LeBron James in L.A.?

This year's NBA free agent market has created a circus and the silent ring-leader of this big top is the NBA's "man-child", (each of those hold equal weight) LeBron James. Although free agency doesn't officially begin until July 1st, the campaigning began unofficially months ago. I've heard a lot of theories and thoughts but the one that i find to be the most scintilating is LBJ re-surfacing in Los Angeles - in a Clippers uniform.

The thing that makes L.A. unique from a basketball perspective is the fact that this market has been able to sustain two profitable franchises, with one being less than average on a regular basis; there are very few cities who can generate this type of revenue. The revenue base is strong, with many multi-million dollar entities, from high-end companies to a Kodiak theatre's worth of a-list celebs. In a study posted on Forbes.com in December of 08, it was revealed that the Lakers were 2nd in operating income while the Clippers were 13th among 30 NBA teams. The fascinating part of this is the Clips holding steady with no legitimate reason for hope or a superstar to rally around. LBJ could change both of those. With a legitimate superstar, and perhaps the most popular, he would be a cash cow for ticket sales (season and isolated). Russell D'Souza, co-CEO of SeatGeek, supports this theory when he talked about this years Eastern Conference playoffs, "Average ticket prices for the Orlando Magic's's home games in the secondary resale market "dropped immediately" to $154 from $177 when the playoff opponent was the Boston Celtics". LBJ would also bring legitimate hope along with his Gucci suitcases, especially when paired with all-star caliber veterans and sprouting superstars in their own right.

The Clippers have all the essential pieces in place to stay and help LeBron. With 18Pt/10Reb center Kaman locked up through 2012 along with fiesty guards Baron Davis (2013) and Eric Gordon (2012), LeBron has an ample amount of help. Not to mention he will be playing with last year's first overall draft pick Blake Griffin who showed quite a bit of promise before his season-ending injury. I have essentially just named their starting lineup. You add a couple of specialists and this team is as rock solid as any. The glaring difference with this Clipper team aside from its obvious scoring firepower is the presence of a veteran leader already in control, Baron Davis. The same Davis who took his 8th-ranked Warriors and slayed the number one seed Dallas Mavericks with primarily heart and grit, something the 09 Cavs obviously lacked. Below is the player payroll for the LA Clippers.

Los Angeles Clippers Date # of total

Player- signed- years- salary- misc- FA

Steve Blake ........... 7/13/07 3 $12 million t-opt '10

Rasual Butler ......... 7/14/06 4 $14 million '10

Bobby Brown ........... 7/25/08 2 minimum '10

Mardy Collins ......... 7/5/06 4 $4,769,702 rc '10

Drew Gooden ........... 7/30/09 1 $4.5 million '10

DeAndre Jordan ........ 7/15/08 2 minimum t-opt '10

Steve Novak ........... 9/11/09 1 $1.03 million '10

Travis Outlaw ......... 7/18/07 3 $12 million '10

Brian Skinner ......... 9/16/09 1 minimum '10

Craig Smith ........... 7/17/08 2 ??? '10

Chris Kaman ........... 7/12/03,10/29/07 4+5 $11,214,368+$52.5mill '12

Eric Gordon ........... 7/2/08 4 $12,290,944 rc t-opt '12

Baron Davis ........... 7/10/08 5 $65 million '13

Blake Griffin ......... 7/10/09 4 $23,298,732 rc t-opt '12+13

Dear cynic, i already hear you lamenting about the Kobe factor. The fact that Kobe already runs L.A. can easily be a deterant to the untrained eye. But every rivalry has to have a genesis and this can be where LeBron makes his historic legacy. Coming into L.A. and creating a gang like turf war (couldn't help the gang reference when discussing Los Angeles) would generate huge buzz, forcing patrons to pick a side similar to the Mets/Yankees dichotomy. LeBron and Kobe are already fighting for what seems like exclusive support from NBA fans, it appears to be one or the other, no in between. This would only fuel the long-suffering argument of who is the real king of the NBA. Although this rivalry wouldn't be Magic vs. Bird, it would be the lone credible personal rivalry since then; we already know Kobe is willing to throw his chips all in. For the NBA this would almost guarantee a Kobe vs. LeBron match-up in the playoffs. Nike would finally get real utility out of their puppets and the basketball world would finally have its wish. LeBron would get to create his legacy, similar to Jordan. The United Center (where the Chicago Bulls play) is known as "The house that Michael built". LBJ could create his own legacy out in LA, especially if he can dethrone Kobe, the king of kings in the NBA.

A large part of this theory is dependent upon LeBron's willingness to collide with and defeat challenges. He obviously wants to win a championship but he has also been quoted saying that he wants to be the first billionaire athlete in the world. I don't know if that takes away from his desire on the basketball court but a market like L.A. would certainly help him find more money, especially if aspiring owner and entertainment mogul, David Geffen, gets majority ownership of the team from Donald Sterling.

This would be a very bold move that can put LeBron exactly where he needs to be on all fronts. It makes sense and dollars. But now we have to see if LeBron has the onions to take on such a challenge.

Nike World Cup 2010 Commercial

I know i've been putting a lot of videos up here lately but i can't help that i keep seeing all this inspiring stuff. This is the new Nike commercial for the upcoming World Cup. You gotta love it, its so wonderful, yes it is.

Shoe Alert!

If anybody gets me these shoes, i can find a lot of perks for you (Size 11 1/2 or 12). Perhaps you'll get to come to a show with me or I'll get you an autographed something from your favorite music artist, who knows. But the point is I need these in a major way. I was young when these originally came out and these were wayyy to expensive for my parents blood, well they're still expensive. However, talk to me on Twitter people: @Wa11o.

Jasper shows Louis Yeezy's

This is virtually a sneaker update via Ibn Jasper. I posted this because he shows the new Louis Vuitton sneakers that are the result of a collaboration between Kanye and LV. He displays a black high top pair, red low top pair, and a grey/pink/brown high (which i call the graduation edition). As many of you know Kanye just had the release with Nike who dropped three colorways of the Air Yeezy's and now these are on the market.

Without getting too long-winded i want to illuminate the notion that these appear to be the luxury rendition of the Yeezy's. Made in similar high-top form just a sleeker build and slightly more luxurious fabrics. I just wanted the people to check them out, not because i like them so; actually the only pair I can dig is the "graduation" edition.

Sneaker Update

Nike Duece Mesh, How clean are these shoes! Its a nice piece to add to your collection, if you are into "collecting" and amassing cool shoes. You can't just have all Dunks. The fairway looking footwear should be available very soon, and its not just for one type of consumer; anybody can sport these. I think this can compliment on so many levels, and if the comfort is remotely close to how it appears then we can all win.

A Shoe Fix

Dope Air Max video, you know how we do on the 'Sofa. I saw this and i couldn't fight my urge, be grateful that i didn't post all this guy's video. However peep the artwork in this video, cocaine (excuse the drug reference, i don't advocate)

Sneaker Update

Most people are aware of how i enamor sneakers. There is a store out in Boston called Concepts that is abusing my love for sneakers by releasing what are called "Lobster Dunks". Originally there was only one pair and it came with all these limited pieces. As you see above.


Then they decided this year that they were going to drop a blue lobster AND a yellow lobster. Why would they do that to me? Some may read this post and say "i didn't come to his blog to hear him ramble about some overly artistic shoes". To that i say "quiet! every now and then im allowed to ramble about my passion". Back to the product: you see all the accessories the first pair came with. I don't believe the blue and yellow pairs come with as much but the point is that they exist. They charged somewhere around $250 for the blue ones that dropped Sat 6/20 (absurd). It seems that they are looking to replicate the pandemonium that surrounded the Yeezy's (not going to happen). I hear they even hired some highly touted marketing company. The point is i love these but didn't get any of them. I'm done, see that wasn't that bad.

I know you are thinking this is wayyy to much information about a shoe.

Nike Commercial

I thought this was kinda funny. If you have been watching the series of Nike Puppet commercials then you saw this one coming (sort of). King James is subject to the unintentional taunts of a young kid who simply wants to watch Kobe and the Finals. LeBron, you watching the Finals or what son!

Pandemonium

This is sheer pandemonium in my eyes. As much as I love sneakers, you will not catch me sleeping outside for days tarrying for a shoe. For the oblivious, this is the second colorway of the Air Yeezy's (Kanye West x Nike) that dropped Saturday May 2. Although I had a friend try to alter my decision, it didn't work. To each his own, and i am actually happy for the people that were able to get them. The guy running around in Cali with them on his feet is actually a friend of Kanye's and that's why he is walking around in them, pre-release. So check it out just gives you a pulse on America and the sneaker world.

Im so Sneaky

This is something I saw a while ago. It touches on the sneaker culture a little bit and that is an aspect of life that i am very passionate about. I figured i could share some of my soul with people through these passionate individuals. The video is about 14mins. take a look if you have time. Its slightly more informative than you think. "Me collecting sneakers is a manifestion of my love for art".

-Sneaker Intermission-

Its my blog so i can put what i want on it! These shoes are hard to get, they are from the Nike Pigeon series and if you run across them let me know. Matter of fact as much as i love shoes im surprised im just now putting some one here. Whatever, skip this if you want but im just going to put some more shoes up later.