Papa John’s apologizes with 23-cent pizzas

Lines outside Papa John's

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By SHELBY SCHROEDER

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

A local pizza chain’s employees may be too busy to cheer on the Cleveland Cavaliers as they take on the Boston Celtics today.

Papa John’s Pizza is offering customers in Northeast Ohio a large, one-topping pizza for 23 cents as an apology for a T-shirt meant to taunt Cavaliers star player LeBron James. Papa Johns is limiting purchases to one per customer. The offer is good all day today.

The company, whose corporate headquarters is in Louisville, Ky., is seeking customer forgiveness for a Washington, D.C., store’s decision to distribute shirts printed with James’ No. 23 and the word crybaby before Game 6 of the Cavaliers’ first-round playoff game against the Washington Wizards.

Wizards’ center Brendan Haywood had chastised James for complaining to referees about the fouls James was receiving from Wizards’ players after Cleveland’s win in Game 4 of the series.

Local franchisee, Nadeem Bajwa, said the pizza deal will be provided to customers who request it, and the proceeds will be added to the pizza company’s $10,000 contribution to the Cavaliers Youth Fund.

“We’re doing it for the fans,” said Bajwa, who owns locations throughout the Youngstown and Pittsburgh areas.

The shirts, which included the Papa John’s logo, brought about complaints from Cleveland fans after they were seen in the stands Friday.

The company said it did not consent to the release of the shirts, and wished James and the Cavaliers success throughout the playoffs.

The Cavs play the Celtics today in Game 2 of their seven-game second-round playoff series.