LeBron James

My hero is LeBron James. Lebron James was born December 30th, 1984 in Akron, Ohio. I chose him because he is a great basketball player and has done a lot of work for many causes. He is brave for donating his time for charities all around the world. Lebron had a hard childhood. LeBron didn’t have much of a family because his mother, Gloria, raised him by herself after her husband, Anthony McClelland, an ex-con, deserted her and LeBron. At the time Gloria was only sixteen. One of Gloria’s boyfriends Eddie Jackson, who went on to play a major part in Lebron's career, was also an ex-con. Even though LeBron didn’t like Eddie Jackson, his presence around the house would make LeBron feel like having a father.

During LeBron’s high school years he played football and Basketball. While in high school, he met one of the most important men in his life. It was the coach of the high school basketball team, Frankie Walker. He not only coached LeBron but also invited LeBron to stay with him and his family so LeBron could get off the streets and have a normal life without drugs and violence. By the end of High school LeBron was 6 feet tall and could play all five positions. Frankie Walker had taught him to shoot with both hands. After that he took LeBron to the USA Basketball Development festival, where he broke the scoring record. After his sophomore year of high school, LeBron led their team to back to back championships and was named “Mr. Basketball.”

LeBron is a hero to many people, but what makes him one of my heroes is that he does a lot of charity work for many causes. Lebron has been inspired to donate to many different causes because he knows what it was like growing up in a poor and violence section of Ohio. His mom, Gloria, inspired him to play basketball because when he was little his mom gave him a miniature hoop and ball to play with. He and Dwayne Wade who is now one of his teammates on the Miami Heat donated up to $500,000 together for the Haitians after the earthquake. LeBron has faced many challenges but has overcome many too. Some challenges that LeBron faced are that he was born in poverty. By overcoming that he had to make the best of things. He had to make the best of his situation and take every opportunity that came along, even when he moved in with Frankie Walker so he could get out of the streets and live a normal life.

LeBron decided to donate money to Haiti and become a participant of NBA Cares where NBA players and staff members of teams can donate their time to help people in need. One of LeBron's contributions is that he inspired people in poverty to never give up and that dreams come true. LeBron also helped the NBA evolve when he broke the record for being the youngest player in NBA history to have 4000 points at the age of 20 years and 321 days old. LeBron James has done many charitable works for the US and for his community. He has helped a lot of people in need, and still does. LeBron James helped many people in Haiti after the earthquake, which left them helpless. LeBron helped them by donating a lot of money. He also helped New Orleans after the destructive hurricane. In all, LeBron is a good person or role model for many people and is counting on staying that way.

Sources

“LeBron James.” Black Book Partners, LLC. Jockbio. 15 October 2010. http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/James/James_bio.html

James, LeBron LeBron James. 17 October 2010 http://www.lebronjames.com/ “LeBron James” http://nbasoup.com/?p=462