For this post, I am falling. I am sorry.
ESPN has been frequently running their two "This is Sportscenter" commercials featuring LeBron James recently (the other one is right here). Have you ever noticed that the normally inked arms of James are totally bare?
Maybe, they were made several years ago. It sure seems like King James has added a lot of body art recently.
That's partly true. I did some research.
As far as I can tell (after an unsatisfying Google News search), the two short spots originally aired in 2007. I have not found any information when the commercial was shot. There are clues to the time frame, however. Scott Van Pelt has a near shaved head, so it must have been after, and this is the only thing I could find that helps in this investigation, May 21, 2004. Also, LeBron is wearing the blue Cavalier alternate jersey (I think. I am colorblind. It may be the regular wine color. Let me know if I'm wrong.). According to this page, that jersey did not debut until the 2005/2006 season (November 26, 2005, to be exact.). So, the commercial, more than likely, was produced during the 2006 off-season.
Those clues could be countered with: "You have no idea when SVP shaved his head and you're color blind." Both of those statements are true. I'm a dummy, as well.
However, all of that is totally irrelevant. LeBron already had a rather large tattoo on his right arm -- the right arm that features so prominently in the "Copier" spot -- in high school. Evidence is second from the left:
In fact, this timeline reveals that by the time these commercials were most likely shot (We'll say Summer 2006, prior to James' fourth season.), he had a quite a lot of ink.
(I could have simply embedded the video and linked to that timeline, but instead, I spent an hour trying to figure out when Scot Van Pelt cut off his hair. That's just how much I love you.)
This all seems like something every blog would have picked up about two years, but I looked. I couldn't find any information. About 24 hours ago, one YouTube commenter pointed it out. It was not me. (And I swear I had already planned this out before I read the comment.) Blogs do love a tattoo removal controversy. It's surprising no one picked up on this. I guess, maybe, that had something to do with the fact that's more fun to look at Danica Patrcick's lower back than LeBron's arms. Makes sense. (Again, if I'm wrong, let me know. But, for now, you can call me an American Hero.)
I just don't understand why ESPN would go through the trouble of putting makeup over the man's tattoos. They mean something to him. Do LeBron James' tattoos make anyone think less of him as a basketball player or as a person? Do the tattoos make him appear to be a "thug"? I have friends with tattoos. They are far from "thuggish."
Noteworthy Note: See how the text wraps around the embedded YouTube video? That took a lot of time. Thank you, this guy.
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