I know Dame Dash is somewhere sticking his lip out but, its been no secret the Hip Hop laced diamond hands in pro sports have been rampant for the past 8 odd years. When Roc-a-fella was in its united prime, there was an initial goal to management athletes like artists. Well its 2008 and Jay-Z now separated has sighted his eyes this venture and on pro sports greatest and most importantly, marketable athletes.

It came to no secret when Lebron James, befriended Jay-Z a few years back. It was also no secret when the likes of James and Larry Johnson started throwing up the Roc. But then, a select few started and then it became as much as a cultural movement as it once did with music artists.

So when Lebron is seen wearing a fitted Yank, boasting about how great Brooklyn is and how Barclay’s could be home in 2010, people started sitting up and considering the notion, Jay-Z has dropped his retro Def Prez mindset and looking at a more lucrative group. I mean serious he’s semi retired. It should be all about him, he deserved it. And if he does do something, why deal with all the artist development and money if the album/concert sales flop. Have your freedom and fun and while the music industry is horrible, invest in a sure thing.

I mean think about it, most pro athletes with endorsements, sell themselves. They don’t need sample clearance or ghostwriters, their skills are out in the open. They’re pro’s so they are for the most part more physically disciplined than most. They already receive multi-million dollar checks and imagine consultants so, they’re not coming totally from nothing. They’re press ready and less inclined to do or blurt dumb things based on the level of endorsements they have. There is no guessing if they’ll become someone else cause they set the standard for themselves. If they do become someone else, a la Dennis Rodman, they make up for it on the playing field. (That dude would throw his face in front of a ball to block if he could.)

The most important part, you dont have to worry about them trying to rap, now days atheles hopefully learned their lesson and the meare affliation is good enough now days. Besides, we all know how good atheles, trying rap play out basically proving some should perfect their day jobs. Jay-Z realized it might be less of a headache to deal with already millionaire stars, rather than manufacture and invest in someone who’s not held accountable under mainstream marketing and endorsements. Meaning more of a investment wonder.

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