Birth Certificate
Posted on July 27th, 2006 by
We’ve all seen LeBron James play, but in all honesty, how many of you actually think he’s only 21 years old? Well you’re not alone, Dwyane Wade, Tracy McGrady, and a whole lot of others doesn’t think so either, but just to be sure, the good old folks at ESPN got a copy of his birth certificate.
A sweaty Team USA practice has ended inside UNLV’s Cox Pavilion, and players are plopping down on chairs, untying laces and toweling off.
LeBron James slips off his signature Nikes and yells, to no one in particular, “I need five bags of ice!”
Three chairs over, Dwyane Wade shoots LeBron a sly look and retorts: “That’s because you’re 30 years old!”
It’s not the first time LeBron’s pal Wade has used the joke. Just a month ago, he made similar comments during the NBA Finals when the topic of James’ frequent text messages came up.
It seems Wade isn’t entirely persuaded that James could be three years his junior.
“No way I buy he’s 21,” Wade said. “Show me that birth certificate, that’s what I want.”
Well, Dwyane, you’re in luck. ESPN.com has obtained a copy of James’ official birth certificate from the State of Ohio Office of Vital Statistics and compared it with records from the City of Akron Department of Public Health.
Sure enough, sealed and certified, LeBron Raymone James was born to Gloria Marie James on Dec. 30, 1984.
He’s 21 now and was 18 when he played his first NBA game. #
Tracy McGrady: “Damn, man. You sure he is 21? We’ve got to check his birth certificate.”
Sekou Smith, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “Um, can I see LeBron James’ birth certificate please?”
Stephen A. Smith, Philadelphia Inquirer: “Just looking at him makes you want to check his birth certificate.”
Bomani Jones, ESPN.com’s Page 2: “I still wonder if there’s a little Almonte on his birth certificate.”
