Rumor starter alert
Posted June 15th, 2006 by Brian Windhorst
I was just listening to LeBron James on ESPN Radio — he was promoting some comics he’s doing in conjunction with Powerade — and Dan Patrick was asking him about Jay-Z. LeBron said "If he were my owner, it would be great." It was not asked in context of the Nets, in fact Patrick never mentioned that Jay-Z is a part owner of them. Yet I highly doubt that will matter once the NYC machine gets going. So batten down the hatches for another round.
UPDATE: I have corrected LeBron’s quote. I mis-quoted him while listening to the broadcast in my car. It changes the context a little and I’m sorry for the mistake. But I don’t see it as a slap to the Cavs or Dan Gilbert or anything, I think it was an honest answer. My point is that every time something like this comes up, especially on a national stage like Patrick’s show, it just fuels that little speculation bug. That is why the Cavs will always been extremely cautious with making sure LeBron is happy even after he signs his extension.
Also, I’ve gotten some e-mails asking for some Cavs draft news. Coming Sunday.
June 15th, 2006 at 1:29 pm
Well, isn’t that fantastic.
Should I buy a guillotine used on eBay or make one from scratch to get the full experience?
June 15th, 2006 at 1:39 pm
Poor, poor choice of words for LeBron. And incredibly insuting to Dan Gilbert and all he’s done for the organization and the city since he took over.
June 15th, 2006 at 2:31 pm
Patrick and all of the ESPN guys hang out at Jay-Z’s 40-40 Club in NYC. I have seen them in there eating dinner and knocking back cocktails (I was only knocking back cocktails). Might as well talk him up to LBJ so Jigga will pick up the bar tab Friday night.
June 15th, 2006 at 7:06 pm
I say LeBron signs five years with Cleveland and then at some point in the future goes to the Nets. Right now, New Jersey is a terrible move, but in 5 years when they (I assume) have that new arena/complex in Brooklyn, it’ll be much more attractive. If they could debut the whole deal, arena and all, with LeBron at the same time, it’d insane, though.
That said, I hate New York. Jay-Z should come here.
June 15th, 2006 at 9:18 pm
Ooh, dueling scribes debate who takes better notes. Or at least who doesn’t need a hearing check.
June 16th, 2006 at 7:07 am
Dan Patrick has been wishing and speculating that LeBron is going to leave Cleveland for a while now. For some reason, he really wants him to leave C-Town. So, I’m not surprised for him to start stirring the pot again. He’s a hater!
June 16th, 2006 at 7:08 am
It just means lebron thinks jay-z is cool, it wasn’t meant to be an insult to dan gilbert, I hope
June 16th, 2006 at 8:42 am
My opinion of LeBron always drops when I hear he likes Jay-Z. Not because I’m worried he would go play for the guy, but because Jay-Z writes/raps unbelievably corny music. LeBron has just as good of chance to win a title in Cleveland as he does ANYWHERE. If he wants a rin, he’ll stay.
June 16th, 2006 at 11:50 am
Brian, are you going to go to Vegas for the Summerleague games?
-d
June 16th, 2006 at 7:02 pm
I look forward to your draft analysis. Draft Cincinnati G/F James White!
June 18th, 2006 at 12:54 pm
Wiil Blalock is only 6′0″, not 6′6″
June 19th, 2006 at 3:51 am
Trade Z for Boozer!
June 19th, 2006 at 9:52 am
I was just listening to this conversation on ESPN radio. Dan asked LeBron what music he like to listen to. LeBron said he likes Jay-Z’s music. Dan asked what LeBron thought of him as an owner. LeBron said “If he were my owner, it would be great.”
The subject was about music and lead to Jay-Z. It had NOTHING to do with James leaving.
June 19th, 2006 at 5:44 pm
You say
“Also, I’ve gotten some e-mails asking for some Cavs draft news. Coming Sunday.”
I say
“you’re a liar”
June 19th, 2006 at 7:11 pm
Why do you say that, Aaron? Brian had a lengthy story on Sunday.
June 19th, 2006 at 8:06 pm
Scuzz, it’s true, he ain’t leaving until the time is right (obviously for an NBA team in Brooklyn, the time won’t be right for about five years), but how you came about reaching the ridiculously naive conclusion that James’ comment was nothing but a statement about Jay-Z’s executive production skills is way, way beyond me. Jeez, read between the freakin’ lines.
June 20th, 2006 at 8:43 am
Alan, I get the feeling a lot of things are way, way beyond you. Why on earth would he want to go to the Nets? It’s not a bigger market. It wouldn’t gain him anything contract wise. That team is old and is not a serious contender. Carter, Kidd, Jefferson are not young and will be slowing down. It makes no sense. So instead of over-reacting to a single statement that was meant to be more of a compliment than anything; stop and think about it. Has he ever mentioned anything about going to the Nets before this interview? No. Has he ever mentioned anything about wanting to play for Jay-Z before this interview? No. But now suddenly he wants to go to NJ, because Dan Patrick asked him about it. How you came about reaching that ridiculously naive conclusion is puzzling. Jeez, use your freakin’ brain dude.
June 20th, 2006 at 2:39 pm
Ahh, I see the formula:
Maureen defends the blog-host and she doesn’t get deleted. Outstanding.
BTW, anybody who says the Brooklyn Nets are not a bigger market is beyond clueless.
If we want to even look at pre-move #’s (2000 census:)
Newark-Union-Edison, NJ: 4,255,403
Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor: 2,048,143
Add in Akron, and Cleveland gets another 640,000.
And no, this doesn’t include the Philly suburbs across the border in NJ.
There is a reason that the NJ Nets, with a decrepit arena they get zero non-ticket revenue from have a team value just two spots below the Cavs w a new building, great lease, and Lebron.
That said, I don’t really think Lebron meant anything with his comments.
June 20th, 2006 at 6:46 pm
Add in Pittsburgh, and Columbus, and Erie and then tell me what you get. See, the trick is that Cleveland has no other teams in the near area, unlike NJ. Much less competition. The closest is Detroit, but it will a year or two before they drop off. Hence, the bigger market is Cleveland. Anyone who can’t see that is beyond clueless. Yes Dick Bavetta, I meant you.
June 21st, 2006 at 3:14 am
What about Youngstown, Covington, Louisville and Peninsula?
June 21st, 2006 at 8:41 am
Agreed. Throw in Cincinnati for that matter.
June 24th, 2006 at 3:44 pm
Throw in Cincinnati??? Pittsburgh? Jeez, you ARE beyond clueless. Do you even know what a metropolitan area is, let alone what a borough is?
Area high schools apparently are lacking in social studies education these days.
June 26th, 2006 at 9:05 am
Wow, you really are stupid. Apparently, you have no idea how business markets work. My suggestion to you would be to try and get a refund from where ever you got your college degree from. Of course I’m probably giving you too much credit with that statement.
July 8th, 2006 at 1:31 pm
Lebron sighning is great.Dan Patrick is a Cleveland hater and he will really hate us when we win multilple championships.The Cavs are on their way and the Browns aren’t far behind.Let’s just hope Larry Dolan and the Indians follow by example.
July 8th, 2006 at 1:43 pm
Dug you are an indiot. Z for Boozor? Are you kidding me? Boozer is a trader and I never want him back. Z is a center and Boozer is a power forward. That said, I think it would be a good idea to maybe find a center that fits the mold of are team. Z is slow and lost his jumper. I think a faster defense minded player would be ideal