The Los Angeles Lakers have a new fan courtesy of an eBay auction.
Well, the Los Angeles Lakers keep right on making history, these days. With the stroke of a pen, the Lakers get back on the NBA landscape, securing the services of LeBron James. Then they became the center of every NBA free agent rumor going into 2019.
Now the Los Angeles Lakers secure, wait for it now…cue the Hollywood movie trailer music!
THE FIRST PAYING BANDWAGON FAN IN HISTORY!
Yes Lake Show Lifers, it’s true. There is an NBA fan that canceled his allegiance to his team like the cord cutting phenomenon from cable to Netflix and started rooting for the Lakers. Most fans just get fed up and switch teams quietly, then spend five years convincing their friends that it’s legit.
Everyone, let me introduce you to former Knicks fan, Evan Perlmutter by way of ESPN’s Ian Begley.
"“A disgruntled New York Knicks fan auctioned off his fanhood for $3,450 and will spend the coming season rooting for the Los Angeles Lakers.Lifelong Knicks fan Evan Perlmutter, 33, put his NBA allegiance up for sale last week on eBay under an auction titled “Infuriated New York Knicks fan has had enough, selling my fanhood.”"
This guy was so fed up with the constant disappointment of the bridge to nowhere direction of the New York Knicks, that he decided to sell all of his New York paraphernalia on eBay. The price he was looking for was, originally, $1973, in honor of the last team that won the NBA title. That team coincidentally beat the Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 that featured the late Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West.
The breaking point? The Knicks select Kevin Knox with the No.9 pick instead of Michael Porter Jr.
Dude. Stop it. Michael Porter Jr. had back surgery after the draft. Plenty of other teams passed on him before AND after the Knicks. He was a risk. That’s why he dropped so far. You are tired of rooting for a losing team. LeBron James is now with the Lakers and you want to be in the NBA conversations this year…
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Admit it.
Check out his “fan” free agency statement in an email courtesy of ESPN…
"“I’m off to one of the most decorated [franchises] in all sports, sunny winters, with a destination free agents actually want to go to, Hollywood … and it’s time to strive for greatness,”"
I guess that four years as an ad salesman at Madison Square Garden inspired that great quote.
I have to give this guy credit. This stunt is something to behold. Not only did it work, but this turned into a national story. This article alone is to give props to Perlmutter. If no one believes the world of media and the content has not changed…nothing will.
The winning bidder of the Knicks stash is a guy named James Riedel who participated to…
"“provide good content for my YouTube Channel”"
Come on man! Is this where sports is going? Can we start the training camps around the NBA? One Knicks fan not only sells out his team after a lengthy period of time, personal and financial investment. Then another guy comes along and drops $3,450, almost double the asking price.
The scary thing is…THIS ALL WORKED! Riedel gets on ESPN to talk about it. Ian Begley writes a feature about it that basically set this media circus off. Even the New York Knicks get involved…
Here’s their statement via Begley’s ESPN article…(Isn’t this ridiculous?)
"We’re sure our millions of loyal Knicks fans won’t mind losing this attention-grabbing gentleman,” a Knicks spokesperson…We remain focused on the upcoming season–with a hard-working team that is proud to represent New York and its dedicated fans.”"
I could ask why the Knicks even felt the need to get involved in this. But when you are reminded…
The Knicks haven’t made the playoffs in the last five years.
They won’t this year…and won’t be close with Kristaps Porzingis out for most of the year.
They hired Phil Jackson…fired him and are STILL paying off his contract.
The last Finals appearance was in 2000. Couple that with one playoff series win since.
Oh and finally, Phil Jackson called LeBron James’ business partners…”A posse.” I guess James won’t be playing there…unless it’s a road game.
Oh, this gets better. Perlmutter will attend a Lakers home game and away game which will keep this story going on into the season. Not only that, there is a $500 bet put up that the Los Angeles Lakers will go over the projected win total.
Anyone want to bet $500 dollars that the sky is blue or water is wet? “l’ll bet anyone who reads this $1000 that there are seven days in a week.
Now, do you see what this has started Lake Show Lifers? I’ve had many conversations on the radio on the effect of LeBron James signing with the Lakers. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again. It is not about championships at this point. The Warriors will win the Finals in five and maybe a sweep if they do not turn the ball over.
But look at the marketing genius of Jeanie Buss, Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka over the last year. For all of the attention the Lakers are getting and the “LeBron effect, they’ll be printing their own money.
How strong is this effect…
According to eBay as told to ESPN, the company’s CEO, Devin Wenig, was tempted to bid on the auction to force Perlmutter to stay with the Knicks (I’m not making this up folks!) He decided instead to offer four tickets to a game from StubHub for Perlmutter and Riedel.
The game? The Lakers home game versus the Knicks.
What a country.