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Free throws, video games, trivia and lots of stars bring smiles
By Linda Golz
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Saturday, Jun 21, 2008
It was hard to tell who was having more fun at the King's Triathlon — a prelude to today's LeBron James' King for Kids Bikeathon — the kids or the king himself.
With an enormous grin, Akron's own James admitted that ''I'm a kid at heart.''
Between 500 and 600 adults and children filled the University of Akron's Student Recreation and Wellness Center Friday evening to participate in a non-traditional King's Triathlon. Participants did not have to swim, bike or even run.
Instead, major sponsors, their children and more than a dozen celebrities like Kenny Lofton, Campy Russell and Spencer Heywood, could participate in a free-throw contest, a video-game tournament on Xbox 360 and a sports trivia game show.
There were also silent and live auctions. Among items offered were autographed items from sports stars such as Tiger Woods, Bernie Kosar, Lance Armstrong, Ken Griffey Jr., James, of course, and others.
Jakki Nance, executive director of the James Family Foundation, said the
event was expected to raise about $150,000 to be divided between the foundation, the Akron Area YMCA and the Akron Urban League.
James said the money was not what was important.
''The number one thing is to make kids happy,'' James said. ''This gets the kids very excited.''
James said he enjoys the bike event ''because it brings a lot of kids from the neighborhood I grew up in.''
James took in some free throws Friday night before settling down on a couch before a wide-screen television to play basketball on the Xbox.
One of his video opponents, Bishop Woodall, 13, leaned forward with deep concentration as he battled the pro.
Gathered about James on the couch, about 10 children watched intently, including Quinn Clarke, 8, who is just starting his second battle with cancer and his sisters Gigi, 7, and Sarah, 5.
His mother, Allison Clarke, said her son had also battled cancer when he was 2. This time, Quinn has what his mother described as a large tumor growing through his pelvis.
''I'm so glad he could have this [time with James],'' Allison Clarke of Chagrin Falls said. She said that Quinn is preparing to start the ''heavy-duty'' treatment soon. ''His slogan is 'Kick it Quinn.' ''
Earlier Jayln Tyler, 13, who goes to Copley-Fairlawn Middle School; Martice Jackson, 12, of Hope Academy University in Akron; and Melran Leach, 13, of St. Timothy School in Cleveland sat on a couch before one of the six wide-screen televisions practicing basketball on the Xbox.
The trio said they were excited about the evening with James and the other kids.
''It gives us, like, a chance to see different basketball styles,'' Tyler said.
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Linda Golz can be reached at 330-996-3640 or lgolz@thebeaconjournal.com.
It was hard to tell who was having more fun at the King's Triathlon — a prelude to today's LeBron James' King for Kids Bikeathon — the kids or the king himself.
Get the full article here.
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