Lebron James to sign $140 Million shoe deal

[Guest Masked Heel]

i think the reason for all the hate is the fact that he's just out of high school and he already has more money than he can spend. For 150 mill his shoes better be able to walk by themselves without your help and give your heart rate at the same time. For all the hype he's getting he should just dominate games and take whatever bad team gets him to the playoffs next year, but thats highly unlikely

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

I don't want to see Lebron fail. He seems to be a good kid, and I wish him all the best.

 

Who I want to see fail are all these dumbass companies that pay so much for an unproven commodity.

[Guest El Satanico]

Well they're basically guaranteed to do great business off Lebron's name for at least 5 years even if he turns out to be a bust. So it's not really an "unproven commodity" in this case.

 

Even if they only get 2 years out of his name they will probably break even. I have no clue how much the big names make a company per year so I don't know if I'm right or not.

[Rendclaw 0]

Penny Hardaway...that is what he is.

 

He is 6'8, great handles, great passing abilities and a streak shooter and can finish at the basket. He will be Penny before the knee injuries.

 

BUT...

 

Penny Hardaway has always been and still is a basketball genius. He knows how to play the game so incredibly well...it is ridiculous. Will Lebron have that ability?

 

He will not be a flop baring injuries. I expect a good 15, 5, 5 year for him as a rookie.

But Penny always had a knock against him for all his ability.... He wasn't a leader. When Shaq went off to LA, all of the attention focused on Penny and he out and out crumbled under it. Some of it wasn't fair but when yu are touted as the next Magic Johnson because of your ability to pass the ball, you're bound to fail unless you have the mental strength.

 

Penny didn't.

 

Especially after the ridiculous scrutiny he was under because of the knee operations, going to seek another opinion, and rehabbing in Houston rather than Orlando... it was a shame.

 

But to be even-handed about it, Penny's attitude started to really suck during that time, and even before all of that went down, there were flashes of child-like petulance from him...

 

I hope LeBron has enough mental strength to be great in this league, because that is exactly what is expected from him, from the moment he signs the contract.

 

You think the hype is ridiculous now?

 

Wait until he actually starts to succeed.

[Guest Choken One]

Just to throw this out...

 

It was just confirmed that Lebron signed a 7 year deal with Nike.

[Guest El Satanico]

They signed Lebron and Carmelo...damn.

 

Nike is set to regain their total dominance over the athletic clothing industry that has been slipping away ever since Jordan left Chicago.

 

If both of these guys go to good markets and have success Nike will destroy all other companies...again.

 

 

I can't stand Nike brand...so how wonderful

[Guest Choken One]

I really wanted Lebron to sign with Puma DAMN IT!

[Guest Ripper]

Penny Hardaway...that is what he is. 

 

He is 6'8, great handles, great passing abilities and a streak shooter and can finish at the basket.  He will be Penny before the knee injuries. 

 

BUT...

 

Penny Hardaway has always been and still is a basketball genius.  He knows how to play the game so incredibly well...it is ridiculous.  Will Lebron have that ability?

 

He will not be a flop baring injuries.  I expect a good 15, 5, 5 year for him as a rookie.

But Penny always had a knock against him for all his ability.... He wasn't a leader. When Shaq went off to LA, all of the attention focused on Penny and he out and out crumbled under it. Some of it wasn't fair but when yu are touted as the next Magic Johnson because of your ability to pass the ball, you're bound to fail unless you have the mental strength.

 

Penny didn't.

 

Especially after the ridiculous scrutiny he was under because of the knee operations, going to seek another opinion, and rehabbing in Houston rather than Orlando... it was a shame.

 

But to be even-handed about it, Penny's attitude started to really suck during that time, and even before all of that went down, there were flashes of child-like petulance from him...

 

I hope LeBron has enough mental strength to be great in this league, because that is exactly what is expected from him, from the moment he signs the contract.

 

You think the hype is ridiculous now?

 

Wait until he actually starts to succeed.

It always puzzled me how Penny was said to not be a leader after 1: He was the only one on the entire Magic team that showed up that second year vs Chicago...Shaq was nowhere to be found. 2. He led a team of BUMS to the playoffs the next year...BUMS...second round of the playoffs as a matter of fact. 3: He led a even bigger group of BUMS to the playoffs the year after and lost to Philly in 5. He lashed out at his bum of a team and the fans booing him (despite playing on a bad knee that if he had sat out might have lengthed his time on top) and he got tagged for being childish. Unfairly in my opinon but to each his own.

 

Then he got traded to Phoenix and Led the suns to the second round of the playoffs after they lost Jason Kidd to a broken ankle and gave the Lakers hell over 5 games(once again cementing my point that Kobe couldn't even keep up with a one legged Penny...great defender my ass) and playing on a once again injured knee that he should have stayed off of.

 

The guy gets nothing but respect from me. And I think he is one hell of a leader.

[Guest Spicy McHaggis]

Leading one's team to a playoff loss regardless of team problems/injuries is not very impressive.

[Guest alkeiper]

Yeah, the Kobe sucks come to think of it.

[Guest Ripper]

Leading one's team to a playoff loss regardless of team problems/injuries is not very impressive.

When ROnnie Siekly is the second best player...leading that team to playoffs is impressive. Remeber...this was the 90's...the East was running shit. For a hobbled penny to lead this team to the playoffs...and like a 5-6 seed at that, was amazing...and proved leadership.

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

This is unrelated, but the first time I saw LeBron James, I was expecting him to have cornrows.

[Guest C-Bacon]

Wow. Does anyone not find this huge endoresment sickening? Considering all the human rights problems worldwide and child labour issues, finding this type of endevour justifiable leaves me baffled to say the least. I found the following write up by Matthew Good (Canadian musician) interseting..

 

90,000,000.

 

That’s what Nike is spending on a seven year endorsement deal with LeBron James, the Akron Ohio high school basketball phenomenon that has yet to even play a professional NBA game.

 

This is what we have become. This is what represents us, what reflects the desires of our cultural soul. We are no longer members of various target markets but victims of having our lives shaped by the dictates of mass marketing strategies. The very definition of happiness is a marketing ploy these days, bringing with it stresses that are affecting young people in ways that we can’t even imagine. They are a generation suffering from sensory overload that have no recourse but to stick their heads in the sand and hum because the definition of all that they stand to inherit is so very narrow and empty despite what the ads say.

 

Ninety million dollars. Do you realize how many people $90,000,000 could feed? Right now in East Africa that money could save thousands upon thousands of lives. Do you realize how many social programs could be significantly aided with that sort of money? How many humanitarian organizations or a variety of other programs? Do you realize how much such organizations could be catastrophically helped by even 1/100th of that sum?

 

Such a sum of money promised to a teenager for throwing a ball through a hoop is a reflection of the disgusting heights of our decadence. Such sums of money should be granted leading scientists and humanitarians, not kids that play sports. Imagine what inroads could be made in general medical, agricultural, and resource research, and AIDS research. How about vaccinating a large portion of the world’s population against diseases that doctors in North America haven’t considered real problems for fifty years?

 

The thought of such a sum in the hands of a child blows my mind.

 

Before writing this I spent a half hour staring at my Arsenal kit top collection. Many of them are made by Nike and I was contemplating whether or not to thrown them away. I have yet to purchase this year’s top and now won’t. Some of my Nike Arsenal goods were made in Taiwan where labor is cheap. Others were made in Pakistan where labor is equally as cheap. I suppose they’ll need the money they saved manufacturing in economically depressed nations to pay LeBron.

 

www.nationofcool.net

[Guest Hogan Made Wrestling]

Wow. Does anyone not find this huge endoresment sickening? Considering all the human rights problems worldwide and child labour issues, finding this type of endevour justifiable leaves me baffled to say the least. I found the following write up by Matthew Good (Canadian musician) interseting..

 

90,000,000.

 

That’s what Nike is spending on a seven year endorsement deal with LeBron James, the Akron Ohio high school basketball phenomenon that has yet to even play a professional NBA game.

 

This is what we have become. This is what represents us, what reflects the desires of our cultural soul. We are no longer members of various target markets but victims of having our lives shaped by the dictates of mass marketing strategies. The very definition of happiness is a marketing ploy these days, bringing with it stresses that are affecting young people in ways that we can’t even imagine. They are a generation suffering from sensory overload that have no recourse but to stick their heads in the sand and hum because the definition of all that they stand to inherit is so very narrow and empty despite what the ads say.

 

Ninety million dollars. Do you realize how many people $90,000,000 could feed? Right now in East Africa that money could save thousands upon thousands of lives. Do you realize how many social programs could be significantly aided with that sort of money? How many humanitarian organizations or a variety of other programs? Do you realize how much such organizations could be catastrophically helped by even 1/100th of that sum?

 

Such a sum of money promised to a teenager for throwing a ball through a hoop is a reflection of the disgusting heights of our decadence. Such sums of money should be granted leading scientists and humanitarians, not kids that play sports. Imagine what inroads could be made in general medical, agricultural, and resource research, and AIDS research. How about vaccinating a large portion of the world’s population against diseases that doctors in North America haven’t considered real problems for fifty years?

 

The thought of such a sum in the hands of a child blows my mind.

 

Before writing this I spent a half hour staring at my Arsenal kit top collection. Many of them are made by Nike and I was contemplating whether or not to thrown them away. I have yet to purchase this year’s top and now won’t. Some of my Nike Arsenal goods were made in Taiwan where labor is cheap. Others were made in Pakistan where labor is equally as cheap. I suppose they’ll need the money they saved manufacturing in economically depressed nations to pay LeBron.

 

www.nationofcool.net

Yeah, because paying $20 for a Matthew Good CD is a much better reflection on our society. Maybe when Matt is done complaining about cheap labor to make expensive sports clothing, he can ask the RIAA why the markup on CDs is so high when they cost jack all to make?

[Guest Ripper]

Bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch.

 

Why is it such a horrible thing that a kid from a low income, single parent home has made good using his talent. This kid and host of other athletes have seen lived in poverty the likes of which dumbass reporters only see when doing a heart felt news story before they go back to their cushy homes in the suburbs. It is sickening to see that someone making good is frowned upon...well...not always. Baseball players sign incredibly high contracts and no one bats an eye...I guess because it is "the National Past time".

 

I see LeBron James's mother never having to work again and being able to sit back and enjoy the prosperity of the son she raised. I see Lebron James being paid back for not being a moron and getting in trouble and staying on the path to his goal.

 

Lebron James will make Nike alot more than 90 million dollars and he is well worth the investment. Shame on anyone too damn bitter to have any joy for their fellow man that they will run down a kid because he made good.

[Guest Spicy McHaggis]

Not that I agree with that writer... but the poverty James lived in (I didn't know playing AAU ball and going to a prep school constituted poverty) is nothing compared to the 3rd world poverty that 1% of his contract could relieve. Come on, man, it's 90 million dollars... I live in a cushy suburb and I will never even SEE that much money in my lifetime.

[Guest Ripper]

Ok, but lets not act like Nike execs were sitting there saying "Well, we WERE going to give this money to starving kids, but lets give it to Lebron James."

 

If he didn't get it someone else would have. And if he played baseball or any other sport, no one would care. And I wonder how much of his money is the author of that article giving. 5-10% of HIS paycheck would help alot over seas also...

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

the kid seems like a pretty good guy who has remarkably yet to let all this hype get to his head. I think its a good investment by Nike and that's all it is.

[Guest El Satanico]

Nike giving 90 million to 3rd world countries instead of giving it to an athlete that will make them a shit load of money.

 

Yeah that would be great, but this is reality and that would never happen so why bring it up.

[Guest Lethargic]

I just listened to a interview with a guy from Nike on our local sportstalk, he says the rumored figures of 90 million and 150 million are all extremely over-inflated and totally wrong. They have not released the real figures but he did say that what he signed for was HALF of what Reebok offered him to sign with them.

[Guest El Satanico]

Why the hell would he have chosen Nike if Reebox was offering him twice as much?

 

I don't give a shit if he loves Nike, that would be a stupid move. I mean come on it's just shoes, it's not worth giving up a bigger contract over.

[Guest Spicy McHaggis]

Ok, but lets not act like Nike execs were sitting there saying "Well, we WERE going to give this money to starving kids, but lets give it to Lebron James."

 

If he didn't get it someone else would have. And if he played baseball or any other sport, no one would care. And I wonder how much of his money is the author of that article giving. 5-10% of HIS paycheck would help alot over seas also...

Couldn't agree more.