You can’t save them all

You know that scene in movies, the one where there’s two people fighting to survive, and one makes it, and you know that the other one is about to face a more ominous fate? Well, that about describes how I feel right now with the NFL and NBA. The NFL, the league who long struggled with its lockout, ended it today. The NBA of course has not been locked out for nearly as long, but as the joy of an upcoming NFL season is upon us, it appears that the NBA may not meet the same fate. Sure, the NBA has time. But they’re in a hell of a bigger mess than the NFL was. It doesn’t look good. They’re still hanging on to the cliff. But I don’t see a rescue anytime soon. And that’s too bad. I was watching a documentary-type film on NBA stars when they were “young” today and it included Kobe, Shaq, LeBron, D-Wade, Carmelo, Dwight Howard, KG, Dirk and Tim Duncan. The replays of the early parts of the decade reminded me of the reason why I fell in love with the NBA in the first place—no specific reason. It’s just, for lack of a better word, awesome. It felt good to be reminded that there’s nothing like it. Which is why it’s tough to think that significant parts of the season will probably be missed. Literally, and figuratively.

Losers

Jason Miller/US Presswire

Ah, the Cleveland Cavaliers. The team that has lost 22 straight games. I feel bad for them. I really do. I know the feeling as a fan. The Nets lost 18 straight last year. Feels like you’re never gonna win. First the team loses LeBron and now this. How awful. They’ll win eventually. They’ve got some decent players. But many of those players aren’t used to losing. Just last season they had the best record in the East. I guess LeBron really was that valuable. As good as a player can make a team, a player leaving a team can do just the opposite. And that’s what has happened to these Cavaliers. They haven’t been this bad since pre-LeBron. It’s still weird that he doesn’t play for them, but he doesn’t. When he did play for them though, he made them relevant. Now they’re back to being awful. But hey, at least they have a good shot at the No. 1 pick. But that won’t bring them any more wins this season.

Note to Heat: Superteams aren’t new. You’re not that original.

The New Big Three. Where's 'Melo?

I’m here to talk about the Cleveland Cavaliers. So this season, they’ve got some nice players. Antawn Jamison, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Mo Williams. Decent team. I think they have a bright future.

Speaking of teams without LeBron, what people haven’t noticed is that the MLB has been full of superteams for generations. Now, MLB teams are larger and therefore the stars aren’t condensed. In fact, almost all good MLB teams have at least five stars, unlike NBA teams where they are lucky if they have two superstars, but often settle for four decent, all-star players. Look at the Yankees. A-Rod. Jeter. Cano. Posada. Rivera. Sabathia. Burnett. Even Swisher and Pettitte qualify. Still, they have more positions, and remember, they are the Yankees. But even the Rays, who aren’t crazy-rich, have Longoria, Peña, Crawford, Price, and Upton to name a few.

Just one more thing about LeBron. Remember when the Celtics Big Three graced the cover of every magazine with an NBA preview? Expect the same for the new Heat trifecta come fall. Unless, of course, they want to show us Mo Williams, Big Z, and Antawn Jamison. But I don’t think those guys would sell many magazines.

Screw role players. They’re for teams with one star.

Congrats to me. I am the zillionth person to share my opinion on LeBron James. But since you asked, here it is.

1. The Miami Heat are instant championship contenders. They could have ten other players with my skill level and still be amazing. Sure, things have to work out on the court, but they will.

2. I love ESPN, but their “special” made me want to puke. It reminded me of American Idol stretching out their results show for an hour. Ridiculous.

3. The Nets look like losers. And a swing and a miss! Consolation prize is…sharing all that money reserved for LeBron with the fans! So they have a ton of money and no one worthy of it. Great.

4. Miami better appreciate what they just got. They just won a championship. LeBron should’ve gone to a starved team.

But the best news of this all?? We don’t have to hear about it anymore!! Or about his choices, at least. Now we get to hear “Miami Heat” 50 times a minute!

Ahh, for the love of LeBron. Too, too much. I still respect you, but  don’t ever refer to yourself in the third person again. Thanks, from Rachel M.

No day but today

Despite my title, LeBron James actually makes his decision tomorrow. If you’re asking, “what decision,” then you must be hiding under a rock where sports don’t exist. Tomorrow LeBron James will make his decision on the team he plans to sign with. I’m assuming the worst for the Nets. I think they have a five percent chance, so I’m pretty sure the Nets’ offseason will go down as a bigger bust than their actual season. But we’ll see. Today, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh announced their decision to team up in Miami. That is horrible for all Eastern Conference teams. But still, you need more than two stars to win a championship. But it is nice having two stars in their prime on your team. We’ll see if they get three…tomorrow.

Oh, and now apparently LeBron is going to the Knicks? Well I’m going crazy. The Knicks were in, then way out, and now back in? Oh boy. This is too much haha. Looks like the Nets are gonna have a lot of ‘esplainin to do!

Let’s get our facts straight

Before and especially since the Cavs lost to the Celtics the other night, there has been constant hoopla surrounding LeBron James and free agency. Every news outlet, reputable or not, has given their fair share on LeBron’s situation. And it’s already beginning to get old. But in today’s Washington Post, Michael Wilbon hit the nail on the head. What he wrote about the whole situation was a unique perspective and one that actually made sense. Let’s stop reading articles from people who think they know everything and start reading some quality journalism from people who actually have inside sources. Of course, I also liked the fact that Wilbon said he thought LeBron would go to the Nets. That was until he said LeBron was in no urgent mood to win a championship. I always thought that winning was the ultimate goal in professional sports. Having LeBron James is a close second to winning. But I think he’ll come around. My message to Jay-Z: you better get working to LeBron! Newark never seemed so appealing.

We are all witnesses…for the next two months

Someone has everybody in the palms of his hands.

Poor LeBron. All eyes are on him now. Not the Celtics, the team his Cavs’ just lost to. Not Kobe and the Lakers. Not the Magic. Not  the other A-list superstars that will be free agents come July. Right now, LeBron’s got a hell of a lot of attention on him. Not that we should feel all that bad for LeBron. He only has to pick a team where he will make millions of dollars, probably enough to feed Africa. But in all reality, LeBron mania is somewhat of a big deal. This is LeBron. So well-known that I haven’t even mentioned his last name this whole post. Wherever he lands, all hell will break loose. Wherever he doesn’t land, all hell will break loose. Such a win-win situation. Do I know where he will land? Of course not. Do I hope he goes to the Nets? I guess. If I’m him, I have a lot of options to weigh. He could stay in Cleveland with the hope of winning one for those fans that love him. He could bring a title home. Or he could bolt for the bright lights and attention of New York in hopes of winning a title there. Yes, money is important, but I doubt it will be a deciding factor in where LeBron chooses to go. I do know one thing, however. Mr. James is currently a mythical-like creature in which we all gather around him and analyze his every move. And it won’t stop until he stops. In Cleveland, New York, or wherever he lands. This could take a while.