Where In the World is ... Lebron James?

GOOD MORNING GOOD MORNING. Today is the day that people have been talking about for 2 years. It is July 1st 2010. The date hardly matters, but what can occur starting today does. Today is the first day of free agency or as it is called this year the first day of the Lebron sweepstakes. Over the next few weeks he will most likely be wined and dined by every NBA team that has any prayer of signing him. Not since MJ made his move to Washington have I heard such buzz about what one person can do for a city.

But where will Lebron end up? As I am moving to Chicago you can imagine my excitement when I found out that the Bulls were a front runner only to find out the next day that according to another source that Miami Heat were the new number 1. Then I wake up this morning and New York is leading the race because Lebron was seen checking out Bill Joel's old apartment. Who knows what tomorrow will show, possibly the New Jersey and Dallas billionaires will be battling it out to see who can spend the most money on impressing King James. And what if, I know it sounds crazy Lebron decides to stay in Cleveland, talk about the most anticlimactic ending ever.

Now I will throw in my 2 cents projection about where I believe Lebron will end up, but even as a betting man I wouldn't put any money on this. And if you were wondering how one could put money on this sweepstakes, the answer my friends, season tickets! Right now season tickets for all teams bidding for Lebron are at a reasonable price, BUT on the day of the signing or just before the signing the ticket prices will go through the roof and your resale of the tickets would provide a nice kickback.

Projection Percentages:

Chicago 35% New York 25% New Jersey 25% Cleveland 10% Miami 5%.

Good Ol' Michael Jordan Called LeBron's Fate

Warning, the following is a rant about tonight's game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics:

WHAT KIND OF GAME WAS THIS? The fact that the Cavs are the number one team in the league, with the 2x reigning MVP, playing like this wasn't a conference semi-finals game (let alone the most important game in their franchise's history) makes. me. sick.

The issue here isn't LeBron James- the issue is the NBA and the poisonous notion that champions don't have to win championships. When we watch NCAA games, those cats play like their lives are on the line. If they're missing shots, at least you know they were killing themselves trying. Blood. Sweat. And (if you were watching this year's March Madness) a whole lot of tears. In the NBA, how big is the incentive to win? When he loses, LeBron still earns 16 million + millions more in endorsements. He, and all of us, already call him "the Chosen One", the "King", and Nike says we are his "witnesses". Michael Jordan in a 2006 interview with 60 Minutes said,

"The kids today, they're being given things that they haven't earned. I think the game is being cheated because of the success that's being given prior to them earning it."

I'm sorry- I'm not hating but the fact that LeBron sits in interviews after losing some of the most important games of his life (barely trying) with diamond studded watches and bracelets adorning his wrists, and tattoos like "The Chosen One" on his body, takes away from the incentive, determination and drive to win a title and leaves HUGE fans of his (like me) utterly disappointed.

So to the NBA, Nike, and the rest of the world: PLEASE stop treating players (not just LeBron) like they're God until they reach a status that is deserving of it. Otherwise, we drastically, drastically take away from the fiery, competitive spirit of the sport that we love and instead are left with watered-down games riddled with turn-overs, lackadaisical athleticism, and players who are not willing to die for the trophy's everlasting glory.

Michael Jordan was willing to die for the trophy as evidenced by his legendary flu game, the "love for the game" clause in his basketball contract, and his returning to the game twice after retirement. Kobe Bryant has that drive too- you see it in those bone-chilling stares he gives his opponents. It's different watching guys like them. LeBron may have them beat on natural talent, but he needs to do something about his drive. The heart of a champion isn't created through premature praise and sickeningly huge endorsements. The heart of a champion is earned despite of all these things because one knows deep in his soul that he will be nothing more than a whisper in the ears of history unless the chimes of his championships reverberate throughout time.

It is our job as fans to remind them of this. I don't blame LeBron. I blame us.

-The Supersonic Zombie, Girmay

Possible Instant Classic: Game 6 in Boston

Tonight we shall embark on what may be a fork in the road moment not only for the 2010 NBA playoffs but possibly also for the next decade in the NBA. When the Boston Celtics take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in Beantown there may be more on the line than just a Conference Finals berth. There is the possibility that we could be facing the rebirth of a Boston team that many (including myself) declared as dead as recently as a few weeks ago. There is also the possibility (and in my opinion a good one) that we may be seeing Lebron's last game in a Cleveland uniform if he does well and his teammates let him down. I know it's a little ridiculous to take so much from one game but after the near calamity that occurred after game 5 I believe anything is possible.


So far I've heard at least a million theories regarding why Lebron did so badly last game. Here are my favorites:

• Lebron was suffering from depression as a result of the pain medication for his elbow injury or even he accidentally took too much and was just too drugged up to play.
• Lebron was mad at Mike Brown for not efficiently doling out playing time to the necessary people in their game 4 loss and has lost confidence in him. 
• Since he's going to be a free agent and leave, he's tanking to make it easier on the Cleveland fans.

Mostly ridiculous stuff as you can see and I doubt we will find out if any of them are true but still funny all the same. People are ready to crucify James for his performance, even though he is only one member of that team. One thing that did concern me about Lebron in that game is that he seemed not as into the game as usual. Some have mentioned his lack of involvement in two skirmish that occurred with him in the game (Shaq-Perkins)(Williams-Rondo). Some spoke about his continuous long looks at the ceiling of the Quicken Loans Arena. And these things aren't typical of Lebron especially in the playoffs. Everyone is ready to label him the new Karl Malone instead of the new Jordan or Magic or Bird. The problem with that is that, in the case of Magic, Bird and Jordan, they all had Robins to pick up in games that they were doing bad in. Lebron has over-the-hill Shaq, Mo Williams (the world's worst All Star selection), or Antawn "I have never been good in big moments, ask Wizards fans" Jamison.

So what happens if the Cavs lose? Who knows but the most likely locations I could see Lebron in are

• Chicago which is unfortunate because I just feel like the Jordan shadow would always be there
• Cleveland as he could make the most money there and maybe he just doesn't want to go out this way. He would become a pariah in Cleveland if he leaves...on par with Art Modell
• The Knicks, which is ridiculous if he wants to win now because they literally have no one else.. or 
• the future Brooklyn Nets (who I actually wouldn't mind especially after they win the draft lottery and draft John Wall *wink*) Could you imagine a Wall-James-BrookLopez combo plus throw in some 2nd tier free agent as well?????????? sorry my heart just stopped.

My thought: Lebron should come out firing as he usually shows up in elimination games but we must remember this is a team sport. It just feels like Boston understands that they must win this game tonight and cannot let it go back to Cleveland. But it's really up in the air.  Would anyone watching the NBA at the All Star break believe we could possibly hear these words uttered : It's the Celtics, It's the Suns, It's the NBA Finals!!! Just saying it could happen. One thing for sure though, David Stern must be peeing in his pants right now.

Check me out on twitter tonight (EDIASDblog) as I'll be tweeting about the game throughout the evening. Hopefully its a good one.

Poll Question: Is LeBron LeBroken?

At the beginning of the year Bill Simmons wrote a piece spotlighting LeBron that not only captured what set the reigning MVP apart from current legend in the making, Kobe Bryant, but also what makes LeBron King- his command over a room. And more importantly, his command over the court.

But last night we saw something very different from King James. It wasn't even as though he was having a bad day on the court and just didn't get a chance to find his groove. He has had bad games before, all the great ones do, but last night LeBron seemed like just another guy in a jersey on the court. There was no passion, no aggression, no fight.

In the post season, James, as an individual, has an impeccable record. In 2007 in the Eastern conference finals against the Celtics he scored an awe-inspiring 45 points (the Celtics went on to win). And in last years conference finals he averaged 38.5 points. Regardless of whether his team got the W, James was/is winning and fighting.

But last night he scored a mere 15 points, his passes were all over the place, he appeared to be mentally checked out in the huddle, and he was the first guy off the court. And today, everyone is wondering if the king is putting away his crown for the season.

Maybe the Celtics just found a way to stop LeBron. Maybe there is actually some merit to "elbow gate." Maybe he just can't carry the weight of the Cavs on his back any longer and is ready for his first class ticket to free-agency. Or maybe, and in my opinion less likely, there is something more to this new blemish on LeBron's nearly flawless record.

So is everyone just over reacting? Is there any merit to all the concern and raised eyebrows? Should we give the guy a break, and chalk this up to being just another bad game, nothing more nothing less?