Auroraadvocate.com - Pair pushes to keep LeBron

by Miles Jung-Kilbreath

Reporter

Aurora -- With NBA training camps scheduled to start soon, two Aurora natives are looking to the future of the Cavaliers with a new venture they hope will help convince LeBron James to stay in Cleveland.

Matthew Rusnak and his partner, Chris Koning, threw a "Keep Bron Bron" campaign launch party Sept. 3 at Papous Tap and Grill.

"The idea is to have Cleveland sports fans show their support for LeBron before his contract expires next year and have him re-sign so the Cavs can win a championship," explained Rusnak.

Many patrons sported T-shirts that the duo hopes will become the symbol of fan support for keeping LeBron with the Cavs.

Rusnak's and Koning's Web site -- www.keepbronbron.com -- includes a petition people can sign asking James to stay in Northeast Ohio and offers the shirt, which features the slogan "Just Sign It."

Koning said the petition has already gained 100 signatures from as far away as Western Australia since going live Sept. 1.

Even with a year left on his contract, James has already been flooded with questions if he'll stay with the Cavs. His contract expires July 1, 2010.

Koning said it's important for fans to show support for the superstar to let him know that he is wanted in Cleveland.

"Keeping LeBron is the ultimate goal," Koning said.

Rusnak, who now lives in North Carolina, said he came up with the idea to create a campaign to show support for James three years ago.

"When talk about his contract came up this year, I talked with Chris about my idea and he took some time to think about it," he said.

"When he said he thought we should do it, it took only about 1 1/2 months to start it up."

Koning said the duo has already appeared twice on the Internet radio show "The Dugout Sports Show" at www.sportstalkcleveland.com to start gathering support for their cause.

Show co-host Glenn Moore, who has known Koning since high school, said his friends are the first people in the area to start a campaign to keep the league MVP here.

While the local effort just started Sept. 1, Koning said he is already working to get the shirt into local stores, and soon plans to try to get it moving with Cleveland retailers.

He said he hopes with the success of the campaign that he and Rusnak can continue to create apparel based on other Northeast Ohio sports.

"Right now, we're focusing on keeping LeBron and then we'll see what happens after he re-signs," he said.

E-mail:
mjung-kilbreath@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3152