LeBron James has pretty much stayed above the political fray in his NBA career.
Until now.
James is throwing his name and hard-earned reputation as one of the best, if not the best, athletes in the world behind Hillary Clinton.
In a column written to fans — released exclusively online to Business Insider on Sunday night and in print in Monday’s Akron Beacon Journal — James explains why this particular race is different and why he is speaking out now.
The 849-word column is typical James and reminiscent of his missive in Sports Illustrated when he announced he was returning home from Miami to once again wear a Cavs uniform.
The endorsement is both highly personal and full of references to his hometown of Akron.
Unlike the pointed rhetoric of this year’s presidential campaign, James takes a measured tone in making his case.
He talks about having two “missions” when he decided to come home to Northeast Ohio two years ago.
The first was to bring a national championship to a region that has longed for one for decades.
The second mission, James said, was to make a difference, particularly among the area’s children.
This message, delivered in the beginning of his column, is similar to one he has been preaching since winning the championship, through his foundation that works to keep Akron school kids not only in school, but working toward a college degree.
“As a kid, I didn’t have much money. It was just my mom and me, and things were rough at times,” James wrote. “But I had basketball. That gave me a family, a community and an education. That’s more than a lot of children in Akron can say. There are a lot of people who want to tell kids who grew up like me and looked like me that they just don’t have anything to look forward to.
“That’s dead wrong.”
James added that “opportunities, a support system and a safety net for kids in poverty or kids in single-parent households shouldn’t be limited to those lucky enough to be blessed with athletic talent.”
And change, James argued, will be achieved only if everyone works together.
“When I look at this year’s presidential race, it’s clear which candidate believes the same thing,” James wrote. “Only one person running truly understands the struggles of an Akron child born into poverty. And when I think about the kinds of policies and ideas the kids in my foundation need from our government, the choice is clear.
“That candidate is Hillary Clinton.”
The timing of the announcement is likely no coincidence as Clinton will be in Akron on Monday to make a ticket-only appearance at the newly renovated Goodyear Hall.
It has not been announced yet whether James will be among those in attendance, but the mere endorsement by the area’s biggest name will carry weight in the room.
“I support Hillary because she will build on the legacy of my good friend, President Barack Obama,” James wrote. “I believe in what President Obama has done for our country and support her commitment to continuing that legacy.
“Like my foundation, Hillary has always been a champion for children and their futures.”
It should be noted that James supported Obama’s campaigns but did not make the kind of very public announcement that he’s making for Clinton.
James also took time in his column to address the rash violence and racial divide in the country.
Weighing in on the sensitive issue is not a first for James.
He joined Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony to address the issue at the opening of this year’s ESPY awards and has sported an “I can’t breathe” T-shirt in the past to protest brutality and the death of Eric Garner in New York.
During a recent media day for the Cavs’ upcoming season, James told a throng of reporters that he fears for the safety of his three children when they are old enough to drive and may get pulled over by police.
“We must address the violence, of every kind, the African-American community is experiencing in our streets and seeing on our TVs,” he wrote. “I believe rebuilding our communities by focusing on at-risk children is a significant part of the solution. However, I am not a politician, I don’t know everything it will take finally to end the violence.
“But I do know we need a president who brings us together and keeps us unified.”
The rhetoric of some politicians — like Donald Trump — along with “policies and ideas that divide us” are not a solution, James asserted.
“We must all stand together — no matter where we are from or the color of our skin.”
Craig Webb can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3547.