AKRON, Ohio — Police halt traffic so the King can pass.
Speeding downhill and through an intersection where the traffic signal glows red, LeBron James rolls onto a long bridge overlooking a lush Ohio valley of treetops glistening in the morning sun. The city that raised him now trailing behind, James separates from the pack.
Alone. At last.
For a rare moment in a whirlwind summer, James is free — nothing in front but open road. He rises from his bicycle seat and pumps the pedals harder, as if he wants to escape the perpetual spotlight.
Faster, faster.
But soon he squeezes the brakes and steers around orange pylons and makes a U-turn.
Then, along with close pal Chris Paul, the All-Star point guard from New Orleans, and hundreds of other riders in his annual charity bike event, James, one season from possibly leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers as a free agent, heads back toward the place he will always call home.
Akron. The Rubber City he made bounce again.
“It’s made me who I am,” he says lovingly.
This offseason has been as memorable as any in James’ life. He hosted the hometown premiere of “More Than A Game,” a touching documentary about James and four childhood friends who overcame inner-city hardships — and LeBron’s unprecedented prep superstardom — to achieve their dream of winning a high school national championship.
Two days after the screening, James held his “King for Kids Bike-a-thon” before traveling to China as part of a worldwide promotional tour for his new line of Nike sneakers, the film and an upcoming book, “Shooting Stars,” co-written with Pulitzer Prize winner Buzz Bissinger.
Before heading overseas, James sat down with The Associated Press at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, his alma mater, for a rare one-on-one interview.
James discussed his impending free agency in 2010 — aka The Summer of LeBron in New York and other NBA points — the possibility of signing a short-term contract extension with Cleveland, new teammate Shaquille O’Neal and the responsibility of being a role model.
“I am who I am,” he said. “I’m not perfect. I know that. I’ve made mistakes. But do you learn from your mistakes or do you continue to make them? I learn.”
James has made headlines for months, beginning with his decision to storm off the floor and not shake hands with Orlando’s players after the Cavs were eliminated in the playoffs. There was the Nike dunk brouhaha, his admission in the book to smoking marijuana in high school and a vague I-might-stay-I-might-not comment about his future with Cleveland.
More mature at age 24, James has never been as self-assured. He loves fatherhood and remains fiercely loyal to his closest friends. The LeBron brand is flourishing, and being a savvy businessman, he and his partners are capitalizing on his abundant fame.
His goals of becoming a global icon and billionaire are on track. And with O’Neal aboard, the Cavaliers, who won 76 games last season but felt short of a championship, are determined to win it all. There are no more excuses.
Life is good indeed. James has more, much more than he could have ever dreamed. Unimagined wealth, a beautiful girlfriend and their two fun-loving boys, a 35,000-square foot mansion with everything but an ocean view. An entire region of fans worship him.
It couldn’t be any better. There’s no reason to leave.
But in the months ahead, there will be endless speculation about James’ next move, a power play that could take him from Cleveland.
Everyone’s guessing at what he’ll do.
And maybe, that’s his plan.
*
His looping signature is sandwiched by others on a brick wall. Under a green-and-gold “Fighting Irish Wall Of Fame” sign, James, who writes left-handed, said goodbye to his beloved school by scrawling: “The Greatest of All Time. King James. History In The Flesh.”
Bold at 17. Possible at 24.
Plopping into a folding chair, James looks around the locker room of the private school where he and his teammates turned Ohio high school hoops on its head.
“This,” he says, “is a special place for me.”
It’s the morning after the film screening and James, teammates Dru Joyce II, Willie McGee and coach Dru Joyce III, are back at “St. V” to do interviews for the film, which finished runner-up for the audience choice award at the Toronto Film Festival to “Slumdog Millionaire.”
McGee is late and as he makes his way across the gym floor, James notices his friend is wearing the same T-shirt he has on, a mosaic of James’ attacking the rim.
“Oh, hell no,” James screams.
McGee laughs.
“He’s one of my four guys,” James says. “He can wear whatever he wants.”
James is sporting sneakers that honor his old teammates and his time at SVSM. On the tongue of his white kicks is a photo of him, Joyce, McGee, Sian (She-awn) Cotton and Romeo Travis, their arms draped over each other’s shoulders, on senior night in 2003.
Years later, the “Fab 5” is intact.
“They are a gift,” James said. “The man above definitely gave us a gift because he put us all in the same place at the same time. We’re family.”
Some refer to the film as “The LeBron James Documentary,” but it is not just James’ story.
“I’m a small part of the movie,” he said. “I’m the guy who packs the theaters with my name but people will understand, ‘Wow, he’s not even the biggest person in the movie.'”
What began as a 10-minute college project for first-time director and Akron native Kris Belman blossomed into a coming-of-age tale of unbreakable friendship.
James hopes it inspires.
“Basketball was just the vehicle we used,” he said, “but the story really has nothing to do with basketball. It’s about kids having a dream, kids being loyal to each other and not stopping, whatever happens, to accomplish their dreams.”
Despite his fame, James remains tight with his friends. After the screening, they gathered at a local restaurant and shared another memorable night with family.
James worked the dining room. First, he picked at appetizers with his longtime girlfriend, Savannah Brinson, and Paul. The MVP then slid over to a corner table and held court with Nike executives and Ken Griffey Jr., in town with the Seattle Mariners.
Everyone wanted to chat. At one point, James’ mother, Gloria, wrapped her arms around her only child, the one she raised alone, the one who has grown into the father he never knew.
“I’m so proud of him,” she said.
He’s a role model to his sons and millions more, which is why not shaking hands after losing to the Magic brought harsh criticism. James has no regrets about his actions, and the next time he loses in the playoffs, he may do it again.
James can’t please everyone, and he understands the scrutiny while embracing the chance to affect others positively.
“It’s humbling,” he said. “I haven’t changed. I’m not going to change to be someone that people want me to be or think I may be. I’m just myself. I love kids, especially inner-city kids that are less fortunate with single-parent mothers.
“I know that. I lived that.”
*
The LeBron-Shaq marriage has just begun and already some are predicting a break-up.
James and O’Neal have known each other for eight years, but other than an All-Star game, they’ve never been teammates. That changed when the Cavaliers traded for Shaq in June, uniting two of the game’s dominant players — and larger-than-life personalities.
What’s not to love?
“I’m so excited about Shaq,” James said. “Something I haven’t had in my career is a dominant force in the paint, a guy I can go to and he’s going to get us something good. He’s the most dominant force to ever play the game, and to have him on my team, I’m humbled.”
Their pairing seems ideal, but it will be a test.
While O’Neal has shared the spotlight with Penny Hardaway, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade, James’ kingdom has never been shared like it’s about to be.
The Shaq Experiment could shape James’ decision next summer. If he and O’Neal win a title together, why not two or three? But if it doesn’t work out, James could decide that seven years in Cleveland was enough and that it’s time to move on.
For now, this couple is a long way from counseling.
It’s Cleveland fans who need therapy.
The Cavaliers offered James a contract extension on July 18. James, who can become a free agent after next season, also holds a one-year player option he can exercise anytime before June 30, 2010.
He has options, and he’ll use them. The Cavaliers will always be able to offer James more money than other teams, but his endorsement deals minimize that as an advantage for Cleveland.
Over the past few years, owner Dan Gilbert has invested millions to keep his icon happy. The team built a dazzling practice facility near his house, and this summer Cleveland added O’Neal, free agents Anthony Parker, Leon Powe and Jamario Moon and re-signed Anderson Varejao.
James has more reasons to stay than ever. He holds all the cards. He’s not showing them.
“I’m excited about the upcoming season and I have never given any indication that I’m leaving Cleveland,” he said. “I’ve been happy with what the franchise has done for me and my family. It’s been great. Hopefully everything goes right and hopefully I can sign a big contract to stay in Cleveland.”
Might he sign a smaller one to stay?
“That’s possible,” he said. “We’ll see.”
*
After a steady ride up Market Street, James steers his bike up the bumpy, red-brick road outside his high school. As he passes the front door, the Fighting Irish band blares the fight song and the world famous alum waves his index finger like a conductor’s baton.
Along the eight-mile course, faces from his past and present flash before James. Down every street, on driveways and front porches, there is someone he knows.
It’s Akron. It’s home.
“We love you, LeBron,” one kid shouts. “Don’t leave.”
James smiles as he glides by.
The ride has just begun.