RESEARCH ROUGH DRAFT

LeBron James leverages social capital through political influence popularity on Twitter

LeBron James leverages social capital through political influence popularity on Twitter.

Tyran Hunt

Old Dominion University

COMM602

Dr. Santo

November 19, 2021

LeBron James is indeed one of the most well-known sports figures in the globe. AJames is a significant and motivating character in many people's lives, LeBron James is one of them. The purpose of this study is to investigate how LeBron, as a famous character and important figure on has used his social media presence to, has influenced the lives of ordinary people. Because of the many good initiatives that Lebron has initiated, he has been able to utilize social capital and bring people together. In the community, sports, and throughout the world, he has inspired people to work and live together amicably as a result of his efforts (Griffin & Phillips, 2018). Lebron James is a well-known individual who has a large number of followers on his Twitter feed. Twitter is the social media channel on which he most oftenly expresses himself and makes his observations. It will be discussed in this article the many ways that James LeBron has encouraged people to work together in order to create a better society in which they may live. It will go into depth about the different initiatives he has undertaken in the community and throughout the world, as well as his effect on social racial politics. Comment by Avi Santo: Source? Otherwise avoid hyperbole Comment by Avi Santo: Again, source? People is a broad category… Comment by Avi Santo: Torn here. He is publicly known by LeBron, but a scholarly essay would use James (last name) throughout Comment by Avi Santo: This suggests that your research can determine how LeBron has influenced people via social media, which would require you to analyze how people have responded to his posts, as opposed to analyzing how he has sought to influence via social media, which puts the focus on his posting strategies… Comment by Avi Santo: Avoid evaluative language. Good and bad are subjective concepts Comment by Avi Santo: Be consistent with spelling. LeBron not Lebron Comment by Avi Santo: You will need to define social capital. It can typically be leveraged and is often sought, but I’m not sure how you would “use” it… Comment by Avi Santo: This just seems very broad and a little utopian in terms of both LeBron’s goals and the outcomes. He has lots of haters online and I do not think that his BLM posts are about bringing people together, but calling for equity and justice… Comment by Avi Santo: Beginning to get repetitive Comment by Avi Santo: How large are they? Provide actual #s Comment by Avi Santo: About what? Comment by Avi Santo: Your naming conventions keep shifting. Be consistent Comment by Avi Santo: Rework this as an argument you are making, rather than a series of observations. An argument has a focused point driving the remainder of the essay. Observations meander from place to place. Your intro is where you need to state your argument, which needs to be based on the evidence you’ve analyzed. The argument is the vehicle that drives the essay. It isn’t a destination you arrive at by essay’s end. You aren’t using sections breaks, which you should definitely incorporate for D2, so it is hard for me to know where the essay’s intro ends and the next section begins. An introduction presents an argument; it addresses the importance of this essay’s intervention in either popular perception of scholarly debate around James, social capital, social media or whatever; it addresses the evidence gathered, how and why it was gathered, how it was analyzed; and it offers a roadmap for the remainder of the essay So far what you are presenting is too general to be an argument. A focused case study on how LeBron has leveraged his social capital on Twitter to engage followers to take action for a particular social justice campaign would work better… Comment by Avi Santo: How will you determine this?

Lebron James is, without question, one of the greatest basketball players in the National Basketball Association (NBA) (Freedman, 2018). In addition to beingcoming a four-time NBA champion, four-time finals MVP, four-time NBA MVP, four-time NBA Playoff MVP, and so on, he also has several more achievements (Oznian, 2017). Many people also regard NBA superstar LeBron James to be an important and inspirational figure in their life. We have seen Lebron make a difference in the lives of many individuals, notably in children's lives, via his use of social media platforms. He has brought the children together by establishing and financing an educational institution that would allow all youngsters to get a quality educational experience. It has been possible for him to bring individuals of various races together in the larger community and athletics because of his capacity to influence others. His popularity is quite influential, as shown by his highly active Twitter account, constantly busy. Comment by Avi Santo: Source? Comment by Avi Santo: Who are “we”? Comment by Avi Santo: Use institutional names Comment by Avi Santo: Isn’t the school aimed at helping at-risk/low-income kids? Specificity matters Comment by Avi Santo: What does this have to do with his Twitter account? Was the school financed through Twitter? Established on Twitter? Connect your dots… Comment by Avi Santo: Of Newport News? This is too vague a term… Comment by Avi Santo: While popularity can be a means of gaining influence, I don’t think these are always equated. Lots of influential people aren’t popular and many popular people have limited influence beyond what they may be popular for. I do think that in a era defined by branding, these two concepts have intersected in interesting ways, but you would need to make that connection through your lit review and analysis rather than just stating it as a fact… Comment by Avi Santo: What does a bust twitter account mean?

While James is generally regarded as one of the best basketball players of all time, his brand has grown to include much more than just his playing ability (Freedman, 2018). We have all learned about James' participation in a Hollywood production via the medium of Twitter. James has appeared in many big Hollywood films, including the comedy "Train Wreck," where he steals the show from Amy Schumer (Trainwreck, 2015). With the help of his production firm, NAME, he has createds television programs, including one that focuses on small companies in his hometown ("Cleveland Hustles"). He has signed many lucrative endorsement contracts, including a lifetime agreement with Nike that is believed to be worth more than $1 billion, which he signed at the end of 2015. Comment by Avi Santo: Define this concept Comment by Avi Santo: Have we? I don’t follow LeBron on Twitter, so I definitely didn’t learn about it there. I’d go with more straightforward claims like: “James has used his twitter account to promote his participation in Hollywood productions like XX and YYY” (Dates of tweets) Comment by Avi Santo: Avoid these sorts of evaluative statements Comment by Avi Santo: Sources needed for all these examples. Also, his being multi-modal doesn’t make him a brand. A brand is a set of associative values that are linked to a person/product/place that are integral to how they accrue value and which follow them even as they migrate across platforms.

James's self-described narrative that he is "just a kid from Akron" is a fundamental aspect of his brand, a central part of his brand. Despite his youth, James has been positioned as a superstar from an early age, appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated while he was a high school student at St. John's. His talent to act has resulted in people worldwide recognizing him not just for his football prowess but also for his capacity to bring more people together (Griffin & Phillips, 2018). Many people expressed their opinions on his films, and he was hailed and acknowledged as the most powerful person in the sports industry due to their comments on Twitter. James has also made use of his Twitter account to promote social culture. Comment by Avi Santo: Source? Comment by Avi Santo: ??? Comment by Avi Santo: Sources? Any time you make a claim that isn’t common knowledge, you need to source it. In the case of LeBron James, I’d say it is common knowledge that he is basketball star. That’s about it. Comment by Avi Santo: Not sure I understand what you mean Comment by Avi Santo: This is both repetitive and hyperbolic

He has brought people together from all walks of life, including people of all colors and cultures. It seems that they are all flooding into his Twitter account, congratulating him for the fantastic things that he has done for others. Because of the foundation he has established, he has been successful primarily in his neighborhood. Still, he has also been successful in his professional life because of his contacts (Coombs & Cassilo, 2017). Sports have given him the chance to bring individuals of different ethnic backgrounds together by encouraging him to play while he is on the field. However, he can bring people together due to his toughness and resolve, even though some discourage and, at times, even resist him. He had previously been a member of the black movement, which opposed the practice of social, racial discrimination against African-Americans in general and African-American women in particular. He was an outspoken supporter of the Black Lives Matter protest movement in the United States. Comment by Avi Santo: Evidence? Comment by Avi Santo: What neighborhood. Be specific Comment by Avi Santo: Still sort of repetitive. What evidence do you have that people of different ethnic backgrounds root for him? I’m sure its true, but with a source or evidence, it just seems overstated and speculative. Both should be avoided Comment by Avi Santo: Examples? Sources? This needs to move beyond generalities… Comment by Avi Santo: Is this a specific organization? Comment by Avi Santo: Example? Source?

James's influence on the Black Lives Matter movement resulted in an upsurge in the athlete-activist stance in the United States, thanks to the Black Lives Matter movement. He is one of the most sought-after voices to lend support and increase public consciousness to the deaths of unarmed Black men, women, and children in the United States and throughout the globe, based on his stratospheric popularity, his tweets, and his dominance as an athlete, among other things. James wears the label with a lot of care throughout the whole process. When it comes to activism, James' involvement with Black Lives Matter and activism, in general, is molded by the cultural and political settings in which it takes place. So, his reaction to an incident involving local law enforcement in an area where he has developed working connections and depends on the police regularly was more measured than we imagined. Comment by Avi Santo: Can you prove that it was James’ influence that brought more athletes to activism? Quotes from athletes attributing their activism to James would be needed… Comment by Avi Santo: Source? Comment by Avi Santo: Explain what you mean. Offer examples. Comment by Avi Santo: Explain through example Comment by Avi Santo: Again, who are “we”? I never imagined this… Comment by Avi Santo: This is an interesting assertion. It lacks context. It lacks a supporting example. It lacks a source.

As a well-known champion for social justice, James's response was at odds with the expectations that had been set for him as a result of his reputation. However, it was consistent with the broader brand image of James as being intellectual, analytical, and deliberate in his statements and actions. Through his Twitter accounts, he encouraged people to desist from killing and shooting black people in the United States (Wallace, 2021). Mr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the most prominent personalities in the United States who fought for peace and cooperation between black and white people. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and died in Memphis, Tennessee. It has also been effective in motivating the white and black players to collaborate and work together due to its impact on them. In the face of abuse (Galily, 2019), he never gives up, and he encourages people to coexist and live together even though some discouragers happen to work in the same field as him. Comment by Avi Santo: Ho do you know he is well known for this? Source? Comment by Avi Santo: Response to what? Something is missing here… Comment by Avi Santo: Source? Comment by Avi Santo: All of this could be interesting, but it is missing the detailed example to which it appears to be referring… Comment by Avi Santo: OK… what this got to do with LeBron? Comment by Avi Santo: What is the “it” in this statement? Comment by Avi Santo: This needs to be unpacked and sourced.

As a consequence of his professional basketball career, LeBron James has generated social capital and collaboration among individuals worldwide, according to this study, which used a descriptive research approach to examine this phenomenon. Additionally, the content from news articles concerning Lebron James' personal life was included in this research paper. In addition to stories about his athletic accomplishments and community work. Additionally, the Twitter accounts of the world-renowned Lebron James’ tweets throughout his sporting career werehave made public on websites that supplyied additional information on the athlete. The story of James's ordeal was covered extensively by several news organizations, websites, and local media sources. It was decided which articles to use based on their relevance to the subject matter at hand and which ones to leave out. Those stories that revealed Lebron's effect on a broad community were given the most importance. In contrast, those pieces that just discussed his influence inside a narrow circle, such as his sports, were given the second-highest priority. Comment by Avi Santo: What is social capital and how is it generated? Lots of scholarship on this concept going back to the original source, Pierre Bourdieu… Comment by Avi Santo: Confusing. Are you referring to your study, or another. If the latter, please cite. Comment by Avi Santo: Sane question as last comment Comment by Avi Santo: Sentence fragment Comment by Avi Santo: Why do I need to know this? What does this have to do with generating social capital? This is a bit disjointed Comment by Avi Santo: What ordeal? Comment by Avi Santo: Sources? Comment by Avi Santo: By whom> I am confused. Are you referring to how you selected articles? I am not really sure to what you are referring Comment by Avi Santo: Not sure this “in contrast” to anything… Comment by Avi Santo: This might be a paragraph referring to how you selected tweets to analyze, but the way it is written is really confusing and it seems randomly inserted in the middle of the essay. I’m sure it isn’t random, but it reads that way. A bit more streamlining is needed… Comment by Avi Santo: Refs, coaches and fellow players?

The people he interacts with while playing the game would be utilized as a source of information. Because of the nature of his Twitter account, it was essential to do a thorough investigation to discover how he interacts with the broader public. Insights on how he perceives himself to be regarded and cared for by others by following him on Twitter, you will be able to get the most significant insight into how the well-known sportsperson has leveraged and brought people together via the use of his Twitter account. One of the study's goals was to figure out how many people follow him on Twitter, and one of the study's aims was to figure out how many people follow him on Twitter. So that he could make an informed judgment regarding his future course of action, he needed to know how many people he may potentially touch. Comment by Avi Santo: Strangely circular sentence Comment by Avi Santo: This seems like an unambitious goal/aim. Also, not sure what the difference between a goal and an aim?

In all, roughly 30 websites that supplied information on the well-known athlete Lebron James expressed interest in participating in the data collection. On the other hand, some of the pieces were succinct and did not go deeply into the subject matter that was intended to be explored in detail. It was necessary to go through the table of contents many times to arrange them and get the most precise information available. You may gain a short synopsis of the subjects handled in the articles by looking at the table of contents. It took some effort on his side to conduct the study he performed on his Twitter profile, even though it was a simple process. He just needed to go into his page and search for the required information to uncover it. The internet documents I obtained for this investigation included a substantial quantity of information that I did not cover. Comment by Avi Santo: Why do you keep using this descriptor? This has been established after the first mention Comment by Avi Santo: I am really confused, Tyran. What data were you collecting and what sites required you to get permission? Comment by Avi Santo: Was there a first hand? Comment by Avi Santo: This is written in such an abstract way that I truly have no idea what subject matter you are referring to Comment by Avi Santo: For a website? Comment by Avi Santo: Not in my experience Comment by Avi Santo: On whose side? We are beginning to slip into incoherent territory again, Tyran. I am not sure to whom you are referring from sentence to sentence or what you are trying to say.

Lebron James has established himself as a well-known basketball player due to his achievements while playing for the Miami Heat. His influence may thus impact a large number of individuals who work in the services industry as a result of this development. Consequently, the vast bulk of his writings will be regarded as belonging to the literary genre of sports literature. The essential information was gathered by the use of a textual analysis technique. Additional audio and video recordings and remarks on Twitter and other social media platforms underlined his capacity to create collaboration and bring people together, among other characteristics. As part of the inquiry process, it was determined that some of the material was useless and had to be thrown away. Only relevant information pertaining to LeBron’s was deemed valuable. It included information on his ability to influence others in his neighborhood andthrough his participation in social networking sites such as Twitter was deemed valuable. Comment by Avi Santo: What does this sentence have to do consequently with the previous one? How is it a consequence of LeBron working with a large number of people in the service industry while playing for the Miami Heat - itself a non-sequester that seems apropos of nothing - that you will engage in a lit review focused on sports literature (which I assume is fiction starring athletes)? Comment by Avi Santo: Does not require mentioning

His foundation, the LeBron James Family Foundation, has made several charitable donations to improve the lives of those in need. Each of these initiatives is beneficial to the community and has a favorable impact on it. Any activity that fosters the development of young people is helpful to the whole community since children are the community's future. Mr. LeBron is doing incredible humanitarian deeds that hasve a significant impact on the people in his neighborhood and his Twitter followers, who are increasing in their admiration and respect for him. Mr. LeBron's ideas about belonging to a community were formed by the encouragement he received from his peers throughout his childhood. His NBA success has enabled him to place his foundation to give back to the community that was so supportive of him while he was growing up. He is grateful to the NBA for this opportunity. Being reminded of Mr. LeBron's humble beginnings inspires him to continue his charitable efforts within the community. Comment by Avi Santo: So if I enroll young people in a camp run by neo-Nazis that trains them to be alligator bait, this would be considered helpful by these criteria. More nuance is needed with these statements Comment by Avi Santo: Naming conventions need to be consistent throughout Comment by Avi Santo: This reads more like a love letter than an analysis of how he leverages his social capital on Twitter and folds social justice work in with his brand… More work on the how part is needed, less celebrating the outcome Comment by Avi Santo: Source? Comment by Avi Santo: How does LeBron leverage this story as part of his brand?

Mr. James has been a member of an emerging national movement that incorporates the community's demands into the development of socially responsible enterprises. “Mr. James is establishing a model for expanding education and social assistance in Akron's West Market Street area, where he grew up, and hopes to replicate it elsewhere. The LeBron James Family Foundation and its partners have committed more than $20 million to the construction of a new school, three residential complexes, and a sports and entertainment center in the community” (Griffin & Phillips, 2018). The projects are the basis on which he has built his life. As a result of the LeBron James Foundation, Mr. LeBron's public image has been enhanced. His potential can inspire other wealthy people, such as other athletes, to donate to their communities via philanthropic contributions. Regular people gain from generous presents, which have a significant impact on their quality of life. Because he has two sons and has reflected on his own experiences as a child growing up in Akron, he feels a sense of urgency to aid the city's people. Not only has his compassion for Akron's children moved him, but it has also contributed to the development of his reputation and trust, which has driven a considerable number of individuals all over the globe to give to the foundation's charitable endeavors. In addition to the foundation's extraordinary and superb leadership, individuals from all over the world are attracted to it because of its exceptional and excellent leadership. Examples include the LeBron James Family Foundation, which strives to raise the number of graduates in Akron while also encouraging people to embrace and respect diversity in all parts of their lives. To help children in finding and developing their potential, the foundation, among other things, offers both recreational and academic initiatives.

Because of his dedication and considerable efforts to give back, people's excitement for the LeBron James Family Foundation continues to increase, regardless of the race of the children and families that benefit from his efforts to help. By utilizing social capital, he has been able to assist as many people as possible, primarily through partnerships with other people, most of whom are from his hometown, and not forgetting his followers, who are actively involved in the development of his community because of their encouragement. The acts of LeBron James on Twitter are impeccably coordinated. Even though he is not compelled to do so, he performs an excellent job since, as the company's founder, Lebron is giving back to his community and hometown, even if he is not obligated to do so. He is putting in his utmost effort, and that is quite essential. Due to his dedication and hard work in the Akron community, he has brought blessings to the city and acted as an inspiration to a significant number of young people from this community. It is expected that his effect on the youth of this community will continue and that this influence will be seen and appreciated by future generations.

Although he is known for his public demeanor, Lebron James has strivend to foster a culture in which people are accepted for who they are, regardless of their skin color. Social media, in general, is the most influential website because it can be used to reach hundreds of thousands or even millions of people at the same time with no effort. Because Millions of people use Twitter, James can reach out to them and share his message with them. He is a black player who lends his support to both the black and white players on the team on the field of play. Because he supports all of the participants in the games, he does not discriminate against any of them in fun (Wallace, 2021). Individuals have been inspired to join the fight against racism as a result of his tremendous popularity. It is not because he is black, but instead because he wants to leave a legacy and live in a place where people can participate in and follow their hobbies without fear of being discriminated against because of their race or skin color, which he believes is essential.

The Black Lives Matter movement has, for the most part, highlighted the significance of dialogue and involvement between black and white communities (Coombs & Cassilo, 2017). All tasks are completed in a group setting, and they are free to converse with one another as well. Individuals could express their thoughts on racism via social networking and communication platforms such as Twitter, for example. According to the results of the survey, an overwhelming majority of his fans stand in solidarity with him and reject the issue of skin color discrimination.

Generally speaking, it is acceptable to argue that LeBron James has had a positive influence on society at large. The outcomes of his many attempts, all of which have contributed to the expansion of the organization as a result of his dedication to supporting the community, have proven to be very successful for him and the business. Currently, James is concentrating his efforts on assisting adolescents from his neighborhood who want to pursue a higher education degree. He came to the conclusion that it is difficult to support children's learning while they are battling for their life, hungry, without heat in the cold, terrified for their safety, or in any other situation that they may be in. He made the decision that they would be right there with them every step of the way to assist them in obtaining an education. Educators, counselors, and other professionals who work in high-need schools have long recognized the need of linking housing and social concerns to school performance. With an increase in the focus put on improving test scores over the last two decades, little or no attention has been paid to the effect of living in hazardous areas on academic achievement.

The I Promise team, including James and his colleagues, came to this realization within a year of the school's establishment, according to James. They want to have the accommodation finished in time for students to return to school for the 2020-21 academic year. In accordance with league regulations, James, who came under fire last month for his harsh remarks regarding Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey's tweet supporting protestors in Hong Kong, is under no obligation to spend his money that way, according to the New York Times (NYTimes 2019). The great majority of celebrities who have been engaged in education reform have done so by advocating alternatives to conventional public schools, such as charter schools, which are publicly financed but privately administered, as alternatives to traditional public schools. When James received his inheritance, he utilized money to help assist the local school system in Richmond, Virginia, where he was born and reared."

According to the findings of the I Promise initiative, children who live in poverty attend schools with far less resources than their peers who do not. Education financing in this nation continues to be a source of contention, as seen by the I Promise initiative and other initiatives. It is not always necessary to depend on the generosity of a phenomenally rich athlete to support a school that provides at-risk pupils with the tools they need to succeed. Instead, his well-known demeanor has assisted him in navigating through criticism from those who feel that his initiative was unnecessary in the first place and should have been abandoned long before it was.

When it comes to a person's overall well-being, popularity is one of the most important factors in larger society. It is important to understand how to utilize one's fame to positively impact the lives of others. People are no longer need to quarrel or mistreat one another because of their success in their respective fields (Galily, 2019). Lebron James is a wonderful representation of himself. Following in the footsteps of his characters will result in a wonderful world where people would feel at ease and free to live their lives on the planet without worry. Because of the way he interacts with others, he is someone to look up to. In his community, he has assisted everyone, with the majority of his assistance going to the humble and destitute. He has worked to increase educational opportunities in the neighborhood. On a larger social scale, and throughout the world. Lebron advocates for a society in where everyone may live peacefully and without fear of being attacked by anybody. A society in which racism does not exist, and in which people respect and appreciate one another. The president uses social media, most likely in the form of tweets, to oppose bigotry and urge people to coexist peacefully. People should follow in his footsteps and strive to live in peace at all times. He is constantly prepared to win, both personally and professionally. He does not exaggerate his achievements since he is well-known and a talented player; instead, he supports all players and coaches some of them. Indeed, he is a fantastic role model and person to be around.

In conclusion, Lebron James has had a greater impact on a larger number of those who consume mainstream media. When he wants to communicate with others, he prefers to utilize Twitter, where they may tweet and comment to his posts. Because of his high profile, he receives a large number of messages and responses on his social media accounts. His impact, on the other hand, is beneficial since he seeks to improve both the town in which he lives and the larger community. Through his efforts and the Black Lives Matter movement, he has been able to bring people together (Wallace, 2021). Not to include his professional accomplishments, these are the key ways in which his fame has grown. He is a superb basketball player who has had a significant impact on the majority of individuals in the sports industry.

I AM A BIT CONCERNED ABOUT THIS DRAFT, TYRAN. IT WAS VERY CONFUSING TO READ. IT DOES NOT ENGAGE WITH MUCH SCHOLARSHIP ON SPORTS AND SOCIAL JUSTIC OR SPORTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA. I AM HONESTLY NOT CERTAIN WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO ARGUE BEYOND LEBRON BEING AWESOME, WHICH MY BE TRUE, BUT IS NOT THE BASIS OF A RESEARCH PAPER. WHAT I THOUGHT YOU WERE TRYING TO DO WAS ANALYZE HOW LEBRON USES TWITTER TO INTERCONNECT HIS BRAND WITH VARIOUS SOCIAL JUSTICE PROJECTS HE SUPPORTS. WITH THAT GOAL, I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT THE PAPER MIGHT BE ORGANIZED AS FOLLOWS:

INTRO - WHAT IS YOUR ARGUMENT ABOUT HOW LEBRON DOES THIS? HOW IS THIS ARGUMENT INTERVENING IN POPULAR OR SCHOLARLY DEBATES? WHAT EVIDENCE WILL SUPPORT YOUR ARGUMENT AND HOW DID YOU ANALYZE IT? (2-3 PAGES)

BACKGROUND - WHO IS LEBRON JAMES, WHAT S THE SCOPE AND VALUE OF HIS MEDIA EMPIRE? WHAT SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES HAS HE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH? (DETAILS MATTER) (2-3 PAGES)

LIT REVIEW: WHAT HAVE SCHOLARS SAID ABOUT ATHLETES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE? WHAT HAVE SCHOLARS SAID ABOUT ATHLETES AND SOCIAL MEDIA? WHAT HAVE SCHOLARS SAID ABOUT ATHLETES, BRANDING, AND SOCIAL CAPITAL? (IN EACH INSTANCE TIE TO HOW IT CONNECTS TO YOUR FOCUS ON LEBRON) (4-5 PAGES)

ANALYSIS: A GENERAL FOCUS ON THE TYPES OF THINGS LEBRON (OR HIS PROXIES) TWEETS ABOUT THAT EMERGES FROM A SAMPLING OF 50-100 TWEETS. THIS WOULD ALSO INCLUDE TYPES OF LANGUAGE CHOICES USED TO BOTH ENGAGE AND PLAY TO THE BRAND. THEN A FOCUSED CASE STUDY ON HIS TWEETS AROUND A BLM EVENT THAT LOOKS AT HOW SOCIAL CAPITAL INTERSECTS WITH SOCIAL JUSTICE WHILE STAYING TRUE TO THE BRAND (5-6 PAGES)

CONCLUSION: SUMMARIZE ARGUMENT, EXPLAIN HOW IT PUSHES THE CONVERSATIONS IN THE SCHOLARSHIP YOU’VE ENGAGED WITH FURTHER. WHAT COMES NEXT? (2 PAGES)

I THINK THAT SOME OF THIS MAY BE BURIED IN THIS DRAFT, BUT YOU NEED TO SIMPLIFY YOUR SENTENCES TO ALLOW IT TO COME THROUGH

. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND WRITING IN FIRST PERSON WHENEVER YOU ARE DISCUSSING YOUR ARGUMENT, YOUR ANALYSIS, YOUR APPROACH. THAT WILL HELP. I ALSO THINK YOU HAVE PIECES ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE ANALYZING SCATTERED ACROSS THE DOCUMENT THAT NEED TO BE AMALGAMATED. LASTLY, THERE IS A LOT OF REPETITION. I DO NOT NEED TO BE TOLD A DOZEN TIMES HOW GREAT AN ATHLETE LEBRON. ONCE WILL SUFFICE. MAKE SURE EACH PARAGRAPH IN THE ESSAY BUILDS ON THE PREVIOUS ONE BUT ALSO ADVANCES YOUR ARGUMENT.

I STILL THINK THIS PAPER TOPIC HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL, BUT IT NEEDS A MORE SCHEMATIC APPROACH THAT WILL HELP YOU STREAMLINE YOUR ARGUMENT AND IT NEEDS A MORE IMPACTFUL ARGUMENT THAN PROVIG LEBRON’S GREATNESS, HAPPY TO DISCUSS FURTHER. LOOKING FORWARD TO DRAFT #2.

References

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Davis, C. (2017). LeBron scholarship program. Diverse Issues in Higher Education, 32(16), 5. https://search.proquest.com/openview/2174b6618e120a1944c89dc1ac079572/1.pdf?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=27805

Galily, Y. (2019). “Shut up and dribble!”? Athletes’ activism in the age of Twittersphere: The case of LeBron James. Technology in Society, 58, 101109. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160791X1830229X

Griffin, R. A., & Phillips, J. D. (2018). Lebron James as cybercolonized spectacle: A critical race reading of whiteness in sport. In Sports and identity (pp. 76-98). Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315852331-11/lebron-james-cybercolonized-spectacle-critical-race-reading-whiteness-sport-rachel-alicia-griffin-joshua-daniel-phillips

Freedman, L. (2018). LeBron James: A Biography. ABC-CLIO. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=qXkq1n1VpHgC&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=lebron+james+basketball+player&ots=gFrSPS_JhT&sig=-rIUkq-ym1CIgCxiz5WQMTHwMZA

LeBron James Family Foundation (n.d.) Our mission. https://www.lebronjamesfamilyfoundation.org/

NYTimes (2019) Lebron James opened a school that was considered an experiment. It's showing promise. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/12/education/lebron-james-school-ohio.html

Ozanian M. (2017) The NBA’s most valuable teams. Forbes, 26 January. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2011/01/26/the-nbas-most-valuable-teams-2/?sh=56f3b179cdb5

Schneider, K. (2021) How LeBron James Uses His Influence to Improve Community Development. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/09/business/lebron-james-community-development.html

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Trainwreck (2015) Directed by Judd Apatow. Universal City, CA: Universal Pictures.

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