Agent halts repayment of loan by Cavs' rookie

The loan by Joe Marsh was made to James' father figure Eddie Jackson.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- LeBron James offered to repay a $148,000 loan to a businessman who gave financial help to the rookie's family while he was in high school.
However, James' agent, Aaron Goodwin, said he revoked any payment to Joe Marsh when the entertainment producer demanded more money.
"I wasn't going to allow him to hold LeBron hostage for any money," Goodwin said Wednesday. "It's not fair that someone would try and disgrace his name or target him because of his fame."
In a story published Wednesday in The Plain Dealer, Marsh said he lent James' father figure, Eddie Jackson, the money during the Cleveland rookie's last two years at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High. Marsh said repayment of the loan was due June 1.
Jackson, who is serving a three-year prison term for mortgage and mail fraud, helped Gloria James raise her son.
Helped to support family
Marsh told the paper that Jackson asked for the money to help support the James family and to pay for Jackson to meet with shoe company executives, who were in a bidding war to sign the 18-year-old.
Marsh, majority owner of Magic Arts & amp; Entertainment in Aurora, said he didn't make the loan with the intention of being James' agent when he turned professional. But he said he did consider that it could open doors for him in other potential deals.
Goodwin said he had no knowledge of Marsh or the loan when the businessman contacted him in April, saying he was owed the money and wanted to be repaid with interest totaling $115,040.97.
Goodwin asked for documentation from Marsh, who sent him an agreement signed by Jackson. Goodwin said Jackson owed $148,000.
Goodwin said James wanted to clear up Jackson's debt and agreed to repay Marsh. But the agent asked Marsh to agree to keep the transaction private.
Marsh wanted more money and threatened to take his story to the media if he wasn't paid, Goodwin said.
Asks for additional money
Marsh told the newspaper he asked to be paid an additional $25,000 he said he loaned a friend for a movie project about James. He said he later dropped that request.
Marsh, whose company represents magician David Copperfield and produces shows such as "Lord of the Dance" and "Grease," said he gave Jackson two checks totaling $50,000 in July and October of 2001 and then began issuing monthly checks for $2,500.
Goodwin said Marsh timed his allegations to coincide with James' pro debut Tuesday night in an exhibition game at Detroit.
"He wanted to malign LeBron and his mom's name, to steal some of his thunder," Goodwin said.