MattZ

Had Sportscenter on this morning for a couple of minutes before heading out to work. The big 3 were in a studio being interviewed by someone from espn (I dont remember who). The interviewer directed the first question, "what will it be like for the 3 of you to play together??", to Wade. Lebron sat there listening as Wade got first crack at the question.

SexNap, I disagree. The larger point isn't the histrionics. The larger point is that MJ, Magic, Bird, Kobe, etc., would have had no part of sitting there silent while someone else answered a question like that. No way.

Anyway, good for Lebron. I am not suggesting he has to be an ego-driven madman hellbent on demonstrating his superiority over every other ballplayer who ever lived. Let him enjoy South Beach and win a few rings. I am not being judgmental. Just observing the reality. He is cut from a different cloth than the best players in NBA history. Winning rings wasn't enough for them. They were the alpha dogs.

I like that everyone conveniently forgets that when Kobe was "The man" on his team, they stunk and he demanded a trade on like three different occasions. After forcing Shaq out of town so he could be the man.

Apples and oranges. Yes, they stunk. But one player never makes a team. He insisted that they build a team around him that could compete for titles with him as the centerpiece. And they did. And he stuck around as a result. And fwiw, he still is "The man" on this Lakers team (like he was after Shaq was forced out).

I am no Kobe lover, but that's a guy who burned to win a title with himself as the centerpiece. He is selfish and hungry and concerned with only one thing -- his own legacy and being the best ever.

Not passing judgment on him as a person (or even him as a player). But no one is conveniently forgetting anything about Kobe.

ETA: Coolest comment on this whole Lebron fiasco that I saw (maybe from Simmons' mailbag?) was someone suggesting that while all this ESPN nonsense was going on, and Lebron was building his brand, Kobe was probably at the gym. Getting stronger. Getting better. Probably a bit histrionic, but the larger point remains.

Dick Enberg's doing play-by-play at Crowjack's house!

Yeah, I wouldn't say it's mindblowing. Just a sort of laid back, fun, listen. I dig it. I haven't listened to Army, but will.

Maybe others know/knew about this, but I didn't. She's Your Lover Now, solo piano. The Master.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMd_bgyilV0

"He quit," Gilbert said. "Not just in Game 5, but in Games 2, 4 and 6. Watch the tape. The Boston series was unlike anything in the history of sports for a superstar."

From the ages of 8-12, I was probably a bigger NBA fan than MLB fan, to be honest, and during that time, the Knicks (from my point of view) were just so fucking evil. You have to understand, my formative years were spent watching Charles Oakley and PJ Brown fighting on the court, with Jeff Van Gundy attached to Alonzo Mourning's leg like an angry poodle. The first NBA game I ever went to was a Knicks-Heat first round game in the last year of the Miami Arena, and the Knicks won by twenty.

 

Nobody made 10 year old Bobbob more angry than Larry Johnson. I've never (and likely will never, since I'm much more rational about sports now) hated any athlete like I hated Larry Johnson.

 

It's a shock I'm still a fan of basketball after being raised on those brutally ugly Knick-Heat series.

Well, I am a little bit older than you so I wasnt 10 for that series, but don't forget (not that you did) that Pat Riley faxed his resignation to the Knicks and went to coach the Heat. And I wouldn't call Hardaway/Brown/Mourning any more likeable than Oakley/Mason/LJ. And yes, Van Gundy was a poodle, but he was trying (lamely) to break up a fight that PJ Brown started.

Who uses Comic Sans MS anymore? What is this, an AIM conversation from 2002?

Classic. You're ok with me, Mr NYC Hater.

I am digging Moses on a Snail.

I want LeBron to release a statement on the Heat website that just says "You mad."

He had a contract, he fulfilled all his obligations, and then went to another team. Where's the bad example for the kids? Seems like this letter is the bad example for the kids.

I thought that this was a joke, but the link is to the Cavs official site. An open letter to Cavs fans from their owner.

http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/gilbert_letter_100708.html

Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;

As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.

This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.

The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.

There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.

You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.

You have given so much and deserve so much more.

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:

"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE"

You can take it to the bank.

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.

Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.

This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow-up to become.

But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called "curse" on Cleveland, Ohio.

The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does "right" by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.

Just watch.

Sleep well, Cleveland.

Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day....

I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:

DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue....

Dan Gilbert

Majority Owner

Cleveland Cavaliers

I don't know. I don't buy that the Heat are championship caliber if he joins. I'm not smoking the Bosh hype. I'm glad the Bulls got Boozer instead.

It's not clear to me that they win one either, but it's hard to argue that the Heat aren't at least favorites to win the East with those three. Like I said to bobbob, the Cavs won 66 games last year with just one of those three.

Also, winning is fun, and the New York Knicks do not win, and probably wouldn't win even if they got him because A'mare is massively overrated as a big man and they don't have a ton around him.

I'll bite. He automatically makes any team he joins a winner and you know it. He was surrounded by shit in Cleveland and they made it to the finals and won 66 and 61 games the last two years.

The question is not whether the team he joins will win, the question is whether the team he joins will be a champion. Bulls/Heat become championship caliber teams if he joins them. Not the Knicks without some more pieces, of course.

I realize you hate everything that is NY, but to say the Knicks "do not win" is one of your more off the wall statements around here. Teams win when they add players which is exactly what they'd be doing if he was competitive enough to want the ultimate prize -- a title in NY.

I don't see why he would go to Miami. Just don't get it.

because he's afraid of failing under the big, bright lights of NYC and DWade is his security blanket in sunny Miami.

And how!

If he goes to Chicago, it will be worse. For everyone (but Chicago).

Let's get Melo to NYC. I've had just about enough of this. I can sort of understand why GMs would beg and grovel. I dont understand why fans would. This fan certainly won't.

The greatest feat in all of baseball was accomplished last night. Better than a perfect game, IMO.

Johan Santana pitches a complete game shutout and hits a home run.

The closest thing possible in team sports to single-handedly winning a game.

So, if a cyclist dopes his blood for the Tour de France, it isn't cheating because the rules contemplate such a situation?

 

Conversely, how could anything not contemplated by the rules be considered cheating? A player has to know what the rules are in order to devise a plan to break them.

Maybe I wasn't clear -- I mean within the context of the game itself. It seems to me that to "cheat" you need to be bringing externalities into the game. Either doping in cycling, or nail files in baseball, or paying off refs in basketball.

I am open to being convinced otherwise. What about my analogies to basketball and football -- both examples of defenders "breaking the rules" to prevent a score.

awesome, thanks A-man.

The only word that I can come up with to describe how I feel when I hear about a new Dylan release is "lucky." I dont know how much more stuff is out there, or how much more new stuff he's got in him, but I am just lucky to be along for the ride.

Maybe I am thinking about this too narrowly, but how is it "cheating" if the game contemplates it and has an established penalty for it. Similar to a flagrant foul in basketball, or pass interference in football. Seems these sports recognize that these things happen, and as such, have dictated strict penalties in each instance. To tackle a player on a breakaway to the hoop or a wide receiver who beats you down the sideline isn't cheating, is it?

Thanks for posting. Very cool.

I agree that the interviewer was pretty good all things considered. Would it have been better with me interviewing? Of course. Have I seen worse? Much worse.

hardwood floor's post is complicating things.

If there's going to be a full (or even partial) tour, then I'd much prefer that to Vegas. As great as Vegas would be, it's going to be expensive. Pavement would have been another reason to head out there, but I am seeing them in September in NYC.

Ugh.

Music from Big Pink. All of it.

we carried you in our arms

on Independence Day

What a moronic response.

 

FED GAVE Banks Access to 23.7 TRILLION DOLLARS NOT $700 Billion!

Jeez, man. Talk about moronic responses. I never suggested that this country hasn't given access to much more money than 700 billion. If you look at my prior post, this is exactly what I said. We continue to give banks free money by keeping interest rates artificially low, keeping the fed window open, and allowing investment banks to become bank holding companies. The reason my savings account earns no interest is so that banks can lend out my money at higher rates and keep the spread. Banks are restoring their balance sheets on the backs of the taxpayer. It's that simple.

But, and here's the point, that's not what we were arguing about or what you were saying. We were talking about whether the banks would pay back the $700 Billion or not. You said no. They did. You are inventing your own strawmen to argue with.

Other than berating people around here for opinions they either do or don't have, I dont get what you are doing about these issues you feel so strongly about.

From a guy that has been wrong about every issue since Obama was elected. I thought the bailouts were good and necessary and would save homeowners. I already know you're plan: sit back and do nothing and not talk about anything about what caused it. Funny I haven't been to this board for months and the same threads are still going. Given the mostly inane posts contained in these threads, I am well within my right to state my opinion, which I back up with facts, not denial, the angle you are coming from. Anytime you want to post counterpoints to show how am wrong I'll be sure to read them.

Wait, what? What issues was I wrong about? I honestly have no idea what you are talking about. The only specific issue I remember engaging you on was your preposterous prediction that Goldman and the other banks would never pay back their bailout loans. Which they did. Which means I was right, and you were wrong. Are you projecting?

If you want to argue about how ridiculous this country's policy is, of keeping interest rates artificially low, so that banks could make enough money off our backs to pay back these loans, that's fine. I'd actually agree with you. But that's not what we were arguing about back then.

ETA: also, weren't you the one suggesting we could get swine flu via ham and cheese sandwiches? This must be a bit. It's a bit, right? Oh, and the Amero? Really? Who's been wrong about everything?