What Happens In Vegas...

In my opinion, it seems since LeBron James chose to "take his talents to South Beach" - a move I would compare to Hulk Hogan joining the NWO in terms of how quickly fans have turned on him - articles showing the self-proclaimed "KING" in a less-than-favorable light are popping up left right and center. I agree with ESPN for removing the recent article documenting James' visit to a Vegas nightclub, although it was an interesting (and funny, for the unabashed, unashamed display of egotism by James and manager/friend Maverick Carter) read, it was very long and rambling, like the writer was, well, blogging in a diary. It has since been learned that the writer did not disclose to all parties present that he would be writing a story for ESPN. Suffice it to say if LeBron knew this was an official story he would not have made his displeasure known about the overgrown "Peter Pan" serving his table from the air and his wish for one of the females in their birthday suits nearby to replace said waiter.

Still the article made LeBron come off as an attention-seeking spoiled athlete, comfortable only when people are showering attention on him, stating that LeBron is "still a child in a 6'8 250-pound frame". This is another hit on his well-crafted image. One that has gone in the toilet since "The Decision" and the hype leading up to it. Visions of Carter "dancing around LeBron like Puff Daddy in a Notorious B.I.G. video", Boston Celtics forward Glen Davis walking by the over-the-top scene, shaking his head and moving on and LaMar Odom refraining from joining scantily clad women who approach James after a married couple remind him that he is also taken, are hilarious standouts of the article.

LeBron has been in the NBA for seven years. He was being hyped as "The Chosen One" two or three years before that. You mean to tell me that for nine or ten years LeBron has never gone to a nightclub and been showered with attention like this? Ofcourse he has. The difference now is that he is a pariah in the NBA. He is the villain in black for ripping out and stomping on the hearts of his hometown team on national TV. He has chosen to join a proven winner in Dwyane Wade instead of continuing to carve his own niche and validate being the top one or two player in the NBA. Now these stories of self-indulgence will take on negative connotations. He is still a "child", the author says. He is a "coward", newswriters in NY exclaimed after shunning the bright lights of NYC for Miami and the hated Pat Riley.

After going unblemished in terms of his off the court behavior, LeBron will be closely scrutinized as the inevitable move by some media journalists to facilitate a proverbial fall from grace begins in earnest. Throwing a glorified pep rally in American Airlines Arena that looked more like a coronation than an introduction will not help matters. He will be booed everywhere. People will be wishing his team to lose, a far cry from being cheered in opposing arenas. Michael Jordan, LeBron's idol, has already taken multiple shots at him in an NBC interview and a YouTube clip at a basketball camp. We all know Jordan doesn't care about people's feelings whether during his NBA career as an on-court assassin or off the court, as his Hall of Fame induction speech will attest. But hearing the real King disparage your "decision" has got to hurt.

All I know is LeBron better win a championship this upcoming season. Anyhting less will be a colossal failure. He couldn't get to Kobe in The NBA Finals on his own, maybe the fallout from deferring that responsibility has brought him to Vegas to reassure himself that he is still loved. I know one thing, the fifteen minutes that article was on ESPN's website before being pulled down is fifteen minutes of fame LeBron did not need.

Obama on "The View"

I continue to be impressed by how seemingly calm, cool and collected Barack Obama is at all times (in public). Unafraid to take chances being the first sitting President to appear on a daytime talk show, Obama sat with the ladies on "The View". The guy is funny and charming. He even got a new crush in Elizabeth Hasselbeck (I can hear the millions of feet hitting the dirt roads as die-hard republicans jump off her bandwagon for complimenting "the enemy").

Can't wait to meet Mr. Obama.

Miami Thrice on S.I. cover

The "new Big 3" ("Miami Thrice" is an awful nickname by the way... try "LCD", you know like the screen, cuz they r gonna put on a show this season) is on the cover of Sports Illustrated with D Wade prominently in front of Chris Bosh and LeBron James literally peeking over Wade's shoulder on the right side (Wade's left). A telling photo. Is LeBron really gonna be happy with this role? They may subdue egos on the court, but off of it... it is not gonna be easy.

Just my thoughts...

Too little too late Cleveland Cavs....

The Cavaliers traded Delonte West and Sebastien Telfair to Minnesota.

I believe if this move was made, say, three weeks ago maybe LeBron would have stayed. Maybe. Who knows, maybe he felt he couldn't trust the whole team. Who else knew about "Momgate"?

He definitely wasn't coming back to have Mo Williams as his point guard, he of the disappearing jump shot come playoff time...

LeBron taking his "talents to South Beach" not Miami Heat

LeBron wants to play with his friends, but this isn't high school. He has to understand how this looks to the rest of the world.

I have not seen the sentiments of fans and media change so drastically from good to bad toward a superstar sports figure in a long while.

Interested to see how he will handle the crowd reactions.

Knicks get Stoudamire

Ok. The New York Knicks, in the running (as is 1/5 of the NBA teams) for the services of LeBron james, has landed Amar'e Stoudamire. This is the biggest signing for the Knicks since draft day 1985 when the Knicks selected "Pat-rick Ewiii...." with the first pick of the NBA draft.

Stoudamire is easily the best big man the Knicks have had since they traded the same Mr. Ewing away in 2002 (Stoudamire's rookie year). Stoudamire has gone on record saying he has always wanted to play in New York since they passed over him on draft day that year. The Knicks have passed over a lot of people in drafts recently, most notably the point guard they desperately needed in Brandon Jennings - taking Jordan Hill (since traded to Houston). Who could forget the 2008 draft (one which I personally witnessed from inside The Garden) when the Knicks took Danilo Gallinari with the 8th pick. Not a popular choice. At least he is better than Frederic Veis (he of the Vince Carter Olympic hurdle dunk posterization).

Stoudamire has openly boasted of being able to lure San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker (I never knew he wanted to leave) and Carmelo Anthony to NYC. If he can do that... ok, calm down. While I am more stunned than anything that the Knicks finally pulled off a decent move (a great reminder that the Isiah Thomas regime is really over), the pessimist in me is still waiting for the season altering injury to said big name star.

Stoudamire has had two microfracture knee surgeries, and while he has shown no signs of slowing down (a la Chris Webber - who became a shell of himself after the same surgery), he has yet to put on the Knicks uniform. I am cautiously optimistic, but bad things always happen to star players that sign with New York in any sport except hockey. That or they get better, or revert to their former glory when traded elsewhere.

Who knows if Stoudamire will bring LeBron, if it brings Carmelo, who the ubiquitous "sources" say has told people he wants to play in New York, that would be just as good. The Knicks DO need a point guard. Chris Duhon is not gonna cut it and Toney Douglas is not Steve Nash.

The Knicks have a credible All star in the front court. Now I can watch the games again....