CLEVELAND — LeBron James was thrilled with Barack Obama’s presidential victory, but the Cavaliers superstar has no plans to enter the political world when he retires from basketball.
“Mayor of Akron?” the 23-year-old James repeated when that possibility was thrown out Wednesday prior to a game against the Chicago Bulls. “I’m already mayor of Akron. I’ve been that for about 10 years now.”
James, who openly campaigned for Obama and co-hosted a “Last Chance for Change” concert with good friend Jay-Z last week at Quicken Loans Arena, watched election results come in with a number of family members and friends.
“It’s kind of unbelievable,” said James, adding older members of his family were particularly moved by the election of the first black president in United States history. “I asked them how it felt for them going through what they did.
“A lot of people in my family said they thought they’d never see a day like this.”
The 6-foot-8, 250-pounder added there was a “wow factor” to Obama’s victory and acceptance speech.
“It was uplifting,” James said. “You can tell your kids they can really be anything they want now. You don’t have to be a basketball player. You can be president of the United States.”
Cavaliers coach Mike Brown, whose wife Carolyn recorded Obama’s speech so the couple’s sleeping children could watch it later, also noted the significance of the election.
“It was exciting just for the fact we witnessed something historic,” Brown said. “It doesn’t matter who you voted for.”

Drewwww

Former Cleveland power forward Drew Gooden, who is now starting at center for the Bulls, is sporting a beard that has about five thick locks of hair dangling from under his chin.
The likable and fun-loving Gooden calls the look “The Johnny” because it’s similar to actor Johnny Depp’s appearance in the movie “Pirates of the Caribbean.”
He said reaction to the beard has been “a lot more positive than when I had a patch in the back of my (bald) head” while with the Cavaliers.

Drewwww II

Gooden said he’s already guarded every center in the league at some point in his career, with the exception of former Cleveland teammate Zydrunas Ilgauskas, with whom he matched up Wednesday.
“That’s the only center I have never guarded,” he said with a chuckle prior to the game. “Not even in practice. It’s going to be new to me. I know he likes to push in the back a lot for offensive rebounds. I was one of the guys he used to push in practice.”
Gooden then smiled and added, “I love ‘Z.’”

Home stretch

The Chicago game started a stretch where the Cavaliers will play at home five times in six games.
Cleveland will host Indiana on Friday and will be at home against Milwaukee, Denver and Utah next week.
The only road game in that stretch is Saturday in Chicago. That means Wednesday also started a stretch of four straight games against Central Division foes.

A rose is…

Derrick Rose, the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, is starting at point guard for Chicago and led the team in scoring (17.3 ppg) and minutes (34.3) prior to Wednesday.
“I think he’s going to have a great career,” Gooden said.
Rose was also averaging 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting .458 from the field and .882 at the line.
“He’s an excellent young rookie,” Brown said. “Chicago has a gamer in Derrick Rose. Not only is he a talent, it looks like he has a tremendous demeanor.”

Tip-ins

The Cavaliers’ home game against Denver on Nov. 13 has been changed to an 8 p.m. start. It will still be televised by TNT.
• Former Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund, who retains a share of the team, was in attendance.
Contact Rick Noland at (330)
721-4061 or rickn@ohio.net. 

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