An Icon We Can Keep

Bear with me a moment as I join the disappointed chorus of Northeast Ohioans (and many others—see Rosenberg’s SI column) lamenting LeBron’s big mistake. Actually, I harbor no ill-will for the man, knowing that hard leadership lessons are in store. Having traded a moment to make history by delivering championship-starved Cleveland its first title in decades, he will see that no amount of winning on a rigged all-star team will match the legacy he could have had. He might also find that stacking a team with prima donnas is a recipe for strife…time will tell. Here’s hoping Dan Gilbert’s feisty prophecy holds true; the Cavs beating the Heat to a championship, however unlikely, would be the definition of poetic justice.

The odyssey of The Decision revealed yet again the character of Akron, a place driven by leaders willing to leave it all on the field to do what’s right for the community. The field in this case is InfoCision Stadium, where local leaders and the community banded together to make the case for LeBron to stay. An idea from InfoCision’s Carl Albright and Steve Brubaker ’08 quickly gathered momentum, drawing ready commitments from a critical mass of leaders ranging from Mayor Plusquellic to FirstMerit Bank to FirstEnergy, and many others. It was yet another case study in the ability of Akron’s leaders to mobilize quickly, because they know one another and readily work together to make things happen when it comes to strengthening the community. The rally, alas, did not convince LeBron to stay. But hopefully it bolstered his devotion to Akron as his hometown, wherever he happens to lace up (and hopefully we won’t erode such goodwill by nursing a grudge).

Looking for the perfect antidote to disappointment, or just anxious to move on from this media-blitzed spectacle? Well, there’s another icon whose continued presence recently became doubtful. Thankfully, keeping this global brand will not rise and fall on the whims of a fickle megastar. In fact, it rests on nothing less than the spirit of Akron—leaders and the community ready to pitch in to address problems and make things happen.

This month marks a crucial milestone for the All-American Soap Box Derby. A family tradition for over 70 years, Akron is the epicenter for this kid-centered experience of Americana. As the Beacon Journal reported in recent months, the Derby needs a new direction after a slow, steady decline. Our leading corporate and civic organizations have stepped up, committing new leaders to a reconstituted board, and new dollars to the work of turning it around. And instead of a homegrown star departing us bereft of a title, this storyline features the arrival of an outsider. Corbin Bernsen is bringing his talents and celebrity to bear, chasing his passion for transforming this underdog into a champion.

With a new movie and new leadership at the forefront, the question remains—can they pull this off? Much of that depends on the community turning out in force to mark a new day for the Derby at race day on July 24. Here’s hoping the effort goes viral as people forward e-mails and leverage social media to generate a turnout as large or larger than the crowd who showed up at InfoCision Stadium to woo LeBron. The Derby does not have a superstar athlete-celebrity to capture attention. Instead, it simply gives thousands of kids a positive, family-oriented experience in which Akron is center stage. That’s an icon I’m willing to step up and help keep right here in Akron—will you?  

To comment on LeaderLog, please submit your comments using the form below. Don't forget to include your name and affiliation, or your comments may not be posted.