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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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JILL WAGNER

“The Mercury Girl” Making Her Mark In Hollywood

You might have seen her on Maxim’s list of Hot 100 Women or possibly in FHM, perhaps you recognize her face from the Lincoln Mercury commercials; regardless of where, Jill Wagner standing at 5’ 8” is hard to forget! A North Cacalacky native, Jill graduated Sigma Cum Laude in Business from North Carolina State, which means, yes gentlemen she is more than just a pretty face. Packing her bags and heading to Los Angeles on gut feeling, Jill quickly made her mark in Hollywood. Initially signing with friend and modeling agent Alex Fox from CSD, Jill realized the modeling world was not for her. Going on calls, walking into a room full of hundreds of women that looked just like her, seemed pointless. Luckily it only lasted a short while, after landing a job on MTV’s hit television series Punk’d, as the shows first female regular sketch performer, Jill began her acting career. Her charm and incredible sense of humor kept opportunity knocking, and soon guest star roles on series such as Monk on USA, Quintuplets on Fox, and a recurring role on Dr. Vegas for CBS began to open up.

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EVERYBODY LOVES RAY

With Ray Lewis, you can count on two things:

1.)The toughest middle linebacker in the game will eventually decleat you.

2.)He will then help you find your shoes.

Ray Lewis loves to hit people. Maybe that’s why he’s been named to the NFL All-Pro first team as a middle linebacker for a sixth time this season. Even at age 33, after having played in over 170 NFL games, one of the fiercest tacklers in the history of the game enjoys the process. The recognition of what the offense is trying to run. The anticipation of where the ball is about to go. Moving at top speed to that part of the field, then lowering his shoulder pads and separating the player from the ball. Despite the sheer joy Lewis derives from jacking up an opponent, it’s the moment after the hit that Lewis enjoys even more. “We were playing the Raiders last week and I put a hit on JaMarcus Russell,” Lewis says. “Between whistles, I told him ‘I like you big fella. Make sure you get my number after the game. And if you need anything, anytime, you give me a call,’” Then Lewis heads back to the defensive huddle and prepares to behead his new friend again.

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PORTRAITURE IN ACTION BY ROBERT SEALE

Robert Seale is a Houston-based photographer specializing in dynamic editorial, corporate, and advertising portraiture.

A former staff photographer for the Sporting News, Seale photographed over 200 covers over his ten year career there. In 2006, he left SN to concentrate on his portrait work, and to take on work for a variety of new clients, including: Sports Illustrated, ESPN the Magazine, Rides, SLAM, Businessweek, Rolling Stone and Men’s Health. He recently completed work on a National ad campaign for Under Armour.

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GROWING UP ROTHMAN – LIFETIME COMMITMENT TO BE THE BEST

For those of you familiar with the reality TV show Growing up Gotti, it is consider an Aesop’s fable compared to Growing up Rothman……Although the late” Teflon Don” John Gotti may have struck fear and respect in the five borough hoods of New York, maintaining control of the family in his castle was laughable at best. Just look at his sons today. During the same era, approximately 5,200 miles away on the North Shore of Oahu was a four year old toddler named Makuakai (guardian of the sea in Hawaiian) who vividly remembers all the armed forces of Hawaii except for the sixth fleet from Pearl Harbor descending upon his home to take dead or alive Big Daddy Da Hui founder “Fast” Eddie Rothman. Now I could tell you what Da Hui means & who Fast Eddie Rothman is, but then I would have to kill you. So take me off the hook and google it.

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ANA IVANOVIC

get 2 know Ana Ivanovic

Meet the new “It” girl of tennis. Her name is Ana Ivanovic and she has already overtaken Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams and Venus Williams in the Sony Ericsson WTA tour rankings. “(Fame) happened quite fast for me,” says the 20-year-old beauty from Belgrade, Serbia, now ranked #4 in the world. Last year the affable, pleasant and popular Ivanovic proved she can not only compete with the best, she can beat them too. Three WTA singles victories in Berlin, Los Angeles and Luxembourg were highlights of 2007 but Ana’s defining moment occurred on the red clay of Roland Garros.

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BEATS BY DR. DRE – WHERE SPORTS, MUSIC, FASHION AND CULTURE WORLDS COLLIDE

Christmas came early to the locker room of the Cleveland Cavaliers. When the team came back from morning practice one day in early December, everyone got a surprise – a custom-made pair of Beats by Dr. Dre headphones – the unmistakably cool “must have“ style and sound accessory made by Monster cable that’s turning the pop music, culture, fashion and sports worlds on their ears. Dr. Dre and LeBron James had the customized Beats in Cav colors made for each member of team.

Thanks to the emergence of the Apple iPod and other portable listening and digital solutions, music means something entirely different to people than it did ten years ago. Music is much more portable, so it can make a more intense emotional connection than ever before – and where and how you listen reflects on every aspect of your personal style, taste and outlook.

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