Wade Catching Up

[Glen Infante]

James is himself a major corporation, and King James Inc., James' two-year old company, should be monitoring the stock of the Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade.

The score on the court is, of course, what defines athletes. But there's no use kidding anyone that it's not the only tally on the scorecard.

With his blue collar and charismatic play on what seems to be everyone's favorite title contender, the Heat's Wade is positioning himself to seriously challenge James' most favored status on the endorsement market.

James does already have $135 million in deals in his back pocket and an upcoming McDonald's deal that will spike that number, but Wade is surely threatening new business.

Wade's Heat jersey is now the No. 1 seller in the NBA, according to industry tracker SportsScanInfo. In fact, he has three jerseys in the top 10.

This fall, Converse is due to launch Wade's first signature shoe. Considering they pay him about $400,000 a year, a paltry fraction of what James makes from Nike, the kicks are likely to be more affordable to the masses.

In this portion of the business, jersey and shoe sales define the winners and losers in the market. While James rests and is out of the basketball realm's mind, Wade is entertaining audiences every other night during the playoffs, and the urban consumers are eating him up.

Sure, Time Magazine might have ranked James as one of its ``100 Most Influential'' people, but Wade's on People's ``50 Most Beautiful'' list.

James should probably eye the Phoenix Suns' smooth big man Amare Stoudemire, also developing into a young marketing dream.

James, who was on the All-NBA second team with both Wade and Stoudemire, has more impressive all-around stats and a grander following, to be sure. But he's just 1-3 vs. the Suns and 2-5 vs. the Heat in his career and not yet showing up during games in May, something that might eventually show up in the paycheck.

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/sports/11710154.htm

 

[King]

Wade and Amare are naturally more popular right now because they're playing at the moment and LeBron isnt. And LeBron is starting to get a lot of hate and is growing a reputation of being a cocky player that cant take his team to the playoffs.

I think Wade vs. LeBron is gonna be like a modern Bird vs. Magic rivalry. Those two are gonna be dominant in the league for years to come along with young guys like Amare and Gordon.

 

[James]

Haha. Carmelo is falling off so hard right now....

 

[LyXo]

Melo won't fall off. He has a huge cast around him so he's not in the starlight anymore. He's still a great player and Karl is working with his development and steering him in the right direction. Don't even compare the 03 class with Bird-Magic, or whoever. The 03 class will be great on its own. Chris Bosh, Kirk Hinrich, etc.

 

[B.K.S]

wade at tha tyme is gettin' more attention wit his team bein' in tha playoffs..also shaq has contributed 2 his new found fame..when tha big man gives his blessing' 4 tha new era of tha nba it's a dream waitin' 2 come tru..but don't worry BRON WILL BE BACK ON TOP...but melo there is no hope