Why Miami and LeBron still doesn't make sense.

This is a great piece I think addresses one of the things that really irked me about LeDiva agreeing to play in Miami. Having lived in Miami and knowing the city, something with the move was just off for me. Miami is not a city where an athlete who is the face of a professional league and endorsement machine signs to play. It just didn't make any sense and is still a little surreal to me. The rules are simple, either you stay with your team or you sign to play in New York or LA. Unfortunately for Mr. James, he couldn't have screwed it up worse...but he's obviously too fried and narcissistic to understand that he did. After reading this, you'll see the player, the entourage, the city, the team, and the endorser all play off each other and the result is still something that doesn't seem right.

about 1 year ago KingJafi 12 comments 0 recs |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Around SB Nation

Pacers Vs. Heat, Game 1 Links: Miami Wins Game, Loses Bosh While Indiana Just Loses

May 2012 from Indy Cornrows - 6 comments

Checking in on the NBA playoffs

May 2012 from Barking Carnival - 28 comments

Disjointed and Disappointed: The 2011-2012 Memphis Grizzlies

May 2012 from Straight Outta Vancouver - 18 comments

Chris Bosh MRI Reveals Strained Abdominal Muscle- Out Indefinitely

May 2012 from Peninsula is Mightier - 44 comments

Pacers vs. Heat: Chris Bosh Out Indefinitely with Abdominal Strain

May 2012 from Indy Cornrows - 26 comments

Comments

Why does he have to play for NY or LA??

I am glad he went to Miami. It proves you do not need to be in those markets. No state tax. Beautiful weather. I mean come on. I love the city of Miami. I would move there in half a heart beat.

Roll Bass and War Ryno for me

by Mateo9399 on Apr 19, 2011 10:28 AM EDT reply actions

Because it begs the question of why he left Cleveland in the first place. He had a loving fan base, a franchise willing to build around him and do whatever it took to keep him happy and win, and he still was getting all the global endorsements while being in Clevland. We can argue all day about Cleveland’s potential to win, but the fact remains they were a contender. So why does he leave? Beautiful weather? That’s kind of a cop out imo when Cavs fans spend hard earned money to buy tickets and his merchandise…as a professional athlete he has somewhat of an obligation (its part of the “cons” of earning millions of dollars) not to bail on those fans for such a stupid reason as warm weather or income tax (both of which he can address by living in Miami in the offseason). So it leaves the next logical and worthwhile explanation and that’s brand imaging. Every NBA market aside from NYC or LA, provides him a superstar athlete a comparable ability to market their brand. But when that superstar plays in NYC or LA, that ability is multiplied by a 100. NYC and LA are the media capitals of the US if not the world. To something like LeBron James’ image that bump in marketing exposure does matter. Taking his talents to South Beach does practically nothing to his brand…he’s essentially on the same platform he was in Cleveland (this has nothing to do with the actual size of the media market). Thats why it will never make sense to me…I always thought it was Cleveland or NYC. Yeah, yeah Wade and Bosh etc…but you are LeBron James…you ask them to join you in Cleveland…you don’t join them in Miami. You get why it’s kind of off and has nothing to do with actually living in Miami?

"Where do you go from here, Dion?" "I go to Toronto."
Spreading that Calgary Flames, Montreal Expos, The U, and Orlando Magic love. - www.hitthepost.ca

by KingJafi on Apr 19, 2011 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Cleveland is cold

He does not have an obligation. Do I, as a person living in Florida, have an obligation to root for Tampa Bay Rays because that is the “local” team?? No I am a Yankees fan. Should I root for the Bucs?? No I am Raiders fan. If I were LeBron, why would I go to LA and play second fiddle to Kobe?? Or New York and deal with media? Why not go to Miam, where there is no state tax. I get to play with my two best friends. Also I am the best player walking this earth, if you noticed I lead the league i Jersey sales and I am well known throughout the world. Miami is a much more glamorous market than Cleveland. Why would you ask them to join you when you are in Cleveland? Cleveland is no Miami. LeBron made a business, personal, and financial decision to go to Miami. He makes more money in Miami than LA or NY, because there is no state tax in FL. Did you know in NY you pay city, county, state, federal, and a millionare’s tax? He also has an agent to pay. If I personally was LeBron, I would have forced myself to Orlando, play with Dwight a better fanbase and be closer to Disney for my kids. But it is not like playing with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh is a bad option. Also, Miami is his team. Wade may be the “closer” but let’s be real, LeBron is the best player on that team and he is the reason they win. Just because Bucher and other people say NBA games are won in the final minutes, um remember If LeBron helps you blow a team out then you do not have to worry about the last few minutes.

Roll Bass and War Ryno for me

by Mateo9399 on Apr 19, 2011 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Thats where you and I disagree and I’ll leave it at that. Imo, he does have an obligation…those fans in Cleveland paid for his million dollar contract and were a significant chunk of his merchandise sales. In other words, they along with local businesses essentially put food on his table…he has an obligation to those people and that local economy. Us a local residents on the other hand to not have an obligation to the particular local team but a lot of times it in our interests to support them since some of the taxes we pay go to sustaining them or the venues they play in.

Now if no one went to Cavs games, etc….then I see no obligation for him to support the local economy. I liken someone like LeBron to a large local business…those businesses have duties and obligations to the local population and economy…its a two way street as well. And I’d understand if he’d reached an impasse with the organization or he had issues with local politics or whatever…but the guy was so sketch about the whole thing…he toyed with those people and the organization and then stabbed them in the heart on national TV. Never once did the Cavs or the city of Cleveland spare an expense for him…he just wanted nothing to do with them for whatever reason. And that goes back to my original point of leaving for better weather or a better city is not an excuse.

I digress…but hopefully you see my point, even though you dont agree. Btw, this should indicate to you my stance on Dwight leaving Orlando.

"Where do you go from here, Dion?" "I go to Toronto."
Spreading that Calgary Flames, Montreal Expos, The U, and Orlando Magic love. - www.hitthepost.ca

by KingJafi on Apr 19, 2011 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Except fans do not pay for their contracts. Owners do. Fans pay for stadiums and arenas.

Owners get their money from TV Revenue and their other businesses. I get what you are saying. I really do. But when you take the emotion out of it, you see that LeBron made the right decision. Obviously I want Dwight to stay, but if he leaves it is not easy to see why. Our team would be in a bad cap situation and would be difficult to get better. If he leaves, I will applaud Dwight the first game back. He would have given us 8 years and numerous deep playoff runs. We got a new arena because of him. Would it hurt? Yes. But look what he did do for us the time he was here, in the event he does leave.

Roll Bass and War Ryno for me

by Mateo9399 on Apr 19, 2011 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

So we should just keep accepting the fact our stars leave for supposed greener pastures? I don’t buy it man. The grass isn’t greener in Los Angeles at least from a living standpoint. Maybe he becomes a star among stars and gets to live in a little more peace (which from what I hear, Central Floridians give Dwight his space and the press isn’t so critical here). I guess, as I pointed out earlier, it makes sense from a brand standpoint.

What made me come to grips with Shaq leaving was the guy went there for a) non-basketball/business related reasons and b) there were some differences from a contract standpoint between the player and orgnization and the Magic wanted him to share the stage with Penny. LeBron leaving Cleveland the way he did was narcissistic, ill-advised, and appeared to have some sort of venegefulness to it. Anyways, back to Shaq, a lot of things had to fall in place for him to actually a title in LA and there were times where it all almost fell apart…so Dwight living for winning purposes is not a sure thing. I yearn for the days that susperstars spent their entire careers with a team…hopefully something in the new CBA can curb this player movement…at least for the franchise superstars/cornerstones.

"Where do you go from here, Dion?" "I go to Toronto."
Spreading that Calgary Flames, Montreal Expos, The U, and Orlando Magic love. - www.hitthepost.ca

by KingJafi on Apr 19, 2011 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I agree

I mentioned the pluses of Orlando. If he makes a personal decision, what can you do? Hold him hostage?

Roll Bass and War Ryno for me

by Mateo9399 on Apr 19, 2011 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Every team deserves to have a chance to win and every city has its pluses and minuses.

Whether you’re in Florida or in Toronto, Ontario (which is a big metro area contrary to what a lot of Americans think). If all the players are trying to go to

Fans do not necessarily pay for the arenas being built through high sales taxes at the restaurants. Some NBA/NHL owners, like Atlanta Spirit, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (the Raptors’ owners), Peter Holt, and Phil Anschutz (the LA Kings owner) own their arenas which are financed with their own money. It raises franchise value considerably as well.

The next CBA should have a franchise tag to make these LeBron-esque moves harder to make, in addition to a hard salary cap and floor. Also, in regards to taxes being a reason why a player would want to move elsewhere, I think it depends on how “greedy” that player is and how much endorsement income he has. For LeBron, he makes a ton of money regardless of where he plays due to endorsements, but for an average player or player without many endorsements, this can make a difference.

by thewiz06 on Apr 23, 2011 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions

If all the players are trying to go to

If all the players are trying to go to the same cities because of taxes, and/or media markets, then this only will perpetuate the problems in the NBA’s profitability, ex, being the Lakers’ recent $3 billion contract with Time Warner cable which they will at least for now not have to share with anyone else.

by thewiz06 on Apr 23, 2011 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions