Your love gives me such a thrill. But your love won’t pay my bills. I want money. That’s what I want. -Flying Lizards
Public Service Announcement: Ok, here we go! So the greatest player in the world wants to play in Europe? So the greatest player in the world not named Paul Pierce wants to play in Europe? Can you blame him? Fifty extra large is fifty extra large. And when I say extra large, you know what I’m talking about, boyyyeeeee!
It is so easy for us at home, on the couch, Cheese Doodles in hand, Miller High Life at the ready, to call this cat a sell-out. The same way we didn’t like it when this cat and many others came in to league straight out of high school. What do we have against other folks making money? Big money. Buckets of duckets. Unless you’re a Cavs fan or a Brooklyn Nets fan, there is no way you can blame this guy for going overseas to ply his craft.
As a free agent in 2010, Bron-Bron’s new contract in the NBA would start at less than $20 million annually. Neither the Euroleague nor Greek league impose any kind of salary cap on its teams. None. Zero. Zilch. Nada. You know what that means boys and girls. That means the billionaire ownership of Olympiakos can offer LeBron whatever the heck they want. Whatever the heck they want. Whatever the market will bear.
What if Olympiakos were to offer him $50 million per year? 50 million tax free, all expenses paid dollars. Will he do like Herschel Walker and go to the New Jersey Generals? Will he do like Bobby Hull and go to the Winnepeg Jets? Like Danilo Gallinari? Like Jim Kick, Larry Czonka and Paul Warfield? Like Josh Childress?
He might. Eh, he might rabbit; he might. According to ESPN, “a person close to James said the Cavaliers’ superstar would strongly consider playing overseas if he was offered a salary of ‘around $50 million a year.’” Yowza! But still. I can’t blame him. Playing overseas for a year or two would greatly enhance his marketing status. Make him into more of a global star than he is now. Global Icon. Not to mention the 50 extra large. I’d do it too.
Peace out Bron Bron. Six Two and Even!
Need More? Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James, NBA
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