Even as the Cavaliers were about to begin the playoffs last year, Newble felt Darfur couldn't wait.
"I realized a lot of my teammates were like I had been," said Newble. "They had no clue what was going on in Darfur. So I compiled a packet of information for each of them and, with Coach Mike Brown's permission, I addressed my teammates in the locker room one day after practice. I asked them to read the information and to then come back and discuss it with me if they had any questions."
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Wednesday, May 21, 2008 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 48 words Type of Material: Correction
Lakers: In Monday's Sports section, an article on how the Lakers' Ira Newble has spread the word on the crisis in Darfur also mentioned a humanitarian relief organization he is connected with. The article identified the group as Aids Still Required. The correct name is Aid Still Required.
All the members of the team, except LeBron James and Damon Jones, signed the China protest letter, Newble said.
"They didn't do so because of shoe deals," said Newble, "and in LeBron's case, he has to be careful what he puts his name on. That's OK.
"He respected what I was doing and I respected his decision."
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Cavaliers' James, Nike explain positions
James' shoe contract is with Nike, an Olympic sponsor. Criticized for not signing the letter, he addressed the issue Sunday on ESPN.
"I didn't sign the letter right there and then, so now, it's blown up," James said. "No one heard my side of the story. . . . For me to try to create awareness of the situation that's going on in Darfur and other places, for me in the position I am, I should speak on it and I'm going to speak on it. . . . We're not talking about contracts here. We're not talking about money. We're talking about people's lives being lost, and that means a lot more to me than some money or a contract."
James told the network he hopes he and his Olympic teammates can find a way to express their concerns about Darfur.
The letter Newble sent a year ago expressing his concerns received no response from Chinese officials.
Undeterred, he next decided to manufacture bracelets to symbolize the suffering in Darfur. Newble asked Nike, which also had him under contract, to produce the bracelets.
"I got a response from Lynn Merritt of Nike," said Kauffman, "that I will never forget. Referring to Ira, Merritt told me, 'What a pain in the . . . he must be to the Cavs, bringing this into the workplace. That would be like me coming into your place of employment and asking you to join the Islam Nation.' I was horrified. I couldn't believe what he had just said."
Newble and Nike subsequently had a mutual parting of the ways.
