LeBron to make announcement at start of show?

[RainboUnicorn]

Winning = Building the LeBron brand though.

Someone in his inner circle needs to recognize that the reason Kobe and MJ were/are international stars is because they win.

Yeah but they don't. This ridiculous hour special thing is the reason I am not a LeBron fan. To be honest I almost don't even want him to sign with the Bulls because of his ego.

I would like to see him in a city where he is 'the guy' or even back in Cleveland for the NBA's sake.

 

[hoodyallen]

I live in Florida, nobody I know wants Lebron on the Heat. They love Wade and hate Lebron's band wagon fans. They don't want fans hopping on the bandwagon.

 

[ralaw]

But the brand isn't the same if he wins in Miami.

He's the second fiddle in Miami even if he is better than Wade.

LBJ will never be a "second fiddle". The minute he goes to Miami it becomes his team. I understand Wade is good and everything, but LBJ IMO is a bigger star with much more at stake if he goes to Miami. I do agree that winning in Miami with Wade and Bosh won't be like winning in Clev, NY or Chicago.

 

[FedEx227]

Yeah, that's what I essentially mean. Maybe not second fiddle, but that he'll be the top guy on a trio as opposed to be "THE GUY" if they win a title.

 

[FedEx227]

Yeah but they don't. This ridiculous hour special thing is the reason I am not a LeBron fan. To be honest I almost don't even want him to sign with the Bulls because of his ego.

I would like to see him in a city where he is 'the guy' or even back in Cleveland for the NBA's sake.

I want him to sign with the Bulls because he's an incredibly good basketball player.

 

[Rayman]

Maybe that's why he may go to Miami so that winning can be made easier.

But on the coattails of others?

He's taking the easy way out if he does that. His brand won't be nearly as big as it should be.

Nevermind the fact that they can't sell out playoff games in Miami.

 

[hoodyallen]

LBJ will never be a "second fiddle". The minute he goes to Miami it becomes his team. I understand Wade is good and everything, but LBJ IMO is a bigger star with much more at stake if he goes to Miami. I do agree that winning in Miami with Wade and Bosh won't be like winning in Clev, NY or Chicago.

He will never be more popular then Wade in Miami.

 

[Rayman]

I live in Florida, nobody I know wants Lebron on the Heat. They love Wade and hate Lebron's band wagon fans. They don't want fans hopping on the bandwagon.

lol

Like I was saying, Miami is the definition of a front-running town.

 

[hoodyallen]

lol

Like I was saying, Miami is the definition of a front-running town.

No, their just gay fair weather fans. They don't want a million Lebron fans hopping on their dick. Two different things imo.

 

[ralaw]

He will never be more popular then Wade in Miami.

That doesn't mean it won't be his team. Obviously the fans love Wade, but LeBron will not play second fiddle to him, as he is the greater player.

 

[Rayman]

No, their just gay fair weather fans. They don't want a million Lebron fans hopping on their dick. Two different things imo.

My point is that they're hypocrites

 

[hoodyallen]

That doesn't mean it won't be his team. Obviously the fans love Wade, but LeBron will not play second fiddle to him.

From a basketball standpoint it will be his team, just not in a public opinion standpoint.

My point is that they're hypocrites

Eh, I agree to an extent but I think theres a bit of a difference between being fair weather and not wanting Lebron dick riders being Heat fans.

 

[ralaw]

No, their just gay fair weather fans. They don't want a million Lebron fans hopping on their dick. Two different things imo.

That's the nature of the sports.....I'm sure many of those same fans jumped off the Heat bandwagon after the Mourning/Hardaway days and hoped back on come 2006. The team added Bosh and it seems is about to add LBJ, so the wagon is going to need to be upgraded. Get use to it.

 

[FedEx227]

And who cares? fair weather fans have money, money put back into your franchise allows your franchise to continue to add payroll or continue to compete.

 

[ralaw]

From a basketball standpoint it will be his team, just not in a public opinion standpoint.

I've been referring to on-the-court....I really don't care about how fans think, because I'm sure many will go out and by their LBJ jerseys and create a cheering section for him, as this is what fans do.

 

[ralaw]

And who cares? fair weather fans have money, money put back into your franchise allows your franchise to continue to add payroll or continue to compete.

Yeah, it sort of reminds me of the snobby Yankees fans who say talk about what being a "real Yankee" is.

 

[RainboUnicorn]

I want him to sign with the Bulls because he's an incredibly good basketball player.

Yeah obviously. I've just never been a LeBron fan. If he signed with the Bulls I would probably change my tune.

 

[Goober]

An hour long tv show? This is why the NBA sucks. Fuck lebron, I hope he continues to fail.

 

[FedEx227]

Yeah, I'd hate for there to be attention whores in other sports that manipulate the media for their own causes and to feed their ego. FUCK THE NBA!

 

[USCChifan]

Looks like he won't.

Less than five hours from now, LeBron James will tell ESPN, on its hour special called “The Decision,” what team he is going to.

As part of the deal with ESPN, James’ business team, LRMR Marketing, was given ad inventory to sell.

They sold co-presenting sponsorships to the University of Phoenix and Bing, with McDonald’s and Sprite also having commercials in the show.

James’ team isn’t saying how much in total was raised, but Maverick Carter, CEO of LRMR, did say on Thursday afternoon that more than $2 million in net proceeds will go to the Boys & Girls Club of America. Vitaminwater and Nike also contributed in the charitable effort.

“LeBron’s decision has generated an incredible amount of interest, and we decided to make his announcement on national television,” Carter said, in a statement. “We are donating the proceeds from the program, totaling $2.5 million, to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America…LeBron has a longstanding commitment to giving back to the community and has worked with the Boys & Girls Clubs in cities across the country.”

James will make his announcement on show from the Boys & Girls Club in Greenwich, Connecticut, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

“Boys & Girls Clubs of America is grateful to LeBron James for his choosing Boys & Girls Clubs as the beneficiary of the generous support generated by his exciting announcement,” the non-profit group said, in a statement.

“At Boys & Girls Clubs, our slogan is "Great Futures Start Here," because of the life-changing, character-building guidance and mentorship that clubs provide to young people. As LeBron James announces the game plan for his "Great Future," we are delighted to partner with him, and on behalf of all our children and teens in Clubs nationwide, we wish him the very best in the years ahead.”

Update: Mark Dowley, a partner at William Morris Endeavor, who put the show idea together with Maverick Carter, told CNBC that two companies, University of Phoenix and Bing, got the most ad time (2 minutes). University of Phoenix donated its ad time to the Boys & Girls Clubs. None of the other companies with ads are running any new creative specific to LeBron. Dowley did say, contrary to what ESPN had said yesterday, that LeBron won't announce what team he is going to within the first 15 minutes of the show.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/38154289