In recent days, the sports world has been abuzz with the release of the LeBron James Philadelphia 76ers jersey. The jersey has set records with Fanatics announcing it as “the best-selling jersey ever for any player in the first 48 hours after their announcement,” as reported by Adam Wells of Bleacher Report.

The achievement of LeBron surpassing the previous record holder, Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers, underscores its significance. Yet, even before these jerseys hit the market, Joey Abel from the Philadelphia area found a unique way to show his excitement.

‘Philly Toughness’

As detailed by Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Joey Abel, a passionate Sixers fan living in New York, sought to express his enthusiasm in a distinct manner. Having endured the success of the New York Knicks, learning about LeBron’s signing prompted Abel to showcase his passion.

On a family beach trip, Abel used his nephew’s blue zinc sunscreen stick to have his sister write “James” and “23” on his back, mimicking a jersey. He opted to use no sunscreen elsewhere, creating a sunburn in the shape of a jersey.

Abel recounted to Coffey, “I don’t even know how I thought of it. I was just like, ‘How can I get a LeBron James jersey as fast as possible?’ And for some reason, that’s where my mind went.”

The results were quickly evident. Within an hour, with the sunscreen rubbed off, Abel’s back revealed a semi-permanent LeBron James jersey sunburn, as noted by Coffey.

Coffey mentioned the weather was slightly cloudy with temperatures in the high 70s, ideal for sunburn. Despite the conditions, it’s essential to wear sunscreen to protect your skin.

Photos of Abel’s sunburn have circulated online, drawing mixed reactions. Although his family felt embarrassed and the sunburn caused discomfort, Abel remains proud.

“It does hurt, but I did it, right? I’m going to have to keep it. I don’t really want it to fade as fast. Philly toughness, like LeBron’s going to learn,” Abel stated.