It starts with our basketball history and ends with a quote from the Bible.
New York City released its video pitch to LeBron James with Mayor Bloomberg playing center.
“Willis on one leg, Clyde with a steal, Dr. J soaring from the line. Come on LeBron write the next chapter in NYC basketball history,” Bloomberg pleads at the start of a 49-second video released by NYCGo.com today.
Bloomberg conveniently forgets the Scott Layden and Isiah Thomas chapters, which New Yorkers are hoping James can help erase by signing with the Knicks this offseason. The reference to Julius Erving could be seen as a nod to New Jersey, but Dr. J’s time with the Nets came when they were playing on Long Island.
After the Mayor’s opening talk, the video extols the virtues of the city with shots of Manhattan and sayings “This is the world’s greatest stage” and “This is where you can have the biggest impact.”
Cleveland also made videos of its own to try and convince James to stay. The Bulls and Nets are also in the running to land James, who recently said the Cavaliers have “the edge” in an interview with Larry King.
Bloomberg wraps up the video by quoting the Bible.
“As the good book says, ‘Lead us to the promised land,’” Bloomberg says. “And hey, that’s a quote from the King James version.”
New York’s campaign also includes Facebook and Twitter accounts.
“New York City is fit for a king – there’s no better place in the world to live, to play or to win,” Bloomberg said in a release. “New Yorkers want LeBron to come to the greatest city in the world, and we’re launching the C’mon Lebron campaign to capitalize on their energy and creativity in making their own cases for why he should choose New York. There are terrific cities all over the country, but none match the excitement of the greatest City in the world