Okay, so LeBron James is a fan of New York Yankees. Big deal. Well, it’s a huge deal to some loyal New Yorkers (how many can possibly be left?) who feel this is sign numero uno that King James will be spending his next few years on the underperforming, overrated New York Knicks squad.
Not to abruptly burst everyone’s bubble who’s been counting the signs and are up to nineteen so far, but James in New York is about as likely as another Jordan unretirement. For fans of basketball, unfortunately, the latter possibility seems infinitely more appealing than James going to New York and giving a horrific basketball team and a snobbish city reason to be cockier than normal.
The Knicks met with James Thursday, July 1, and attempted to appeal to the king’s lust for loot. Instead of promising championships they won’t be able to produce, or other free agents they won’t be able to sign, the Knicks stuck with the we’re-better-than-you New York mentality and offered to make LeBron a legitimate billionaire if he signed with their club.
With the full extent of salary allotment and various NYC-based endorsement deals, the Knicks projected to James that his bank account could be $1.94 billion dollars richer in five short (read: long, uneventful and grueling in NY) years as a new Knickerbocker.
But the enormous amount of zeroes isn’t going to be enough to sway James. Why? In any basketball city, as “small market” as you choose, Gatorade, Nike, and endless big-company endorsements still exist.
Tiger Woods is Tiger Woods no matter which course he plays on, and the same is true of LeBron. Endorsements follow him because he’s one of the best players in the NBA and certainly the most highly rated – deserving or not.
What the King wants more than billions, more than adoring women and kneeling masses, is some hardware for the trophy case that says “Finals MVP” instead of simply MVP, and also that illusive championship ring – a few if at all possible.
Chicago, with an already formed talent pool, can more easily grant that. Miami, with the ability to keep D-Wade on and bring James in, can offer that. Cleveland, his home and current team, can add on. New York cannot. Mike D’Antoni cannot coach LeBron. The fans cannot appreciate talent beyond the level of Patrick Ewing’s.
No, New Yorkers – I’m sorry. You’d have better luck banking on 23 playing online roulette than you’d have banking on the King to come and play for an in-your-face, unruly city with an abysmal sporting club.
At the end of the day, others vying for James’ free agent signing can offer competitive basketball. All New York can say is, “We’re New York.” And while that may have worked some decades ago, that line is failing faster than their newspapers and property values.
I guess “King” James realizes that you can only spend so much money and wants the ring more. You’ve got to wonder if the three of them got together years ago and set their free agency date to make sure they could play together for a championship and wonder if they even though about playing for Pat Riley.
I was in Cleveland on business about a year and a half ago and attended an Indian’s Game. There is a HUGE mural, I can’t say exactly how large, maybe 10 stories, of Labron on the side of a building. I am wondering if it has already been defaced or painted over?
I guess we will see what the 2010-2011 season looks like. Pat Riley is an amazing coach. I would like to see them win the Championship the first year (unless my SPURS have a chance), if nothing else to put the owner of the Cavs in his place for being such a jerk.
D