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          SweetSpot

          LeBron James pumps up Indians crowd before Game 2

          • Andrew Marchand, ESPN Senior WriterOct 7, 2016, 05:25 PM ET
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              Andrew Marchand is a senior writer for ESPNNewYork. He also regularly contributes to SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight, ESPNews, ESPN New York 98.7 FM and ESPN Radio. He joined ESPN in 2007 after nine years at the New York Post. Follow Andrew on Twitter »
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          CLEVELAND -- The King turned into the spirit leader for Game 2 of the American League Division Series at Progressive Field.

          LeBron James took the mic in the pregame ceremonies and offered some words of encouragement to the sellout crowd prior to Friday’s first pitch between the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox, putting his support behind his hometown team.

          “You guys are unbelievable,” James told the crowd while standing behind home plate. “Cleveland, let me hear you! On behalf of myself and my teammates right here, we are here for these guys over here.”

          James pointed to the Indians dugout.

          “Just like you guys were behind our back in our championship run, we all have to rally together for Game 1 for their championship run tonight for Game 2. Always believe something. It is always us against the world. It is always us against the world. Cleveland against the world! Let’s go!”

          James has fully embraced the Indians this year, attending a few games and sporting their gear on social media.

          Nearly a decade ago, James caused an uproar by wearing a Yankees hat to a playoff game. Only 22 in October 2007, James relished the attention, though it caused sports talk radio to light up with phone calls, casting James as disloyal. (Who knew it was just a precursor of things to come?)

          James was not the only member of the Cavaliers in attendance. Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, Channing Frye, James Jones and Richard Jefferson were also in attendance, according to an Indians spokesman. The Cavaliers began their exhibition season this week as they look to defend their NBA title. Also in attendance was J.R. Smith, who did not pick up his player option for this season and is in a contract stalemate with the Cavs.

          The Indians are trying to win their first World Series since 1948. While James may be an Indians fan now, he was known as a Yankees fan for years.

          The Yankees even have wished him a happy birthday through social media. The Yankees, of course, are home for October, so James is sticking with his hometown club.