LeBron James, the King, the Chosen One, etc, has the chance to be the biggest sports figure in the world since Muhammad Ali in the late 60's and early 70's.
LeBron sits atop the basketball world and is set to replace Kobe Bryant as the best basketball player in the world. He has the Nike puppet commercials, the Vitamin Water commercials, and a spot in just about every other commercial shown during a basketball game now. What set LeBron apart from every other basketball player is that the viewers don't seem to mind and no one appears to be 'LeBron'd Out!'
LeBron sits in the perfect spot to take over the global marketing world and become a billionaire athlete, a well publicized goal of his. If LeBron could somehow find a way to bring the Cavaliers back from the 3-1 deficit they face against the Orlando Magic, and go on to win the NBA Championship, LeBron will be crowned "King of the World" ... of the marketing world anyways. LeBron will officially replace Michael Jordan as the most marketable basketball player ever. He will surpass Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryand, and Shaq in money earned by a basketball player, both on and off the court! LeBron will be larger than basketball and will become a national icon, heck, he would be come an international icon (more on this later).
First, LeBron James could become a national icon if Cleveland can somehow win the championship this year. He can become an icon by instilling so much positive energy in Cleveland and surrounding areas that the US economy would receive a much needed moral and energy boost from the people in the middle of the country. Michigan State had the opportunity and fumbled it away by getting crushed by North Carolina in the National Championship. Sorry guys, just making the championship game doesn't count. We need wins! We need titles! You let us down! The Cleveland Cavaliers now have the opportunity to provide that spark and it appears they are letting the flame go out! If the Cavs win the championship, LeBron would become one of the most popular and probably the most accepted American internationally! Everybody seems to like LeBron unlike Kobe Bryant. Outside of Los Angeles, Kobe is hated by the masses. Couldn't you see LeBron providing a positive spark where none of our politicians have been able to do so? It all rests on LeBron winning the championship, NOW!
Next, LeBron could become an international icon if the Cavs could win the championship now. A Chinese investment company has flashed a HUGE amount of money to the Cavaliers Operating Company, the entity that owns the team and operates Quicken Loans Arena. The investment group has shown enough cash to buy as much as 15% of the operation. This has to be the beginnings of something huge, maybe even Yao Ming + LeBron James huge. Heck, it may just be a LeBron James huge but huge nonetheless. With this group buying into the Cleveland Cavaliers, I don't think LeBron to the Knicks is going to happen any time soon! There is no way this group would buy this much in Cleveland if they did not have big plans for LeBron James. Look for LeBron to have the biggest selling jersey next season. Look for him to receive the most or 2nd most All-Star votes next year. With China's numbers backing LeBron, his billionaire status is just around the corner! With the global exposure China will bring to LeBron, this will step LeBron into 2nd place as the most significant American Athlete ever! He will be ahead of Jesse Owens, Michael Jordan, and Tiger Woods easily with the diplomatic potential he could bear ... and what makes LeBron different than most athletes is he does not mind shouldering diplomatic responsibilities. Jordan was a walking blank billboard whereas LeBron James picks and chooses what he will do and what he want do and has amazingly always chosen the correct option!
LeBron James can still be the most highly looked upon American athlete in history behind Muhammad Ali even if Cleveland does not win the championship. However, the world operates today off the "right time, right place" philosophy. Obama was in the right time at the right place to ask for change. LeBron could be in the right place at the right time to spark a global economic turnaround if the Cavs could win the championship. Tiger Woods is down. Baseball and all its international stars is tainted and still floundering about what to do about steroids in its players. People can't latch on to cheaters. LeBron has it all and now is the time to flaunt it for maximum earning potential and maximum global exposure!
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