While We’re Waiting…Obama wants Vernon Davis in Chicago and Iverson wants to play

While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com.

Obama wants Vernon Davis: “49ers tight end Vernon Davis has become one of the team’s most important players.  If President Obama has his way, Davis will be playing for another team. The Chicago Bears.

At a recent fund-raising event in California, Davis spoke to supporters about Obama.  And then Obama spoke about Davis.

“I want to thank Vernon Davis for being here. If you want to come and play for the Bears, you are welcome to do it,” Obama said, according to KNTV-TV (via NFL.com).” [PFT / Mike Florio]

—

Latest on Allen Iverson:  “Jorge Hernandez was certain Allen Iverson would put basketball on the map in Venezuela—up until this morning. Hernandez, co-owner of Guaros de Lara in the Venezuelan League, was to introduce Iverson todays the team’s new point guard. Playing alongside Smush Parker, Iverson would bring unprecedented attention to Guaros.

“Everything was ready for his debut on Wednesday,” Hernandez told Venezuelan sports newspaper, Lider en Deportes. But Hernandez spoke too soon.

At 9 a.m. this morning, Hernandez received a call and was told that Iverson “does not want to leave the United States.” Speculation is that Iverson’s legal problems are keeping him in US for the time being.

Iverson’s most recent return to basketball has been bumpy to say the least. The Lakers considered signing Iverson this year, but Iverson dismissed L.A. when they asked him to play in the D-League first.”  [SLAM / Ryne Nelson]

—

Jeremy Lin’s financial influence: “The power of Jeremy Lin seems to know no boundaries. He is boosting ticket prices across the NBA. He might be the impetus for a deal between Time Warner and MSG. And maybe most impressively, he triggered a sell-out at the Air Canada Center for the New York Knicks game against the Toronto Raptors Wednesday night when the Linsanity show hit the road. Yes, a sell-out for the 9-21 Raptors who got a first-hand look at the movement sweeping the globe when Lin buried a three-pointer with 0.5 seconds left to win the game.

But when does Jeremy Lin get paid for giving the Knicks and NBA a shot in the arm? His contract this season became fully guaranteed this week and is worth $762,000. He’ll earn 80% of that as the NBA lockout trimmed the 2011-12 season to 66 games from 82. Lin’s only endorsement deal is with Nike which pays him little. Most NBA shoe contracts are for very small amounts of cash or just merchandise for all but the game’s stars.

Last month we looked at the NBA’s top-earning players in terms of salary and endorsements led by Kobe Bryant at $53 million. The cut-off for the top 10 was $22 million. All of these players are veterans and earn playing salaries of at least $15 million.”  [Forbes / Kurt Badenhouse]

—

Happy belated to Jim Brown:  “Arguably the greatest football player to ever live, former Cleveland Browns running back Jim Brown turned 76 today.

The Hall of Famer finished his NFL career with 12,312 rushing yards and 106 touchdowns in nine seasons. He was an 8-time rushing champion, 9-time Pro Bowl selection, 8-time First-Team All-Pro selection, 3-time MVP, and won the NFL Championship in 1964.

While he no longer serves a role within the organization, and left in somewhat ugly fashion, he still remains the greatest player in Cleveland Browns – and perhaps NFL – history.

Brown also shares his birthday with Michael Jordan, making February 17 quite possibly the best day to be born with dreams of becoming a professional athlete.” [Dawg Poud Daily / Steve DiMatteo]