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driving around in $50,000 Hummer with three TVs inside
CLEVELAND -- LeBron James is traveling like a professional player these days. And not just on the court.
James, the nation's most hyped player and expected No. 1 pick in this year's NBA draft, is driving a Hummer H2, a sports utility vehicle popular with many pro athletes.
James' ride -- with a base retail price of nearly $50,000 -- has state high school officials wondering if the 18-year-old has jeopardized his amateur standing.
"We have some concerns," said Clair Muscaro, commissioner of the Ohio High School Athletic Association. "The thing I'm concerned about is that it was gift from the outside. . . . When our schools see something like that, it throws up a red flag. It's different than a parent buying their son or daughter a small vehicle."
The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that James, a senior at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, was given the vehicle as an 18th birthday present by his mother, Gloria.
The SUV is outfitted with three televisions and a hookup for computer games. Gloria James obtained a bank loan to finance the purchase, the paper said, quoting anonymous sources close to the team.
Gloria James declined to comment Sunday after her son scored 30 points to lead the Irish to a 76-41 victory over Detroit Redford at the Cleveland Convocation Center.
"I've got nothing to say about that," she said.
Muscaro said the athletic association is interested in hearing what the 600-student private Catholic school has to say about the young superstar's vehicle.
"We have not yet talked to the school," Muscaro said. "We plan to follow up with a phone call. We'll see if they know anything about it. We would like to find out what they know. I think it is important for our member schools to know what's going on."
According to an athletic association bylaw, an athlete forfeits his or her amateur status by "capitalizing on athletic fame by receiving money or gifts of monetary value."
St. Vincent-St. Mary athletic director Grant Innocenzi said the school plans to comply with the athletic association's inquiry.
Muscaro said he has received phone calls, letters and e-mails since the beginning of the season from parents and coaches questioning St. Vincent-St. Mary's travel to out-of-state games and ticket prices for James' games.
"It has been one thing after another," Muscaro said.
Muscaro said St. Vincent-St. Mary has cooperated with previous OHSAA inquires about James.
CLEVELAND -- LeBron James is traveling like a professional player these days. And not just on the court.
James, the nation's most hyped player and expected No. 1 pick in this year's NBA draft, is driving a Hummer H2, a sports utility vehicle popular with many pro athletes.
James' ride -- with a base retail price of nearly $50,000 -- has state high school officials wondering if the 18-year-old has jeopardized his amateur standing.
"We have some concerns," said Clair Muscaro, commissioner of the Ohio High School Athletic Association. "The thing I'm concerned about is that it was gift from the outside. . . . When our schools see something like that, it throws up a red flag. It's different than a parent buying their son or daughter a small vehicle."
The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that James, a senior at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, was given the vehicle as an 18th birthday present by his mother, Gloria.
The SUV is outfitted with three televisions and a hookup for computer games. Gloria James obtained a bank loan to finance the purchase, the paper said, quoting anonymous sources close to the team.
Gloria James declined to comment Sunday after her son scored 30 points to lead the Irish to a 76-41 victory over Detroit Redford at the Cleveland Convocation Center.
"I've got nothing to say about that," she said.
Muscaro said the athletic association is interested in hearing what the 600-student private Catholic school has to say about the young superstar's vehicle.
"We have not yet talked to the school," Muscaro said. "We plan to follow up with a phone call. We'll see if they know anything about it. We would like to find out what they know. I think it is important for our member schools to know what's going on."
According to an athletic association bylaw, an athlete forfeits his or her amateur status by "capitalizing on athletic fame by receiving money or gifts of monetary value."
St. Vincent-St. Mary athletic director Grant Innocenzi said the school plans to comply with the athletic association's inquiry.
Muscaro said he has received phone calls, letters and e-mails since the beginning of the season from parents and coaches questioning St. Vincent-St. Mary's travel to out-of-state games and ticket prices for James' games.
"It has been one thing after another," Muscaro said.
Muscaro said St. Vincent-St. Mary has cooperated with previous OHSAA inquires about James.