A 'crazy' story worth telling

Before LeBron James graced the cover of Sports Illustrated, sportswriter David Lee Morgan Jr. could walk freely into the locker room and talk basketball with the Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High player.
After James graced the cover of SI, it wasn't so easy.
"The very next home game at Rhodes Arena, there were Akron City Police officers outside the locker room and nobody could go in," Morgan recalled.
Media outlets such as the New York Times and USA Today had reporters at the University of Akron arena to cover basketball's biggest story -- a teen-ager with loads of talent and a bright, wealthy future.
Brainstorming
Soon thereafter, Morgan saw LeBron's mother, Gloria, in the arena lobby and casually tossed an idea around.
"I'd love to write a book about how crazy this is," Morgan, an Akron Beacon Journal sportswriter, told her.
In the fall of James' senior year, 2002, Morgan continued to develop the idea and began to take it seriously.
He gained insight from his co-workers, including Beacon columnist and sports author Terry Pluto and Cleveland Indians beat writer Sheldon Ocker.
And Morgan, 37, a Warren native, Youngstown State University graduate and former Vindicator staff member, came to the ultimate decision: He would write a book about James, one of the most heralded athletes ever to come from Ohio.
"I thought it would be about the four years of his high school career, but if you kept a scrapbook, you can basically write that book," Morgan said.
"I said, 'I need more than that. I know the family, I know LeBron. I think I can write a biography about him.' "
Return to his roots
This week, Morgan is returning to the Mahoning Valley to celebrate the release of his first book, entitled "LeBron James: The Rise of a Star."
Morgan will be at Borders Books & amp; Music in Niles for a reception Thursday from 7-9 p.m.
"This is the most surreal thing I've ever experienced in my life," Morgan said. "This time last year, I'm getting ready for basketball season. One year later, I've got a book that's going to be released."
With help from Pluto, Morgan got backing from an agent (Faith Hamlin of Sanford J. Greenburger Associates in New York) and a publishing company (Cleveland-based Gray & amp; Company), and his writing coach (Ted Schwarz) led him through the twists and turns.
"This taught me a lot about discipline and organization," Morgan said. "It taught me how to be a better writer."
Most first-time authors, Morgan learned, spend six to 18 months on a book.
Because he wanted to release it before James began his rookie season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Morgan finished the 240-page book in five months.
That meant a lot of early mornings and late nights while balancing his work schedule and home life.
"There's no way in the world this book could have been written without the support of my wife [Tricia Leslie Morgan] and kids [Trey, 12; Christian, 9; Brooke, 8; Cameron, 4]," he said.
Taking the journey
The book, available at any major Northeast Ohio bookstore or online at amazon.com and grayco.com, depicts James' journey from scrawny high school freshman to NBA rookie.
It tells of James' early struggles with family and school and later his devotion to family and team.
It explains the controversies regarding the Hummer he was given and the jersey he accepted from a store owner.
Morgan was there from the start, following the path of the local boy who made it big.
"It's an incredible story because it's their story," Morgan said. "I just put it together."
XBrian Richesson is a sportswriter for The Vindicator. Write to him at richesson@vindy.com.