LeBron James Signs NFL Player to Marketing Contract

LeBron James is doing something very rare (and perhaps unprecedented) in the world of business and sports: he has signed another pro athlete -- Ted Ginn Jr., an old friend and now a rookie wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins -- to a marketing deal through LRMR Marketing, a company that James founded with some high school friends.

"To do this, not so much for money but to maybe get on a Sprite commercial with LeBron or anything, that'd be fun," Ginn said.

"A lot of football guys don't get a lot of marketing their first couple years coming out," he said. "You've got to do big things to do that. He's been a good friend to me for the last four or five years, so the best thing for me is get involved with someone I know."

Think it had something to do with Stephon Marbury cracking that he'd rather own than be owned in reference to LeBron James not having any ownership in Nike? Whatever the case, this is a significant business move for LeBron, who has expressed a desire to become a global business and cultural icon. The man is clearly not playing around.