Page 22 - Florida Sentinel 8-3-18

Sports
LA-Bound LeBron Opens School In Akron As Part Of Legacy
Carmelo Anthony
LeBron James is leaving home again and leaving behind something he says is more meaningful than any of his NBA championships.
James, who this month ended his second stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers by signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, has opened a public school for challenged children in his hometown.
The NBA great admitted to having “jitters” before the opening, an event he said is “going to be one of the greatest moments — if not the greatest — of my life.”
The I Promise School ini- tially will house 240 third- and fourth-graders. The Akron school will expand each year, adding second and fifth grades next year and will have stu- dents from grades 1-8 by 2022.
James was to be at the school Monday to welcome students and make his first public comments since decid- ing to join the Lakers.
James spent 11 seasons with the Cavs, winning a title in 2016 to end Cleveland’s 52- year drought without a pro sports championship. His de- parture ended a four-year run with the Cavs after he returned in 2014 following four seasons with the Miami Heat.
Following his eighth straight appearance in the NBA Finals, James said he was still in “championship mode” as he headed into free agency. But he’s going to a Lakers team that missed the playoffs again last season and seems years away from com- peting for a title in the rugged Western Conference.
James was also drawn to Los Angeles by the appeal of
Will Sign With Rockets
playing for one of the league’s most storied programs and the chance to work with Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, the Lakers’ president and a player James idolized since he was a kid.
James also chose Los An- geles in part because it repre- sents the next chapter in his life. He already owns homes there and he has a film produc- tion company in the city.
Cavs Will Not Remove LeBron’s Likeness From Quicken Loans Arena
LeBron James’ iconic billboard in Cleveland may be no more, but his likeness will still be prominently featured elsewhere in the city.
James’ image will not be removed from Quicken Loans
Arena, citing a Cavs team source. The arena, known col- loquially as “The Q,” is under- going a $140 million renovation this summer, and when it reopens in the fall, The King will still be included where the team recognizes its history and its legends.
Despite James’ decision to sign with the Los Angeles Lak- ers this summer, he is unques- tionably the greatest player in Cavaliers history and brought the city of Cleveland their first professional sports champi- onship in over 50 years.
Anthony Davis On DeMarcus Cousins: ‘Now He’s The Enemy’
ANTHONY DAVIS AND DEMARCUS COUSINS
Anthony Davis sure didn’t take long to turn on DeMar- cus Cousins.
The New Orleans Pelicans big man discussed his former teammate’s decision to join the Golden State Warriors.
“I mean, I’m happy for him. He did what he did,” said Davis of Cousins. “He chose the right team for his career right now with his injury, I’m assuming.
“I wish the best of luck to him, and we’ll see him three, maybe four times this year and try to beat him,” AD added. “Now he’s the enemy. Anybody who’s not on the Pelicans is an enemy to me. He went from a teammate to an enemy.”
50 CENT AND FLOYD MAYWEATHER
is a star and one of the execu- tive producers.
"I watch Power," May- weather said. "Even if he left the show, people still wanna watch the show. But as far as this season, it's s--t. It's been garbage... As far as the other seasons, it's been the best show."
LEBRON JAMES
Floyd Mayweather ex- plained the genesis of his feud with 50 Cent during an inter- view with Complex.
Mayweather said the beef began years ago when 50 Cent and Tommy Sum- mers, a former associate of Mayweather, were trying to start their own promotion company.
The retired boxer said he grew upset when 50 Cent and Summers "[tried] to re- move Al Haymon" from the picture. Haymon has been Mayweather's longtime manager.
Mayweather also had less than flattering things to say about Power, the televi- sion series for which 50 Cent
Reportedly Finalizes Buyout,
It appears to be only a matter of days before Carmelo Anthony is offi- cially a member of the Hous- ton Rockets, as the star forward is expected to be waived by the Atlanta Hawks on Monday.
Anthony has reportedly reached a buyout agreement with the Hawks in which he gave back $2.4 million of his salary for next season. That number is equal to the one-
CARMELO ANTHONY
year veteran’s minimum con- tract he is expected to sign with Houston.
Floyd Mayweather Explains
50 Cent Feud, Says Rapper's
Show 'Power' Is Now 'S--t'
Rockets Showing Interest In JR Smith Trade
The Houston Rockets could be going full galaxy brain in their quest to recoup some of the depth that they lost this offseason.
Houston has reportedly “kicked the tires” on a trade for Cleveland Cavaliers swing- man JR Smith, also noting that he thinks that they will get another wing.
The Rockets suffered in that department with the losses of Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute in free agency, and Smith might be able to offer a similar 3-and-D skillset for them. However, the 32-year-old is wildly inconsis- tent and generally prone to
JR SMITH
lapses in judgement, so it’s worth wondering if there are better avenues for improve- ment. Smith is also owed $30.4M over the next two sea- sons (though his salary for 2019-20 is only partially guar- anteed).
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