CBSNews.com published a blog post about a week ago about a domain investor who owns Lebron.com since 2008.
The story, which in a very positive light, chatted about a domain investor, Patrick Nagle. whom they described as a “Tech-savvy Maryland businessman”.
“As millions of basketball fans search online for news of what team free agent LeBron James will be playing for next, Mr. Nagle has found a way to benefit.
Type in LeBronJames.com and you go to James’s official Web site. But type in lebron.com and you’ll end up wherever Nagle directs you. Nagle bought the domain name lebron.com back in 2008.”
“Now he has taken all of the Web traffic looking for basketball news at Lebron.com and directed it to Nagle’s own personal LinkedIn profile instead.”
In an email to CBS News today, Nagle says, “I’ve been buying and selling Internet business for the past 15 years (since I was 16). I stumbled across Lebron.com when I co-founded OurSpace.com in 2008, an Urban Social Network, (later acquired by News Corp). I thought lebron.com was a great domain, so I bought it.”
Now about a week after CBS News published the story the domain name Lebron.com is forwarding for the first time since 2008 to Lebron James Official site LebronJames.com
The whois record has not changed so we don’t know if there is a lease and/or sale in the works, or maybe Mr. Nagle responded to a C & D letter based on the story.
We don’t have the answer yet but the timing of the forwarding of the domain to Mr. James official site on the heels of the story would seem to indicate something is in the works.
As for Mr. Nagle he seems to be another one of those people who has been in the domain investment space for a very long time but isn’t a well know figure in the community but appears to be making some big money from domaining.
The article goes on to quote Mr. Nagle to say:
“I recently re-sold MarijuanaMD.com in less than week for mid six-figures after acquiring it for $800.
I don’t know what Lebron.com is worth — but I do know it is a quality generic name.”
Nagle says he owns or runs around 3,000 domains and web properties, but has “stopped buying and selling to focus on a new business.”
Clearly he is getting ready to leave basketball and sell cars in Cleveland
Still listed on Sedo, so I doubt it.
http://sedo.com/search/details.php4?domain=lebron.com
I have domains listed on Sedo that I have sold privately, we update our account every couple of months
When someone says s/he sold a domain relating to marijuana, it makes marijuanaguy dot com very happy
Most probably Nagle got was an autograph ball or jersey or if he is lucky, a game over pair of socks from James for his domain.
If not, he will be slam dunk by King James
I remember seeing this domain for sale for around $30k. I don’t think Lebron needs to “lease” anything. He would either buy it or send him C&D. Kevin Durants agent 2 years ago was very nice with me in regards to KevinDurant.com. Sent me some tickets and autographs.
This company bought Lebron.com when he was still in high school and was ready to turn pro. They wanted $535,000 for Lebron.com after he signed his Nike contract while still in high school. The Nike deal was 7 years worth 90 million. He didn’t even play one game yet in the NBA. I guess Nagle bought the name from this company.
http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2003/06/Issue-190/Sponsorships-Advertising-Marketing/Let-The-Lebron-A-Thon-Begin-Cavs-Ready-For-Their-Big-Night.aspx?hl=Upper%20Deck&sc=0
@Berkens,
It’s Friday. I’m sitting in a bar, thinking how cool it is that my pickup truck’s been rattle free for months; I’m sitting there rapping this broad; another chick comes over, now she wants me too!
I say let me fake’em both out by going on the internet; I surf to Domaining.com. What do I see? Some blog named something Weekly. It could be ‘dot’. I click it the dawn article and here’s a story about you selling another name for thousands; I shake the broads, rush home to my PC, straight to your blog. Not a beep from you on this. I’m thinking, this guy blogs about every goddamn thing in the world, except what he should blog about.
My question to you, did you sell anything?
Domen
You should have hung out with the babes.
Mistake 1
If you have read my blog in the last 6+ years I think you would find I very rarely chat about my sales, or publish posts pimping domains I have for sale.
I do report them on my FB feed for MWDnews and Ron when I remember to do it
I’m a pretty humble guy.
I don’t like chatting about success I have had or sales I made, its not my thing.
If I was somewhat good looking a was on a TV show or in a Movie I would be the guy that couldn’t watch the show or the movie and I have never watched myself on Sherpa.
Hello Michael B.
Surely Lebron is a celebrity, and there is another celebrity and Michael you know who.