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  1. #21
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
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    Lexington, KY

    Smile Blame it on your Atlanta Hawks

    Quote Originally Posted by DBFAN View Post
    I do not know if anyone has brought this up yet or not, but I find it a little disheartening to hear LeBron, Kobe, and Dwayne Wade all making comments about being willing to consider offers from European teams for X amount of dollars. I mean I do not have a real big problem with that itself, but rather the fact they are saying these things during the Olympics. I mean hear are a bunch of guys talking about winning for America, and this and that, and once they get on the camera they are just trying to promote themselves for more money. Maybe I don't have all the facts, but from the surface it seems pretty shady.
    They're available to the world press for the first time since Josh Childress jumped the NBA for Greece. What are they supposed to say?

    I imagine David Stern is up for anything that attracts European/worldwide interest.

    Cheers,
    Lavabe

  2. #22

    Europe

    Quote Originally Posted by CameronCrazy'11 View Post
    Sort of an aside: just how big is basketball in Europe? Do people actually watch these teams on TV? Is it the second most popular sport behind soccer? What sport in the US would you compare it to in terms of popularity? I'm just trying to get a grip on how big a salary these players should be able to command.
    Basketball was just a minor cult sport 20 years ago, but it has gotten much more popular lately, particularly with the success of European players in the NBA. Nevertheless, even if you consider it the second-most popular sport, it is light years behind soccer. Nobody is making anywhere near the kind of money that these guys are earning in the NBA, although I suppose some teams would be willing to open their checkbooks to lure a big time star.

  3. #23
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Chicago
    Quote Originally Posted by CameronBornAndBred View Post
    I think the Olympics is the perfect setting to express your willingness to display your athletic talents in another country.
    Jumbo, this is the post I am talking about. Now, these players are there to win the Gold as you stated. What I do not agree with is some of these players who are there representing the USA, but trying to vie for a job in another country. These games only last a few weeks, I think they could wait until the games are over to do any job hunting.

  4. #24
    Quote Originally Posted by CrazyCat View Post
    Jumbo, this is the post I am talking about. Now, these players are there to win the Gold as you stated. What I do not agree with is some of these players who are there representing the USA, but trying to vie for a job in another country. These games only last a few weeks, I think they could wait until the games are over to do any job hunting.
    LeBron, Kobe, and Dwayne Wade are vying for jobs in Europe?

  5. #25
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Inman, SC & Fort Myers, FL
    Quote Originally Posted by CrazyCat View Post
    Jumbo, this is the post I am talking about. Now, these players are there to win the Gold as you stated. What I do not agree with is some of these players who are there representing the USA, but trying to vie for a job in another country. These games only last a few weeks, I think they could wait until the games are over to do any job hunting.
    Mark this as the bad post of the month. I don't believe any of these players are job hunting in another country. It is unlikely that any country could realistically compete for their services.
    C'mon, if XYZ company says "are you available to move to our company?", a reasonable answer is "sure, if the money is right." That is all we are talking about here, a sort of flip answer to a silly question.

  6. #26
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Quote Originally Posted by CrazyCat View Post
    Jumbo, this is the post I am talking about. Now, these players are there to win the Gold as you stated. What I do not agree with is some of these players who are there representing the USA, but trying to vie for a job in another country. These games only last a few weeks, I think they could wait until the games are over to do any job hunting.
    What on earth are you talking about? No one is vying for a job. Why don't you produce a quote that indicates anything like that? Oh wait, you can't? Guess why -- none exists.

    Let me explain this to you again. There are legions upon legions of international media at the Olympics. They are asking the U.S. players all sorts of questions, especially in light of Josh Childress signing with a Greek club.

    LeBron was asked about going to Europe someday. Here's what he said:
    "Growing up, you never think about any other league besides the N.B.A.” James said at the United States men’s basketball team news conference Friday morning. “But things are changing really fast and you never know. I can’t throw all my eggs in one basket. There are going to be a lot of opportunities for me in 2010 to decide if I want to stay with Cleveland or if I want to go elsewhere.”
    Asked if he ever imagined the possibility of playing abroad, he added: “Did I ever imagine it? No. Is it a possibility? Yes.”

    Then a reporter asked if Kobe would take $50 million (which no one is offering, making it ludicrous) to play in Europe. Here's what he said:

    “I’d go. I’d probably go,” said Bryant, during a USA Basketball press conference on Friday morning. “Like Milan or something like that, where I grew up or something like that… Peace out.”
    Bryant continued: “Do you know any reasonable person that would turn down 50 (million dollars)?”


    In other words ... big deal.

  7. #27
    Quote Originally Posted by Jumbo View Post
    Then a reporter asked if Kobe would take $50 million (which no one is offering, making it ludicrous) to play in Europe. Here's what he said:

    “I’d go. I’d probably go,” said Bryant, during a USA Basketball press conference on Friday morning. “Like Milan or something like that, where I grew up or something like that… Peace out.”
    Bryant continued: “Do you know any reasonable person that would turn down 50 (million dollars)?”
    Coach K? I assume he's a "reasonable" person...

  8. #28

    A slap in the face?

    Quote Originally Posted by Classof06 View Post
    I find it disturbing they can't wait until they're free agents to say these things. To me, it's a slap in the face to these respective franchises. The Lakers bent over backwards to keep Kobe Bryant happy, they win the West, and then the offseason hits and Kobe's talking about playing overseas? Are you serious?

    Yes, I'm a Cavs fan so I'm biased but I feel the same way about Lebron. The guy's under contract with the Cavs for two more seasons and all summer he's talking about playing in NY and playing in Europe. That's just not right, IMO. And I may be biased but Charles Barkley is not and he ripped Lebron for the exact same thing last weekend on Phoenix radio. In fact, I'm surprised it didn't make any headlines.

    If Lebron leaves in 2 years, then so be it. But while some of you feel it's OK to discuss these things because it's the Olympics, keep in mind that the Olympics don't cut Lebron James his paychecks; the Cleveland Cavaliers do and will for the next 24 months. A little respect for the employer isn't too much to ask.
    Really? Lebron is asked by a reporter if he'd consider playing in Europe for $50M / year. He says "sure I'd consider it." And you really think Danny Ferry should feel like he's been slapped in the face?

    The story is now. The JR Reynolds and Becky Hammon stories have opened up the mainstream press' eyes to european basketball, and how they take care of their American superstars.

    Is Lebron pulling a Manny, and demanding Danny release him? Is Kobe? I'm sure they're just happy to not answer the same stupid questions about how many dunks per game is good sportsmanship, or how they're going to win when they can't shoot.

    If one of these guys had a debilitating injury tomorrow, they would be released by their team -- period. It's the nature of the game on both sides, and it's okay because you play hard for your team while you're there.

    And I would say that the Lakers made out more than Kobe did personally through his actions last year. They pulled an NBA Finals appearance out of the freaking ether by making moves to "keep Kobe happy." Why did they do it? To WIN!

  9. #29
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    The Birmingham of the North

    Patriotism and Fanism...

    ...making otherwise sane people crazy since forever.

    If the organizations we were talking about were Microsoft and Google and the numbers being thrown around were 75K and 150K, this would be a complete non-issue.

  10. #30
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Atlanta, GA/Durham, NC
    Quote Originally Posted by ForeverBlowingBubbles View Post
    goes to show people on these boards never take anything out of context.
    Post of the day!

  11. #31
    If all the good players went to Europe, Carolina would dominate the NBA.

  12. #32
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Atlanta, GA/Durham, NC
    Quote Originally Posted by hudlow View Post
    If all the good players went to Europe, Carolina would dominate the NBA.
    Brilliant!! However, I think you mean the UNC Bobcats! LMAO!

  13. #33
    Quote Originally Posted by SupaDave View Post
    Brilliant!! However, I think you mean the UNC Bobcats! LMAO!
    Both

  14. #34
    Quote Originally Posted by cf-62 View Post
    the Lakers made out more than Kobe did personally through his actions last year. They pulled an NBA Finals appearance out of the freaking ether by making moves to "keep Kobe happy." Why did they do it? To WIN!

    Stand up sir and accept your applause. Right on, right on...because it's a BUSINESS.
    A business on both sides, player and management. If the product is no longer selling, or it's damaged, out with the old and in the the new.

  15. #35
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Chicago
    http://www.ocregister.com/articles/c...3-teams-season

    This is the complete article. I will admit I did word my post wrong when I said they were vying for jobs, however, it is pretty clear that Kobe is keeping his options open and looking around at other countires.

  16. #36
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Ellicott City, MD

    Smile

    Quote Originally Posted by cf-62 View Post
    Really? Lebron is asked by a reporter if he'd consider playing in Europe for $50M / year. He says "sure I'd consider it." And you really think Danny Ferry should feel like he's been slapped in the face?

    The story is now. The JR Reynolds and Becky Hammon stories have opened up the mainstream press' eyes to european basketball, and how they take care of their American superstars.

    Is Lebron pulling a Manny, and demanding Danny release him? Is Kobe? I'm sure they're just happy to not answer the same stupid questions about how many dunks per game is good sportsmanship, or how they're going to win when they can't shoot.

    If one of these guys had a debilitating injury tomorrow, they would be released by their team -- period. It's the nature of the game on both sides, and it's okay because you play hard for your team while you're there.

    And I would say that the Lakers made out more than Kobe did personally through his actions last year. They pulled an NBA Finals appearance out of the freaking ether by making moves to "keep Kobe happy." Why did they do it? To WIN!
    Quote Originally Posted by MIKESJ73 View Post
    It would be crazy to think that a hugely marketable player playing in the best league in the world would consider playing in a foriegn country in a inferior league in a sport that isn't as popular in that country. Just ask David Beckham.
    Can't imagine Danny Ferry would be upset as he opted to play in Italy when he didn't care for the NBA team that drafted him.

  17. #37
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Washington, DC
    I don't mind at all what Bron Bron, Kobe and Wade were saying about it. Why? 1) I know it's unrealistic. It's not like TV channels will start broadcasting Euroleague games in Cleveland should LeBron go there. Euroleague ratings will not be at an all-time high in L.A. should Kobe play in Italy. The recent influx of players opting to go to Europe is an interesting trend, but in the end, they know their earnings potential is highest by staying in the NBA. The two biggest markets in the world for basketball, China and the U.S., only watch the NBA. 2) Players will get forgotten about. I think it's great that Josh Childress will play overseas, but he will be mostly forgotten about by the average basketball fan. Sure, we keep track of overseas Dukies, like Langdon and Horvath, but we have an interest in their careers as having once played in Cameron. However, very few of us scour the internet to catch their games live. In 3 years, the only people who will have really kept track of Childress' career at Olympiakos is NBA scouts who will look to bring him back stateside (along with other Euroleague scouts). Finally, 3) Let's face it, if someone offered you $50 million to go overseas and do your same job that you do in the states, of course you're gonna listen to what they have to say. In the end, you may turn it down, or you may accept it. All they're saying is that is someone drops $50 million on the table, they will listen. That doesn't mean they will accept.

    Again, I find the trend interesting, but as for LeBron, Kobe and Dwyane? They're all smart, and they will continue to play in the NBA as long as they can. Now, Kobe I could see retiring from the NBA in his late 30s to play a season or 2 in Italy, but that too I find remote.
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