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By Jewell Cardwell
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 06:00 p.m. EDT, Apr 25, 2009
They don't shake it or twist and shout like the Cavalier Girls. Wouldn't be prudent.
They don't bare their midriffs, either. Might not be pretty.
But don't think the members of the LeBron James Grandmothers Fan Club don't have game. They do.
In fact, when it comes to unbridled enthusiasm for the Cavs and the No. 1 object of their affection — Akron's very own LeBron James — they're electric.
The grandmothers — and they must be card-carrying grandmothers to join — are a diverse group of 80 or so women, ranging in age from early 50s to 97, black, white and Hispanic. Different politics, too.
They come from Akron, Canton, Green, Barberton and Youngstown.
The grandmothers came into being for one reason and one reason alone: to show their love for LeBron.
The irony of it all is that most were strangers before.
Yet, one by one, word spread about their new hobby: watching the Cavs and, on occasion, even attending some of the games.
Mostly, they enjoy the camaraderie of getting together to watch the games with like-minded grannies.
When inclement weather threatens, they watch the games in the privacy of their homes and ring each other on the phone at crucial plays.
Word to the wise — family included — if the game is on: Don't even think about calling or dropping by for a visit.
The LeBron James Grandmothers Fan Club has more than quadrupled I introduced it in an April 2007 column, said the club's 69-year-old founder, Alder Chapman.
Of course, the playoffs have really galvanized these grannies, as I learned Friday when about 30 of them showed up at the Blue Fig Bar & Grill on West Market Street in Fairlawn to view Game 3 on the eatery's TV sets.
Akron's Ruth Travis, the senior member of the group at age 97, was right there in the mix, sporting the club's wine-colored T-shirt.
Travis, retired from the Ohio Bureau of Unemployment, reasoned that the LeBron James Grandmothers Club was a good fit.
She was a physical education major at Wilberforce University and has always maintained a great affection for all things athletic.
''I just think LeBron is wonderful,'' Travis swooned in a groupie-like voice.
''I don't know him personally; only through seeing him on TV. . . .We have the grandmothers club because he's such an outstanding person and does so well for the community. He's not part of the riffraff.
''He's a gentleman and a great ambassador for the community.''
The petite Travis donned a bright red hat. It's her way of saying, ''I'm a jock, but also a lady.''
Also, cheering on the team were Akron's Catherine Mobley, a young 92-year-old, and 70-year-old antiques dealer Jeanne Greene of Barberton.
Akron's Ruth Wine is so enthused about LeBron, the Cavs and the club, she crafted the poem on the back of the club's T-shirts.
The poem reads in part:
When we finally reach the grandma stage
We've spread our love around.
First our kids and then their kids and every kid in town.
Since every child is special and gifted in their way,
The latest kid that touched our heart and brings us so much joy
Is 6 foot 8 and could be known as Akron's golden boy. . . .
''I did it for the love of LeBron,'' said Wine, 73, who owns Akron's Cottage Day Spa. ''It really did come straight from the heart! I guess when you feel strongly about something, you want to be part of it. I just wanted to be part of the celebration of this young man. . . .I believe if you sit on the sidelines, you don't really get the full picture. Even if I can't make all of the meetings, I still feel special because he's so special. . . .Certain things in life give you pleasure and others give you pain. This is pleasure!''
Lillian Garcia, 72, of Akron, couldn't agree more.
Truth be told, Garcia went into a bit of a depression after suffering a stroke in September.
But watching LeBron and the Cavs really turned her around, said her son Ricardo Sampson, also of Akron.
''Watching the games became good therapy for her,'' he said. ''She gets very excited!''
Garcia became such a LeBron James believer that she joined the Grandmothers Fan Club from her bed while rehabilitating at Canal Point nursing home.
She set a goal to be home by April to watch the playoffs — and she was.
Among those shouting ''Defense!'' and ''It's alright!'' (after a few turnovers) were Akron's Pat Idley (with three of her grandchildren in tow), Kattrice McGinnis, Charlotte Buzzelli and Laureathia Taylor.
Club founder Chapman, recently retired from the Akron Board of Education, confesses to becoming hoarse after watching the Cavs play.
''We love ALL of the players — Z, the Wild One, Boobie, Mo, Wally, Pavlovic, Delonte, Joe, Ben, the coach and all the rest. But watching LeBron truly is awesome,'' Chapman said. ''Most hadn't been basketball fans before. But he's certainly keeping everyone excited.
''I used to love watching Michael Jordan, but I wasn't able to connect with him like we have with LeBron. Watching him play just brings so much happiness to the ladies.''
Lest you think otherwise, there's nothing one-dimensional about the LeBron James Grandmothers Fan Club. Au contraire.
It has a mentoring group for single parents — mothers and fathers.
''If they need to talk to someone and need information as far as parenting, we're here for them. We're also going into nursing homes to do activities with them. Not line dancing but maybe sit-down dancing,'' Chapman teased.
''We're also putting together a LeBron James Grandmothers Fan Club Cookbook.''
Of course, all of that is on the back burner until after the Cavs' victory party.
Believe!
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.
They don't shake it or twist and shout like the Cavalier Girls. Wouldn't be prudent.
They don't bare their midriffs, either. Might not be pretty.
But don't think the members of the LeBron James Grandmothers Fan Club don't have game. They do.
In fact, when it comes to unbridled enthusiasm for the Cavs and the No. 1 object of their affection — Akron's very own LeBron James — they're electric.
The grandmothers — and they must be card-carrying grandmothers to join — are a diverse group of 80 or so women, ranging in age from early 50s to 97, black, white and Hispanic. Different politics, too.
They come from Akron, Canton, Green, Barberton and Youngstown.
The grandmothers came into being for one reason and one reason alone: to show their love for LeBron.
The irony of it all is that most were strangers before.
Yet, one by one, word spread about their new hobby: watching the Cavs and, on occasion, even attending some of the games.
Mostly, they enjoy the camaraderie of getting together to watch the games with like-minded grannies.
When inclement weather threatens, they watch the games in the privacy of their homes and ring each other on the phone at crucial plays.
Word to the wise — family included — if the game is on: Don't even think about calling or dropping by for a visit.
The LeBron James Grandmothers Fan Club has more than quadrupled I introduced it in an April 2007 column, said the club's 69-year-old founder, Alder Chapman.
Of course, the playoffs have really galvanized these grannies, as I learned Friday when about 30 of them showed up at the Blue Fig Bar & Grill on West Market Street in Fairlawn to view Game 3 on the eatery's TV sets.
Akron's Ruth Travis, the senior member of the group at age 97, was right there in the mix, sporting the club's wine-colored T-shirt.
Travis, retired from the Ohio Bureau of Unemployment, reasoned that the LeBron James Grandmothers Club was a good fit.
She was a physical education major at Wilberforce University and has always maintained a great affection for all things athletic.
''I just think LeBron is wonderful,'' Travis swooned in a groupie-like voice.
''I don't know him personally; only through seeing him on TV. . . .We have the grandmothers club because he's such an outstanding person and does so well for the community. He's not part of the riffraff.
''He's a gentleman and a great ambassador for the community.''
The petite Travis donned a bright red hat. It's her way of saying, ''I'm a jock, but also a lady.''
Also, cheering on the team were Akron's Catherine Mobley, a young 92-year-old, and 70-year-old antiques dealer Jeanne Greene of Barberton.
Akron's Ruth Wine is so enthused about LeBron, the Cavs and the club, she crafted the poem on the back of the club's T-shirts.
The poem reads in part:
When we finally reach the grandma stage
We've spread our love around.
First our kids and then their kids and every kid in town.
Since every child is special and gifted in their way,
The latest kid that touched our heart and brings us so much joy
Is 6 foot 8 and could be known as Akron's golden boy. . . .
''I did it for the love of LeBron,'' said Wine, 73, who owns Akron's Cottage Day Spa. ''It really did come straight from the heart! I guess when you feel strongly about something, you want to be part of it. I just wanted to be part of the celebration of this young man. . . .I believe if you sit on the sidelines, you don't really get the full picture. Even if I can't make all of the meetings, I still feel special because he's so special. . . .Certain things in life give you pleasure and others give you pain. This is pleasure!''
Lillian Garcia, 72, of Akron, couldn't agree more.
Truth be told, Garcia went into a bit of a depression after suffering a stroke in September.
But watching LeBron and the Cavs really turned her around, said her son Ricardo Sampson, also of Akron.
''Watching the games became good therapy for her,'' he said. ''She gets very excited!''
Garcia became such a LeBron James believer that she joined the Grandmothers Fan Club from her bed while rehabilitating at Canal Point nursing home.
She set a goal to be home by April to watch the playoffs — and she was.
Among those shouting ''Defense!'' and ''It's alright!'' (after a few turnovers) were Akron's Pat Idley (with three of her grandchildren in tow), Kattrice McGinnis, Charlotte Buzzelli and Laureathia Taylor.
Club founder Chapman, recently retired from the Akron Board of Education, confesses to becoming hoarse after watching the Cavs play.
''We love ALL of the players — Z, the Wild One, Boobie, Mo, Wally, Pavlovic, Delonte, Joe, Ben, the coach and all the rest. But watching LeBron truly is awesome,'' Chapman said. ''Most hadn't been basketball fans before. But he's certainly keeping everyone excited.
''I used to love watching Michael Jordan, but I wasn't able to connect with him like we have with LeBron. Watching him play just brings so much happiness to the ladies.''
Lest you think otherwise, there's nothing one-dimensional about the LeBron James Grandmothers Fan Club. Au contraire.
It has a mentoring group for single parents — mothers and fathers.
''If they need to talk to someone and need information as far as parenting, we're here for them. We're also going into nursing homes to do activities with them. Not line dancing but maybe sit-down dancing,'' Chapman teased.
''We're also putting together a LeBron James Grandmothers Fan Club Cookbook.''
Of course, all of that is on the back burner until after the Cavs' victory party.
Believe!
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Canton, OH
Posted 06:39 PM, 04/25/2009
Why ??? He is an unmarried male with 2 kids. . . . C'Mon. . . .And you wonder why our society is goin' down the toilet. . .
Akron, OH
Posted 06:49 PM, 04/25/2009
Slovensko- The club was started because LeBron had no grandmother. These ladies stepped into that role. It doesnt matter if he is an unmarried man with 2 kids he still needs a grandmother. LET IT GO!!! Things happen. Not everyone person that makes a " mistake" is to be condemned.
Akron, Oh
Posted 09:32 PM, 04/25/2009
@Slovensko, Oh so you mean to tell us that there are no unmarried people with kids in your family.....yea riiiight!!! Don't be a hater.
Akron, OH
Posted 10:00 AM, 04/26/2009
Being unmarried, with children, is of their culture.
Lakewood, OH
Posted 11:49 AM, 04/26/2009
First of all, I'm not sure why people think they have any room to judge others... none of us are perfect. Second of all, to some people, marriage is just a piece of paper. It's not like he has 2 kids with random people... he's been with Savannah since high school and, as far as I know, IS engaged to her. I just don't understand the fascination with judging other people's lives and decisions... jealousy perhaps? Oh, and lastly, having children without being married happens in EVERY culture... get out of the house much?
Barberton, OH
Posted 11:43 AM, 04/28/2009
The more I read some of the comments on these boards, the more I'm rethinking our move to Akron. Some of you people are so full of hatred, that you turn a nice story into something idiotic and racist. and to agree with lemon22, have you paid any attention to Hollyweird lately?? Enough with the stereotypes already! Grow up!!!
