Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Another winter punch heading toward Ohio
Man robbed at Tallmadge Avenue eatery
Complaints against officer keep coming
Police: Ohio girl dies after fall into snow bank
Four teens restrain man, take items from his Akron home
Police: Man tries to buy crack with credit card
Police say couple had 50 stolen hubcaps
Blogs:
First Bell - On Education:
No City of Akron basketball tonight
Pets:
Pet telethon re-airs
The Heldenfiles:
Chipmunks "Squeakquel" on DVD/BD March 30
Akron Zips:
Zips favored on road against MAC West leader
Tribe Matters:
Blogmail response on Hafner
Cleveland Browns:
Stallworth's contract terminated
Balanced Ledger:
QB in Browns future: another mock draft
Kent State Sports:
KSU Notes – February 9
Cleveland Cavaliers:
NBA Power Rankings from Around the Internet
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeyes grab 18 players on signing day
Varsity Letters:
Five local gridders to play in Big33
All Da King's Men:
Palin At The Tea Party Convention
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Republican Pre-Conditions
Akron Law Café:
Law, Love and Chocolate
Car Chase:
Collector Car Hobby Loses One of the Best—Jim Roll
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Decisions Decisions: Credit Cards or Your Mortgage?
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Loucile is looking for a Lake Erie getaway in June for three kids, ages 1, 3, and 5.
Sound Check:
Talk of the Town – Top entertainment picks for the weekend
HRLite House:
OFCCP Report
Akron Gamer:
Makers of 'Castle Crashers' unveil 'BattleBlock Theater'
See Jane Style:
Do IT this week: Layering
Teen hopes to visit idol this time by invitation at New Jersey Nets game
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Tuesday, Mar 11, 2008
CLEVELAND: LeBron James likes to follow his own path.
He surprised many when he was not bothered that a fan sprinted into the Cavs' huddle last week at Madison Square Garden. In fact, James embraced the moment by shaking hands with the young man.
It probably didn't thrill the NBA, which has taken steps to fortify security around team benches since the brawl in Detroit in 2004.
Neither probably will this: A source said Anthony Erskine, 17, who ran across the floor and past several guards in a James replica jersey, is about to get even closer to his idol.
Erskine has been in touch with James' representatives, and there are plans for him to be James' guest Wednesday when the Cavaliers visit the New Jersey Nets. There might be a private meeting between the two.
''He had something he wanted to say to me and he got it out before they took him away,'' James said. ''I respect him and his pride.''
In the locker room
• After being out since Jan. 23 with a left midfoot sprain, Sasha Pavlovic has been cleared to return to contact practice. The Cavs are not yet saying when they plan to activate him, but it could be as early as this weekend. When it happens, there figures to be a minute crunch among Devin Brown, Damon Jones, Wally Szczerbiak and Pavlovic on the wing. Then it could get even tighter when Daniel Gibson comes back in about two weeks.
''Is there going to be competition? Yes, sir. Somebody is probably not going to happy,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said. ''It comes down to doing the right thing for the team.''
• During an interview last week, James said he was 6-foot-9 and 260 pounds, which caught some off guard since he is listed at 6-8 and 250. When he came into the NBA, his official size at the predraft workouts was 6-8, 240. The Cavs added 10 pounds to the roster last season. But James jokingly backed down Monday, saying: ''I'm 6-7, 240.'' The 6-9, 260 figure is probably close to accurate. Not that rosters mean much, Zydrunas Ilgauskas has been listed at 7-3 for years, but he says he is 7-2.
• Devin Brown said he has been bothered recently by a sore left knee and has been wearing a protective sleeve during games. It has been improving, he said.
• The snowstorm Saturday did wonders for the Cavs' television ratings on FSN-Ohio. The victory over the Indiana Pacers got an 8.3 rating, which is about 130,000 households in the Cleveland/Akron market, the highest-rated FSN-Ohio telecast of the season. It surpassed the 7.1 rating on Feb. 24 in the Cavs' first game with the new players from the big trade.
• Monday was the 60th birthday of Cavs great Austin Carr, now FSN-Ohio color commentator.
Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/.
CLEVELAND: LeBron James likes to follow his own path.
Get the full article here.
