Fans In Greenwich Appeal to James: 'Please Come to New York'

LeBron James mania came early to Greenwich Thursday as the basketball star is expected to announce tonight which team he will sign with.

By 3 p.m., about 50 people, some wearing Knicks jerseys, others with Cavaliers shirts and still others with Nets and Bulls paraphernalia, were already crowding the sidewalk across from the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich at 4 Horseneck Lane by the train station.

One sign read, "Come to the Nets," another read "Come to the Knicks" and still another read, "LEBRON JAMES PLEASE PICK NEW YORK."

"LeBron needs to come to New York because it's the mecca of baseketball," said Eric Wenig, 19, of Armonk, N.Y., who wore a Knicks' Patrick Ewing jersey. "If LeBron comes to New York, he could win us multiple championships and be remembered as one of the greatest players."

But not everyone was sold on the New York teams.

Luke Kazmir, 18, of Easton, is a diehard Chicago Bulls fan.

"The reason LeBron needs to go to Chicago is two words: Michael Jordan," said Kazmir, who wore a Bulls' Jordan jersey. "If LeBron wants any chance to win, he needs to go to Chicago because they have the best supporting cast."

The sports spectators were joined by a throng of television news crews and reporters. The crowd was expected to grow as the evening sun set and more people got off work.

The appearance was organized by ESPN, which was scheduled to broadcast a one hour show called "The Decision" starting at 9 p.m., and the money generated from broadcasting television advertisements during the show is to go to benefit the club, officials said.

LeBron James was not expected at the club until 8 p.m., and was to make his announcement about an hour later within the first few minutes of the ESPN show. Only about 50 people will be allowed to go into the club to watch.