LeBron James Thanks Akron in Full-Page Ad

Let the damage control begin: LeBron James took out a full-page ad today in the Akron Beacon Journal to thank his hometown fans: ‘‘Akron is my home, and central focus of my life,’’ says the ad. "It's where I started, and it's where I will always come back to." James, who jumped ship to the Miami Heat from Cleveland, will be back home this weekend for his annual charity bike-a-thon, the newspaper notes.

‘‘You can be sure that I will continue to do everything I can for this city, which is so important to my family and me,’’ his ad says. ‘‘Thank you for your love and support. You mean everything to me.’’ (More LeBron James stories.)