Season Over, LeBron James Continues To Draw Fouls
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Cleveland resident Jim Rosenkotter was shocked to be whistled for a foul while buying groceries.
"I was just picking up some pretzels at Kroger," said the father of three. "As I was putting them in my cart, I accidentally bumped into LeBron James. Suddenly, [NBA referee] Joey Crawford leapt out from behind a Fritos display and called me for a reach-in."
This is becoming a common scene in northeastern Ohio.
Although the Cleveland Cavaliers were knocked out of the playoffs by the Orlando Magic last Saturday, the NBA continues to follow James round-the-clock with two referees and a portable rim. The NBA asserts they are only trying to protect their most popular player, but not everyone is pleased.
"We were debating whether [PTA chapter 713] should hold a bake sale," said Shaker Heights native Phyllis O'Connor. "LeBron wanted to have a car wash instead. When I started to argue, [referee Hue] Hollins hit me with a T [technical foul.]
"Unbelievable. Two shots and the ball just because I think bake sales are more profitable than car washes.
"Bullshit," she added.
Not everyone objects to the policy, however.
"I like it," said baker Christine Barry. "If you're gonna call a foul in the first quarter, call it at the laundromat. A foul's a foul."
James has converted 88 of 92 free throws over the past five days. This is the highest number of off-season free-throw attempts since Michael Jordan made 127 consecutive foul shots while vacationing with his family in Bermuda in 1996.
