High schooler picked the wrong $port to excel at

http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com | It's been quite a week for Lebron James.

First he gets a new SUV, then some jerseys, then gets into an accident and finally he was declared ineligible to play high school basketball.

It's too bad James picked the wrong sport or craft to excel in at a very early age. He would be just another actor or tennis teenager making money instead of letting someone else make money off of him.

Because rabid sports fans are essentially groupies, James isn't playing the rest of his senior year. Seems a store owner was so impressed with James that he traded jerseys for autographs. James violated Ohio high school standards and lost his eligibility.

The irony here is that James can't make any money off being James, but his high school could, ESPN could, other media outlets could, the local pay per view company could.

There is a lesson for the next James. Be careful about your car, don't take any clothing for an autograph and let the hanger oners, the high school, and the cable TV networks make money off of you.

That's the way it is in sports.

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JWR contributor Evan Weiner is a radio commentator on "The Business of Sports" for Westwood One's Metro Networks. Comment on this column by clicking here.

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