The initial question was hypothetical "if LeBron decides to leave Cleveland"

I like playing along with the hypothetical questions, just more fun than saying "no, won't happen."

If they win a title this season it would ease the pain a lot if he were to bolt. One title is equal to at least five years of satisfaction I'd say and the Cavs could regroup and be back sometime within a five-year span, maybe sooner. And you would always have the memory of the title run, the key plays that make it possible and huge celebration.

If they came up short in the playoffs and then he left, it would be absolutely devastating. Because you know he'll probably go to the next place and win big.

Now the topic went a different direction of late. Focusing on whether he is definitely staying or possibly not.

If you think he is 100 percent going to stay then that's fine, I understand what you're saying about him being a superstar already in Cleveland. Still, how many big-time celebrity people want to be in New York or Los Angeles or Miami instead of Cleveland? They might think it's a cooler place to be, believe it or not. The idea that Cleveland has everything for LeBron might not be how he views it when he gets down to weighing his options.

I understand that, did you even read my post? All I said is the money thing is BS, it won't be about money because that really isn't a factor. In fact he'll make more money in Cleveland--and something else to consider is taxes. Yes I realize that a guy like LeBron isn't worried about paying his taxes--but he keeps a lot more of his money living in Ohio than he does making it and living in NYC. A LOT more.

Oh, and LTrain, trust me, that is not a false statement.

EDIT: my bad Non, I won't delete this but I missed your first of the two posts after mine.

http://www.pinoymoneytalk.com/list-richest-sports-athlete/

Skyhook79 wrote: http://www.pinoymoneytalk.com/list-richest-sports-athlete/

Golf clap for Skyhook....what he doesn't mention with this list is that Kobe's salary is higher than LeBron's being a more seasoned veteran.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/specials/fortunate50/2009/index.html?eref=sihpT1

Here is a better list from a more reliable source. As you can see, LeBron makes more money in endorsements and is clearly the bigger draw in that regard. Impressive since he plays in lowly ol' Cleveland while Kobe is in Hollywood.

Now knowing our friend Skyhook, he'll no doubt bring up things such as jersey sales and road attendance draws. I'll address both of those figures easily

Jersey Sales-Expect LeBron to take the #1 spot next year after he changes his number, a similar boost to what happened with Kobe jersey sales after he switched his number from 8 to 24.

Attendence-quite frankly this is because the Lakers have a more national fanbase, while at the same time being the team everyone loves to hate as well as defending champs. This makes the Lakers the more enticing team to see on the road. However Cleveland is the #2 team in this ranking by a short amount and well ahead of the #3 heat. People see the Lakers more because it's the Lakers than just to see Kobe. People see the Cavs to see LeBron.

Kobe's road attendance is higher because he plays in Western Conference where most of the teams are still in contention.

"Here is a better list from a more reliable source."

How is your list more reliable???

Kobe changed his jersey 3 years ago.
Who played in the lowest rated Finals ever?
2007 Finals rating 6.2
2009 Finals rating 8.4

Skyhook79 wrote: "Here is a better list from a more reliable source."

How is your list more reliable???

Kobe changed his jersey 3 years ago.
Who played in the lowest rated Finals ever?
2007 Finals rating 6.2
2009 Finals rating 8.4

How is it more reliable? Hmmm......random stock blog vs. global sports magazine. I guess more reliable wasn't the right word, I'll go with better. My point was that it showed the difference in endorsement money.

I really don't understand your point about Kobe's jersey change 3 years ago. More people are going to buy a jersey that's been in circulation for 3 years as opposed to one that's been in circulation for 7.

The finals rating is because you had 2 small market teams, and quite frankly outside of LeBron who else was going to draw on that team? Eric Snow? Not to mention they played the Spurs who are one of the more boring teams in the NBA. Tim Duncan may be one of the all time great players but he isn't much from a marketing standpoint....not to mention you're comparing popularity from 2 different years. LeBron is more popular now than he was 3 years ago.

"We continue this today with a list of the top-paid sports persons in 2009. Compiled by Forbes Magazine,"


Forbes Magazine is a "random Stock blog" ??????????

Are the Pistons and San Antonio 2 small market teams?

Well, Detroit is a larger market than Cleveland so that kind of nullifies the point you were trying to make right away. However if you look deeper, the Pistons were defending champs that year after knocking off your almighty Lakers so that storyline plays more into increased viewership. I'm still not quite sure how you're trying to use the 2007 Finals which at best could be taken as a representation of LeBron James' popularity in 2006-2007 to make a point about LeBron James' popularity in 2010. Not to mention that the nationwide notoriety of the Cavaliers 3 years ago is also different than it is today. Then again, what do I know? I only use logic when I post.

Maybe if LeBron starts raping people then his popularity will approach Kobe's.

krazie45 wrote:

Skyhook79 wrote: http://www.pinoymoneytalk.com/list-richest-sports-athlete/

Golf clap for Skyhook....what he doesn't mention with this list is that Kobe's salary is higher than LeBron's being a more seasoned veteran.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/specials/fortunate50/2009/index.html?eref=sihpT1

Here is a better list from a more reliable source. As you can see, LeBron makes more money in endorsements and is clearly the bigger draw in that regard. Impressive since he plays in lowly ol' Cleveland while Kobe is in Hollywood.

Now knowing our friend Skyhook, he'll no doubt bring up things such as jersey sales and road attendance draws. I'll address both of those figures easily

Jersey Sales-Expect LeBron to take the #1 spot next year after he changes his number, a similar boost to what happened with Kobe jersey sales after he switched his number from 8 to 24.

Attendence-quite frankly this is because the Lakers have a more national fanbase, while at the same time being the team everyone loves to hate as well as defending champs. This makes the Lakers the more enticing team to see on the road. However Cleveland is the #2 team in this ranking by a short amount and well ahead of the #3 heat. People see the Lakers more because it's the Lakers than just to see Kobe. People see the Cavs to see LeBron.

Those are good points in refuting the attendance discrepancy, which is very small by the way. The other factor that Skyhook fails to mention....most of the bottom 11 teams in attendance are Eastern teams...and don't sell that many tickets. The Cavs play the East twice on the raod..the Lakers once.

I think that if a poll was taken...asking fans who they would see if given the choice of only 1 game, the Cavs would win out by about a 3 to 2 margin.

Cleveland Buck wrote: Maybe if LeBron starts raping people then his popularity will approach Kobe's.

Kobe is the number one ANAList.

LBJ's overall income in 2010 will smash that of Kobe Bryant. Pretty impressive given that LBJ is what? 5 years younger?

Footwedge wrote: LBJ's overall income in 2010 will smash that of Kobe Bryant. Pretty impressive given that LBJ is what? 5 years younger?

6 years I believe..

SQ_Crazies wrote:

Oh, and LTrain, trust me, that is not a false statement.

lol. Statements like these make it hard to take anything you say seriously.

wow. I mean.. Wow..

There are several guys on here who are just as knowledgeable if not more so than you are regarding Cavs bball and LeBron James..

....haha, that's all.

LTrain23 wrote:

SQ_Crazies wrote:

Oh, and LTrain, trust me, that is not a false statement.

lol. Statements like these make it hard to take anything you say seriously.

wow. I mean.. Wow..

There are several guys on here who are just as knowledgeable if not more so than you are regarding Cavs bball and LeBron James..

sq_crazies isn't a Cavs fan so I wouldn't put any stock into what he says about the Cavs.

LTrain23 wrote:

SQ_Crazies wrote:

Oh, and LTrain, trust me, that is not a false statement.

lol. Statements like these make it hard to take anything you say seriously.

wow. I mean.. Wow..

There are several guys on here who are just as knowledgeable if not more so than you are regarding Cavs bball and LeBron James..

Statements like these make it hard to take me seriously as you make the same statement?