LEBRON INC.

LeBron Inc.

Why the King Should Keep His Court in Cleveland

Act I “There’s only one place they call me one of their own… These are my streets, the only life I’ve ever known. Who says you can’t go home”- Bon Jovi

The King was born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio. Ask any lifelong resident of Cleveland, and they’ll tell you it makes perfect sense that LeBron James was born during the apex of the holiday season; he’s been one of the biggest gifts the city has ever received.

It was apparent from an early age that LeBron was different from the others, and his talents on the basketball court were nothing short of astounding. He was a virtuoso, Michelangelo operating with a Spalding instead of a paintbrush, conducting fast-breaks like Mozart did his symphonies. While his peers were spending their high school years dealing with normal adolescent issues, James was achieving goals never before accomplished. He was named to USA Today’s All-USA First Team an unprecedented three times, and won the title of “Mr. Basketball” of Ohio three times as well. By his 16th birthday, his trademark moniker – “King James” – was becoming a household name. He appeared on the covers of Sports Illustrated, SLAM and ESPN The Magazine all before his high school graduation. LeBron Raymone James, before his 18th birthday, was the most talked about and sought after athlete in the country.

Read more

JOHN NEYROT – PAINTED PICTURES

The old adage ‘a picture’s worth a thousand words’ in this case is an understatement. Meet John Neyrot, artist, photographer and famed body painter. His canvas, more than inspiring, beautifully sculpted naked women who at the end of his masterpiece become human murals of some of the most aesthetic pleasing art to the human eye. Beginning his creative journey at a young age doodling and drawing on his notebooks, Neyrot’s hobby became his bread and butter when he realized his passion and talent for photography could sustain him financially.

Read more

KARI KLINKENBORG

KARI KLINKENBORG Serves Up The Goods

Standing at an impressive 6 ft tall and stunning to say the least, 24 year old Kari Klinkenborg, often referred to as jaw dropping gorgeous, has the nation asking…what is Terrell Owens thinking, this one is definitely a keeper! Former Gator volleyball player and model, Klinkenborg has graced the covers of many magazines and has appeared in Samsung Camera Ads as well as a plethora of others.

Read more

BEHIND THE BENCH – VOL 5. ISSUE 1

Ultimate Black Mamba: Kobe Bryant Delivers A New Sophisticated Timepiece

The creative team at Nubeo is not fond of following pre-established rules. They prefer to create their own. With the arrival of the Black Mamba collection, Nubeo’s creative team has had the opportunity to invent a new concept – the jewel timepiece – exclusively masculine and sporty.

Both the Ultimate and the MVP versions master the setting of sapphires to express the combination of sport, masculinity and sophistication, terms which describe Kobe Bryant himself so well. The three choices of color express the three-fold personality of the Black Mamba: black is masculine, orange is sporty and whisky colored sapphires represent sophistication. This is a whole new take in the world of men’s watches.

Read more

SPORTS IMMORTALS

A Million Miles for A Million Mementos

The power of sport is pervasive and timeless. Dating back to the Roman Coliseum in 80 BC sports have played a major role in the development of our society. It was the athletic contests originated by the dynamic Greek and Roman cultures that inspired individuals to reach beyond their limits and strive for excellence.

What makes an athlete immortal? Athletic prowess, of course, personal statistics, continuous excellence… these too, but beyond the sheer power of the performance, lies the individual… the man, the woman, who motivate all of us through extraordinary achievement and maximum effort. Babe Ruth, Mia Hamm, Lance Armstrong, Babe Didrikson, Jackie Joyner Kersey, Muhamad Ali, Jim Thorpe, Michael Jordan, Pele, Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky, the mere mention of their names conjures up images of greatness.

Read more

ATHLETE BY WALTER IOOSS

Walter Iooss never thought he would be a professional photographer. As a teenager, it was just a hobby. But then at age 18, he got his first assignment for Sports Illustrated.

Michael Jordan Lisel, IL – 1987

No one captured Michael Jordan’s personality, his joy for the game, or his most personal moments, the way Walter Iooss has. For this photograph, Walter trekked to Jordan’s basketball camp for kids in Lisel, Illinois. He had one side of a parking lot painted red and another side blue, not knowing which uniform Jordan would wear to the shoot. When Jordan arrived, Iooss perched himself above the rim in a cherry-picker and had an hour to capture Jordan with the proper light and shadow. In later years, Jordan would never do an hour-long shoot. “When he played those two seasons for the Wizards,” says Iooss, “he never posed for a single photographer.”

He was to photograph and octogenarian sailor in Connecticut, who had built a boat with no plans and sailed it to Florida and back. Similarly with no plans, Iooss built an unparalleled photographic collection that has captured virtually every icon of professional sport: Ali, Jordan, Pele, Koufax, Gretzky, Unitas, Arnie and Tiger among hundreds of others. He has also photographed the most beautiful women on the planet for the world famous Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. “If you’ve got the best looking women on the planet and the best locations, it isn’t that hard,” Iooss says. Turning the pages of Iooss’ book, Athlete, is like taking a visual tour through the last fifty years of American sports history. From Kyle Rote to Brett Favre, from Wilt to LeBron, Iooss’ camera has focused on the icons of every major sport under the brightest lights looking for the story not yet told. This feature is just a small representation on the colossal body of artwork that Iooss has created and continues to expand every day.

Read more

DWIGHT HOWARD – THE DNA OF SUPERMAN

The DNA of Superman The 2008 All-Star Slam-Dunk Champion is changing the way big men are perceived around the league.

Decode the chemical design of Dwight Howard’s DNA and you’ll notice a sequence harvested from the finest athletic gene pool. The 6-11, 270-pound Orlando Magic center has the physique of a modern day Spartan with fast-twitch muscle fibers akin to a thoroughbred.

Read more

JAMIE ADAMS

Read more

RAPHAEL MAZZUCCO

Raphael…his name is synonymous with traveling the earth with the most beautiful women in the world. Known for infamous Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition covers and spreads, and his phenomenal images that have graced the pages of Sports Illustrated book: “Exposure” (one of the most looked at photography book in America last year), Raphael Mazzucco is one of the most sought after photographers in fashion. His life: him in the Bahamas achieving the first handbra swimsuit cover with eight of the most well known models in the world. Exotic, beautiful women running around topless; all of which respect Mazzucco for the beauty he captures with a click of a shutter. Each model singing the same song, “he is truly a great guy and an exceptional artist.”

Read more

FROM THE LENS OF GEORGE KALINSKY

Formally known as Madison Square Garden’s “official” photographer, George Kalinsky is easily one of the most sought-after professionals in entertainment, with a quick glance at his work you immediately understand why. Whether it’s sports, music, theater, or perhaps just a simple snap shot, Kalinsky’s photos seem to capture the attention of people round the world.

Read more

Next Page »