Author Topic: If the Cavs top the Lakers  (Read 7692 times)

divcom

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If the Cavs top the Lakers
« on: May 24, 2009, 01:53:00 PM »
will that guy with #23 stay in Cleveland.  Please God dont let him go to NY.  He'll be on every channel for the next 10 yrs with the NBA selling their crap.  This isnt a big request to block any potential NY deal.   :-\
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tendonitis

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Re: If the Cavs top the Lakers
« Reply #1 on: May 24, 2009, 02:01:59 PM »
i'm sick of LaBrick as it is, i can't even imagine how sick of him i'd be if he went to new york

2ND COMING

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Re: If the Cavs top the Lakers
« Reply #2 on: May 24, 2009, 02:02:18 PM »
no he wont go to ny. And i can tell you as a knicks fan, every single one of us does not want him here.

there will be a shitload of fa's in 2010 to pick up

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Re: If the Cavs top the Lakers
« Reply #3 on: May 24, 2009, 02:07:16 PM »
he wants out of Cleveland.  Even if he wins a ring, he's skipping town.

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Re: If the Cavs top the Lakers
« Reply #4 on: May 24, 2009, 02:15:36 PM »
well if the cavs are bought up by these chinese investors, 240 might be right

Quote
Chinese investors close to purchasing share of Cleveland Cavaliers
by Brian Windhorst/Plain Dealer Reporter
Saturday May 23, 2009, 11:31 PM

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cavaliers already have a global star. A clutch-shooting global star at that. Soon they may have a global partner that could help secure that global star's future in Cleveland.

According to multiple sources within the Cavs, franchise majority owner Dan Gilbert hasa tentative agreement in place to allow a group of Chinese investors to purchase a significant stake in the Cavaliers Operating Company, the entity that owns the Cavs and operates Quicken Loans Arena. The group is led by JianHua (Kenny) Huang, a Chinese businessman who has become successful by linking American and Chinese companies.

Huang and several of his partners were in Cleveland and attended Games 1 and 2 of the Eastern Conference finals this week. He sat in Gilbert's courtside box Friday night and watched LeBron James hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to even the series with the Orlando Magic at one game apiece.

"Dan Gilbert has been approached multiple times over the past few years by investors that wanted to join the Cavs' ownership group," said Len Komoroski, Cavs and Quicken Loans Arena president said in a statement.

"This has recently happened again. As has been done previously, we're in the process of reviewing the possibility presented to us. Beyond that, we do not feel it would be appropriate to give further comment at this time."

Calls to Huang's company were not returned.

The direct impact of the move is securing the future of the franchise, which has been in a minority ownership flux for the last couple years as it loses millions in attempting to build a championship-quality team around James. It will not only mean an injection of capital but will open the Cavs to business in China. The move, which has been kept mostly secret in America, is being supported by the NBA as they have encouraged development in China.

The other effect, which is surely the more interesting side to Cavs fans, is how vital this new link could be for James -- providing a huge tie-in with an economy James is eager to tap. 

Any team ownership transfer of more than five percent must be voted on by the NBA's Board of Governors following background and financial checks. If the deal comes to fruition and is approved by team owners, it could help to remarkably strengthen James' relationship with the Chinese fans and consumers that he's been working to reach for the last four years.

Huang, who has been working with the Cavs for the last two years in securing Chinese sponsorship through one of this companies, would represent a direct link between hundreds of millions of Chinese basketball fans and James. If the deal comes off, Chinese fans could start to feel a connection to James and it could expand his business interests by remaining with the Cavs past next season when his contract with the team expires.

In other words, there is great potential in being with a franchise that has a deep relationship to China -- likely even more so than just playing in the largest market in America. There has been intense speculation that James will be attracted to playing in New York because of the business opportunities.

"You have to think globally," James said recently of his business interests. "I have a lot of fans in China and they're important to me."

James and Nike, by far his largest sponsor, have been on a mission to create a bond with the Chinese over the last three years in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics. James has made four visits to China, one with the Cavs as part of a preseason trip in 2007.

With basketball exploding in popularity among millions of young Chinese with exponentially growing buying power, James has targeted opportunities in the Far East to make the same kind of marketing impact in modern China that Michael Jordan had in the United States in the 1980s and 1990s. Only the market there operates on a dramatically larger scale.

Becoming the Jordan of China from a marketing standpoint would allow James to reach his goal of someday becoming the first billionaire athlete.

Over the last few years James has been lagging behind more established stars like Kobe Bryant and even Tracy McGrady, a teammate of China's national hero Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets, in Chinese popularity.

But his Most Valuable Player Award -- an honor that brought Bryant to the top of the list in Chinese jersey sales within the last year -- has gotten James huge attention. With increased interest with this deal, James could be in position to surge ahead.

Huang has a chance to play a large role in it and profit as well, which is seemingly why he's focused on getting a piece of James and the Cavs now. Huang is part of at least two groups that specialize and creating partnerships between American and Chinese companies.

As a partner in Sportscorp China, which has a U.S. base in Chicago with well-known sports consultant Marc Ganis, Haung became a leading dealmaker with pro sports teams. He's worked deals with the New York Yankees, the Houston Rockets and USA Basketball by creating deals with Chinese sponsors.

Fans watching Cavs games this season may have noticed Chinese characters on scorer's table advertisements during some games. Those were there specifically for the Chinese market in games that were being broadcast in China to millions and millions of viewers. Huang helped set those deals up.

In Chinese business culture, sponsor relationships will often open the door to other business opportunities. Huang -- who is a native of Guangzhou, China, and holds degrees from Columbia University, St. John's University and New York University -- has been able to extend sponsor deals investments. According to the Sports Business Journal, Huang and Ganis' Sportscorp has set up at least six American pro sports team owners with lucrative Chinese initial public stock offerings.

For example, he helped Houston Rockets owner Les Alexander invest $30 million in a Chinese athletic apparel company several years ago. The investment jumped 42 percent within days of the stock's release.

Huang is also has been a director of the Aspen Infrastructure Investment Corporation, a U.S.-based group that Huang has led into investments in expansion of Chinese roads and utilities. It is following the same path of linking money on both sides of the Pacific into growth areas -- be it the Cavs, the Yankees or various budding Chinese corporate giants.

Gilbert has been approached by foreign investors several times over the last few years. In several interviews last year, NBA Commissioner David Stern predicted there would be ownership by an international group in the near future. The global economic slowdown has affected those projections.

Despite being the Cavs' majority owner, Gilbert's ownership team is perhaps not what he thought it would be when he purchased the club, its debt and the rights to run The Q for $375 million in 2005. At the time, former majority owner Gordon Gund and Gilbert's cousin and longtime business parnter David Katzman were believed to have taken a combined ownership stake of more than 30 percent. Gilbert also had a deal to sell a piece of the team to music star and actor Usher Raymond IV.

But over the last several years things have changed. Gund has begun to pull back on his desire to remain a part owner and focus on his foundation, the Foundation Fighting Blindness. He's already reduced his stake in the team from the initial investment.

Usher remains a part owner, but did not invest the amount he and Gilbert agreed to at the beginning and has taken a low profile after being on the dais with Gilbert, Katzman and Gund on March 1, 2005, the day the ownership transfer took place.

Over the last two years, Katzman and Gilbert have seen some of their business interests go in different directions. Katzman was previously listed in the team media guide as vice chairman, but he was removed last year. Katzman has come to only a few games all season.

In an interview with The Plain Dealer in March, Gilbert said Katzman's role was "the same" and he isn't "as visible because he was involved in some other ventures."

Over the last four years, the Cavs have spent around $20 million in upgrades to The Q, invested $25 million in a practice facility in Independence and spent wildly on players. The Cavs have paid the luxury tax in each of the last two seasons and this year will commit to more than $100 million in payroll and taxes.

Even with record-shattering revenue -- including one of the most rewarding local television deals in the NBA despite being in the 17th-largest market -- the Cavs are still believed to be losing millions. Their current owners are also heavily invested in industries that have suffered losses over the last two years.

The Cavs ownership group currently consists of three faces. Coach Mike Brown now routinely refers to the team's "three owners" which include Gilbert, Jeff Cohen and Nate Forbes. Cohen is a wealthy builder of homes and commercial properties in Michigan and Florida. Forbes is a Detroit-based mall developer. Gilbert made his fortune mostly in mortgages.

There are other partners, but those three sit together at nearly every Cavs game and are close to players and coaches.

On Friday before Game 2, Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry, Cohen and Forbes spent time showing Huang, Ganis and some other investors around The Q. Soon they could be regulars.


MethodGNA

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Re: If the Cavs top the Lakers
« Reply #5 on: May 24, 2009, 02:35:44 PM »
well if the cavs are bought up by these chinese investors, 240 might be right


Really, how about you keep your dirty fingers off one of the last bastions of uncorrupted Americana, professional sports (well that may be a stretch)...anyway get out of here you filthy Chinamen, invest the money into something bearing greater individual significance like your son's ping pong team, or purchasing your daughter out of white slavery.

DeketheCreep

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Re: If the Cavs top the Lakers
« Reply #6 on: May 24, 2009, 04:15:22 PM »
he wants out of Cleveland.  Even if he wins a ring, he's skipping town.
when did Lebron tell you this ???

lax

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Re: If the Cavs top the Lakers
« Reply #7 on: May 24, 2009, 04:44:00 PM »
kobe will hafta buy another 4 million rock for his gal
specially if he is still playing cornholio with hotel staff
fine young american

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divcom

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Re: If the Cavs top the Lakers
« Reply #8 on: May 25, 2009, 05:05:13 AM »
now...that guy with #23 wants to be the first billionaire athlete.  there goes team spirit.  didnt jordan make less than scottie for a minute to make him a long term bull? dont deserve to wear the number.  btw fraud #23...tiger woods and michael schumacher already beat you.  warren buffett should have told you that already.  anyway...please let the chinese group that bought into the cavs keep him there.
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swilkins1984

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Re: If the Cavs top the Lakers
« Reply #9 on: May 25, 2009, 09:35:46 AM »
LeBron will leave Cleveland if they come up short. The franchise doesn't have the big money. How can #1/#2 player in NBA make below 20mil? Kobe, Garnett, Wade, Shaq, Nowitski etc all make more than him.

JOHN MATRIX

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Re: If the Cavs top the Lakers
« Reply #10 on: May 25, 2009, 10:37:45 AM »
top the Lakers? they arent even going to top the Magic.

DeketheCreep

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Re: If the Cavs top the Lakers
« Reply #11 on: May 25, 2009, 11:19:01 AM »
This is how i feel right now

 ;D

theworm

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Re: If the Cavs top the Lakers
« Reply #12 on: May 25, 2009, 12:14:45 PM »
Cavs won;t even make it to the finals!!!   
you are gay.

Hereford

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Re: If the Cavs top the Lakers
« Reply #13 on: May 25, 2009, 12:15:00 PM »
It will be LA/Cleveland finals.

The NBA will make sure of it.

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Re: If the Cavs top the Lakers
« Reply #14 on: May 25, 2009, 01:13:44 PM »
It will be LA/Cleveland finals.

The NBA will make sure of it.

thats soo true....    they must be pissed orlando is winning!    watch, somehow Cavs win on out from here... Vangundy said "if James just puts the ball on the court, they call a foul."  So true.
you are gay.

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Re: If the Cavs top the Lakers
« Reply #15 on: May 25, 2009, 04:32:46 PM »
will that guy with #23 stay in Cleveland.  Please God dont let him go to NY.  He'll be on every channel for the next 10 yrs with the NBA selling their crap.  This isnt a big request to block any potential NY deal.   :-\
they gotta get past Orlando first, crazy thing is that Lebron nearly had a triple double last night with 41 points AND DIDN'T MAKE ONE JUMP SHOT!! :o

divcom

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Re: If the Cavs top the Lakers
« Reply #16 on: May 26, 2009, 12:16:56 PM »
they gotta get past Orlando first, crazy thing is that Lebron nearly had a triple double last night with 41 points AND DIDN'T MAKE ONE JUMP SHOT!! :o

air jordan vs all air james.  who the hell going to buy a pair of king james shoes?  they could have come up with something better over at nike.  james = mobile shaq = that's it.
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DeketheCreep

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Re: If the Cavs top the Lakers
« Reply #17 on: May 26, 2009, 10:51:10 PM »
top the Lakers? they arent even going to top the Magic.
;D  ;D

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Re: If the Cavs top the Lakers
« Reply #18 on: May 26, 2009, 11:04:13 PM »

I think Cleveland needed to win tonite to even have a chance in this series.  They're making the Magic roster look like all-stars from positions 1-8.


gordiano

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Re: If the Cavs top the Lakers
« Reply #19 on: May 27, 2009, 12:20:06 AM »
People still watch that shit?  ???
HAHA, RON.....

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Re: If the Cavs top the Lakers
« Reply #20 on: May 27, 2009, 08:56:06 AM »
Refs were on lebron's side last night.

him getting a tic-tac foul with .5 seconds left - then Dwight howard getting leveled at the end with no whistle.

They want a lebron/kobe final.  And lebron isn't good enough yet.

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Re: If the Cavs top the Lakers
« Reply #21 on: May 27, 2009, 09:09:37 AM »
Refs were on lebron's side last night.

him getting a tic-tac foul with .5 seconds left - then Dwight howard getting leveled at the end with no whistle.

They want a lebron/kobe final.  And lebron isn't good enough yet.
Lebron is more than good enough, his TEAM isn't, the guy had 44 points and 12 rebounds last night, the guy scores 48% of their total points almost every night.

benchthis

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Re: If the Cavs top the Lakers
« Reply #22 on: May 27, 2009, 09:09:57 AM »
no he wont go to ny. And i can tell you as a knicks fan, every single one of us does not want him here.

there will be a shitload of fa's in 2010 to pick up

knicks suck   :-\

benchthis

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Re: If the Cavs top the Lakers
« Reply #23 on: May 27, 2009, 09:10:59 AM »
Refs were on lebron's side last night.

him getting a tic-tac foul with .5 seconds left - then Dwight howard getting leveled at the end with no whistle.

They want a lebron/kobe final.  And lebron isn't good enough yet.

the final play was a clean one... could of gone both ways..but the refs made a good call

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Re: If the Cavs top the Lakers
« Reply #24 on: May 27, 2009, 09:15:15 AM »
the final play was a clean one... could of gone both ways..but the refs made a good call
Lebron and Howard BOTH get calls, they're BOTH superstars so it evens out, i've seen some ticky tack shit being called and some big time no calls as well, Charles Barkley said it right, the officiating sucks.