Reconsideration of the value of sports

LeBron James puts on a hard hat during a ground-breaking ceremony for Parkside Townhomes, a 20-million dollar project that James' company, LRMR Development, LLC., is co-developing, in Cleveland, Wednesday, June 21, 2006. At right is Richard Paul, one of James' partners in LRMR Development. (AP Photo/Jamie-Andrea Yanak)

I don't think much about sports-related revitalization. The fact that everything I wrote today is about transit and mobility reminded me of something that Mati Senerchia sent me, about LeBron James.

See "LeBron James Invests In Cleveland Housing Development: James' Development Company To Help Redevelop Glenville Neighborhood," now we don't know if they are urban design appropriate buildings--I haven't been able to find renderings--but still, that says something about this very young man and his character. From the article:

James, 21, along with three friends and business partners who formed LRMR Development LLC, are among the investors in the 18-unit project that will feature two- and three-bedroom, 2,000-square-foot townhouses expected to sell for $265,000 and $325,000 each.

And speaking of another LeBron James pro-urban good deed, see "Sun, stars out in Akron to join bikeathon: Thousands gather on beautiful day to join LeBron James, NBA standouts," where "300 lucky Akron grade schoolers chosen to ride the three-mile course with James and other NBA stars. The kids were selected to receive free bicycles and helmets based on their character" as part of an annual fundraiser for the James Family Foundation and its support of the Akron Area YMCA and the Akron Urban League.

LeBron James (rear) rides his bike down South Main Street in Akron on Saturday, June 24, 2006, in the second annual LeBron James King for Kids Bikeathon. The fundraiser brings thousands of riders and a host of NBA stars and celebrities to downtown Akron. The bikeathon was eight miles long and the family-friendly route was three miles. (Ken Love/Akron Beacon Journal)

That's quite a week for LeBron James.

Index Keywords: bicycling; bicycling