Nolan Reimold's LBJ moment
During a conversation with Nolan Reimold this morning, I was chiding him for being a Pittsburgh Steelers fan and -- despite his Pennsylvania roots -- accusing him of being a frontrunner when he proved he was not a frontrunner with the revelation that he's a big Cleveland Cavaliers fan.
When I stopped laughing, he told me about the time he was assigned to cover some kid named LeBron James in a high school showdown between Kennedy Catholic (Hermitage, PA) and St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.
"He was a sophomore and I was a junior,'' Reimold said. "It was right before he got huge. We lost by one point, 51-50. He had 20 points, but he was averaging 28."
Pretty cool memory. Reimold said that he was a big LeBron fan right up until "The Decision," then he started choosing his words carefully.
"Let's just say I was disappointed,'' he said, with an expression that signalled that he was making a tremendous understatement and struggling to hold his tongue. I'm just going to guess that his second-favorite NBA team right now is whoever is playing the Miami Heat.
If you're wondering, Reimold said he dropped 17 points in that game, which isn't bad for a baseball player.
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Comments
Great Post Pete (Are your story's called post by the way?)...
I can picture you guys laughing during this chat.... A much better picture to think of than you eating crabs or playing poker...... but that's just me.
Now whenever I see Reimy on the field, I'll likely remember this story.... which I believe is one of the things journalist shoot for?
I know it means nothing come from me (as you only see me as a negative, bashing hater)..... but thanks for sharing such a cool story.....
Posted by: wayne | February 22, 2011 11:00 AM
Pete--Fun title to the piece. I thought for sure Nolan had lifted his jersey to reveal a scar in the shape of Vietnam.
Nolan's story is a gem. Wish we had a videotape of Nolan arcing one over LeBron that could be flashed on the scoreboard at Camden Yards.
Posted by: Barry | February 22, 2011 11:06 AM
When I first read the title, I immediately thought "someone has to be killed for him to make the team."
Posted by: Matt Sanchez | February 22, 2011 11:43 AM
Reimold will always be one of my favorite Orioles. He is a hardworking and polite young man. Hopefully there is room for him on the roster this season.
http://birdlandexpress.blogspot.com/
Posted by: WR | February 22, 2011 11:43 AM
Clearly, Lebron wasn't guarding him! I find it hard to believe he could drop 17 on King James and can hardly judge a fly ball. If he doesn't get himself together this year he may want to try his hand in the NBA because there's not too many teams looking for a below average 28 year old outfielders who can't hit.
Posted by: MatthewG | February 22, 2011 12:20 PM
Clearly, Lebron wasn't guarding him! I find it hard to believe he could drop 17 on King James and can hardly judge a fly ball. If he doesn't get himself together this year he may want to try his hand in the NBA because there's not too many teams looking for a below average 28 year old outfielders who can't hit.
Posted by: MatthewG | February 22, 2011 12:21 PM
Clearly, Lebron wasn't guarding him! I find it hard to believe he could drop 17 on King James and can hardly judge a fly ball. If he doesn't get himself together this year he may want to try his hand in the NBA because there's not too many teams looking for a below average 28 year old outfielders who can't hit.
Posted by: MatthewG | February 22, 2011 12:22 PM
Useless, nasty, not funny comment, MatthewG (and posted 3 times?!). Take it elsewhere.
Posted by: John Cronin | February 22, 2011 12:30 PM
BASEBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Please I need baseball updates on this cold and snow day.
If you need something to talk about how about Vegas' over/under for Orioles wins at 74.5.
I have to think that we truly are 9 games better than we were last year. I certainly hope so!!!!
..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: You'll take what I give you and like it.
Posted by: Matt | February 22, 2011 1:20 PM
MatthewG - you probably couldn't drop 3 on Billy Jean King. Why do you find it hard to believe (x 3 nonethe less) a pro baseball player wasn't a good HS basketball player?
Posted by: Rob K. | February 22, 2011 1:20 PM
IIRC LeBron James had a horrible FG% (in his senior yr?) before that initial time that his high school game was televised on ESPN.
At the time i wondered how such a phenom could have such a poor FG% in HS.
Posted by: dave | February 22, 2011 4:25 PM
Check out this irony from ESPN The Magazine December 2002 http://espn.go.com/magazine/friend_20021219.html
"...Eddie Jackson -- LeBron's so-called dad/advisor/moneybags -- just got three years for mortgage and mail fraud..."
"...Jackson, who was convicted for issuing phony home loans and for a $197,000 check scam..."
The irony is that LeBron went on to play his home games in Quicken Loans Arena.
Posted by: dave | February 22, 2011 4:49 PM
Nolan was a very good high school basketball player. He was offered many division 1 basketball scholarships. As a senior he was a 2nd team all state selection and won 3 Pennsylvania state titles in his high school career. This guy is a very good athlete and you can tell when you watch him play.
Posted by: John | February 22, 2011 5:19 PM
I heard this one chick dropped 69 on Billie Jean King.
Posted by: doctorright | February 22, 2011 5:29 PM
Aren't we a little testy today, Pete? I had to shovel 10 inches of snow when I got home off the road today because my snowblower ate a rock, and you complain when it gets below 75 degrees down there. What's the matter with this picture? Your response to Matt reminded me of what my mother used to say when she served up broccoli.
Posted by: Gil | February 22, 2011 7:13 PM
Do I remember too that Nolan's brother plays pro-basketball in Europe?
...and something about a sister that 's a pro model.
Talented Riemold's from PA.
Posted by: paulie | February 22, 2011 7:15 PM
I teach at Bowling Green, where Nolan Reimold went to school. Nolan's brother was a very good basketball player for BG. A pretty good student, too.
Posted by: Jeff in Ohio | February 22, 2011 8:08 PM
So, I'm dying to ask this question here; I hear that Yu Darvich wants to play baseball in the U.S. in 2012, making him a free agent.......
You think the O's would make a run at him????
Posted by: dave in glen burnie | February 23, 2011 5:46 AM