OAKLAND, Calif: To a degree, LeBron James is willing to cross the same line Muhammad Ali crossed.
On Saturday at Oracle Arena, the Cavaliers star and four-time league Most Valuable Player shied away from any personal comparison to Ali, the iconic former heavyweight champion who passed away Friday at age 74.
No high-profile athlete has shown the courage to go to jail because of his opposition to war as Ali did to avoid serving in Vietnam. But in the decades since Ali took his stand, few whose fame has transcended sports have been willing to speak out on social or racial issues for fear of costing themselves millions in endorsements.