Many of the seminal moments in LeBron James' career have come in Boston.
It was in Boston where he had one of the greatest postseason duels of his career on May 18, 2008, matching a 40-point effort with Paul Pierce in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
It was in Boston where he played his final game with the Cleveland Cavaliers, falling in the East semis again on May 13, 2010.
It was in Boston where he began the next chapter of his career, making his Miami Heat debut on the TD Garden parquet on Oct. 26, 2010.
But April 6, 2011, will be remembered as a different kind of milestone moment for LeBron. This time, the event is not about his accomplishments on the basketball court, but rather in the business sector. By entering into a business partnership with Fenway Sports Management, King James has instantly added to his legacy not as an athlete, but as a sports commodity.
LeBron's a different kind of sports star. He doesn't just want to be the best scorer, rebounder, defender, what have you — he also wants to have the most business savvy and name recognition. All that "global icon" stuff isn't just talk. He takes the title seriously, and he's not afraid to make a bold move to prove it.
LeBron and FSM don't look like the perfect match on paper. After all, this is Boston, and we're talking about a guy who's been hated in the Hub for years — he was booed as a Cavalier, and he's booed now with the Heat. Boston has been one of the NBA's powerhouse teams, and LeBron's the game's biggest individual star. Butting heads was inevitable.
But by hitching his wagon to FSM, LeBron sends a message. He lets the world know that his business empire means more than his day-to-day doings on the basketball court. He may have his differences with the Celtics, but when his name and his brand are on the line, he knows how to make a good decision.
LeBron is possibly the most famous athlete on the planet. He's now entered a partnership with two of the most famous sports teams — the Boston Red Sox, and the Liverpool Football Club of the English Premier League.
This is how business works. Big mergers make the world go 'round. Exxon and Mobil. AOL and Time Warner. LeBron and Fenway.
That last pairing may take some getting used to, but partnership is the way of the future. LeBron James has taken his career to the next level.
