Can the Real LeBomb James Please Stand Up?

The Only Confirmed Ingredient?

According to various reports, from a bevy of sources, the LeBomb James is an alcoholic concoction/shot/shooter created and consumed in honor of his highness. However, there are varying accounts on the Interwebs of the true components of said creation. I am clearly not here to debate the genius of those who designed a shot in honor of LBJ and integrated his much beloved chalk-tossing ritual into the drinking experience. That, my friends, is to be lauded.

Rather, I am on a quest to get to the bottom of the real mastermind and his/her recipe. The blogosphere weaves a tangled tale, and, frankly, we’re hesitant to accept Splenda as part of this concoction in any way. It just doesn’t seem right. A brief chronology below of the “history” of the LeBomb (based on our extensive research):

• May 16, 2007: The Booze Hounds Inc. Running Team offers a recipe for the LeBomb that includes a shot glass of Crown with a drop of grenadine coupled with a glass of Sprite accompanied by a handful of bitters. The shot is dropped in the mug and the explanation behind the whole thing is stellar: “The grenadine in the Crown Royal will turn it a nice wine color, and the bitters will give the Sprite a golden hue. There you have the Cavs colors of wine and gold. Why these choices? Crown Royal for King James, and he endorses Sprite. I have to give credit to Mikey at the Zephyr in Kent, Ohio, for the recipe.”

• January 28, 2009: G Money and the boys at The Money Shot re-create the LBJ to the best of their recollection to include Crown, Red Bull, a dash of grenandine and sugar that is thrown in the air (a la LBJ’s pre-game chalk toss)

• May 5, 2009: Now, the controversy is officially on. Jimmy Traina of SI.com’s venerable Hot Clicks quotes a reader from Youngstown, OH who claims the LeBomb “requires a shot of Crown Royal (for King James), some Red Bull and three packs of Splenda. Drop the shot of Crown in the Red Bull, chug it, dump Splenda in your hands, and ‘baby powder throw’ it into the air like LBJ. It’s an instant hit with the bar patrons.”

Not to mention, we’ve seen recipes with pineapple juice, one with Captain Morgan’s Pineapple Rum, the list goes on and on. So, we repeat our question. Can the real LeBomb James please stand up? The LeBomb James is a creative marvel. However, how can one be expected to appreciate its greatness when its true origins are in question? To quote another Cleveland legend (if only in fake life), “Let’s hear you, Cleveland!”