Drop It Like It's Pop!

LeBron James, 10 stories tall and bare-chested, could join the growing number of athletes who are baring more to build their brand.

But Cleveland design officials think the massive mural that James and Nike Inc. want downtown could use a more positive tone. And it should include a nod to Cleveland, they say.

The city's design review committee tabled a request today from a local representative of Nike to replace the two-year-old landmark mural that hangs from an office building across Quicken Loans Arena.

James and Nike want to replace the arms-spread image with one of him standing bare-chested, his skin a scaly, armored texture, a basketball at his side.

Over his left shoulder are the words "Prepare for Combat," topped by the Nike swoosh. 

The mural would serve as a giant advertisement for Nike's Pro Combat line of lightweight, padded apparel. It gives James a look of invincibility, said David Sternberg, a partner with Gigantic Media of Solon. Nike wants the new mural to go up as soon as possible, Sternberg told the city's design review committee today.

James "asked for something fresh," Sternberg said. "It really shows him off in a whole new light."

But design officials rued the fact that "Cleveland" and "Cavaliers" have no presence on the banner. James wears a Cavaliers jersey on the current mural.

"Are we getting ready for him to leave Cleveland?" quipped committee member Andrew Blank. James' contract with the Cavaliers is up next summer.

Rory Turner, another committee member, said he was put off by the tattooed, scowling image of James, which Turner feared plays into the stereotype of young black men.

"It's just not a stereotype I can begin to buy into," said Turner, who is black.

The committee decided to table the mural request, with a recommendation that Nike "restudy the image, potentially something more positive, with a reference to the Cavs or Cleveland," said Robert Brown, the city's planning director.

Committee members suggested Sternberg present the image to the Cleveland City Planning Commission for further recommendation. The commission meets Friday morning.

The appearance of James' lean, chiseled torso, 100 feet high, would likely send some hearts pounding faster than the pace of his patented dribble drives.

Sports stars know that sexuality sells. Tennis star Serena Williams and NBA stalwart Dwight Howard were among a number of athletes who bared their strategically posed proportions for ESPN's sports magazine last month.

James' charisma and good looks have earned lofty status among discerning women. These days, he's a candidate for "Sexiest Man Alive" in a poll on the BlackAmericaWeb.com site. James is among seven choices, including Denzel Washington, Will Smith and Barack Obama. 

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