Witness Protection

Superbad

AG. and LeBron in DC

NYC

Nike from day 1

High School Musical

"How could you falter, when you're the Rock of Gibraltar...I had to get off the boat so I could walk on water...this ain't no tall order, this is nothing to me...difficult takes a day...impossible takes a week..."

Jay-Z - Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)

Friday, December 20, 2002, was the day that I first witnessed LeBron James in living color. His team made the trek from Akron, OH to my beloved West Philadelphia, to play against Philly basketball power, Strawberry Mansion. I charged up the batteries for my camera and I was off to the venue. I took my seat on the far baseline across from the visiting bench and the rest would be history, or shall I say, his-story.

I had first heard about him during his junior year at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, which was around the time the moniker of KING was bestowed upon him.

Before I started writing professionally...I was looking for a job all the while, staying insanely hungry for my "moment". In fact I used to shine shoes for small money and write short stories just for fun. Nowadays, I’m as ambitious as ever, but it’s the people that I’ve meet throughout my life, that have gotten me to this point.

I recently caught up with Bron, when the Cavaliers played against the 76ers during the preseason in October. I walked over to his locker and he says, "what's up man...how you've been?" I stuck out my hand and he game me a firm "soul brother" shake. I told him that I had to interview Mo Williams, and that I'd be right back. After my brief chat with Williams I spoke with LeBron at length on everything from his family to his Olympic gold. He is a great person to interview, as I can truly say he has a great respect for the game, and my job as a writer.

This past summer, I interviewed the Olympic team for BET News, and when I walked into the room to sit with LeBron, his time with the media was over and he was leaving for the day. I informed him that I really needed some time with him and he agreed. We walked out of the room and down the hallway, to which we were greeted by security guards, Nike employees, hotel staffers, and a cameraman. I didn't think much of the camera, but I was walking in plain view, so I figured that whenever this footage airs, I'll be on it with my guys, Bron and Flash. Turns out, it was for ESPN, and the first few times it aired I missed it, however everyone else saw it, because I was getting emails, phone calls, and text messages for a good 2-weeks.

ROC BOYS

My very first official sit down with LeBron James was during the 2007 NBA Playoffs. The Washington Wizards drew a first-round match-up with the James Gang, I called my friend and photographer Daryl and told him we were going to interview LeBron. Nevertheless, I digress…now since I have never sat with LeBron, I asked a few people from the Cleveland media how easy or difficult it would be to interview him and what he was like. After everyone shut me down and dashed my hopes, saying that it was mission impossible, I decided to build a better mousetrap and get resourceful like I would normally do.

In 2002, at that high school game in Philly...I met the 3 other members of the James 4-horsemen. I leaned on that connection, and ran courtside during halftime of game 3. It was there I asked Randy (1 of the 4-horsemen, and he works for the team) if I could get 5 minutes with the King. He gave me a look that said, it's halftime of the playoffs, but he insured me that we would talk afterward.

I have to be honest with you. No matter what NBA city I’m in…I always secretly cheer for the team with the person I need to speak with. It is in my experience, that the players always are in a better mood when they get a W. My photographer and I waited patiently once the Cavs won, and then we decided to split up like Tre' and Ricky in the movie Boyz n the Hood.

I loitered outside the locker room and when Randy turned a corner and strolled down the hall, I knew it was a good look. He greeted me and took me into the locker room which had been closed to the media for 40-minutes already. We continued our conversation and I then noticed a presence amongst us and Randy started walking away. I turned and there was LeBron slipping past me like he does defenders on a 94-foot court. He wore a nice suit and he had those ubiquitous headphones on. I started walking with them, and Randy looks up and says, "you remember AG right?" LeBron turns my way and says to him, ‘yeah. From there I asked if I could get a few minutes before practice the next morning and he said it wasn’t a problem.

The next day, I sat with LeBron for a spell, and we've been working together ever since.