And watch out for Brandon Jennings’ time in Rome to end soon — word is he got kicked out of 2 practices this week and barely played in the last games. Zero minutes in one game and only 11 in the next with no points and 2 turnovers.
Young Money’s gonna have to forget about the NBA for a couple of months or he’ll be gone from Rome. You heard it here first.
]]>Hey Sean, I looked at that clip re Lebron and Budweiser…
Here are some thoughts.
Soccer players aren’t paid much differently than NBA or NFL or MLB players. Actually, they have less freedom and most times, their rights are owned by their clubs. They get bought and sold, loaned out….
Don’t get me wrong, they make money, but even the top top guys like Christiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi ….they don’t make nearly as much money as the stars here do. Sure that Beckham deal raised a lot of eyebrows, but let’s see how it plays out.
People want to see results. The marketing stuff and the friendships with Tom Cruise and Will Smith…. that stuff is not enough. If he doesn’t perform on an unbelievably high level, he won’t see anything close to the $250 million that was talked about. And he is not capable of
performing on that level and electrifying the public.
Now re Lebron, i don’t see him going over to Europe after this current contract for a number of reasons.
First of all, basketball in Europe remains an expensive hobby. Sure there are a few club owners that would make this kind of move for their ego. But it would be very difficult for it to make financial sense.
Let’s assume that some super rich shipping heir has no problem parting ways with $200 million. The question now becomes, would a player of Lebron’s stature be motivated just by money? Would a player, be it Wade or Lebron, leave the L and sacrifice a chance at a Ring, and all the other honors? I highly doubt it. Maybe in 6 or 7 years, after he has won a title and won a few MVP’s…then why not. But to leave in your prime…..it makes no sense.
Another thing we have to consider is the global economy and the $/ EURO exchange rate. Back in July when Childress was signed, the EURO peaked for a brief moment at 1.60. Not even 10 days later, it was down to 1.48. It is now 1.26. You get what I am getting at?
I had said to everyone during the Olympics, because everyone was talking about Kobe, Wade and Lebron heading over to Europe, that if the value of the Euro increases to 1.8 or 2.0, then it would make something like this more possible. But if on the other hand, the dollar strengthens and approaches parity with the EURO, that story changes.
Gotta go Sean, take care and let’s get together soon OK.
My best,
Stratos
]]>I think Basketball has the most impact because of the comp level, and again, if a kid like Lance or someone like Bron or Kobe jet, it makes the game even bigger for the world.
]]>I believe there will be an even more major “globalization” and integration of players in the Europe to the US and players in the US to Europe…why can’t other sports and industries catch onto the trend?
]]>A French mag just did an article on the NBA opening its doors to foreign players. Event if it’s a business question, now foreign players represent 17% of the 450 players of the NBA. Maybe still a minority but don’t you think the game has evolved thanks to those mixed rosters.
Teams like Portland, San Antonio, Dallas, Toronto, Orlando, Los Angeles are now playing like European teams with the intensity of the NBA. Parker,Nowitzki,Nash,Ginobili,Deng,Fernandez,Calderon,Gasol,Biedrins,
Kirilenko,Stojakovic…. all those guys came to the NBA and improved the quality of the game. Why US players couldn’t come to Europe to improve the media coverage of basketball and face Soccer !
A glimpse of the future, maybe?
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