It's actually not even from a Charlotte person, but from a guy who is a columnist for the New York Times.
Basically an appeal for Lebron to come play for the Charlotte Bobcats next season!
Pretty cool. I would love to hear Lebron's and Jordan's thoughts!
"Dear LeBron:
On Monday many of us watched the young Charlotte Bobcats fight the good fight before falling to the Orlando Magic in a first-round sweep.
Charlotte was the young kid with a big heart fighting the playground bully and holding his own. Ultimately, the bully was too big and the Bobcats were not good enough.
Charlotte was missing one piece, LeBron: you.
For the past two years the world has been advising you about where to play next season.
Where can you make the greatest impact? Where can you make the most dollars?
In Charlotte, where Michael Jordan, your basketball hero, is majority owner. Jordan became the second African-American owner of an NBA franchise. He bought the franchise from the first, Robert L. Johnson. More significantly, in terms of power dynamics, Jordan is the first former NBA player to become a majority owner in the league.
Why should this matter?
It matters because from the beginning of your career, you set your sights on being different, on being more than a basketball player.
You began your career by saying you wanted to be Warren E. Buffett and Muhammad Ali. That struck many as an odd combination. Buffett became famous for amassing wealth, while Ali, standing on courage and principle, did it without spending a dime.
You won't achieve immortality by selling sneakers. You can achieve acclaim, however, by doing something completely counterintuitive, perhaps by joining a 6-year-old franchise and a first-year majority owner and making Charlotte a championship destination.
Why Charlotte?
The answer is simple: Jordan.
How to achieve real greatness
Last year you said you wanted to honor his legacy. You proposed that the NBA retire his No. 23.Forget the number, LeBron. The greatest tribute you could pay him is joining forces with him next season and creating a dynasty in Charlotte. The two of you could forge a powerful alliance and achieve in an unprecedented way.
Imagine the story line: Charlotte became the 30th member of the NBA on May 3, 2004. Six years later, LeBron James joins the franchise and takes it to heights previously unknown.
Not even Jordan did that. Jordan was drafted into his role. He was drafted by the Bulls in 1984 and led Chicago to its first NBA championship in 1991 at age 28.
Your advisers may tell you to stay as far away from Jordan as possible. He will block your light, they say. Jordan will steal your thunder.
No. The only one who may do that is a 6-foot-9 do-everything forward named Kevin Durant.
That's the thing about sports, LeBron. Fame is so fleeting. What is hot today is old news tomorrow. A good friend was recently lamenting that his teenage son couldn't understand all the fuss over Jordan. LeBron James was the hero of his era.
Most athletes are destined to be overtaken by the next new thing - unless they become Babe Ruth, Joe Louis, Jackie Robinson or Muhammad Ali.
The only way to achieve such stature is to do something bold and timeless, like taking an unpopular stand or making an unpopular move.
For you, LeBron, that would be leaving Cleveland to join forces with Jordan in Charlotte. Jordan wins his first NBA championship as an owner, you win your first as a player. Then another. And another.
Where are the marketing opportunities in Charlotte? Where are they in Cleveland? The opportunities go where you go, LeBron. Marketing follows you - it has been that way since you were in high school. You go to Jupiter, you put Jupiter on the map.
Charlotte is the Queen City. And you are the king without a crown.
There is no wrong answer - unless the question is, How do I achieve greatness? If that's the aim, go to Charlotte, team with Jordan and win championships."
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