Just as some of the 3,500 people who came to the LeBron James Appreciation Day were heading for the exits, the object of their affection made an appearance.
LeBron James holds up a crystal award as Akron's Hometown Hero presented by the city of Akron in Akron University's Infocision Stadium June 19, 2010 at the end of a LeBron James Appreciation Day rally.UPDATED 12:15 P.M.
AKRON, Ohio -- Just as some of the 3,500 people who came to the LeBron James Appreciation Day were heading for the exits, the object of their affection made an appearance.
With a number of security people accompanying him, James strode onto the football field at InfoCision Stadium, accepted a "hometown hero award" and told the crowd: "Akron is my home. It's my life. Everything I do is for this city. I love every last one of you."
And with that, the likely NBA free agent departed.
James got to the noon rally about 12:45 p.m. He was wearing a gray T-shirt and black shorts.
Nobody was sure if James would attend the event aimed at keeping him with the Cleveland Cavaliers. And nobody still has real clue if he will stay. Free agency begins July 1.
Some 3,500 fans turned out in Akron for LeBron James Appreciation Day, including the King himself.Gretchen Fri, spokesperson for the organizers, had said Saturday morning they knew James was in town. "We made one final push yesterday," she said.
Activities on the campus of the University of Akron began around 10 a.m. The event was the idea of Carl Albright, InfoCision president and CEO.Albright said if the city did not nothing to try to convince James to remain a Cavalier, "that would speak volumes." He called James a natural resource for the area.
Albright said New York and Chicago are putting on multi-million dollars campaigns to lure James to their NBA teams.