ylt=Akaa9AiEwTyWq2cwV5Wvp3S8vLYF?urn=nba,175512
Apparently, Nike is saying the reason the tapes were confiscated to begin with is that the cameramen weren't supposed to be there to begin with. Ah, the delicious smell of warm bullshit!

Anonymous Axe Head said...
Thank you, AnacondaHL. I'm still laughing, and it's a day later. The humor was supposed to be in the utter seriousness (however short) of my comment.

Remeber that time when some random dude almost beat leBron in agme of Horse? leBron was pretty pissed and blamed he's porr shooting on the wind...

Anonymous Wow said...
OMG, this is a bigger deal than when that 'roided up wrestler killed his wife, son and himself. Why isn't this getting more national news coverage!!!?!?!?!?! LeBron is worse than OJ SIMPSON!

Anonymous Anonymous said...
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/The_Baseline/entry/view/28130/dramatization_lebron_dunked_on_at_camp

A wonderful reenactment of what transpired that fateful day.