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Cavaliers star practices skits before live-acting debut this weekend
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Friday, Sep 28, 2007
When Nike released its most recent series of ''The LeBrons'' commercials last fall, they didn't make only basketball fans giggle.
They also cracked up Lorne Michaels, the Saturday Night Live creator and the NBC staple's longtime executive producer. James' ease in front of the camera and ability to laugh at himself impressed Michaels.
That hatched an idea that will come to fruition at 11:30 p.m. Saturday when James hosts the season premiere of SNL on WKYC (Channel 3).
''From those Nike ads, you could tell he had a sense of humor,'' Michaels said Thursday during a conference call from New York. ''You wait your time for (an athlete) who can give us an original show.''
James, who earlier this summer was the co-host of the ESPY Awards and performed several comedic routines, is one of numerous athletes but few NBA stars to host the show over the past 30 years. The short list of basketball stars featured includes Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and Bill Russell.
''I want to make an impression, be original and have some fun,'' James said. ''This is the biggest thing I've done. It's a great honor.''
James had his first run-through of potential skits Wednesday and met with the show's actors and writers to fine-tune some of the scripts. Calling the atmosphere ''like a college dorm,'' James said he had input on some of the jokes.
Neither he nor Michaels was willing to offer advance details, as is SNL's tradition. In the past, athletes who have hosted the show have taken part in self-deprecating humor by poking fun at their on-field performance and their own commercials.
Those fresher angles and the understanding of the audience that athletes aren't professional actors have made past shows with athletes, including Peyton Manning's appearance last season, successes.
''They're used to being in front of a large crowd and not knowing how it is going to turn out,'' Michaels said. ''They're fearless.''
But not without anxiety.
James, who loves to say he doesn't believe in pressure on the basketball court, thinks he'll have some butterflies. This is his first foray into live acting.
''As it gets closer, I'm sure I'll have some nerves of excitement,'' he said.
What won't be so funny to Northeast Ohioans: James said Thursday he will be rooting for the New York Yankees if they play his hometown Indians in the baseball playoffs next week.
Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/.
When Nike released its most recent series of ''The LeBrons'' commercials last fall, they didn't make only basketball fans giggle.
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