Jordan Crawford Dunk on LeBron James: Nike Confiscates Tape

by Jon Azpiri | July 8, 2009 at 09:01 am
14902 views | 5 Recommendations | 18 comments

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Jordan Crawford: Dunk Contest winner at IU Midnight Madness

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Jordan Crawford: Dunk Contest winner at IU Midnight Madness

Word is that Xavier guard Jordan Crawford dunked on LeBron James during the LeBron James Skills Academy in his hometown of Akron, OH. If you're thinking of running to YouTube to see LeBron get dunked on, don't bother. It looks like a rep from Nike confiscated video of the Jordan Crawford-LeBron James dunk, forcing us to rely on our imaginations.

Here's what happened. During the skills camp, LBJ gets into a pick-up game with a bunch of college players, and according to several witnesses, LeBron James get dunked on by Jordan Crawford, the kind of move that could become a YouTube classic.

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."

Miller said he was filming all day during the camp without incident. After the Jordan Crawford dunk, however, LeBron James apparently chatted with Lynn Merritt who confiscated the 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 pissed. I lost my tape."
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0
Vandellish

This isn't good...this is a huge indicator that Lebron's well on his way to becoming a true diva. A far cry from the genuine young man that he came in the league as. It's not the first or the last time he'll get dunked on so what's the big deal?

Come back to the world Bronnie and don't let Nike or the media's influence rule your heart.

0
DLox

This is really sad!! I am a Cleveland fan but it is growing increasingly hard to remaina LBJ fan. I mean come on MJ got crossed by Iverson and that tape has been shown millions of times and no one is proclaiming AI is better than Jordan. Lebron needs to stop taking himself so seriously.

0
blts

Man up LBJ, whats wrong with him. Its normal to get dunked on when you play D. If he keeps this up hes gonna end up alienating himself from the fans and end up loosing more fans. this been the worst year  in terms of offcourt news on him. :/

Still wish him success.
 My Fave player After mj.


0
L-bOoGiE

What a LeBaby..........This kid needs a slice of humble pie.

 

0
L-bOoGiE

What a Lebaby!!!!

0
bmw

this is all specualtion. if u didnt see tha tape or was in the gym, relax. maybe crawford will release a video saying what happened.

0
Mark McKee

He did. it's on the Detroit Freep Press website, JC went to high school in Detroit:

http://www.freep.com

 

0
Luke Dog

What a sissy

0
Rygaar

Jordan Crawford and one of the photographers whose tape was confiscated (Ryan Miller) have both confirmed that this incident indeed happened.

I initially hoped that Nike's director of basketball operations Lynn Merritt had confiscated tapes without input from LBJ.  If word to confiscate tapes came from LBJ himself, Lebron will have lost a lot of respect around the globe.

DLox's comment about Allen Iverson's cross-over on MJ is spot on.  By going this route, either Nike or LBJ did Lebron a real disservice.  Had the video gone out it might have been mildly interesting for a short while (who follows who got dunked on by whom in a summer skills camp???).  By confiscating the video, Nike has turned the dunk into an "incident" much much more interesting.  The next time Lebron gets dunked on, and we all know it'll happen within months at the most, this story will be re-ignited.

I had so much more respect for Lebron this morning than I do now.  That wouldn't matter squat if I were alone, but judging from what others have posted here and elsewhere, I'm not alone.  I feel bad for Lebron if Nike took this measure without his consent.

0
TheOne25

Lebron getting dunked on is funny.. only because ppl for some reason see the guy as invincible or something .. its not the first time he's been dunked on i'm sure .. prob. wont be the last .. the problem with something like this is that there's witnesses.. and there " was "  video of it .. now if it was Lebron doing the dunking .. then it would've been gladly handed to ESPN for all to see .. and posted on YouTube ... they should've just let the tape come out.. NOW, bron-bron looks like a cry baby... Hey Lebron .. if that was you coming out of HighSchool and it was Jordan back in the day .. wouldnt you want that to be seen??  give credit where credit is due .. I think by NOT letting the tape out .. that ppl believe you may hide your TRUE identity .. and your not really who the NBA and the Media want you to be... oh yea, and the playground comment .. after the playoffs .. that was beyond childish .. but guess what Lebron .. nobody CRIES on the playground either and credit is given to those who gain it .. so what about playground play now??

0
Rimrucker

You mean to tell me that Nike has the right to go around and just confiscate every tape in teh room? Isn't that a little bit far fetched?

Getting dunked on is normal. LBJ is has to face it that he will have younger players better than him. He got his ego hurt but guess waht LBJ that is how your learn in life. The biggest challenge is to play against someone as good or better than you. Learn this kid

0
Uncle Hulka

Frankly I'm surprised that Lebron didn't leave the court crying.  Sore loser, that Lebron, a prima dona indeed.

0
Six Figure Ding Dong

My mom dunked on LBJ, and Nike confiscated that tape too.  Then she gave him a donkey punch and Nike stole that video too.  After that, my mom took LBJ's pants and kicked him out the door, and he went off cryin to his mom.  Nike took that tape, too.  


Point is, now that Nike's confiscated the Crawford dunk tape, trying to put a lid on the truth, fabrication is fair game.  What's true or false when specilation reigns?

0
Mark McKee

I think we all figured out the deal with "LeBron the Cabrone" when he picked up his toys and ran home in this year's playoffs, then said, like the loser he is, that he wouldn't shake hands or do interviews because he wasn't a loser...uh...even though he just lost.

One is reminded of Inigio Montoya, from The Princess Bride:

"You keep using that word.  I don't think it means what you think it means..." 

0
chris p

Nike did not have a legal right to take the tape. They can only do search and seizure if they owned the building that the camp was being held in. They did not. Therefore the policy of not being able to record is bogus and I would not of given up my tape. Lebron is a cry baby and a sore looser and yes he is just that a looser

0
jay bush

This is the weakest move by Lebron yet--I keep telling people..yes he has freakish athletic ability..but i believe da dude is overrated...even when he made that game winning shot against Oraldo this year in the playoffs...look at it closely--he was just as surprised as me when he made that shot--his face was like "oh my damn! did I just do that!!?"....he has alot of growing up to do....i remember when Jordan got dunked on by a highschooler--in the late 90's...that was on the news sports segments everywhere--for maybe a day--then no one else talked about it...Jordan turned out ok....build a bridge and get over your ego Lebron...slowly, but for sure- u r proving me right to my homies!!

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