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By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 08:16 a.m. EST, Nov 13, 2009
MIAMI: LeBron James announced Friday night that the No. 23 may no longer be in his future. The Cavs' superstar said he is leaning toward changing his jersey number next season to honor NBA legend and retired Chicago Bull Michael Jordan.
''The guy is the best basketball player we've ever seen. . . . If you see 23 you think of Michael Jordan. If you see guys flying through the air, you think of Michael Jordan,'' James said after the Cavs' 111-104 victory over the Miami Heat. ''If you see fly kicks, you think of Michael Jordan. He did so many things for the league it has to be recognized, not just by putting him in the Hall of Fame.''
James has flirted with the jersey change in the past. In addition to the No. 23, he also wore No. 32 at some points during his career at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. In the Olympics last year, he donned the No. 6, the one he is likely to move to next season, he said.
In addition to being a fan of Philadelphia 76ers legend Julius Erving, that particular number has some personal meaning to James, he said. His first son was born on Oct. 6, 2004, and his second son was born in June.
More notably, James believes it's the only way that Jordan can be honored and is willing to petition other players who wear No. 23 to change numbers.
''You can't get the logo. We can have an argument about that, but Jerry West, he was unbelievable also,'' he said. ''And if you can't get the logo, something has to be done, so I'm going to start and next year I'm going to change my number probably to 6 because I feel like no NBA player should wear 23.''
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohio.com/thomas. Follow Cavs coverage on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cavsabj and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CavsABJ
MIAMI: LeBron James announced Friday night that the No. 23 may no longer be in his future. The Cavs' superstar said he is leaning toward changing his jersey number next season to honor NBA legend and retired Chicago Bull Michael Jordan.
''The guy is the best basketball player we've ever seen. . . . If you see 23 you think of Michael Jordan. If you see guys flying through the air, you think of Michael Jordan,'' James said after the Cavs' 111-104 victory over the Miami Heat. ''If you see fly kicks, you think of Michael Jordan. He did so many things for the league it has to be recognized, not just by putting him in the Hall of Fame.''
James has flirted with the jersey change in the past. In addition to the No. 23, he also wore No. 32 at some points during his career at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. In the Olympics last year, he donned the No. 6, the one he is likely to move to next season, he said.
In addition to being a fan of Philadelphia 76ers legend Julius Erving, that particular number has some personal meaning to James, he said. His first son was born on Oct. 6, 2004, and his second son was born in June.
More notably, James believes it's the only way that Jordan can be honored and is willing to petition other players who wear No. 23 to change numbers.
''You can't get the logo. We can have an argument about that, but Jerry West, he was unbelievable also,'' he said. ''And if you can't get the logo, something has to be done, so I'm going to start and next year I'm going to change my number probably to 6 because I feel like no NBA player should wear 23.''
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohio.com/thomas. Follow Cavs coverage on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cavsabj and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CavsABJ
Comments
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Canal Fulton, Oh
Posted 08:26 AM, 11/13/2009
I"ll be nice an move on.
Uniontown, OH
Posted 08:42 AM, 11/13/2009
who cares? It should be 0 because thats how many rings he will win.
Posted 08:47 AM, 11/13/2009
common sense guy
what a D-bag you must be. So what number do you wear, negative infinity? Because that would fit your extremely negative attitude. LOSER!
Posted 08:55 AM, 11/13/2009
So he now realizes this?
He's just pulling a copy-cat to what Kobe did. Change your jersey number and see the money roll in due to an increase in jersey sales.
Nice try LeBron, but I'm calling you out on this.
Canton, OH
Posted 08:55 AM, 11/13/2009
HUH ??? Just worry about winning a championship. . .
Akron, Oh
Posted 08:56 AM, 11/13/2009
What's wrong Steve? Did common sense guy hit a nerve by telling you the truth? At least that is how many he will win in Cleveland. I still think he will lead another city to the championship.
Posted 08:57 AM, 11/13/2009
New number= new team!!!!! See ya Cleveland!!!!
akron, oh
Posted 09:05 AM, 11/13/2009
LeBoob must be sick and tired living in Jordans shadow. LOL
What an EGO
Posted 09:07 AM, 11/13/2009
Where is the story on last night's win in Miami?
Posted 09:14 AM, 11/13/2009
Maybe Lebron is trying to boost the economy. All the kids now will want his #6 jersey causing parents to go out an spend money. Thanks Lebron
Uniontown, OH
Posted 09:52 AM, 11/13/2009
Iam the loser and this guys tells me my number is negative infinity. Iam not negative, i call it like i see it.
Canton, OH
Posted 09:57 AM, 11/13/2009
where's the article about Delonte West deciding he doesn't want to fly to away games?
Paradise, Oh
Posted 10:12 AM, 11/13/2009
Ever notice how a pessimist will always claim that he is a realist.
If they are correct, that would mean that reality is always negative.
I believe reality runs positive AND negative.
More yin/yang, so to speak.
akron, oh
Posted 10:56 AM, 11/13/2009
He hasstarted to hate Jordan, as many who've met mike do.
@noodles: Common sense guy plays with his yin/yang.
akron, oh
Posted 10:59 AM, 11/13/2009
Hey CSG, the 0's are whats hanging off of his checkbook.
Akron, oh
Posted 11:00 AM, 11/13/2009
Delonte had this "flying problem" last year too.
North Hill, OH
Posted 11:05 AM, 11/13/2009
It amazes me that the people of this town are so bitter and hateful that they can find a way to detest one of the greatest athletes in the world being from their city (however you feel about his personality aside). Maybe it's the cold weather that makes you all such bitter whiney people...
Mogadore, OH
Posted 11:10 AM, 11/13/2009
I think the NBA team and the NBA get the profits from jersey sales (unless the player has something in his contract about it). If the Cavs were smart (and if they're allowed), they would have him change it now so they could get sales from both #23 & #6. Hey, even if he does not change it this year, the Cavs could just sell a #6 jersey without his name on it and still sell a lot of them. If his name is not on it, then they would keep the profits if there is an agreement with James on the #23.
akron, oh
Posted 11:24 AM, 11/13/2009
I'm bummed. I have a throw-back wine-and-gold Lebron #23 jersey. I hope it's value stays high.
akron, oh
Posted 11:27 AM, 11/13/2009
Seriously, to the haters: I've been friends with many Cav's players, over the years. They are all very nice guys, especially Brad and Larry. When I met LeBron and Andy, they were as nice as any Cavalier I've ever known. To hate LBJ is silly; he's a good kid.
Canton, OH
Posted 11:53 AM, 11/13/2009
When i first heard LeBron was thinking of changing numbers i was thinking it was a bad idea - thinking it wasn't fair to fans that had a lot of LeBron "23" stuff - but his reasoning made me think twice - nice of him to honor Jordan.
akron, oh
Posted 12:18 PM, 11/13/2009
I like LeBron and think he is a greal athlete and a good person. However, I think there are alterior motives for this jersey number change. As already mentioned by other posters:
- the change will be a new number for his new team
- more money from jersey sales
- he wants a number will make people think of him and not jordan
I'm leaning more towards the last one. I believe LeBron is going to be as great as Jordan was (or better). He needs his own number. But it would be pretty egotistical for him to say that, so he is playing if off as a tribute to Jordan.
Stow, Oh
Posted 01:46 PM, 11/13/2009
I like the fact that he is paying homage to Michael Jordan. He was the best to ever play the game. LeBron will have his "6" because Jordan will always be #23..........
Akron, Oh
Posted 01:52 PM, 11/13/2009
Sooo many naysayers...enjoy the man and his accomplishments, Akron/Cleveland has benefited greatly...personally I think he will stay, and that will be a another tribute to his desire to be a hometown guy...but if he left, I'd say thanks for the memories and good luck...not many of us chose to live here and given the chance would move in a heartbeat if it wasn't for family....
Canal Fulton, Oh
Posted 02:39 PM, 11/13/2009
Actually ,thats the smartest thing Ive ever heard Lbj say.
Posted 04:09 PM, 11/13/2009
I think it is a nice gesture and would be cool if everyone would stop using #23. It truly is MJ's number. The only thing that bothers me is everyone acts as if the league didn't even exist before MJ or before that it was Bird/Magic. It is a league with a really storied history and credit for its greatness goes to many people. But very high on that list is MJ and so to honor him makes sense. He was definitely the greatest player I've ever seen. Not just because of his play (which was spectacularly consistent) but because of his will to win which was second to none. It is still the one defining characteristic Lebron has yet to show. Hopefully this will be the year.
akron, oh
Posted 04:56 PM, 11/13/2009
I'm sure the "Cavs friends" aren't posting on Ohio.com
Akron, OH
Posted 06:18 PM, 11/13/2009
Can't blame LJ for wanting to wear the number of the greatest NBA player of all time....the only man with more Championship rings than fingers on his hands.
The sad thing is that LJ probably doesn't even know that.
Akron, OH
Posted 06:19 PM, 11/13/2009
"Michael Jordan. He was the best to ever play the game."
Not true....by most any definition of "best".
akron, oh
Posted 07:15 PM, 11/13/2009
he's gone--good--freedom of speech here.. ...never did like him or nba whiners.
Highland Square, OH
Posted 12:00 AM, 11/14/2009
Cavs fans, I would ignore Common Sense guy. He purposely posts loaded statements in order to get a reaction. He does it all the time on zips stories. Total tool.
medina, oh
Posted 09:00 AM, 11/14/2009
Hey "Common Sense", how is I know you're a republican? Go to hell.
Stow, OH
Posted 09:44 AM, 11/14/2009
Michael Jordan was arguably the best player ever but, if I were starting a team, I would pick a few men ahead of him - Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, or Kareem Abdul Jabbar. I never saw him play, but old timers will swear that George Mikan. in his era, was the best. One could aslso talk about West, Baylor, Bird, Johnson, Petit, or Cousy being worthy of high honors. If LeBron James, as a matter of personal choice, wants to drop 23, that is a nice gesture and is OK by me. Retiring 23 league wide strikes me as too much and disregards other players who were great in their eras and shaped the NBA. LeBron is a better player than he is a historian.
Stow, OH
Posted 09:47 AM, 11/14/2009
To MrButtoMcFarty: The are some Celtics with a few more rings than Michael Jordan.
