LeBron sounds like he's staying
Superstar makes encouraging comments on ESPN
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Friday, May 08, 2009
CLEVELAND: Cleveland fans holding their breath about the departure of LeBron James might finally be able to exhale.
The Cavaliers star and newly crowned NBA Most Valuable Player becomes a free agent after the 2010 season. Speculation has been rampant that he will bolt for New York, especially after a salary purge by the Knicks.
But worrywarts might take heart in the encouraging comment made by James on Sunday's edition of ESPN's Outside the Lines.
The network sent out an excerpt of James' interview with Mark Schwarz before Thursday night's Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks at Quicken Loans Arena. And James' statement was perhaps the strongest the Akron native has made in regard to his future here.
''I'm comfortable with being in Cleveland. I'm excited about it,'' James told Schwarz. ''I'm loving the direction we're [going] in and I'm loving the teammates I have and the organization. So if that's any indication of me leaving, then somebody must be looking out the wrong box.''
James was evasive when the subject came up at Monday's MVP ceremony at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.
