Thanks Dad You Stupid ****

[vailpass]

Nike, Under Armour, Adidas not interested in deal with Lonzo Ball

An endorsement deal with Nike, Under Armour or Adidas is not in the cards for Lonzo Ball.

Ball's father, LaVar, confirmed that the three shoe and apparel companies informed him that they were not interested in completing a deal with his son. Sources with the three companies told ESPN.com that they indeed were moving on.

Never in the history of modern-day shoe endorsements have the big companies all stepped away from a potential top pick nearly two months before the NBA draft. But LaVar, who has been representing Lonzo in the deal, has offered something that has no precedent.

In his meetings with all three companies, LaVar insisted that they license his upstart Big Baller Brand from him. He also showed the companies a shoe prototype that he hoped would be Lonzo's first shoe.

"We've said from the beginning, we aren't looking for an endorsement deal," LaVar told ESPN. "We're looking for co-branding, a true partner. But they're not ready for that because they're not used to that model. But hey, the taxi industry wasn't ready for Uber, either."

Last week, Nike consultant George Raveling, at SportsBusiness Journal's World Congress of Sports, called LaVar "the worst thing to happen to basketball in the last hundred years."

The way LaVar sees it, Raveling's comment is indicative of what longtime businesspeople say when the way of doing things is changed.

"Just imagine how rich Tiger [Woods], Kobe [Bryant], Serena [Williams], [Michael] Jordan and LeBron [James] would have been if they dared to do their own thing," LaVar said. "No one owned their own brand before they turned pro. We do, and I have three sons, so it's that much more valuable."

Lonzo declared for the draft after one season at UCLA. LaVar's other sons have also committed to UCLA, including LiAngelo, who arrives on campus this year, and LaMelo, who just finished his sophomore season in high school.

Ball would not disclose how big the Big Baller Brand has become -- the company sells hats and T-shirts ranging from $38 to $100 on its website -- but he said that current sales numbers shouldn't have been on the mind of the shoe companies.

"When Facebook bought WhatsApp for $19 billion, those guys weren't profitable," LaVar said.

Now that the traditional shoe companies are out, Ball said he will reach out to the Chinese brands, which include Peak, Li-Ning and Anta, and he's not counting out taking on an entrepreneurial partner outside the business.

"That includes Facebook," he said.

Ball said he did indeed have a shoe prototype for Lonzo's first shoe.

"We're not going to sign with a company and then wait around for five or six years for a shoe like Paul George had to wait for with Nike," Ball said.

When asked how long he has been working on the design of Lonzo's shoe, Ball said, "I've been working on that shoe ever since my boys were born."

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by vailpass

Not if his dad is part of the deal he won't.

That's unknowable

[notorious]

I love how he brought his own shoe prototype.


Nothing says "I want to work with this person" like a guy that claims to know more than a multi-billion dollar company that has done it for decades.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

You're not supposed to, but he's not wrong.

The 100 meter don't lie, kids - white guys just aren't as fast. There are fascinating articles on the subject - I read one awhile ago that suggested that earlier rises in Malaria in African nations led to increase blood flow to quick twitch muscles in response and hence an evolutionary improvement in raw athleticism among folks that evolved in those regions.

I went round and round and round with a guy I work with because he said the same thing. "If you say that black guys are inherently more athletic, you have to also be willing to say that white guys are more intelligent".

I told him if you give me the study that's accurately supported and scientifically repeatable, I have no problem saying both. There may be some differences in cognitive development that came about as a result of evolving in entirely different environments. Go start your study and we'll chat.

You can't ignore a conclusion just because you don't like its broad-brush implications. That's working backwards.

This is one of the best posts I've read on this forum in a long, long time.

[vailpass]

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Disagreements over value are the norm in any negotiation. Maybe LaVar thinks his progeny are worth $500M and Nike thinks Lonzo is the only value block, at $23M tops. Who knows?


If Lonzo plays well he will still be able to go back to the table and take the endorsement deal anyway. Key point being ignored here.

I am sure some of it is about value but my guess is it was more about control. I bet he wants their money and brand attached without giving up anything in return.

I agree that is possible.

[Bugeater]

"Just imagine how rich Tiger [Woods], Kobe [Bryant], Serena [Williams], [Michael] Jordan and LeBron [James] would have been if they dared to do their own thing," LaVar said. "No one owned their own brand before they turned pro. We do, and I have three sons, so it's that much more valuable."

News flash idiot, these people all already have more money than they can spend.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

I am sure some of it is about value but my guess is it was more about control. I bet he wants their money and brand attached without giving up anything in return.

I agree that is possible.

Forgetting the sports aspect of this for a moment: it's pretty awesome whenever a dad sticks up for his son(s), or thinks they're the shit. We need more of that in society not less. Maybe that's why I like LaVar.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Forgetting the sports aspect of this for a moment: it's pretty awesome whenever a dad sticks up for his son(s), or thinks they're the shit. We need more of that in society not less. Maybe that's why I like LaVar.

That's how you create campuses full of irritating snowflakes that think their shit doesn't smell.

LaVar Ball is what creates that which you claim to abhor...

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

That's how you create campuses full of irritating snowflakes that think their shit doesn't smell.

LaVar Ball is what creates that which you claim to abhor...

Disagree. Snowflakes are created by lack of parenting, not over-parenting. I.e., when you abdicate parental duties to leftist college professors.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Forgetting the sports aspect of this for a moment: it's pretty awesome whenever a dad sticks up for his son(s), or thinks they're the shit. We need more of that in society not less. Maybe that's why I like LaVar.

I hear that response from many black sports people when they are asked about Lavar. The guys on TNT love Lavar stands up for his sons.

If I was the kid I would tell dad I love you and thank you for supporting me but stfu.

[suzzer99]

God help me I agree with PB.




In any case I think it's hilarious that he's sticking it to the big apparel companies. Should be interesting to see how it turns out.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

God help me I agree with PB.




In any case I think it's hilarious that he's sticking it to the big apparel companies. Should be interesting to see how it turns out.

sticking it to? I'm sure they're overwhelmed with distraught.

[suzzer99]

Eh, they're probably used to pushing these kids around and bowling them over.

[BigRichard]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

Eh, they're probably used to pushing these kids around and bowling them over.

Most of them have an agent that gets them a great deal. We are not talking about college students who can't have agents at this point.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Disagree. Snowflakes are created by lack of parenting, not over-parenting. I.e., when you abdicate parental duties to leftist college professors.

If you think they aren't entitled little asswipes before they get there, I'd suggest you haven't spent much time around high-schoolers.

It takes more than 4 years to turn adults into coddled little balls of nervous energy. That's a lifelong pursuit and yes, a fundamental underpinning of it is a refusal to tell your kid that sometimes he/she did **** up or does have areas where huge improvement is needed.