Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
Freelance photographer Ryan Miller was one of the cameramen shooting the game.He told CBSSports.com that Nike Basketball Senior Director Lynn Merritt took his tape.
"He just said, 'We have to take your tape,'" Miller said. "They took it from other guys, too."
Don't worry, we've been able to reconstruct the situation and here is how we believe it played out:
It's a shame we'll never get to see it, and honestly it probably brought just as much if not more attention that Nike tried to bury any such incident. But future note to anyone taping an event like that, Miller included. NEVER EVER give up that tape. Let them kick you out, because whatever you get afterward won't have one percent of the value of that particular tape.
And yes, I realize Jordan Crawford isn't white like the guy from WGN, but c'mon.
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12 comments
Comments
And I should add that I’m a complete and total, unabashed LeBron James homer. No doubt about it, but this … this is one of those things I just can’t defend in any way.
by littmann.tsn on Jul 8, 2009 2:40 PM EDT reply actions
Is Nike like the KGB? The Golden Boy got flushed on. It happens. But why go all Roswell on us and destroy the tape? Maybe Baby James did not shake Crawford’s hand afterwards because he is a winner and winners don’t get rocked by college kids…
by ChiAdam on Jul 8, 2009 3:23 PM EDT reply actions
I thought LeBron’s message was “We are all winesses”?? Seems like the message should be changed to “We don’t want No Stinking witnesses”!!!
With this coming on the heels of the no hand shake fiasco during the playoffs, LeBron’s image (and character) will be taking a big hit.
Bron (and Nike) are going to have to stop “Ho’ing” and man up.
by 308 Vet on Jul 8, 2009 3:34 PM EDT reply actions
I read that Lebron told the Nike rep to get the tapes, so this is more of Lebron showing his gine.
by BurritoBrosPoops on Jul 8, 2009 3:44 PM EDT reply actions
Did he really get dunked on in practice and they took the tape??! Wow. If this is true I’ve lost some respect for Lebron. Seems like the guy doesn’t know how to take a loss and thats a bad lesson for the youth out there because you are going to lose from time to time in sports…
by Bigmentz on Jul 8, 2009 3:55 PM EDT reply actions
This is lame for so many reason one being if you want to see lebron get dunked on there are plenty of examples namely courtney lee and britt jonhson.
The problem here is if a player has never been dunked on what kind of teamate is he? one who wont try to catch someone on a runout or sacrifice his body for a charge sometimes you gotta go for the block or the hard foul and it will get you dunked on eventually. The embarrasement in this is not getting dunked on it hiding the tape.
by malcolm chomsky on Jul 8, 2009 4:14 PM EDT reply actions
the guy was from tsn and thought the tape might be racially offensive.
by scurds on Jul 8, 2009 5:21 PM EDT reply actions
So let me get this right… 1st he walks off the court after getting it handed to him by orlando. Then he has some nike flunkie remove clips after he’s been dunked on by a collegian? OK…lebron’s officially a chump! This cats lack of humbleness befuddles me. Jordan got his ribs broke by Artest you got dunked on. Things happen on the court. Man up you 6’8"/265lbs for nothin chump. This ain’t HS son…
by ldukea on Jul 8, 2009 5:28 PM EDT reply actions
We are all witness unless its a tape of LeBron getting a sack lunch during a pick up game. Nice.
by LakerKev on Jul 9, 2009 11:29 AM EDT reply actions
For some reason I could not help but be reminded of the movie Role Models…
They play some lame real world world of warcraft type game where this little nobody kid kills the king….
Of course nobody sees it so no one believes him…
All you get is this whiny King guy declaring that the little nerd could not have possibly won…
hmm
by a-roid on Jul 9, 2009 2:49 PM EDT reply actions
I used to praise Lebron for his maturity, and have been a fan since he came into the league. His behavior last season, including both his showboating when the team was doing well and his pouting after being eliminated have made my opinion of this guy do a complete 180. As far as I am concerned, he is Lebaby, and that stupid Nike puppet should be in diapers.
Lebron needs some serious humbling. More than that though, he needs to grow up. He has exhibited behavior that is unacceptable even in high school enough times to make his immaturity a defining personality trait. Some of these guys don’t show their true colors until they start winning. Lebron didn’t feel he needed a ring to start acting like a child, apparently. Garnett, for example, used to be one of my favorite players, largely based on his personality and what appeared to be humility. As soon as that guy got a ring, however, he quickly became one of the most obnoxious individuals in the NBA, to the point that he just makes himself look ridiculous often.
Whatever the case, Lebron had me fooled. He really shows his true colors when things don’t go his way now, though. It was just a dunk, man. It happens to everyone that plays basketball against people who can dunk. Get over yourself, man. Part of growing up is realizing that it is better to take defeat like a man than react like a spoiled child. Lebron has acted like a spoiled brat too many times. He has something else to prove now. He has to prove he can be a man.
by peroxide31 on Jul 9, 2009 3:52 PM EDT reply actions
It’s funny how he never confiscates the tapes when he is hitting crazy shots in practice.
The camera man is a little soft too. Don’t give up a tape you could feed your family for a month with. Make them take the tape from you. It was a Nike rep, not a cop. How intimidating could the Nike stooge be? L.A. paparrazzi would have held their ground.
by ChickLives on Jul 9, 2009 3:57 PM EDT reply actions
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