John Elway also held further leverage, having been drafted the year before by the New York Yankees as an outfielder.
But throughout history, loose monetary conditions have fuelled the cycle: cheap money encourages leverage which boosts asset prices, which in turn encourage further leverage.
"There's a new focus on gifting, on companies coming out with new distinctive boxes, to further leverage the brand names," Mr. Beder said.
The city gave itself further leverage five years ago with provisions that allow owners to add kiosks or fences in exchange for improving their plazas.
"The central bank has to be, in a way, a neutral player, and yet we find ourselves trying to stimulate, and the effect is further leveraging," he said.
Mr. Lee is trying to persuade Parliament to ratify the free trade deal before its term ends in late May, hoping that ratification would give President Bush further leverage to press Congress for its approval.
The Swiss bank also believes the deal will offer cross-selling opportunities thanks to a US service centre network, and will provide further leverage into the US onshore market.
A senior executive involved in the NBC deal said that "Friends" could not come back for a 10th season because the studio that owned it, Warner Brothers, has no further leverage with the stations that bought the show in syndication.
After being forced into the cash call by the Bank of England, Jenkins said the bank was continuing to "reassess the balance sheet for further leverage reduction opportunities consistent with preserving our strong franchises, supporting lending to the UK economy".
That leak, and the admirable efforts of freedom of information campaigner Heather Brooke to force parliament to release MPs' expenses, gave me further leverage in making my request to all local MPs.
