• Site Search
  • Search Local Business Listings

Merchants cut prices to unload LeBron James memorabilia in Cleveland area

Published: Friday, July 09, 2010, 7:45 PM     Updated: Saturday, July 10, 2010, 8:00 AM
Lebron-heat.jpgLeBron James shirts were removed Friday from Quicken Loans Arena, but 11-year-old Chris Williams of Miramar, Fla., found a Miami Heat version at American Airlines Arena in Miami,

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- LeBron James memorabilia isn't exactly worthless now, but it's certainly worth less.

Companies were trying Friday to unload their LeBron replica jerseys, bobbleheads and other fan favorites, a day after James announced he would leave the Cavaliers for the Miami Heat.

Fathead.com, an online retailer owned by Cavs majority owner Dan Gilbert, slashed the price of its LeBron Fathead wall decals from $99.99 to just $17.41.

Turns out 1741 is the year Revolutionary War traitor Benedict Arnold was born.

"I'll let our loyal customers determine if that was by coincidence or not," Fathead President Todd Lunsford said in an e-mail. One version of the LeBron Fatheads sold out.

Whether the company ever again sells a LeBron Fathead depends on the star becoming "Fathead-worthy" in a Miami Heat uniform, Lunsford said.

At Cardboard Heroes, a sports memorabilia store at Beachwood Place Mall, manager Nate Cannell said he didn't know what he'd do with his LeBron merchandise.

He stocked up on Cavs items in anticipation of a championship that never materialized.

Now, more than a quarter of his merchandise is devoted to LeBron. And from LeBron onesies to autographed adult jerseys, from action figures and bobbleheads to life-sized Fatheads, it's all 60 percent off.

"We've had it discounted 60 percent since they lost to Boston, since [James] only gave about 60 percent effort in the playoffs," Cannell said.

The Cavs Team Shop at Quicken Loans Arena yanked all LeBron merchandise. The team said the jerseys are sitting in boxes and could end up being sold to a third-party discount retailer.

Meanwhile, workers were busy making the arena a LeBron-free zone, both inside and out.

A 40- by 30-foot vinyl poster of James, Shaquille O'Neal and Mo Williams that had hung from the side of the building was quickly pulled down and carted off Friday morning.

Inside, a life-sized poster that let kids measure themselves against the 6-8 James and 7-3 Zydrunas Ilgauskas also was gone.

But the marketing of LeBron the enemy already was heating up.

On its website, Champs Sports advertised a black Adidas Miami Heat jersey emblazoned with "James" and "6," his new number, on the back, for $44.99 to $54.99, depending on size.

And at Cardboard Heroes, Cannell lamented not having the one item he said would really sell now:

"A LeBron James dartboard."


Sponsored Links




Comments Feed

View: Oldest first | Newest first
akronal July 09, 2010 at 9:19PM

I don't think Wade will be hated. And yes, Vegas has the Heat as the pre-season favorite to win i, even over the Lakers, which is kind of silly considering how good the Lakers are, how much better they may be with a healthy Bynum, and that Miami has almost no team around those three, with almost no available quality free agents left and no assets to acquire any other players anyway.

Inappropriate? Alert us.
Reply Post new
scotrugby July 09, 2010 at 10:32PM

I can tell you that people here in Chicago hate Wade right now. He was completely full of garbage when he said Chicago is always his home and it was a very difficult decision for him. He even used his kids. Don't believe a word of it. This whole thing was planned weeks ago by LeChoke and Wade.

But their egos will get the best of them because I don't see how they coexist. The one guy that has to love all of this is Kobe. He isn't the villian anymore. Heck, people outside of LA will actually be cheering for him to beat the Heat if they square off in the Finals.

Inappropriate? Alert us.
Reply Post new
TheGenius101 July 09, 2010 at 7:59PM

How about Lebron James Toilet Paper?

Inappropriate? Alert us.
Reply Post new
bilson July 10, 2010 at 4:30AM

Brilliant!

Someone please come out with the LBJ TP.

The wiping, The flushing. It's perfect. It could sell world wide. Everyone will want a roll.

What do you say, Mr. Gilbert?

Inappropriate? Alert us.
Reply Post new
MrLogic101 July 09, 2010 at 8:04PM

after that shameful display of self centeredness and utter selfish ego exhibition they should just ban the name from ever appearing in print again. the hat incident should have shown Cleveland where his loyalty was.Give Gilbert great credit for speaking what we all felt.

Inappropriate? Alert us.
Reply Post new
juliofranco July 09, 2010 at 9:55PM

Agreed! All hail Dan Gilbert!

Inappropriate? Alert us.
Reply Post new
bettyl July 09, 2010 at 8:07PM

Discounted memorabilia is the inevitable price a merchant pays for catering to hero worship. Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. Ecclesiastes 5:10

Inappropriate? Alert us.
Reply Post new
kirtlandpat July 09, 2010 at 8:19PM

Cool response. Thanks bettyl!

Inappropriate? Alert us.
Reply Post new
hegel July 09, 2010 at 8:20PM

Rip the LeBron jerseys and t-shirts up and give a LeBron rag to Cleveland Cavs fan as a promotional item when the Miami Heat come to town.

Then write off the promotion as a business expense.

Inappropriate? Alert us.
Reply Post new
jobblyman6 July 09, 2010 at 8:54PM

Hey I do a lot of yard work and painting... I would love some discounted old T shirts.

Inappropriate? Alert us.
Reply Post new
akronal July 09, 2010 at 9:02PM

Seriously, everyone should just donate Cavs LBJ gear to the Miami Chapter of the Boys and Girls Club. Let's as many Miami children as possible running around in #23 gear.

Kendall Club
9475 SW N. Kendall Dr
Miami, FL 33176
305-279-3013

Inappropriate? Alert us.
Reply Post new
fleamo July 09, 2010 at 10:41PM

Akronal,
That's a great idea. Help out poor kids and haunt the rich kid.

Inappropriate? Alert us.
Reply Post new
mrfixit2005 July 10, 2010 at 9:29AM

great idea. helps the kids, reminds miami of where he came from.

Inappropriate? Alert us.
Reply Post new
dybzinski July 10, 2010 at 2:36PM

That also prevents those kids & families from spending money they really can't afford on new Miami jerseys. Great idea!!

Inappropriate? Alert us.
Reply Post new
sob10useless July 09, 2010 at 9:35PM

Clean up the Gulf oil spill with them!

Inappropriate? Alert us.
Reply Post new

Most Active Users

What's this?
Users with the most Business comments in the last 30 days
CraneTwo CraneTwo
Jed Clampett Jed Clampett
AmJunkRadio AmJunkRadio
beanosz beanosz
realityor0 realityor0

Users We Love


Popular Tags

What's this?