LeBron James Going to Miami ? and Who Cares

[Happy Mom]

LeBron James is packing his beach bags for Miami

By Trey Kerby

With all of this meeting hosting, lawsuit fighting and television show having, LeBron James(notes) must be super stressed-out. It is not easy to be made a multi-millionaire in a matter of minutes, you guys. Ergo, it is easy to understand why he would want to kick back and unwind after this week of figuring out which team is most worthy of his considerable talents.

So that's exactly what he's doing, which is not a surprise at all. Everyone deserves a vacation now and then. However, where he'll be partying is more than a little interesting. From US Magazine:

LeBron James has rented six cabanas at the W Hotel South Beach this weekend to celebrate his team decision, two sources confirm to UsMagazine.com.

That adds more fuel to the fire that James, 25, will announce he's joining the Miami Heat Thursday night, as several insiders told ESPN this morning.

You know what? It is almost like LeBron James likes being in Miami. Consider the fire fueled, and the plot thickened. As any subscriber to Small Businessman Weekly can tell you, there is no better place to connect with four new teammates than in six cabanas in the town where those new teammates are employed. It's just common sense.



Sure, Miami is a very common place to vacation and every day there is like Mardi Gras, but when you consider reports that LeBron is leaning towards joining the Heat, the increased salary cap number and the fact that this vacation takes place just days after "The Decision," things are a little more complicated. It's kind of hard to not assume that LeBron is heading to South Beach to chill with his best bros and new teammates while simulataneously making everyone in Ohio very sad.

Then again, maybe this is just the NBA version of an end-of-summer bash before everybody gets back to working out for the next season. Supposedly Miami brings the heat, for real. But really, if we don't see grainy pictures of Chris Bosh(notes), Dwyane Wade(notes) and James at an all-white party sometime next week, I'll be very surprised.


However, if this does turn out to be a little foreshadowing for LeBron's team choice, Cleveland is already preparing for the aftermath. From the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Michael Sangiacomo:

Whatever decision LeBron James makes tonight, the Bath Township police department is ready to maintain order near the basketball superstar's home.

Police Chief Michael McNeeley said they have an extra squad of police officers working tonight around the James home to make sure there are no problems.

"Whether we get loads of happy fans or unhappy fans showing up outside his home, we will be prepared to keep the traffic moving," he said.

Good thinking, Cleveland. Either a potential uprising will be quelled or the city's favorite son will be safe from overenthusiastic fans hoping to congratulate him. Whichever way it plays out, it sounds like everything is under control, but there have been a lot of zombie movies that started the same way. LeBron's going to need to keep his head on a swivel, for sure.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_d ... nba,254632

[Kingsman]

This is too much fun, i. e., taking our minds off oil in the Gulf, Afghanistan, high unemployment, etc. Now if LBJ will just start dating (after her jail sentence) LiLo. Mean Girl meets Mean Mother: I like it.

[Happy Mom]

Fla. doesn't have State income tax, he'll save $ million dollars for doing absolutely nothing...



Playing for Miami Heat could save LeBron millions
Lack of a Florida state income tax makes Heat financially appealing for James, other free agents



The Miami Heat offers coveted NBA free agent LeBron James a chance to play for the legendary Pat Riley; home games in warm weather near the South Beach nightlife; and perhaps most important -- millions of dollars in income tax savings during the life of his contract.

That could be huge for James – and any of the top free agents -- expected to make the maximum $16.6 million free agent salary next year, no matter where he signs.

While James entertained pitches from a half dozen teams, including the Heat and New York Knicks, Martin R. Press, a tax attorney at Fort Lauderdale's Gunster law firm and Brandon L. Chase, a summer associate with the firm, calculated the state income tax implications in states where James might play.

Using the Heat's 2009-10 schedule and excluding Canadian taxes for the two trips the Heat made to Toronto, the pair determined if James stays with the Cleveland Cavaliers, his state income tax bill would be $894,228.

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Although Florida doesn't have an income tax, athletes are taxed for games they play in states that levy taxes. That means, if James joined the Heat, he'd pay $436,818 to other states. The same Florida tax savings also would apply if any of the free agents were to sign with the Orlando Magic.

Land instead with the New Jersey Nets, that bill would be $1.155 million. Or the Knicks, where he'd have to pay New York City taxes, too, and that's a cool $1.449 million.

"New York is a wonderful state and [New York City Mayor] Michael Bloomberg believes it's a wonderful place to play and live, but it's going to cost you over $1 million," Press said.

The firm's calculations do not consider real estate taxes or other sources of income, such as endorsement contracts, which also could be taxed.

The $16.6 million salary works out to $202,439 per game. Press and Chase applied each state's tax rate for the number of road games played there. For example, the taxes were $15,891 for the one game in New York and $77,236 for the four games in California.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/o ... 5378.story

[Kingsman]

How interesting that this National Moment of High Drama produces something really instructive: a discussion of how tax rates in different states may affect where people choose to live. Gov. Christie (NJ), for one, is aware of this matter; whereas the Illinois Combine (as John Kass calls them) doesn't seem to understand.

[bdcbbq]

I agree who cares? I was listening to the news on the way home and they were talking about all the excitement this story has created. At the present time the media frenzy had helicopter coverage over the facility he was getting his physical at. Get a friggin' life media.

[Happy Mom]

Cavalier fans want to pay Dan Gilbert's $100,000 fine

By Trey Kerby

While Dan Gilbert's rage in Comic Sans didn't do him any favors with David Stern, Jesse Jackson or Miami Heat superstars, it did win over some pretty important people — Cleveland Cavaliers fans. Distraught by the loss of their marquee player, Cavs fans embraced Gilbert's guarantees and disgust with LeBron James(notes). Now they're taking things a step further than just agreeing with him — they're helping him.

After being hit with a $100,000 fine for his ode to anger, Gilbert received an offer of his own from some Clevelanders who totally agree with everything he said, if not his font choice. From the Associated Press:

Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert has more fans and friends than he ever knew.

His emotional, controversial letter criticizing LeBron James for leaving to join Miami spawned an outpouring of fan support for Gilbert. A team spokesman said the team has received thousands of e-mails and phone calls, including some from fans offering to help Gilbert pay a $100,000 NBA-imposed fine.

Well, that's nice. Very nice. Probably not allowed by the NBA in any way, shape or form, but it's the thought that counts.

And while Gilbert is more than happy to take people's money in the form of high-interest loans, he has opted not to accept these fans' offers to pay his fine.

"The humbling offer by so many is another reflection of the strength of Cavs fans and the people who live and work in this region and are always the first to step up and have each other's back," Gilbert said. "I will pay this fine myself, but would be grateful and highly appreciative for any fan who redirects the dollars they kindly offered to contribute towards this fine to the Cavaliers Youth Fund, which will positively impact our region's kids through the numerous local charitable groups the Cavaliers Youth Fund supports."

Even though it's gotten him in some trouble with the league, Gilbert's pretty much nailed the PR part of losing LeBron James, at least in Cleveland. He showed the fans he was upset just like them, and that's sure to help them want to stay attached to the team. Now, he's trying to turn his fine into something good for the area. Good thinking, really.

Maybe all it will take for Dan Gilbert to become a beloved figure in Ohio is the loss of the best player in Cavaliers history. Every owner should try it.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_d ... nba,255969

[Kingsman]

Looks like the pro-Gilbert faction in Cleveland needs a re-education program. How dare they support the Rich? Somewhere Obama is frowning.