Wednesday, October 6, 2004

 

 

ESPN.com news services

LeBron James became a father Tuesday and promised to be a better dad than the one he had.

 

 

"That's my main goal, to try to be a better father than the one I had," the second-year Cleveland Cavalier told the Akron Beacon Journal. "I didn't know him. I didn't know the situation he was in. But I'm going to do my job the best way I can."

 

 

The baby boy, whom the NBA's 2003 rookie of the year reportedly had with a 19-year-old Akron woman, was delivered Tuesday evening, James' agent, Aaron Goodwin, told ESPN.com. Goodwin would not give any other details. The woman was due to deliver last weekend, the newspaper reported.

 

 

According to the report, James was expected to miss a day, or possibly more, of training camp.

 

 

James told the Beacon Journal the day before his son's birth that he was thrilled about pending fatherhood and wanted to be up front about his situation with his fans.

 

 

"It is a wonderful opportunity in life," James, the No. 1 draft pick out of high school in 2003, said after Tuesday's practice.

 

 

James, 19, keeps his personal life private and is very close to his family, especially his mother, Gloria. His mother had James when she was 16 and he never got to know his father, who's since passed away.

 

 

James remains very active in the lives of Akron children; he's donated money to refurbish community centers and basketball courts and has helped outfit children with backpacks and other school supplies.

 

 

An Olympian who helped Team USA win bronze in Athens, James did not discuss fatherhood with reporters during media day Monday in Cleveland. He got almost all of the attention, however; the team delayed James' entrance onto the practice floor for interviews so Cleveland's other players wouldn't sit alone at tables lining the court.

 

 

He said he's looking forward to his second pro season.

 

 

"I'm more mature now. I know what to expect," James said. "Going into last year I didn't know how the pace of the game was going to change. I didn't know how my teammates were going to accept me. Last year, I didn't know what I was getting myself into.

 

 

"But one year in, I know everything now. It's going to be a breeze for me."

Whoa...and I thought Kobe did everything young. Nonetheless, congrats to LBJ. King James, Queen James, and Prince James.

that woman's life is set.

Twenty is awfully young for a kid. If I was an NBA star I'd walk around with a condom 24/7 just to avoid having a kid. There's just way too many fun years to look for to as a young, in shape, millionaire to be going off and having kids or getting married. To each his own though.

I love the fact that LeBron wants to display a commitment to his child that his own absentee father never game him.

 

What a role model.

 

And what better way to start off than to have a kid out of wedlock with a groupie who has essentially won the lottery.

I love the fact that LeBron wants to display a commitment to his child that his own absentee father never game him.

 

What a role model.

 

And what better way to start off than to have a kid out of wedlock with a groupie who has essentially won the lottery.

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indeed

Good job showing your ignorance, Fish :thumbup

that woman's life is set.

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I wonder if that was her intention all along ... :mischief

In another article I read it said she was his long time girlfriend.

I saw this yesterday. I guess I'm happy for LeBron but I'm a little disappointed. Why the rush?

What's amazing is that this kid will be recruited by prep schools before LeBron turns 30!

I heard that the kids name is "CHA-CHING" :lol .

I heard that the kids name is "CHA-CHING" :lol .

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the kid will probably be best friends with yao ming. :lol

What's amazing is that this kid will be recruited by prep schools before LeBron turns 30!

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Him and his kid might play together in the Nba!