Izzo is here. No word on whether it is just a visit or if the pen will be put to paper.

 

MSU fans are planning a rally for him tonight to encourage him to stay. I don't blame them, as he has been great for that program, getting the most out of the talent he has. However, I do not think I would feel the same. I am a huge OSU football fan and have been for my whole life. 'Senator' Tressel is the greatest thing since sliced bread IMO and I hope he stays at OSU forever. However, if the NFL came calling and he truly wanted to test the waters at the next level, I don't know that I would openly discourage him from taking the job. I would be mad at him for leaving for another college program, but that would be more of a lateral move. I don't think he would be half the NFL coach that he is in college, but that would just be my best guess. Of course, OSU football is OSU football and always will be. Not sure if MSU fans have as much confidence in their program minus Izzo.

 

As a resident MSU fan, we have had a lot of upheaval in the past couple decades and the only constant has been Tom Izzo.  The great success of the basketball team has been a bright spot in what has been a tough athletic road with our football team.

 

We finally have confidence in both of our coaches moving forward.  Anything threatening that is a bit of a scary prospect.  We do have confidence in our athletic director (one of the best in the business) to make a good hire (lots of names bandied about like Crean, Self, Dixon, etc...whether or not they would leave is another issue).

 

I think that Tom Izzo is more like a Woody Hayes than a Jim Tressel.  If Hayes leaves for another job it could have changed the course of OSU football.

 

The other issue is that MSU is poised to make a huge run in the next two years and has an incredible class coming in next year.  Those kids committed to Izzo not to MSU.

 

All that said...after reading Izzo's comments after he made it back to Lansing last night, i am more confident that he'll stick around.  He basically said, "I did what i had to do."  Since he hasn't made a decision yet, i'm taking that to mean that he had to go check out this once in a lifetime opportunity.  Sure, he's not made up his mind, but i think if he was leaning towards taking the job before, he's probably leaning towards staying now.

 

I am just begging him to pick up the phone and talk to Rick Pitino.

uh oh...

 

Greater Cleveland ad blitz begins

 

Messages aimed at helping King James make the right free agency decision

By Ken Robinson, Newsradio WTAM 1100

Friday, June 11, 2010

 

(Cleveland) – An advertising campaign is underway, that is targeted to just one person…LeBron James.

 

Dave Gilbert, president of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission says a dedicated group of citizens has produced a television, radio, internet, newspaper campaign to keep the “king of the court” in Cleveland.

 

Gilbert explains that the ads direct people to the website MoreThanAPlayer.org which outlines specific actions that can be taken to convince James not to leave.

 

With other cities like New York and Chicago launching campaigns to lure LeBron, Gilbert claims northeast Ohio would be conspicuous by its absence, for not doing the same.

 

http://www.wtam.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=122520&article=7229538

Diaspora, Izzo has indeed immediately shot down speculation from the Pistons, Timberwolves, and other teams in recent years when his name came up.  The Hawks job, to my knowledge, is the only one he gave any consideration to and that was 10 years ago when he was a younger coach.  Here, he is obviously contemplating the possibility.  Money talks and Gilbert has plenty of it.

The only consideration that Izzo is giving to this is because he figures this will be his last shot at the NBA.  Now, the factors that keep him at MSU are the following: his family has deep roots in East Lansing and he's coached there his entire professional career (minus a cup of coffee in Tulsa) at MSU.  He's making $3 million a year (and i've heard the money being tossed at him from Cleveland isn't a lot higher than that...in the $4-5m range) so his family is already set for life.  He has a team that is coming back that is expected to rival his 2000 national championship team and will likely be a favorite to win it all.  He's on the cusp of being a legendary coach if he gets a second title.  He's already a hall of famer, he would become a legend.

 

As far as Coach K being untouchable?  no one is, but Coach K, Izzo and Roy Williams are probably as close to it as you can come.  There isn't a word for how i would feel if Izzo left MSU.  Shocked doesn't even come close to describing it.

 

according to windhorst, it is $6m a year + other "incentives"... and coach k has already told everyone no.  Izzo hasn't done that.  Not sure how I feel about a college coach coming in... I guess we'll see what happens.

 

by the way, it appears... Dan Gilbert is to MrNYC as Mayor Jackson is to tedolph.  :)

 

well you can see recent clev sports ownership as you want to see it, but for example hts121 also said,"we don't have the assets to outbid the teams that are interested" for bosh and that includes money -- so i'm not the only one.

 

lets face it gilbert just lucked into having lebron locked up for a few years, so if he's all that and is ever going to win longtime clevo sports over like me, he's going to have to resign lebron -- and oh yeah at least make sure the clev has a freakin architectural masterpiece of a casino building. ha! good luck to him, but i'm extremely dubious he can pull either off.

 

 

 

^No, no.  MOney is NOT an issue.  I meant trade assets, as in players to offer in exchange.  For instance, the Lakers can offer Toronto a young, promisng 7 foot center and other assets (such as Shannon Brown) for Bosh - BTW, I don't think it would be wise for the Lakers to do so.  We can't match that offer IMO, but it has nothing to do with Gilbert's bank account or willingness to spend.

 

Also, I really, reallly do NOT want Lebron to "resign"

 

^^^I see a big difference between him and Pitino.  Pitino was first and foremost a great recruiter.  Izzo is first and foremost a great coach.  Quick... anyone not named diaspora... name more than one Mich St. player currently in the NBA.  Really, Zach Randolph might be the best NBA prospect he has had and he only had him for one, maybe two, years.  Izzo has done much more with MSU's talent than Coach K has done with Duke's, where he has had multiple NBA lottery picks coming through.

 

Calipari reminds me more of Pitino than Izzo does.

^ well maybe you are starting to convince me about izzo over coach k. especially when you throw in the old 'duke players are notorious nba busts' rep that school has - haha.

^Let's take a look at current NBA players:

 

Duke - Boozer, Brand, G. Hill, Maggette, Battier, Deng, Dunleavy, Duhon, Reddick, Jones, S. Williams, S. Randolph, D. Ewing.... and don't forget that J. Williams woud likely still be playing but for his motocycle accident.  That's 10 NBA lottery picks and at least 4 All-stars or former All-stars.

 

MSU - Peterson, J. Richardson, Z. Randolph, A. Anderson, S. Brown, M. Ager, P. Davis.

 

Which group would you rather have?

 

Also, Izzo has allegedly cancelled his golf outing for today.

No press conference this afternoon.  Izzo texted the AP to say that he hadn't made up his mind yet...that was about an hour ago.

 

Also, apparently one of Gilbert's private jets is flying to Boston...maybe to pick up Byron Scott?  It's the same plane that delivered Izzo last night back to Lansing.

 

(You forgot Charlie Bell...starting guard for the Bucks)  There's no doubt that Duke has been able to get great talent.  Coach K has also been doing it for a bit longer than Izzo.  Honestly, if Izzo sticks around you could start to see more numbers like that coming through.  I have the utmost respect for Coach K.  The guy wins and graduates players and does so cleanly.  I have no problem with that.

With each day that passes, LeBron James exposes himself as being more and more selfish.  I'm really getting tired of his schtick.  He's really too good to pick up the phone for Izzo?

I suspect, like everything else in The Summer of Lebron, the reporting/rumors on the "Izzo wants to call Lebron" thing is not all that accurate.

I agree....media blitz.

 

And I don't blame Lebron one bit for not commenting on any of the rumors.

I agree....media blitz.

 

And I don't blame Lebron one bit for not commenting on any of the rumors.

 

Why?  So he can make sure to squeeze every ounce of attention and praise in all of the cities during his "tour"?  This whole situation is almost unprecedented in sports.  Dude lacks character. 

^^What are you talking about?

 

Lebron would be stupid to say what his decision is now.  He is being courted by everybody....his national attention will only continue to raise his legend....hence sponsors now and down the road.  He is getting free media attention everyday... turn on sportscenter, and there he is.  Why would you or he want to stop that??  I'm sure he is making money off this somehow, at least he better be, and who can blame him.  All the rumors keep him in everyone's mind, and keep him in the national media buzz.  This is FREE press and advertisement for him.  And in the end he's going to get a nice contract.  Why in the world would he want any of this to stop or go away?? 

 

If anything he should find ways to milk it more.....like, ready for this.....not make a decision until August.

According to some sources, Izzo izn't going to leave East Lansing.  I'm happy for MSU fans and Cavs fans (because I think former NBA players generally make the best coaches)... sad for Dan Gilbert though. 

Hts121....right as usual

 

Tom Izzo rejects Cavaliers, chooses to stay at Michigan State

Published: Tuesday, June 15, 2010, 7:40 PM   

 

Brian Windhorst, The Plain Dealer

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cavaliers coaching search will continue, Tom Izzo is staying home.

 

Michigan State confirmed in a press release Tuesday that Izzo rejected the Cavs' interest in making him one of the highest-paid coaches in the NBA. There is a press conference scheduled for 8:30 p.m.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2010/06/tom_izzo_meeting_with_msu_play.html

 

If you didn't see the press conference i'd look up the interaction Izzo had with Detroit News reporter Lynn Henning.  In the press conference itself MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon and MSU AD Mark Hollis both took the media to task for their loose relationship with the facts in this story.

 

Lynn Henning took offense and brought it up to Izzo and then assailed him with the idea that Izzo was not making this decision in a vacuum and basically owed it to the media to keep them informed.  Izzo didn't like that...it was lie 10 minutes of the two of them going back and forth.  Great to see if you get a little annoyed with the constant 24/7 media.

Kids break into 'flash mob' dance at Tower City Center in effort to keep LeBron James in Cleveland

Published: Thursday, June 17, 2010, 2:15 PM

Michael Sangiacomo, The Plain Dealer

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Lunchtime shoppers stopped in their tracks in Tower City Center this afternoon as more than 200 children broke into a routine worthy of the Fox television megahit "Glee."

 

The dancers, ages 8 to 18 from the Cleveland and Akron Boys and Girls clubs and the Shaker Dance Academy, burst into choreographed movement around the fountain and up the marble stairs as the sound of Bonnie Tyler's "Holding Out for a Hero" blasted from speakers.

 

They went right into Usher's "More" and when the song was over, they dispersed, melting into the crowd.

 

The "hero" in question is LeBron James, and they are hoping to see "more" of him.

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/06/kids_break_into_impromptu_danc.html

 

please let there be a youtube video

If it was organized, in part, by WKYC, I'm sure there will be a video.

 

BTW, keep an eye on what the Hornets do with Darren Collison.  He may be available if Gilbert is willing to take on Okafor and his cap-killing contract.

This is seriously bizarre.

 

Dr. Phil Analyzes LeBron James and Cleveland

Ugh, Dr. Phil....  quit comedy and your day job please.

 

Still, I think I dislike "The Doctors" even more.  What a crappy show.

Here's some of the tower city footage from yesterday from the dancers from Akron and Cleveland:

 

http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=138077&catid=45

David Letterman - Jay-Z on LeBron James

Two articles posted below that could, I suppose, also go in the "I Love Cleveland" thread.

 

Mo Williams says that Cleveland has become his home and he does not want to leave.

 

With trade rumors swirling around him over the last several weeks, the Cavaliers guard got proactive today via his Twitter feed by requesting not to be traded to his more than 54,000 followers.

 

"I'm not ready to go," Williams wrote. "I'm begging. My work ain't done yet. I'm on both knees."

 

*  *  *  *  *

 

"I have my heart in the city and the organization and I don't want to leave," Williams said. "You can look at it from both sides. Other teams want you, so that is good, but I love Cleveland."

 

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index....view_with.html

 

 

Most people around the league are viewing Shaquille O’Neal’s time with the Cavaliers as a one-year-and-out proposition.

 

*  *  *  *  *

 

There have been rumors this summer that New Jersey and Dallas have interest in signing him in free agency.

 

Those rumors were news to O’Neal’s agent, Perry Rogers.

 

“I know nothing about that,” he said. “Rumors are always floating around at this time of year. I haven’t talked to anybody yet.”

 

If it was up to O’Neal, however, he’d come back for another year with the Cavs.

 

“We’re hoping that’s the case,” Rogers said. “We love it there. It’s a great team. Cleveland is great. It was a great season. Everyone wanted it to end a little better. Let’s be clear: They were the top seed for a reason.”

 

*  *  *  *  *

 

The agent said he’s represented O’Neal since 2001 and he’s always played in warm-weather cities (Orlando, Los Angeles, Miami and Phoenix).

 

“It was always, ‘Warm, warm, warm,’ “ Rogers said. “Shaquille is the one who suggested Cleveland. That surprised me. I thought, ‘Get to the winter and we’ll see.’ He loved it.”

 

http://morningjournal.com/articles/2...5562656603.txt

Looks like Lebron is making New York and New Jersey come to NEO:

 

Sources: Nets to meet James first

By Chris Broussard

ESPN The Magazine

 

All the elaborate recruiting plans for LeBron James will have to change. James will not go on a recruiting tour, his longtime business manager Maverick Carter told ESPN.com Friday.

 

"LeBron is not going on a tour," Carter said. "He never planned to go on a tour and has not been a part of any team's plans for a recruiting trip."

 

Instead, the Cleveland Cavaliers superstar will visit with individual clubs in northeastern Ohio once the free-agency period begins at 12:01 a.m. ET Thursday.

 

Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com's Marc Stein that the latest plan calls for the New Jersey Nets -- led by new owner Mikhail Prokhorov and minority owner/longtime James pal Jay-Z -- to be the first team to meet James face to face. No one from James' camp, though, would confirm the meeting.

 

On Saturday, a source told ESPNNewYork.com's Ian O'Connor that the Knicks also will be meeting with James on Thursday.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5329335

 

David Letterman Has Cleveland’s Back

 

Letterman saved his best stuff for when the inevitable LeBron James discussion came up. Dave told Jay-Z “You’re a guy, and I’m a guy. If LeBron James wants to be a guy, he will stay where he is and not cut the heart out of that city, by leaving Cleveland.” It was a pretty bold statement to say right in front of the part owner of the New Jersey Nets who already admitted he is pursuing LeBron. The best part was that a visibly flustered Jay-Z could only muster “But this is New York City, though.” So, yeah, there’s that.

 

Letterman later made another appeal for Cleveland while simultaneously insulting Jay-Z’s franchise. “He really ought to stay where he is and help the city. He would be a bigger hero that way, and what are his chances of winning with the Knicks? Zero? What are your chances of winning with the Nets? Not that strong.” I’m not sure Jay-Z appreciated that comment, but it was funny to watch him squirm none the less.

 

http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/?p=30347

^That is the interview in the video I posted above.  It is pretty funny actually.  My favorite part is Jay-Z's response to how the new Nets' owner made his fortune. :)

 

FWIW, in just the past week "sources"/"insiders"/"whatever a reporter wants to call them" has LBJ to Chicago as a "done deal" (NY Times).... no wait, it was "NYC all along" (F. Isola)..... errrrr, I mean LBJ to Miami is "locked up" (Steven A. Smith).  Oh yeah, I forgot that if the Clippers ownership changes and Sterling no longer owns a majority stake, LBJ to LA is a "shoe-in"

Bill Simmons tweet:

 

sportsguy33    48 hrs ago: sportsbook.com had LeBron at +125 to sign w/ Bulls. Bosh was +300. Now? They're both -500. Hmmmmmm.

Bill Simmons tweet:

 

sportsguy33 48 hrs ago: sportsbook.com had LeBron at +125 to sign w/ Bulls. Bosh was +300. Now? They're both -500. Hmmmmmm.

 

Please explain to a non-betting guy what that means

^I don't understand the numbers. Please translate.

Other gamblers correct me if I mess this up - It means that 48 hrs ago, you would have had to bet $100 to win $125.  Now, you would need to bet $500 just to win $100.  In other words, something happened in the past 48 hrs as far as the sportsbooks are concerned and now lebron is HEAVILY favored to go to the Bulls.

^ correct

 

Keep in mind the "event" that may have occured could simply be too many people were taking that bet (that he would go to Chicago) so the sportsbook changed the line to steer the betting another direction

Are you implying that *gasp* bookies odds might be something other than a fair assessment of statistical probability?!

even if too many people are betting one way, that is a pretty dramatic shift in odds.  Usually the odds would be altered, but not by that much.

^That's why you never bet for Notre Dame to win!  All those wealthy alumni betting for a Notre Dame win skew the line!  Bet against Notre Dame every weekend and I guarantee you'll come out ahead over the course of a football season.

The shift in Vegas is a reflection of too many people betting on Chicago.  It has nothing to do with the past 48 hours and everything to do with the trade Chicago agreed to last Thursday and the "reporting" that followed that trade.  The Bulls traded one of their starters and their 1st round draft pick to Washington for essentially nothing.  A move to clear more salary cap space to spend in free agency.  The reports were that this created enough room for Chicago to sign two maximum contract free agents.  It was widely reported as such by practically every major media outlet and the NYT called Lebron to Chicago a "done deal."  However, that assumption was incorrect.

 

Chicago now has close to, but not quite, $30 million in cap space.  Maximum contracts for players that are not on your team start at $16.5 million.  If the player is on your team already, you can offer him over $17 mill to start and larger increases each year.  I am not that great at math, but I do know that 16.5 + 16.5 = 33..... not 29 and some change.  Short of essentially giving away Luol Deng, Chicago will not be able to quite reach the 2 max free agent plateau that the Knicks tanked for so many years to reach.

 

After the trade went down, the NY Times reported that a "League Executive" had told them on the thought that Lebron and Bosh were going to sign wtih Chicago - ".... it's a done deal".  Of course, the Times neglected to put in the full quote - "I think it's a done deal" - and failed to mention what many suspect - that it was Chicago's executive who told them that.

 

So, the whole betting line shift is the result of, essentially, some shoddy reporting by the national media. 

 

From a pure INDIVIDUAL talent standpoint, Chicago seems like a no-brainer as the best choice.  However, the Bulls have a stingy/frugal owner and I am not sure they have the right pieces to put it all together, even with James and Bosh.  Don't forget that we spent YEARS trying to assemble the best TEAM around Lebron.  After years of experimenting, it was obvious that he plays the best with outside shooters that he can drive and kick to.... and big men who can clean the glass but not clog the lane.  IMO, Chicago does not fit that profile... especially after they just traded away their best (and, arguably, only) outside shooter and only have one, I repeat ONE, big man on their roster who is not a 3 trying to play the 4/5.

^That's why you never bet for Notre Dame to win! All those wealthy alumni betting for a Notre Dame win skew the line! Bet against Notre Dame every weekend and I guarantee you'll come out ahead over the course of a football season.

 

Well that and they tend to lose more lately than win....I am just saying...

^That's why you never bet for Notre Dame to win! All those wealthy alumni betting for a Notre Dame win skew the line! Bet against Notre Dame every weekend and I guarantee you'll come out ahead over the course of a football season.

 

Well that and they tend to lose more lately than win....I am just saying...

 

Doesn't matter if the team is good or bad.  If they are winning even more ND people will put money down on them to win and it will push the spread even farther.  There has to be some kind of study on the Notre Dame effect in sports betting.

Brian Shaw is in town interviewing for the coaching vacancy at this moment.  Cavs have already interviewed Byron Scott and Kelvin Sampson.  All signs point to it being a two horse race between Shaw and Scott.  Also, contrary to popular belief, Scott said in a media interview that he will not wait to see whether Phil Jackson retires (assuming he can get the Lakers' gig) or whether LBJ will re-sign before making a decision on a Cavs' offer... if he gets one.

 

Me thinks that Gilbert is going to have to convince these guys that he did NOT offer Izzo 5yrs/30mill as was widely reported.  Although Scott may be worth that much at market value.

So what exactly is the plan right now for the Cavs? They don't have enough cap space to bring Lebron back with another big name, and the current team isn't a championship calliber team, with or without Lebron.  If Lebron stays, what is the plan to improve the rest of the team? 

if lebron stays they have a lot of moveable contracts in their last year, which i'm sure would be leveraged to bring in a higher caliber player, similar to trades each of the last few years...

^^I don't agree with your assumptions.  The Cavs have won more regular season games over the past two years than any other team since the Bulls' dynasty in the 1990's.  Coaching was a big issue in this year's playoffs and last year's (hence, the firing), as were injuries to several key players (Lebron, Shaq, and Andy V.).

 

Plan A is to sign and trade for a big-time free agent, with Chris Bosh probably at the top of their wish list.  With all this talk about other teams, the Cavs really might be the ONLY team that can offer two real max deals.  They can give LBJ the max and they can have Toronto sign Bosh for the max they can sign him for and trade him to us.  Bosh has sent enough signals to know that, wherever he goes, he would prefer it to be in a sign and trade to maximum his salary levels.  Chicago, Miami and NYK don't have the assets to make that happen.

 

Plan B is to make some tweaks to the current roster, sign a decent player to the MLE (like LAL did with Artest last summer) and give it a go again with a team that has won more than 120 games over the past two seasons.

 

Funny how I don't hear about anyone saying Orlando needs to get blown up and their roster completely re-made.   

 

Plan C would be where Lebron leaves.  THEN... its is time to rebuild.  This team was built with him as the centerpiece.  Take him away and it is a puzzle that can't be completed.

^OK, thanks for clearing that up.  I just don't see the Cavs taking that next step from a great regular season team to a championship calliber team unless they add another big name to the mix and keep Lebron.  The Cavs supporting cast was decent, but no where near the level of the Lakers for example.  Lebron + another superstar + most of the Cavs supporting cast = championship.  Lebron + Cavs supporting cast + decent player = solid team, but no championship. Just my opinion.

Multiple sources (LA Times, ABJ and FanHouse) are reporting that the Cavs are working on finalizing a deal for Brian Shaw to become the next head coach.  Rumors were that, if Phil Jackson decided to step down as Lakers' coach, Shaw would have been his preference as a successor.

 

I slightly favored Byron Scott getting the gig, due to his head coaching experience.  But Shaw is well-liked by many players and Scott has had his issues with past players he has coached. 

 

Shaq, for one, gave an endorsement for the Cavs to interview Shaw.  I have a feeling that Scott wanted the Izzo money that many were saying the Cavs offered (even though no formal deal was ever offered to Izzo and the 'paramaters' of the deal that was discuss was less than the 5yrs/30mill many reported).  Gilbert probably felt about even between Shaw/Scott, but thought he could get Shaw at less $

 

Shaw is a former player who has worked under Phil Jackson for several years.  His familiarity with the triangle offense (which the 1990's Bulls and present day Lakers use) may have been appealing to the Cavs.  Downside is that he has no 'head' coaching experience.

This is the best possible scenario if we can get Brian Shaw.  NBA Championship experience both as a player and coach...he wants to be here...Lebron has said he'd like to play for a former NBA player.

Letterman saved his best stuff for when the inevitable LeBron James discussion came up. Dave told Jay-Z Youre a guy, and Im a guy. If LeBron James wants to be a guy, he will stay where he is and not cut the heart out of that city, by leaving Cleveland. It was a pretty bold statement to say right in front of the part owner of the New Jersey Nets who already admitted he is pursuing LeBron. The best part was that a visibly flustered Jay-Z could only muster But this is New York City, though. So, yeah, theres that.

 

 

New Yorkers believe there are only two kinds of people in the world:  those who live in New York City and those who want to live in New York City.

Letterman saved his best stuff for when the inevitable LeBron James discussion came up. Dave told Jay-Z “You’re a guy, and I’m a guy. If LeBron James wants to be a guy, he will stay where he is and not cut the heart out of that city, by leaving Cleveland.” It was a pretty bold statement to say right in front of the part owner of the New Jersey Nets who already admitted he is pursuing LeBron. The best part was that a visibly flustered Jay-Z could only muster “But this is New York City, though.” So, yeah, there’s that.

 

 

New Yorkers believe there are only two kinds of people in the world:  those who live in New York City and those who want to live in New York City.

Some native nyers think like that.  I think over the last 30 Years their opinons have decrease with the advent of cable and now the internet.  You know longer need to physically be in NYC to "make it" or "appear" to have arrived.

Some native nyers think like that. I think over the last 30 Years their opinons have decrease with the advent of cable and now the internet. You know longer need to physically be in NYC to "make it" or "appear" to have arrived.

 

...but if I make it there, I can make it anywhere. :)

 

 

...as far as LBJ goes though, it is all about winning the championship and endorsement money from China.

Some native nyers think like that.  I think over the last 30 Years their opinons have decrease with the advent of cable and now the internet.  You know longer need to physically be in NYC to "make it" or "appear" to have arrived.

 

...but if I make it there, I can make it anywhere. :)

 

 

...as far as LBJ goes though, it is all about winning the championship and endorsement money from China.

 

Good point...I think many newscenters are forgetting about the 15% Chinese ownership of the Cavs, The #1 selling Chinese beer Tsingtao’s sponsorship of the Cavs, and the "free" marketing that comes with it in China.  If Lebron stays with Cleveland...China is going to have a larger influence on him, the team, and the city.

 

Here's a story covering all this from 7 months ago:

 

http://www.nbainchina.com/cleveland-china-lebron/

For some reason I don't recall the chinese investors sale gaining league approval yet.  Does someone know if I somehow inexplicably missed this?  And if it has not been approved yet, why on earth is this taking so much longer than league approval for every other ownership change in the NBA.

http://www.onlyincle.com/2010/06/what-about-those-chinese-investors.html

 

http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2010/06/29/sports/nh2711077.txt

 

"Apparently, the Chinese group is waiting, like the rest of the league, to see what happens with James in free agency."