The LeBron Switch is Not About the Number

LeBron James is arguably the best player under 30 in the NBA, I don't think there is much debate.  So when he announced recently that "out of respect for Michael Jordan" he was going to wear the number 6 next year, there were a few eyebrows raised. There are currently 11 other players in the NBA who sport MJ's digits.  (Most notably Marcus Camby and Kevin Martin, least notably Stephen Graham and Jodie Meeks).  So why is LeBron so concerned about the number?  I think it's because he is already thinking of a change of scenery next year and a little spiffing up for the ole brand.

Sure there are huge marketing benefits for changing numbers. You may recall Kobe going from 8 to 24 a few years ago.  That switch pushed him past LeBron in jersey sales.  But in this case, I don't think LeBron is worried about selling gear in the near future.  And with all due respect to both messieurs James and Jordan, it's not about honoring MJ.  If it were, LeBron would realize that Bill Russell, a #6, (11 championships to Jordan's 6) should be honored as well.

I like LeBron and think he is great for the NBA.  But let's get real, changing numbers is not about honoring anyone. It's about positioning for next year and marketing.  LeBron is a brand, and every once and awhile, brands need to be freshened up.  So let's not hide the fact that LeBron is a savvy marketer as well as an amazing athlete.

One other note... I have decided to change my name in honor of Tom Landry (or maybe Tom Cruise, or Tom's Shoes, or TomTom GPS...).  I'm taking nominations for a new name to begin wearing next year.  It needs to meet two critical criteria... first honor someone famous (but not too famous) and secondly, look good on a jersey :)

FKA Tom Cuthbert

The San Antonio Stonecutters

Love the Spurs or hate them, its hard to argue with four rings in nine years.  The Spurs represent all that is good in professional sports.  Teamwork, good citizenship and hard work.  They are a model team built on stability and consistency. 

Inside the organization people know the impact Popovich has had both on and off the bench.  It was Pop who had the Jacob Riis words translated and posted in the locker room, 

"When nothing seems to help, I go look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before."

Practice makes perfect and teamwork makes winners.  There are lessons to be learned in all aspects of life from these words.  So hammer away Spurs and thanks for being an inspiring group of winners.

Tom

 

Mark Cuban: Agree or Disagree

I first met Mark Cuban in 2000 right after he bought the Mavs.  He was speaking at an industry conference in Dallas and was talking about “stupid technology company names”.  We had just launched a company and when I told him our name, he laughed and approved.  Five years later, when we named Click Forensics, I recalled his advice and tried to avoid naming it after a Greek god or some other random seven-letter name that happened to be available.  He has yet to comment on our name specifically,  but he did mention Click Forensics in a recent blog on click fraud.  While he never fixed the dead link to the Click Fraud Index, he did have some interesting takes on the topic.

Cuban said, “The concept of “I know some percentage of my PPC advertising is click fraud, I just don’t know home much” shouldn’t be acceptable.”  We agree and that is why we have created a company solely focused on solving the industry problem of click fraud.  In his more recent post, “Why I think click fraud is far greater than imagined”, he boldly states, “…no amount of IP repetition algorithms are going to stop them.”  Once again we agree.  In fact, nothing is going to stop them.  The solution is police the activity and report on discrepancies.  Once these unwanted clicks are identified, there needs to be a way to reconcile them so advertisers aren’t stuck with the bill.  Keep blogging Mark, you have friends in high places.  This is an industry issue that needs guys like you to speak the truth.  

So what do I disagree with Cuban on?  Well, Click Forensics is based in San Antonio; we have season tickets, know several players and even have a room in our office called the “Spurs room”.  I grew up in Dallas but left before the Mavs were born.  While I root for the home team, Cuban is good for Dallas, good for the NBA, good for the online community and even good for San Antonio.  Next year…

So Mark, after you get your ring (and you will) drop by to see us in SA.  We can celebrate your victory on the Riverwalk, eat at a Dairy Queen and talk click fraud in our Spurs room!  Ciao~