An Open Letter To Lebron James

Come to New York. Your country needs you here. This may sound melodramatic, but hear me out. You might have noticed that the US has gone through some difficult financial times over the past year. Bubbles burst, stock markets collapsed, bailouts were needed, recessions have lingered, etc. You may also be aware that a lot of these things originated in New York. The Big Apple is the financial capital of the country, and is uniquely responsible for our economic health.

So, you may ask: how would your coming to New York help the situation? Let me explain: Finance is a confidence game. Of course the real-world economics of deals have to work, but everything else comes down to confidence. And that is the greatest commodity you can bring here.

In many ways the Knicks have mirrored Wall Street incompetence over the last decade. Both institutions overpayed for bloated assets, employed short sighted decision making at the expense of long term planning, and suffered from poor leadership. Isiah Thomas and Chuck Prince are so similar they could easily be called brothers from another mother. But, the team has changed. The Knicks are offloading nonperforming assets, focusing on the future, and are under new management. The team is poised for a resurgence, and so is Wall Street. But the Knicks need a centerpiece, and the Street needs a symbol. You could be both.

You coming here would give the team the talent and championship swagger it has not had in a long, long time. The City would feed off that swagger. You would become the symbol of renewed faith in our team and in our City. Confidence would flow back into town; and the team, the City, The Street and our entire financial system would benefit.

A word about Cleveland. I understand how much you mean to that City. Other than your presence, they have had a bad run of things. A great argument could be made that you are a cosmic reward for all Cleveland's suffering. So, this year win them a Championship. You deserve it. Big Z deserves it. The fans deserve it. Cleveland deserves it. But after the trophy is handed out, say your goodbyes, you will have done your duty there. Then come and fulfill your destiny here.

It is the rare athlete who has the ability and opportunity to transcend sports and become legendary. Examples include Jesse Owens, Joe DiMaggio, Mohammad Ali, Jackie Robinson, and The 1980 US Hockey Team. You have been given the athletic ability to transcend your sport. You now have the opportunity to mean something greater to your society. Come to New York. Your legend awaits.