LeBron James thanked his fans in Cleveland for their support on Saturday at a charity cycling event in his hometown, his first area visit since dumping the NBA Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat.
Hundreds of people attended the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player's "King for Kids" celebration, which came a week after James was criticized for a newspaper ad thanking Akron backers but not mentioning fans in Cleveland.
"To the city of Cleveland, my fans in Cleveland, my fans in northeast Ohio, I want to say thank you for the last seven years and the years that continue to go in the future," James said.
James signed a free agent deal with Miami last month, joining pals Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh but leaving behind the Cavaliers fans who had adored him for years and hoped in vain he would bring the city a first NBA crown.
Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert vowed his team would win an NBA title before James does and Cleveland baseball fans threw beer and peanuts at a man who wore a Heat jersey with James' name on it to a Cleveland Indians game, heckling him so bad police had to escort him away.
James cycled a mile with about 400 children and praised his hometown of Akron.
"I'm able to give back to the city that I grew up in, the city that I love," he said.
Copyright 2010 AFP American Edition
