Did The Nike Gestapo Go Too Far Protecting King James?

[jackson_34]

This made me laugh and cringe at the same time.

via http://gary-parrish.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6271764/15942689

AKRON, Ohio -- You want to see video of Xavier's Jordan Crawford dunking on LeBron James?

If so, too bad.

Because you're not going to see it.

Thanks to Nike.

Turns out, there were at least two cameras rolling Monday night when Crawford dunked on James during a pick-up game here at the LeBron James Skills Academy. It was a two-handed jam, the kind that would've circulated quickly on YouTube. But Nike officials eliminated that possibility shortly after the dunk happened by allegedly confiscating tapes from various cameramen.

Freelance photographer Ryan Miller was one of the cameramen shooting the game.

He told CBSSports.com that Nike Basketball Senior Director Lynn Merritt took his tape.

"He just said, 'We have to take your tape,'" Miller said. "They took it from other guys, too."

Worth noting is that there is no policy against filming at the LeBron James Skills Academy, and Miller said he had been filming all day without incident. Nobody ever told him to stop. Nobody ever said there was a problem ... until after Crawford dunked on James.

"LeBron called Lynn over and told him something," Miller said. "That's how I knew his name was Lynn. LeBron said, 'Hey, Lynn. Come here.'"

Minutes later, Miller said Merritt demanded his tape.

"There's nothing I can think of besides LeBron just not wanting it online," Miller said. "It's a good story to tell people, I guess. But then again, I'm kind of p---ed. I lost my tape."

First refusing to shake hands because he's a winner, now this...

[Roy Hobbs]

Wow.  Stories like this raise "prima donna" to a new level.

[Casperian]

That´s the difference between USA and Russia.

In Russia, the government confiscates tapes out of political motives. In the USA, big companies confiscates tapes because it could hurt their marketing campaign.

 

[cdif911]

now if Lebron ever tries to do a deal with Adidas, Nike has some blackmail fodder...

[Redz]

I can't believe they handed over the tape so willingly.

[Prof. Clutch]

I can't believe they handed over the tape so willingly.

Seriously!  I would have put up a much bigger stink than that.  That was gold he was hanging on to there.

[Brendan]

"Sure you can have this tape for 10% of his endorsement money, hahahahaha."

Probably being a free lance video guy and on Nike/NBA badside is a poor position.

[BrickJames]

and you all wonder why I hate this guy.

[wdleehi]

I am sure someone can digitally remake the scene and put it on youtube.

[Kwhit10]

Wow what a LeBaby 

[jackson_34]

The nba is going to "mysteriously" lose the footage of the next game Lebron gets scored on.

[lostjumper]

LeBron thinks way to much of himself if this is true. So he got dunked on...so has everyone else who plays basketball 7 days a week.

[Aaron]

That´s the difference between USA and Russia.

In Russia, the government confiscates tapes out of political motives. In the USA, big companies confiscates tapes because it could hurt their marketing campaign.

 

In Mother Russia, the tapes confiscate you!

[Bankshot]

Wow.  No wonder I don't like Lebron.

[huzy]

Not justifying this in any way, but Jordan would have done the same thing.

Kobe would have done the same, without a doubt. I actually think a lot of NBA players would be adamant about keeping a similar video under raps.

I'm sure Lebron would be upset if a tape of Jawad Williams dunking on him was leaked on the internet, let alone a player from Xavier.

This is more about the general NBA culture of "maintaining a rep" than just Lebron being a prima dona, in my opinion.

It's unfortunate, but this is the modern day NBA.