Jon Rapoport

The Akron life and legacy of LeBron James

LeBron JamesSince LeBron James’ controversial decision to take his talents to South Beach, much attention has been given to the level of venom emanating from his former basketball hometown of Cleveland.  Remarkably, the atmosphere 30 miles to the south of Quicken Loans Arena, in James’ hometown of Akron, provides a far more intricate opinion of the events of July 8.  

Baseball history on display for fans at the new Yankee Stadium

In a previous article, iFollo.com analyzed one of the most glaring negatives of the new Yankee Stadium, autograph accessibility to both Yankee and visiting players. Today’s piece will focus on how effectively the two-year old ballpark showcases the great history of our nation’s most famous sports franchise.

The most noticeable and glaring homage to the team’s history can be found when viewing the exterior facade of the building (pictured upper right and below). The limestone material and architectural design bear an uncanny resemblance to the original park’s 1923 grand opening appearance. The main entrance gates to the stadium are situated via Babe Ruth Plaza, located alongside 161 Street.

New Yankee Stadium not built with autograph seekers in mind

The South Bronx intersection of 161 Street and River Avenue is home to the most hallowed grounds in all of American sports. From 1923-2008, the original Yankee Stadium stood to the south and west of this very distinct part of the world.  “The House That Ruth Built” witnessed 26 World Championships, the most significant NFL game in history (1958 NFL Championship Game) and a bevy of noteworthy boxing matches, college football games and even religious gatherings. The stadium’s unparalleled history, combined with the Yankees incredible success, created an energy and fan experience unique to any sporting venue in the world. Quite simply, the old ballpark’s atmosphere was just as powerful as any of the legends who have called the park home. 

ifollosports.com's interview with NFL Star Maurice Jones-Drew

As the Jacksonville Jaguars prepare for the 2010 season, without question the face of the franchise is that of All-Pro running back Maurice Jones-Drew.  Amid the intense heat and humidity of the North Florida summer, no player’s star shines brighter among the assembled group of talent toiling their way through training camp on the grounds of the newly named EverBank Field.

During his four NFL seasons, Jones-Drew has averaged a whopping 13.5 touchdowns per campaign.  This production has well outpaced the numbers of Pac-10 rivals Reggie Bush and LenDale White.  The USC backs were chosen with picks two and 45 in the 2006 draft, while Jones-Drew, the San Francisco Bay Area native and former UCLA standout, fell all the way to pick number 60.  

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