Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Tallmadge man dies after motorcycle crash
Man on leave from Iraq war slain in Akron
Passers-by call police over topless gardener
Soldier on leave dies after shooting near UA
Man breaks into house, flees when owner wakes up
Slow starts might hurt Cavs' big finish
Quinn tells Denver his foot has healed
Teen accused of drinking, dancing topless in club
Blogs:
Akron Docs in Haiti:
Almost home
First Bell - On Education:
21st Century Skills and Akron’s new middle school
Pets:
Lost Mini Schnauzer around Cascade Valley Park
The Heldenfiles:
Fess Parker, R.I.P.
Akron Zips:
Looking back on the season
Tribe Matters:
Seven prospects reassigned to minor-league camp
Cleveland Browns:
Yates latest to re-sign
Balanced Ledger:
How times have changed?
Kent State Sports:
Kent State gears up for WNIT at Michigan
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs at Chicago Bulls (Green Mascot and All)
Buckeye Blogging:
Bucks High Seed – Turner High Praise
Varsity Letters:
Report: Ohio offers Olack
All Da King's Men:
ObamaCare To Reduce Premiums By 3000% ?
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Pathetic GOP Nullification Attempts
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (110) CBO and JCT Reports on Reconciliation Bill, H.R. 4872
Car Chase:
2010 CONCOURS SEASON IS UPON US
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Deals in Miami?!.
Sound Check:
Willie Nelson & Family coming to the Akron Civic Theatre May 11
See Jane Style:
Who Wore What – The Oscars
HRLite House:
Horses of Courses
Akron Gamer:
Video: Gamers expected to 'reach' for new 'Halo'
With Ilgauskas, Wallace ailing, legally deaf player Allred signs for 10 days
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Friday, Mar 14, 2008
WASHINGTON: Lance Allred hopes it isn't his legacy, but he is now a part of history.
The Cavaliers signed the 6-foot-11 center to a 10-day contract Thursday as he was called up from the NBA Development League's Idaho Stampede. He will provide depth in the frontcourt with both Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Ben Wallace fighting back problems. But there is more to his story.
Allred is the first legally deaf player to play in the NBA. He's had about 75 percent hearing loss since birth but uses implants that allow him to be functional.
''It is an accomplishment. It's meaningful that I've made it to this stage,'' Allred said. ''I want to be known for more than that, but it is an honor.''
Allred played in college at Utah and then Weber State, where he was third in the NCAA in rebounding as a senior in 2005. He played a year in Europe and has played the last two seasons in the D-League, this year averaging 16.2 points and 10 rebounds to be named to the league's All-Star Game. He also played in summer league with the Boston Celtics last year.
''I am able to hear most things. Every now and then I will miss hearing a teammate, especially if he is behind me. I've been wiped out on some screens in my career,'' Allred said. ''But that means I have to pay extra attention and be very visually aware and sometimes that actually helps me see things before they happen.''
The Cavs allowed the 10-day contracts of Kaniel Dickens and Billy Thomas to expire. If the team wanted to keep either, they would've had to sign him for the rest of the season, under league rules.
In the locker room
• There's another magazine cover ahead for LeBron James. He's on the cover of next month's Vogue, along with supermodel Gisele Bundchen. James is one of just three men who have appeared on the cover during the magazine's 116-year history. The others were actors Richard Gere and George Clooney. He said it appealed to him because of his sense of fashion. James has been on the cover of Men's Health, Black Enterprise and Fortune over the last several months. He is also on the cover of ESPN the Magazine's 10th anniversary issue now on newsstands.
• James said Thursday he was still suffering some lingering pain and stiffness after a knee-to-knee collision with the New Jersey Nets' Vince Carter on Wednesday night. It was not enough to keep him out of the lineup.
• Delonte West is from suburban Washington, and he wanted to make sure his friends and family got to see him with his new team. He rented out a suite at the Verizon Center for his guests.
Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/.
WASHINGTON: Lance Allred hopes it isn't his legacy, but he is now a part of history.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
