The opposite is true for the New Jersey Nets.  After an unlikely and exciting period of success between 2002 and 2007, which saw multiple playoff and NBA finals appearances, the Nets have fallen into oblivion. They are now hoping to avoid the worst record in NBA history; One of the worst times to be a Nets fan closely following one of the best. The 2009 World Champion Yankee team won with superior hitting, pitching and desire.  The Yankees simply outplayed their competition throughout the post-season.  In all likelihood the New York Knicks will land one, if not two, top free agents because they can offer more money than anyone else.  Additionally athletes can earn more money from endorsement deals in New York City than elsewhere.  There is plenty of financial incentive to join a team like the Knicks.  Where does this leave the Nets?  Where they are right now -struggling.  It would KILL ME to see Lebron James join the New York Knicks.  Surely he would not join to play for a dysfunctional owner, or the large yet flip floppy fan base, or to play in his hometown.  Money is driving the Knicks appeal. So to my ultimate point; The realizations I face being a Nets fan have drastically affected how I am a Yankee fan.  The Knicks are attractive to free agents (likely becoming a quality team next) solely because of financial incentives.  Methods also endorsed by my beloved New York Yankees.  They can offer more financially than anyone else.  While I love the Yankees, I wish my team had a more organic, more genuine feel to them.  Should the Yankees repeat as champions, I will surely be excited, but it will feel watered down.  It is a shame that athletes place so much value on max contracts and financial incentives, not their sport..

NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--Rodman & Renshaw, LLC, a subsidiary of Rodman & Renshaw Capital Group, Inc.(NASDAQ: RODM), today announced the hiring of a senior banker to join itsindustry-leading healthcare group. Noël Brown joined Rodman as a Managing Director, bringing a wide range ofexperience in corporate finance and strategic advisory for U.S., Canadian andEuropean life sciences companies, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures,leveraged buyouts, initial public offerings and private placements for bothpublic and private companies Mr. Brown was most recently a Director at BarclaysCapital, which acquired Lehman Brothers, where he was a Senior Vice Presidentcovering life sciences and healthcare venture capital and financial sponsors.Previously, he held investment banking positions at CIBC and Morgan Stanley. Mr.Brown obtained an undergraduate degree from the University of Western Ontario, alaw degree from the University of Ottawa (cum laude), and an M.B.A. in Financefrom the MIT Sloan School of Management where he was awarded an MIT SloanEntrance Scholarship and the Sherburne Fellowship. "Rodman`s history of commitment to emerging healthcare companies and its cultureof working closely with clients to address strategic financial issuescorresponds not only with my approach to servicing clients, but also with theneeds of these companies in this new era.

These are unprecedented times and I amexcited about the opportunity to leverage the strengths of Rodman`s platform,particularly its top-tier equity research and capital markets capabilities, toaddress the critical needs of clients. I am also looking forward to helping growthe firm`s advisory effort to solve challenging strategic and business issuesfor healthcare companies," said Noël Brown About Rodman & Renshaw Capital Group, Inc Rodman & Renshaw Capital Group, Inc. is a holding company with a number ofdirect and indirect subsidiaries, including Rodman & Renshaw, LLC. Rodman & Renshaw, LLC is a full service investment bank dedicated to providinginvestment banking services to companies that have significant recurring capitalneeds due to their growth and development strategies, along with research andsales and trading services to investor clients that focus on such companies.Rodman is a leading investment banking firm with particular emphasis on"essential" industries with significant capital needs, including health care,energy and metals/mining, as well as a leader in the PIPE (private investment inpublic equity) and RD (registered direct placements) transaction markets. MEMBER FINRA, SIPC Financial DynamicsJulie Prozeller / Hannah Sloane212-850-5600 Copyright Business Wire 2009. BOCA RATON, Fla.--(Business Wire)--Greyson International, Inc. (GYSN.PK) announced today that it has reached anagreement which resolves a lawsuit filed by Greyson shareholder Franklin P deMarco, Jr.