Lebron ad nauseam, squared

[clutchcargo]

I can't tell which is more hilarious---that we get an hour-long ESPN special Thursday night in which King Loser announces which team he is going to, or that in a cursory search on this web site I couldn't find where anyone else had posted about this.

(If I missed it, I apologize to all of you Type A's waiting to pounce on anyone for the sacrilege of double posting a topic. I apologize for the 3 seconds it took for you to click on this post and go ballistic.)

 

[Harry Doyle]

Do I understand correctly that ESPN is giving money to LeBron's charity of choice for the privilege of airing the special?

 

[Small Town Guy]

There's nothing separate on it, but we've been talking about it for several pages over on the NBA off-season thread.

 

[Point of Order]

Is it possible for someone, in this day and age, to actually overplay his hand and go a bit too far with the hype? Is there any way this could backfire? My better angel says yes, that people will see through this pretentiousness and lose esteem for LeBron because of it. But that is probably a naive take in today's society.

 

[clutchcargo]

What if Lebron gets on TV and announces he has a deal with, say, the Knicks, and then Knicks deny that any deal has been finalized.

 

[playthrough]

Or if David Aldredge reports the deal an hour after LeBron.

 

[slappy4428]

Or if David Aldredge reports the deal an hour after LeBron turns pro right out of high school.

Fixed.

 

[MileHigh]

Do I understand correctly that ESPN is giving money to LeBron's charity of choice for the privilege of airing the special?

But ESPN says, with a straight face, it's not paying for the announcement.

 

[Den1983]

Do I understand correctly that ESPN is giving money to LeBron's charity of choice for the privilege of airing the special?

Commercial proceeds go to Boys and Girls clubs of America, which was his choice.

 

[Harry Doyle]

What if, say, the New York Times said LeBron could make his announcement exclusively on their pages, and all ad revenue in the section that day went to the Boys and Girls Clubs?

Would that be ethical?

 

[flexmaster33]

What if LeBron has decided to go to college and is announcing he will play next season at Kentucky

 

[Harry Doyle]

What if LeBron has decided to go to college and is announcing he will play next season at Kentucky

Michigan State. He wanted to play for Izzo.

And I think this is the definitive take on ESPN/LeBron: http://deadspin.com/5581889/lebron-james-is-a-cocksucker

 

[Writer33]

[quote ajavascript:void(0);uthor=flexmaster33 link=topic=78521.msg2846754#msg2846754 date=1278571447]
What if LeBron has decided to go to college and is announcing he will play next season at Kentucky

World Wide Wes is going to assist him with his entrance exam.

 

[Ace]

If people weren't interested, wouldn't be a show. I think LBJ is great. ... unless he leaves Cleveland, then I'm keying his limo.

 

[SportsDude]

If people weren't interested, wouldn't be a show. I think LBJ is great. ... unless he leaves Cleveland, then I'm keying his limo.

His limo will be the least of his concerns. I think he can expect the full Art Modell treatment.

 

[SF_Express]

This whole thing is yet another full-blown Bill ("You Have a Stupid Job") Bradley moment.

 

[J Staley]

What if LeBron has decided to go to college and is announcing he will play next season at Kentucky

Michigan State. He wanted to play for Izzo.

And I think this is the definitive take on ESPN/LeBron: http://deadspin.com/5581889/lebron-james-is-a-cocksucker

Not sure why that is such a popular column.

This one is better ...

http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nba/columns/story?id=5361165

And it's not reliant on schtick.

The whole hour special is cheesy, but I'm not sure why we're all supposed to be so offended by it.

 

[Drip]

I blame all of this crap on SI. Had they not put him on the cover years ago, I don't think we'd be at such frenzied state.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Not that ESPN gives a crap, but their headline right now, with sources saying LeBron is "leaning" toward the Heat -- is exactly the problem with their special. It's obviously there for the sole purpose of stirring up interest, buzz and ratings. I think we all agree that Chris Broussard is a very respected reporter and deservedly so, but in this case he's being used, and he's going to end up looking like a tool -- either a tool of the LeBron marketing machine, or a tool for being so willing to have the wool pulled over his eyes.

 

[Ace]

Looks like Lebron is going to Miami, sez the Plain Dealer.

Akron will be ashes.