‘We Are LeBron’ Video: Tongue-in-Cheek Plea from Cleveland - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

catlover79 · 05-14-2010, 11:05 PM

http://offthedribble.blogs.nytimes.c...rom-cleveland/

May 14, 2010, 5:44 pm
‘We Are LeBron’ Video: a Tongue-in-Cheek Plea from Cleveland
By LYNN ZINSER

At one point in the waning N.B.A. season, Mike Polk, a lifelong Cavaliers fan and video producer, had an idea to produce a video to help convince LeBron James to stay in Cleveland after he becomes a free agent on July 1. He convinced Break Media to go along with his idea, and when the Cavaliers were unceremoniously bounced from the playoffs Thursday night, the video had its opening.

The result: on Break.com, the video hit the Internet, filled with Cleveland celebrities — everyone from a famous local furniture pitchman to Ohio Governor Ted Strickland — singing “We are LeBron” to the tune of “We Are the World.”

It is part earnest pleading to the city’s biggest star, part tongue-in-cheek poke at Cleveland itself — including offering to name all the streets after James. Polk said even the choice of song was part of the joke. “We Are the World” was originally used to raise awareness for hunger in Africa. “We’re just trying to convince a guy who’s really good at throwing a ball through a circle to stay in our city,” Polk said.

In a way, the way the Cavaliers lost may have added to the appeal of the video.

“Not that we could have foreseen that their season would end like this — although if you study the history of Cleveland sports, we should have foreseen that it would end like this — but at first we worried that it would hurt the video,” said Polk. “But actually I think it helped the video. I think it was kind of a catharsis for people. It does represent what a lot of people in Cleveland are thinking.”

The video made sense at Break Media because, as Polk said, “we make funny videos.” He said it was surprisingly easy to convince the local celebrities to participate. “For the most part, people were happy to respond,” he said. “People were good sports about it.”

Polk said the governor’s security team swept the site and then he got the humorous duty of introducing Strickland to “the Norton Furniture guy.”

According to Break Media’s Jonathan Smalls, in the first two hours the video was posted, it had more than 80,000 views, was shared on Facebook 5,100 times and re-tweeted on Twitter more than 500 times. A Cleveland sports failure might be a cliche at this point, but still a popular one.

“This is just like the other disappointments in Cleveland sports history, except unlike The Drive and The Fumble, this was more of a slow burn through two rounds of the playoffs,” Polk said. “But I’m always overwhelmed by realizing that, we’re so used to these things by now that we just deal with them. I’ve seen a lot of disappointed people around town but not one surprised person.”

And some may even be laughing at their own earnestness.

catlover79 · 05-14-2010, 11:07 PM

This is just too priceless.

Marvo301 · 05-14-2010, 11:30 PM

The next song Clevlander's will be singing? Na na na na, hey hey hey, Lebron James Good-bye!

catlover79 · 05-14-2010, 11:59 PM

No - Danke Schoen!!! Heavy on the sarcasm, of course.

Lennon · 05-15-2010, 01:14 AM

That is just to damn funny!

I love it!!!

catlover79 · 05-15-2010, 01:20 AM

I know - I can't stop watching this video!! How many times has "We Are the World" been parodied over the years, anyway??

MrCleveland · 05-18-2010, 01:57 PM

The Clevelanders should sing The Eagles "Heartache Tonight"...because that's all we get!

catlover79 · 05-19-2010, 10:42 AM

^ Sad but true!!

James · 05-21-2010, 01:16 PM

I saw the video, and while it gave mention to Governor Strickland and Senator Sherrod Brown, there was no mention of Senator George Voinovich--who was Mayor of Cleveland in the 1980s! (Guess who's the Republican!

)

catlover79 · 05-21-2010, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James

I saw the video, and while it gave mention to Governor Strickland and Senator Sherrod Brown, there was no mention of Senator George Voinovich--who was Mayor of Cleveland in the 1980s! (Guess who's the Republican!

)

Plus George Voinovich was the Governor of Ohio back in the 1990s!!!

Tweety · 05-22-2010, 04:19 PM

"New York's overcrowded
Those people are unbearable... "

catlover79 · 05-22-2010, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tweety

"New York's overcrowded
Those people are unbearable... "

No argument here!!

05-14-2010, 11:05 PM	#1
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	‘We Are LeBron’ Video: Tongue-in-Cheek Plea from Cleveland http://offthedribble.blogs.nytimes.c...rom-cleveland/ May 14, 2010, 5:44 pm ‘We Are LeBron’ Video: a Tongue-in-Cheek Plea from Cleveland By LYNN ZINSER At one point in the waning N.B.A. season, Mike Polk, a lifelong Cavaliers fan and video producer, had an idea to produce a video to help convince LeBron James to stay in Cleveland after he becomes a free agent on July 1. He convinced Break Media to go along with his idea, and when the Cavaliers were unceremoniously bounced from the playoffs Thursday night, the video had its opening. The result: on Break.com, the video hit the Internet, filled with Cleveland celebrities — everyone from a famous local furniture pitchman to Ohio Governor Ted Strickland — singing “We are LeBron” to the tune of “We Are the World.” It is part earnest pleading to the city’s biggest star, part tongue-in-cheek poke at Cleveland itself — including offering to name all the streets after James. Polk said even the choice of song was part of the joke. “We Are the World” was originally used to raise awareness for hunger in Africa. “We’re just trying to convince a guy who’s really good at throwing a ball through a circle to stay in our city,” Polk said. In a way, the way the Cavaliers lost may have added to the appeal of the video. “Not that we could have foreseen that their season would end like this — although if you study the history of Cleveland sports, we should have foreseen that it would end like this — but at first we worried that it would hurt the video,” said Polk. “But actually I think it helped the video. I think it was kind of a catharsis for people. It does represent what a lot of people in Cleveland are thinking.” The video made sense at Break Media because, as Polk said, “we make funny videos.” He said it was surprisingly easy to convince the local celebrities to participate. “For the most part, people were happy to respond,” he said. “People were good sports about it.” Polk said the governor’s security team swept the site and then he got the humorous duty of introducing Strickland to “the Norton Furniture guy.” According to Break Media’s Jonathan Smalls, in the first two hours the video was posted, it had more than 80,000 views, was shared on Facebook 5,100 times and re-tweeted on Twitter more than 500 times. A Cleveland sports failure might be a cliche at this point, but still a popular one. “This is just like the other disappointments in Cleveland sports history, except unlike The Drive and The Fumble, this was more of a slow burn through two rounds of the playoffs,” Polk said. “But I’m always overwhelmed by realizing that, we’re so used to these things by now that we just deal with them. I’ve seen a lot of disappointed people around town but not one surprised person.” And some may even be laughing at their own earnestness.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

05-14-2010, 11:30 PM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	The next song Clevlander's will be singing? Na na na na, hey hey hey, Lebron James Good-bye!
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

05-18-2010, 01:57 PM	#7
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,235	The Clevelanders should sing The Eagles "Heartache Tonight"...because that's all we get!
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

05-22-2010, 04:19 PM	#11
Tweety Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 18, 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 6,804	"New York's overcrowded Those people are unbearable... "
	__________________ Straight, and VERY proud of it. No, that's OK, I don't need a parade.

05-14-2010, 11:07 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	This is just too priceless.

05-14-2010, 11:59 PM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	No - Danke Schoen!!! Heavy on the sarcasm, of course.

05-15-2010, 01:14 AM	#5
Lennon Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 23, 2010 Location: tn Posts: 116	That is just to damn funny! I love it!!!

05-15-2010, 01:20 AM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	I know - I can't stop watching this video!! How many times has "We Are the World" been parodied over the years, anyway??

05-19-2010, 10:42 AM	#8
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	^ Sad but true!!

05-21-2010, 01:16 PM	#9
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	I saw the video, and while it gave mention to Governor Strickland and Senator Sherrod Brown, there was no mention of Senator George Voinovich--who was Mayor of Cleveland in the 1980s! (Guess who's the Republican! )