# LeBron James ineligible for the rest of the season, says CNN. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 31, 2003, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-james-ineligible-for-the-rest-of-the-season-says-cnn/151975 "2003-01-31T22:40:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-james-ineligible-for-the-rest-of-the-season-says-cnn/151975/1 "2003-01-31T22:40:33Z")
[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/news/2003/01/31/james\_ineligible\_ap/](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/news/2003/01/31/james_ineligible_ap/) He was apparently given 2 jerseys from a store, combined worth: $845. He received them for posing for pictures for the store walls. The Ohio High School Athletic Association has a rule that says athletes can’t “capitalize on athletic fame by receiving money or gifts of monetary value.” The OHSAA ruled earlier in the week that a custom-made Hummer H2 ($50,000), was OK, after his mother provided loan papers to prove she took out the loan to finance it. Get ready for the enless debates… ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-james-ineligible-for-the-rest-of-the-season-says-cnn/151975/2 "2003-01-31T22:46:16Z")
I started a thread about this in the PIT. At 9:00 this morning I got two free tickets to his last home game Sunday here in Akron. My 12 year old was so excited. Now he isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Splanky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@Splanky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Splanky)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-james-ineligible-for-the-rest-of-the-season-says-cnn/151975/3 "2003-01-31T22:47:31Z")
I can see it now: it’s all going downhill. James can’t play high school the rest of the season, can’t get drafted by the NBA, mom can’t pay back $50 g’s she borrowed assuming son would pay back with his big contract, family goes on welfare, LeBron becomes petty drug dealer. All the hype for nothing. Yep. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-james-ineligible-for-the-rest-of-the-season-says-cnn/151975/4 "2003-01-31T22:54:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Splanky \* > \*\*I can see it now: it’s all going downhill. > > James can’t play high school the rest of the season, can’t get drafted by the NBA, mom can’t pay back $50 g’s she borrowed assuming son would pay back with his big contract, family goes on welfare, LeBron becomes petty drug dealer. All the hype for nothing. > > Yep. \*\* Well, not to be mean or anything, but it’s kind of his mom’s problem she took out a loan she knew she didn’t have the money for…it’s not like the kid couldn’t have gone another few months without a car if he made it this long. Or she could’ve got him a modestly priced one, at least. Anyway, I was wondering: this won’t keep him from the NBA, right? I mean, he finishes out his last year of HS, and gets drafted. Everyone knows he can play, how’s this going to change that? (Not that I personally care whether he makes it in the NBA or not…I think wayyyyy too much attention has been lavished on the kid as it is.) Oh, and sorry, **samclem** , I didn’t happen to read that one. ---
**Author:** ![Blunt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Blunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blunt)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-james-ineligible-for-the-rest-of-the-season-says-cnn/151975/5 "2003-02-01T02:17:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Garfield226 \* > \*\* > Anyway, I was wondering: this won’t keep him from the NBA, right? I mean, he finishes out his last year of HS, and gets drafted. Everyone knows he can play, how’s this going to change that? This changes nothing about LeBron’s future plans, except that he can now sign his endorsement deal(s) and start getting paid asap. In fact, I think its better for him because now he doesn’t have to worry about any potential injuries that may occur playing HS basketball. His best bet would be to take it easy for the next 4 months, and get his pro contract signed as soon as he gets drafted. All he has to do is be sure not to do anything incredibly stupid and/or not seriously injure himself between now and the middle of summer, and then he’ll be a multi-millionaire. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-james-ineligible-for-the-rest-of-the-season-says-cnn/151975/6 "2003-02-01T05:50:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blunt \* > \*\*All he has to do is be sure not to do anything incredibly stupid \ between now and the middle of summer, and then he’ll be a multi-millionaire. \*\* I’m taking bets.