LeBron James Rumor Mill: Billion, schmillion, we got beer

While teams continue to file into the IMG Building to make their pitches for LeBron James to join their side, the Most Coveted Free Agent On Earth surely is making a pro-con list for every possibility.

Chasing down rumors about LeBron James' basketball future could be a full-time job. Every day we'll compile a list of the rumors we're hearing about James and his next contract. Just remember these are just rumors, not necessarily facts.

Checkin' it twice

While teams continue to file into the IMG Building to make their pitches for LeBron James to join their side, the Most Coveted Free Agent On Earth surely is making a pro-con list for every possibility.

• According to the New York Post, a positive that the New York Knicks pitched Thursday is that James could earn as much as $1.94 billion in salary and endorsements in New York, according to a study commissioned by the Knicks from the marketing consultant Interbrand.

Interbrand reportedly said James would earn only $700 million in Cleveland, $690 million in Chicago and $600 million in Miami. No mention of the New Jersey Nets or Los Angeles Clippers.

It seems the study failed to include the value of two new offers to James should he stay with the Cavaliers.

Just in time for the Fourth of July, Youngstown-based Phantom Fireworks has offered to produce a world-class fireworks show for James if he stays in Cleveland.

“LeBron doesn't have to go to New York or Chicago to see a New York style, world-class fireworks show,” said Phantom Fireworks' Alex Zoldan in a news release. “LeBron's friends from New York and Chicago can come to Cleveland and see a fireworks show that is sure to rival anything from those cities.”

And if James has the show in Chardon, he'll have some free drinks to make it all more festive.

Chardon BrewWorks & Eatery owners Mike and Donna Nedrow issued an open letter to James saying that they'll provide James with “beer for life” if he stays in Cleveland.

“If he stays, I know he will realize his childhood dream of bringing a championship to his hometown,” Mike Nedrow said in the letter. “Add our beer on top of that?!? What else does an MVP need?”

Not sure whether the fireworks and beer will make up the $1.2 billion difference in New York's projected endorsements, but Nedrow makes another good point in his letter:
“You're only 25,” he said, “and that's a lot of free beer.”

• According to a tweet from Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski, the New Jersey Nets are only waiting on James' word to clear more salary-cap space so the team can sign a second big-name free agent if James commits. “[They] would have to move Kris Humphries' contract to get $33 million under [the salary cap],” Wojnarowski tweeted.

• It's well known that Toronto free agent Chris Bosh and Miami free agent Dwyane Wade are good friends with James. The three reportedly met last weekend to discuss possible destinations for all three to sign, with reports that Miami was the leading contender.
After day one of free agency pitches was over, Bosh and Wade had dinner, according to Bosh's Twitter feed (@chrisbosh). But James was still in Cleveland — and his two pals apparently missed him.

“Just had dinner w @dwadeofficial,” Bosh wrote. “Great way to end day 1 of #freeagency although it feels like someone is missing . . . ” Bosh then posted a picture of Wade and himself — with an empty chair in between the two of them. Saving a seat for James? The photo is here.

• It seems as if everyone has a Twitter account or a Facebook page — except for James.
The online magazine Slate, however, had some fun creating a fictional Facebook page for James.

Among the humorous entries: The Plain Dealer posts an article with the headline, “LeBron James source says Cleveland Cavaliers still have the edge,” and owner Dan Gilbert comments with “:)”, Cleveland sends James a “gift” of “our eternal souls,” then the city writes in a status update, “Cleveland is wondering what it did wrong. Isn't there some way we can fix this? I'll do anything!”

The fictional James comments, “It's not you, it's me.”

• Betty White and the cast of TV Land's “Hot in Cleveland” — Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves and Wendie Malick — have gotten in the action. The four ask James to stay in Cleveland as they channel their characters in a taped video message. In the video, Bertinelli, Leeves and Malick discuss how the name “LeBron” lends itself nicely to other sports, and White chimes in with some straight talk, saying, “I'll make it worth your while.”