LeBron-Mania
People frozen in place in front of MSGI don’t know that it would be this crazy if Barack Obama were coming to Madison Square Garden. Outside MSG, the free hot dog stands have lines running around the block, and there has been at least one homeless dude announcing to everyone that the hot dogs are “Courtesy of LeBron.” The same guy happens to be holding a sign that reads, “Need money to get drunk so that women can take me home and molest me.”
If that isn’t crazy enough, listen to this. Seriously, hundreds of people wearing red “Witness” shirts flooded the block right in front of the entrance to the Garden, and stopped dead in their tracks, freezing in place for exactly 1:23 (didn’t know that ’til after we talked to one of ‘em), and then threw a handful of red confetti in the air just as if they were LeBron clapping baby powder into the air.
Inside, there were close to 100 reporters in a specially designated multi-purpose room for LeBron before the game. Before he got in there, he took a minute to rib Boobie Gibson in the locker room. As he put on a compression Nike suit - the basketball equivalent to T.O.’s nylon costume - he told the throngs of media surrounding him, “This is how a real man gets ready, none of that little boy shit … like him” as he pointed to Gibson. Boobie wasn’t sure whether he should laugh or cry.
In the press conference, NBC’s Bruce Beck - made famous during The Steph Interview - got right to it asking James if he’d like to play for the Knicks someday. In general, LeBron deflected any questions that could have been incriminating. But he did make one interesting comment.
When asked about the importance of winning, here’s what he said: “Look at a guy like Tim Duncan - he took a pay cut so that they could sign Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and the other guys on that team. For me, it’s all about winning - it’s not about the market.” But when a reporter asked to clarify whether he’d take a pay cut to play for a winning team, LBJ smiled, “I didn’t say that.”
But the fanfare really hasn’t even begun yet. We’re just starting to glimpse the celebrities spotted throughout MSG. Spike Lee is rocking the Zoom LeBron VI Big Apple Edition courtside. Hov and Beyonce are about ten seats away - and we can seriously see Beyonce’s earrings glimmering from across the arena. New York Giant Super Bowl champion David Tyree can’t even get a seat in the mezzanine this place is so packed - he’s up with the media.
LeBron has just started wowing the crowd during the pre-game with absurd dunks in the lay-up line. We’ll keep you posted on all the details….
November 25th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
fallinup says:
Not to be a bubble burster. But Barack is bigger than Lebron.
Seriously…this is corporate sponsered hype. Plain and simple.
November 25th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Ashlov says:
At this point, it’s like a cult. Bust out the Kool-Aid.
November 25th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
D.H. says:
You dont think that Obama gets corporate sponsored hype?!? Obama won the election on hype and not substance! LeBron and his crew love this celebrity treatment. LeBron has managed to capture the NCY market and he does not even play there!! His team, just like Obama’s, have done a masterful job of marketing him to the general public.
November 25th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
cru_thik says:
this is exactly why i hate knicks. if they showed
that kind of excitement towards their home team,
then maybe they wouldnt be in this stupid situation
of throwing away their chances of winning for a gamble
at getting bron. theyre starting to act like they
earned lebron and hes their superstar, and its getting on
my f**king nerves
November 25th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
itsakademiks says:
yea iunno about that obama remark come to dc on jan 20 shit gonna be off the hook
November 25th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Big Sia says:
Where’s the Tim Thomas hype.. huh?
November 25th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
The Bad One says:
Has anyone on the Knicks roster in the last eight years been worth getting this excited about?
I don’t think they’re acting like they “earned LeBron”. I think it’s just something for people to get excited about…
Ease the hating…
November 25th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
The Bad One says:
Big Sia just answered my question
November 25th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
fallinup says:
I’m sure Nike shows up with free hot dogs, free red shirts and basketballs when ALL of thier client/atheletes come to play at the Garden. Oh look…Bron’s got a new red shoe too!
@D.H. Hah…Obama would shut down New York. And he wouldn’t have to bring free hotdogs.
November 25th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
E$ says:
All this hype & Knicks are getting blown out….At least if LBJ becomes a Knick they can lose by 40 & still get a show
November 25th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
that's whats up says:
since Nate Robinson is so small, do his tattoos cost less?
Flash Mob be damned - Lebron ain’t playin’ in new yawk
November 25th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
that's whats up says:
I be Spike Lee bought his size 6 Lebrons at Stride Rite For Kids
November 25th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
that's whats up says:
bet
November 25th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
cru_thik says:
what exactly are all of these new york people getting excited about? there are only 3 reasons why bron would go to new york, and none of them will work out.
1- to make more money. do you really think bron is looking for a trillion dollar contract? with all of his endorsements he already has, plus that huge nike contract. i dont think so.
2- to be in a bigger market. How many of the knicks games are broadcasted on national tv? Now how many cavs games are on national tv? exactly, lebrons gonna get seen wherever he plays, so a bigger city means nothing
3- to win a championship- he took the cavs to the finals already, and they’ve all gotten a lot better since then, i mean look how good they are this year. meanwhile new york is selling their most talented players to free up cap space, so, hypothetically, if bron did go there, who would he play with? new york needs to shut the F*** up and focus on building their team the same way everyone else does, by using their BRAINS when the draft comes around and by solid coaching. im just saying….
November 25th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
fallinup says:
@ cru
I only blame the people NY for being duped by Nike. They have the biggest stake in Bron going to NY. And so does Bron…he gets a nice fat bonus from them if he moves to a bigger market…so it’s NY or bust.
All of this “it’s an important event in basketball history” crap is a joke…paid for by Nike. Funny how this all happens now..when he’s got a new shoe out no less…he’s got a few more games to play in NY and it’s not like it’s his first time there.
November 25th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Obama says to McCain "Hows my @ss taste"? says:
“I don’t know that it would be this crazy if Barack Obama were coming to Madison Square Garden”.
^ Did Dime really just say that? I like Lebron and all..but give us a break.
November 25th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
itsakademiks says:
fallinup i just read that ny bonus in his nike contract expired after his rookie yr
November 25th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
fallinup says:
@17
If so, I stand corrected. But do you happen to know when his current deal with Nike expires??? I do.
Duh duh duh! 2010
November 25th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
JCARR says:
@YGB that’s going to far man have some respect for DIME. I know they are into the whole LBJ mania right now… but thats what gets them paid. But seriously DIME ease down on this whole scandal. And taking pictures of people who like they never played basketball isnt credible. (pic of like a 35 yr old mom with glasses)
November 25th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Pioneer says:
Wow, that crazy stuff Dime has been talking about for a couple days now was NUTS!!! People in Witness shirts? Whoa!
Seriously, Dime needs to take a step back and regain some credibility. They’ve been acting as complete shills for about a week now.
November 25th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Smitty313 says:
Never seen anything like this before. It’s like they belive if Lebron were a Knick he’s a lock for a ring. Only thing he would do is improve attendance and bring in more money. MJ never had hype like this coming into the Garden. It’s not even about basketball to me, its all about these $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
Lebron might win one ring in his career, and to me it seems like thats all he wants because it will make his true dream easier to get and thats being a billionare global icon.
November 25th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Smitty313 says:
I’m pretty sure half of the dime staff was part of the Lebron Army wearing their WIT shirts.
NESS
November 26th, 2008 at 3:29 am
shage says:
Hey I’ve seen that homeless dude before, with the exact same sign outside Sheraton Hotel on 7th and 53rd.
November 26th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Witness says:
Bron Bron’s a fag. He and the Knicks deserve each other.
November 26th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Big Shot BOB says:
I can’t wait until 2010 either so when Bron doesn’t sign with NY I can watch all there faces.