Basketball Player Turns to Football!!!

A strange announcement came from Anfield earlier today that American basketball star LeBron James has become a minority stakeholder in Liverpool.                                                                                                                                                                        

James is one of the sport’s biggest stars having been named in the NBA All-Star team for the last seven seasons. He is incredibly wealthy and was ranked number one in the Forbes Top 20 Earners Under 25 in December, 2007 with annual earnings of $27 million.                                                                                                                                                                          

It seems a strange combination, but by James’ marketing firm LRMR Branding & Marketing Group signing a sponsorship deal with Liverpool’s parent company Fenway Sports Group (FSG) he has become a minority stakeholder in the football club.                                                                                                                                                                       

Tom Werner the FSG and Liverpool chairman admitted: “LeBron and Liverpool each has a powerful presence internationally, with particular strength in Asia.                                                                                                                                                                  

Before adding: “ We feel the business opportunities for both working and being identified together in emerging international markets will result in unforeseen opportunities that neither would have been able to realize alone.”                                                                                                                                                                                                   

On Sunday we saw the statue of Michael Jackson unveiled outside Craven Cottage, now a basketball player taking part-ownership in a football club – What’s next?