NBA All-Star LeBron James to be Featured in Season Three Premiere of SPEED Hit Unique Whips
CHARLOTTE, N.C.--NBA All-Star LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers will be featured in the season-opening episode of the SPEED hit weekly series Unique Whips on Feb. 21 at 10 p.m. ET. The episode, also featuring performer 50 Cent, will focus on the James’ controversial 2003 Hummer H2.
“My man Jermaine O’Neal from the Indiana Pacers called me up and told me anytime I need anything with a car, I should call this guy Will Castro,” James said. “Will is a cool dude and he was like ‘Whatever you need me to do, let’s hook up’ and the rest is history.”
Castro and his team from Unique Autosports on Long Island gave the Hummer a makeover from top to bottom. The platinum SUV raised eyebrows when James got the ride as an 18th birthday present from his mother before LeBron joined the NBA. Ohio High School Athletic Association investigated, concerned James may have violated his amateur status by accepting an improper gift, but a two-week probe found nothing improper.
“LeBron’s Hummer had a life of its own before it ever came to Unique,” said Castro, founder and owner of Unique Autosports. “But it was looking a little old … a little tired, so we gave it some special treatment and laced it out. Now, it’s breathin’ and ready to stand out in the crowd again.”
On the season-opening episode of Unique Whips, part of SPEED’s highly rated Wednesday night lineup, Castro and his team bring the ride “back to life,” painting it ebony black, updating the grill and rims and loading the inside with a custom interior and the latest electronic gadgets, including a touch-screen computer with Internet access and a navigation system.
“I might as well live in here,” James said when presented with the car at his home. “All I need is a pillow and a blanket and I’m straight. Nobody is better than Unique doing things with cars … they passed the test. They got an A-plus and a No. 1 on their report card.”
Other celebrities to be featured during season three of Unique Whips include athletes O’Neal, Al Harrington, Gary Sheffield, Andruw Jones, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and Winky Wright, fashion icon Marc Ecko and a wild season finale with actress Pamela Anderson and her “Lovestream” trailer.
SPEED is the nation's first and foremost cable television network dedicated to motor sports and the passion for everything automotive. From racing to restoration, motorcycles to movies, SPEED delivers quality programming from the track to the garage. Now available in more than 74 million homes in North America, SPEED is among the fastest-growing sports cable networks in the country, the home to NASCAR on SPEED and an industry leader in interactive TV, video on demand, mobile initiatives and broadband services.