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The Unorthodox Restoration Of A Tarnished Image

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I. Introduction
The Unorthodox Restoration of a Tarnished Image is an interesting topic when dealing with professional athletes. Lebron James is currently in his 14th season in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He spent his first seven seasons playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, just 39 miles from his hometown, Akron. After the 2009-2010 NBA season, James decided not to resign his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers and instead sign a contract with the Miami Heat. This decision led to James joining forces with other NBA superstars such as Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, and Ray Allen. Later to become known as “The Decision,” James’ image was tarnished for the way he abandoned his hometown team and became the villain of the NBA. …show more content…

The paths that these athletes took were both similar and different from James’.
The thesis will take an in-depth look on the journey of Lebron James. From the beginning days in Akron, the fame of his early days in Cleveland, to his villain days in Miami and back up the mountain to being a hero in Cleveland, it will all be discussed. Lebron James is not only a once in a life-time type of athlete, but once in a life-time person and businessman as well. The tactics and lessons one can learn from his strategies are infinite.
II. Beginning of the Brand The story of Lebron is known by many, but those who see the famous professional athlete with a superstar status usually do not know what he came from. On December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio, Lebron Raymone James was born. His mother, Gloria James, was only 16 years old at the time and his father, Anthony McClelland, was an ex-convict with zero interest in becoming a parent. With Gloria struggling from addiction and never keeping a steady job, she and Lebron moved from apartment to apartment during his childhood. In the fourth grade, Lebron moved in with his township football coach, Frankie Walker (JockBio, 2016). Life was not easy for James growing up, but he was lucky enough to have others surrounding him to help him rise. He played basketball at Saint Vincent Saint Mary’s High School where he would become a legend. A few of his high school accolades include USA Today

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