Lebron is moving to Brooklyn. not this season, and not next season... but it's only a matter of time. James and his long time friend (and 2007 gM Man of the Year nominee) Jay-Z called themselves "the Two Kings" at a VIP dinner in New Orleans as part of the NBA All-Star weekend festivities.
In case you ain't already know, the superstar rapper just so HAPPENS to be part owner of the New Jersey Nets, a team that has been quietly clearing salary cap space in preparations of moving the team to Jay-Z's native bourough of Brooklyn, New York. Have they been clearing space for Lebron? when asked about it two years ago, Jay said “How amazing would that be? He’s my friend first. If Cleveland is building a championship team around him, then my advice is to stay there," but then Jigga teased "If it’s the Nets who are building a championship team... then my advice is to come to the Nets.” 
so is it a coincidence that the Nets never traded Jason Kidd to Cleveland, who wanted him as bad as anyone else, OR that after they finally manage to move Kidd (and his heavy contract) that Cleveland strip-mined its squad to try and beef up and contend for a title ASAP? before you answer, consider this: LeBron is a Yankees fan, Nike has a LeBron-Yankees shoe planned for March release, Lebron can get out of his contract with Cleveland as early as 2010.
make no mistake... Jay-Z is gangsta! he maintained a brutal rap war with Nas for several years, then SIGNED Nas once he became President at DefJam. he embraced Lebron before he even went to the NBA... before Jay was even part of the Net's ownership! he's got the vision, gab, and the swagger to convince James (who said he wanted to be the first Billionaire athlete) that he needs to move to the Planet to solidify his goals of world supremacy...Cleveland needs to have mega-success in the next two years, or their hopes of keeping the self-styled King of Hoops in town are doomed. T-minus two years.... tick, tick, tick...
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I heard about Jay and Lebron from a story over on Highbrid Nation and I honestly don't see Lebron leaving Cleveland to be with Jay. He seems like one of the few athletes around today with integrity and loyalty. I could be wrong though.
ReplyDeletei hope Lebron stays in cleveland. when he came to the league, i was impressed with his desire to play for his hometown squad. in my mind, he seperated himself from the many drones who tend to choose the biggest paycheck, and (as you alluded to on the HN blog) turning a town like Cleveland into a perrenial championship city (inevitable if he stays) will raise his status into the Living Legend category.
ReplyDeletethat said, if Jay has decided to net (pun intended) him, Lebron’s decision may get made for him. this is the same cat that left a label he started with 'a friend' to take over Def Jam, eventually breaking the stalemate of the rap battle with rival newyork rapper Nas by SIGNING him, and left defjam for an even sweeter deal with apple’s fledgling music label… plus he dates BEYONCE, homie! this is a guy who GETS what he WANTS!!!
well, whatever the case, I hope a person's integrity is above someone else's greed. If this isn't the case, I just hope this is quality friendship and not another highly publicized "gangsta takeover"
ReplyDeletei don't question Lebron's integrity. he has proved a lot to me by going to cleveland at all. he's carried himself with an admirable ammount of class for someone so young. he wouldn't be the first player to switch teams (Shaq is on his fourth, think) either for money or a better opportunity to win... he would be doing (presumably) for both.
ReplyDeletei'd rather he stayed in cleveland, because small market champions are good for your sport, and he can pull players to him to strengthen his team, IF the Cavs organization is down...