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We are all witnesses. But not everything about the LeBron is worth witnessing. Sure, he has the $400,000 car, Jay-Z in his corner, and Phil Knight wrapped around his diamond pinkie ring. But witness how His Greatness treats the little people, and you may begin to see the virtue of Brendan Haywood's hard fouls.

One of LeBron's favorite places to dine is XO Prime Steaks on West Sixth. Its mix of swank drinks and delicately massaged beef allows the Chosen One to consume calories worthy of his royal digestive system. All of which is swell — except that LeBron is among Cleveland's stingiest tippers.

According to a Punch source, a peer recently quit after tiring of LeBron going Scrooge McDuck on his ass.

It went down like this: LeBron pulls up in his Mercedes outside XO. People stop and try not to stare, but c'mon, it's LeBron James. He enters the restaurant with a group of friends. On this special occasion, the King decides to dine late. He keeps his group there until around 3:45 a.m. During this time the waiter obsequiously pours drinks and fetches anything else His Greatness needs.

The final bill comes to $800. By the feudal laws of decorum, which stipulate that the affluent should administer a 20 percent gratuity, staffers figured they'd be pocketing an extra $160. But when they fetched the autographed bill after His Heinousness bolted back to Akron, their expectation turned to disbelief, then anger.

LeBron stiffed them with a meager $10 tip. This is what French nobles like to call your requisite Bourgeois Bitch-Slap. The waiter wouldn't even take it, tired of being shat on by guys like LeBron.

Still, at least the self-proclaimed King of Ohio didn't pull a Bernie Kosar — who gets sloshed at the bar and then has to remind the waiters of who he is before he stiffs them.

Ichiro on C-Town
Seattle Mariners center fielder and Japanese demigod Ichiro Suzuki is known for the almost mystical quotes he relays through his interpreter. When asked about facing Boston pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, a former Japanese league rival, Ichiro responded: "I hope he arouses the fire that's dormant in the innermost recesses of my soul."

Needless to say, you will not hear interviews like this during the NBA playoffs.

But last year, Ichiro's mouth got him into a bit of trouble in Cleveland. When the Seattle-Tribe series was snowed out, the Mariners were stranded at a downtown hotel and were forced to make three additional trips to Cleveland for makeup games. So it's understandable why Ichiro told a reporter, "If I ever saw myself saying I'm excited going to Cleveland, I'd punch myself in the face, because I'm lying."

Yet Clevelanders aren't about to provide passes for these kinds of slights. Tribe fans have heartily booed Ichiro ever since. So last week, Punch caught up with Ichiro to see if he's revised his thoughts on the Cradle of Civilization-Rust Belt Division.

"As you know, we came to Cleveland many more times than were expected," said Ichiro through his interpreter — after they shared a long, animated discussion in Japanese. "To come all the way from Seattle, as you can imagine, is a headache. That's what I meant by the statement. But the way the fans understood it, they became angry. I think all the booing and the screaming was entertaining for the fans, so I don't think it was a bad thing. And, if I was a fan, I'd boo me too."

But, we pressed, what do you think of Cleveland?

"Looking back on it, in the four days I spent here, I found a really cool pair of sneakers. So for that, I like Cleveland."

Score one for Tower City.

Write Your Comment show comments (16)

  1. This is why I hate these thugs and always will. Another idiot like tyson. Next comes the beautiful model. He'll be going to the left coast soon. Probably hollyweird.

    Comment by fred — May 8, 2008 @ 06:23AM

  2. Who is a thug? LeBron. That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. First of all there's no proof this story is true and second of all how does stiffing someone on a tip make them a thug? LeBron gives millions of dollars to this city and akron every year to help out young people. What do you do?

    Comment by Jessica — May 8, 2008 @ 04:27PM

  3. I've heard tales from people that have dealt with him direct or stories passed down from friends. As far as the cheapskate side goes for his tipping habits, alot of celebrities do this because they beleive their presence is worth more than what they leave the server and they have been told that they don't need to tip because of who they are(Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods are notorious for this-running up thousands for a tab and not tipping at all). I have also been told about when he has walked into a clothing store and bought everyone an outfit or been in a restaurant and bought everyone's dinner(hopefully he didn't leave his standard 1% tip). I do think that he should give at least 20% tip, but most affluent people I know match the bill 100%. Don't judge unless you actually know, but ten bucks on a $800 bill-LeBron you are better than that.

    Comment by Jeezy — May 9, 2008 @ 05:17AM

  4. Instead of this being a short piece in First Punch, this could have been a full five or six page story if Scene felt like asking around a little. LeBron is infamous in the Warehouse District for being a cheapskate. He doesn't feel he should have to pay to have his car valeted and he obviously never tips the valet. Blue Point, XO, all the major spots he goes to, you're lucky to get a 5% tip from the "King."

    Comment by Andrew — May 9, 2008 @ 10:39AM

  5. What a loser''' are you kidding me, He grew up in poverty and knows what it's like to not have money. He should be ashamed of himself. I was a fan but not anymore. I am from Cleveland,OH I live in Cincinnat,Oh now and I talk about how I loved Labron(king James).
    Now my co-workers just shake their heads and smile and say cheap greedy bastard King James. He needs to think, if he were severer how would he feel if someone left him a $10.00 tip? The rich help the rich, but the poor need to help each other, not just when the media is around. Someone helped him didn't they?

    Comment by Sunnyde — May 9, 2008 @ 12:15PM

  6. If the whole city can boycott Papa Johns for insulting Lebron James, the whole city can boycott King James for insulting everyone who works in the service industry. I say all service industry employees boycott anything having to do with Lebron James. Everytime we buy anything having to do with Lebron James and the cavs, he gets paid. Why should we help pay his salary if he doesn't care to return the favor and pay his servers what they're owed. If Lebron had any class or appreciation for his fans, he would go back to XO and return the money he stole from his server with an extended apology.

    Comment by shelly — May 9, 2008 @ 12:36PM

  7. One of my favorite themes today surrounds the issue of city revenue being raised by professional atheletes...What a ridiculous buch of jackasses this entire community has become! What the hell have we been reduced to. So now we are not allowed to criticize the athletes publicly because we are afraid they're going take their "ever so important asses" and leave town. We insult the President of the United States on much deserved daily basis!!! So now the economic future of Cleveland rests on the shoulders of of one stupid kid who happens to be able to throw an orange ball better than others it seems. Cleveland, assuming the story on Lebron's tipping practice is true and I believe it is, you're all pathetic cowards--pick up a book or try an alternative form of entertainment, perhaps like writing your congressmen and explaining that you're sick and tired of living in a ravaged economy that relies on the accomplishments of one ghetto brat. The guy is a miserable scumbag if he in fact did what the server from XO claims--and I'm happy to be leaving this town. Lebron is not absolved from the practice of common courtesy and he doesn't need another pair of lips (mine) superglued to his ass. No 23 cent pizzas from me prick.

    Comment by Julian — May 9, 2008 @ 01:01PM

  8. Get a life. The dude should have been happy to even have a job with that kind of attitude. The U.S. should do like the Chinese and make tipping illegal or frowned upon. I've been too many places where waiters or waitresses do a terrible job, and then *still* expect a tip, or roll their eyes when they don't like the amount of a tip. Wake up America!

    Comment by Rod Trent — May 9, 2008 @ 02:37PM

  9. In regards to the previous poster..
    "Get a life. The dude should have been happy to even have a job with that kind of attitude. The U.S. should do like the Chinese and make tipping illegal or frowned upon. I've been too many places where waiters or waitresses do a terrible job, and then *still* expect a tip, or roll their eyes when they don't like the amount of a tip. Wake up America!"

    Really?.. I suppose your one in the same as LeBron.. you don't tip either? Do you know the reason why tipping is standard practice in the service industry? So a restaurant can survive and keep their variable costs of labor down so you don't have to pay $50 for a steak at most restaurants. In most states employers are exempt from paying tipped employees minimum wage and even with tips, most service employees are still living below the poverty line.. So next time you go out to eat and have to drop a $10 tip on a $70 bill be thankful that it wasn't a $100 bill.. People like you are the ones who need to wake up!

    Comment by Jackson — May 9, 2008 @ 05:13PM

  10. Furthermore, the guy makes well over $40,000,000 annually.. you're telling me that because he can play hoop he deserves to make more money than people in society responsible for your safety, fighting fires, saving lives and educating others.. You're right IT IS TIME FOR AMERICA TO WAKE UP!!

    Comment by Jackson — May 9, 2008 @ 05:21PM

  11. Before you call out the best thing to happen to Cleveland/Cleveland sports since Jim Brown, you may want to make sure you have your facts straight.

    Try calling the owner of XO and you'll see this was a mistake by the waiter. I hope you write another piece and this time actually have your facts straight.

    Comment by Patrick — May 9, 2008 @ 08:54PM

  12. One of my favorite themes today surrounds the issue of city revenue being raised by professional atheletes...What a ridiculous buch of jackasses this entire community has become! What the hell have we been reduced to. So now we are not allowed to criticize the athletes publicly because we are afraid they're going take their "ever so important asses" and leave town. We insult the President of the United States on much deserved daily basis!!! So now the economic future of Cleveland rests on the shoulders of of one stupid kid who happens to be able to throw an orange ball better than others it seems. Cleveland, assuming the story on Lebron's tipping practice is true and I believe it is, you're all pathetic cowards--pick up a book or try an alternative form of entertainment, perhaps like writing your congressmen and explaining that you're sick and tired of living in a ravaged economy that relies on the accomplishments of one ghetto brat. The guy is a miserable scumbag if he in fact did what the server from XO claims--and I'm happy to be leaving this town. Lebron is not absolved from the practice of common courtesy and he doesn't need another pair of lips (mine) superglued to his ass. No 23 cent pizzas from me prick.

    Comment by Julian — May 9, 2008 @ 10:33PM

  13. After working in the service industry for 25 years, I have seen all types as far as the tipping issue is concern. As a host in a popular downtown Akron jazz spot(no longer there)I had a black server come up to me on a Friday night and I quote "No n***ers in my section. They don't tip". Shocked, what do I do if she has an open table and I have to seat someone? Then another time when an upper section that is closed on Mondays, the white politicians want to sit there to discuss "business". So a server has to leave her section on the lower level to accomodate them running her up and down the stairs, neglecting the customers she already has, and stiffs her. It has nothing to so with race. At least she didn't lose her job like the parking attendant.A-holes are A-holes no matter where you go.

    Comment by Samuel E Risley — May 9, 2008 @ 11:26PM

  14. Come On Lebron,,,, how disapointed I am about this story. I am a fan. I love watching him toss that orange ball around. It is entertainment. Its exiciting and frustrating all at the same time. I guess thats why he gets the big bucks. I do not I agree at all about how much these guys earn while the rest of us ordinary people struggle just to keep food on the table. I too have worked in the restaurant and bar industry for over 27 years, you never know what your going to get tipped. The customers you least expect a generous tip from suprise you the most. If Lebron has been known to be cheap, why doesnt the restaurant automaticly add a 20% tip to the bill, lots of places do that with groups over 8. Especially if they keep you there well after closing. But, How do we even know this story is true? Consider the source, this is a free magazine publishing this article, quoting a full of attitude server, My family paid good money to this magazine to advertising our bar for over 10 years and they never once spelled our name right.

    Comment by denise — May 10, 2008 @ 12:59AM

  15. I have a hunch that a gratuity or "service charge" was already added to LeBron's bill...that's pretty typical of groups, most especially in upscale joints. Heck, recently I was with a family group of six, and the place automatically added the gratutiy to the check, because it was the policy for six or more. Since the service was excellent, we added a little on top of the 18%. And maybe that's what LeBron's ten-spot was. Maybe his server was expecting a handful of Benjamins, just knowing that LeBron has mountains of them, and the whole thing is sour grapes over an otherwise customary tip. I really don't know the facts but I can speculate; the so-called story was second-hand anyway. Cutting edge stuff, too.

    Comment by Brian — May 10, 2008 @ 06:23PM

  16. Hey you tards, if any of you have EVER eaten at XO then you know that a gratuity of 18% is automatically added to your bill for parties over six.

    Comment by MK — May 11, 2008 @ 09:38AM

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