Billion Dollar Baller

The New York Knicks believe that Lebron James can earn a billion dollars by moving to New York:

The Knicks just finished pitching LeBron James. Their main selling point: You could make a billion dollars playing in New York. You can't earn anything close to that anywhere else.

How the hell did they arrive at this figure?

Included in Interbrand's math: an NBA title in New York could be worth $240 million to LeBron, about $60 million more than if he brought a ring home to Cleveland, and more than double the value of a Chicago championship. Why? NYC is a huge market, the business capital of the world and home to a large (and wealthy) fan base hungry for a winning team--the Knicks haven’t held the title since 1973. LeBron already owns Cleveland, a small city with little clout. Michael Jordan’s six championships still hover over Chicago. Miami has a fickle fan base, a recent title and its own superstar in Dwyane Wade.

Interesting pitch. I wonder if it would work. Part of me would like to see Lebron in a Knicks jersey. Part of me thinks that staying in Cleveland might be important to the city's immediate survival. In truth, this is entirely Lebron's decision and he must do what is best for him and his family. A billion dollars is a lot of money and can secure his and his family's security for several generations.