Michael Muldoon
The story has spread like wildfire.
ESPN.com reported that LeBron James said he'd consider signing with a European team if he was offered "a salary of around $50 million a year."
Given that nine NBA players from last season have already signed to play overseas (most of them were role players who got huge raises), it makes you wonder.
But James is unique. I'm extremely skeptical that he'd be worth that sort of money, but who knows? Although even if due to mega-marketing or the megalomania of a billionaire owner he were deemed worthy, how long would he be worth the megabucks?
At a certain point, the novelty rubs off. Could he continue to be worth insane money for more than a year or two? And basketball is a distant second to soccer and in some cases Formula 1 racing, too.
According to a November article in Fortune magazine, King James already has $170 million in sponsorship deals from Nike sportswear ($97 million), Coke ($15 million), Cub Cadet lawn mowers ($7.5 million), Upper Deck trading cards ($6 million), Bubblicious bubble gum ($4.5 million) and a $3-million deal with MSN Web site in which the numbers could grow significantly due to shared advertising revenues.
He's making this and his ho-hum $30.2 million total over the next two years from the Cleveland Cavaliers because he's playing in the media/financial/athletic capital of the world, the United States. Then, with the salary cap, he'd only make about $20 million a year, not even comparable to the rumored Euro dollars.
Plus, LeBron has a healthy ego. Out of sight, out of mind. He probably won't be hosting the ESPYs or Saturday Night Live too often if he's playing overseas.
The numbers can make you dizzy, but let's cut to the chase: There is one reason and one reason only why James is a prisoner to the NBA.
He has to win a title. Without one to validate his greatness, he's nothing more than The Greatest Player Never to Win An NBA Title.
If you already have a couple hundred million in the bank, there is nothing worth more than shedding that label.
Nothing.
At age 23 (if LeBron went to college, he would have been a rookie last year!), he's about three years into a 13-year run where he can carry a team with his ridiculous combination of size (an oversized Greek god at 6-8, 245 pounds) and athleticism (4.5 40-yard dash, 40-inch vertical leap) complemented by the skills of a man a fraction of his size.
Ask Charles Barkley, ask Ernie Banks, ask Dan Marino, ask Barry Sanders what a title is worth. When John Elway and the Celtics' own Kevin Garnett finally grabbed the brass ring, the smiles on their faces melted hearts from coast to coast.
We can feel their pain, so imagine how tough it is to be that superstar who can't win the big one?
You're dogged by the whispers and drunken taunts 24-7 as if you were caught in Bill Buckner's world and there is no escape.
Without a title he's just another Karl Malone, Tracy McGrady, Patrick Ewing or Allen Iverson. When you are dubbed "The Chosen One" in a Sports Illustrated cover story as a junior in high school, being the Mailman just doesn't cut it.
If he wins a title or two, he's among the top handful of players of all-time ... possibly No. 2 to Michael Jordan. If he's shut out, he's just another great player behind Jordan, Russell, Wilt, Kareem, Shaq, Kobe, Bird, Magic, etc.
When you have that short life span of greatness, you can't forfeit a year or two on a money grab. Not when your great grand-children's great grandchildren can live like P. Diddy just off your interest.
You think Tiger Woods would forfeit a Masters title for $10 million? $20 million? $50 million?
Not on your life!
As James told Fortune in November, 2007, "I know I can go out and sign a lot of endorsements. Money is not the issue."
No it isn't. Titles are. And you can't win NBA titles playing in Europe.
Michael Muldoon is sports editor of The Eagle-Tribune. E-mail him at mmuldoon@eagletribune.com.
America's highest paid athletes in 2007
No.%Name%Salary%Endorsements%Total
1.%Tiger Woods%$22,902,706%$105,000,000%$127,902,706
2.%Phil Mickelson%$9,372,685%$53,000,000%$62,372,685
3.%LeBron James%$12,455,000%$28,000,000%$40,455,000
4.%Floyd Mayweather Jr.%$20,000,000%$20,250,000%$40,250,000
5.%Kobe Bryant%$19,490,625%$16,000,000%$35,490,625
6.%Shaquille O'Neal%$20,000,000%$15,000,000%$35,000,000
7.%Alex Rodriguez%$29,000,000%$6,000,000%$35,000,000
8.%Kevin Garnett%$22,000,000%$9,000,000%$31,000,000
9.%Peyton Manning%$17,500,000%$13,000,000%$30,500,000
10.%Derek Jeter%$22,000,000%$8,000,000%$30,000,000
Source: SI.com
