"Championship first, then I'll talk about next year"
Marc Berman of the New York Post wrote an article recently about the odds of LeBron leaving Cleveland. He writes about an encounter with a Cavs fan who thinks that a Cleveland championship in 2010 means LeBron is more likely to leave. This is an interesting issue that I think we should expand on…
There seems to be two distinct camps on this one. Either you think a championship seals the deal and keeps LeBron in Cleveland, or you think it means mission accomplished and freedom to skip town. I can see the logic in both viewpoints.
On one hand, if this Cavs team wins a championship LeBron knows they are capable of being a contender for years to come. On the other hand if he brings Cleveland the trophy that has eluded them for so long, he may feel like he’s done enough for his hometown and he’s free to pursue greener pastures.
I think a championship is very significant, but LeBron will be looking further into the future than June. His decision will depend on the development of JJ Hickson, the durability of Shaq and Z, and the cap situation for the Cavs. If these issues are in place, LeBron will stay in Cleveland win or lose come playoff time…at least I think he’ll stay, don’t you?
We’ll be selling NoYork T’s tonight outside the Q. We’ll be selling from 6pm to tipoff (7:30). Location is TBD but you can check our Twitter link to the right for exact updates.
Props to these people for rocking the NoYork tees to the Heat game tonight. I’ve never seen this many NoYork shirts together on actual humans (there are tons at my house waiting to be shipped). Thanks to everyone for supporting the NoYork movement.
Thanks to Rob Matheson and Ben Suitt for supporting NoYork at the Heat game. Both of these guys with terrific taste in tees are from Columbus and both are lifetime Cavs fans. We appreciate all your support!
"Cut Andy, c'mon I'm about to travel here, ANDY CUT!!!!"
So the Cavs are down a couple guards and they’re depending on Boobie Gibson, who is arguably not one of the top five ball handlers on this own team, to bring the ball down the court. You’re a bit worried, but you have faith in the Cavs as a team. Then you start to be honest with yourself, you have LeBron James on your team so you have no worries.
In my mind LeBron has always been more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan. Tonight against the Grizzlies some Magic showed through as LeBron had 15 assists. No the Cavs aren’t the Showtime Lakers, but they are a team with plenty of talented players supporting LeBron.
The King has a knack for finding open teammates and adjusting his own game to make them more successful. Soon we’ll have Delonte back and then Mo will return, enabling LeBron to move back into his usual role on the team. For now, he’ll play point forward and dish out dimes to open teammates. If you’re a Cavs fan you have to love the versatility and willingness of our superstar. The only question is, God forbid Shaq goes down, will LeBron play the 5 for us?
Something you don't see everyday, Coby with the ball in his hands IN THE GAME!
I know many of you were bummed when Coby Karl was released by the Cavs. You were thinking something like, “Could we have somehow kept this guy and just let him fly under the radar? Would the NBA really notice if we just kept an extra guy and paid him under the table?” Unfortunately we didn’t want to jeopardize the season for Coby Karl, I just don’t get it.
But don’t worry Coby has landed on his feet in Golden State. He signed a ten day contract with the Warriors after balling out in the D League. After leaving Cleveland, The White Mamba averaged 27.2 points, 7.8 boards, and 4.2 dimes for the Idaho Stampede. Anyone who thought Coby was only good for exchanging awkward high fives with fellow Cavs was wrong indeed!
Coby had six points and six assists in his first game with the Warriors. He clocked 24 minutes in the game, which is great considering he was getting 1.7 minutes a game as a Cavalier. Although it hurts to say goodbye, I’m happy to see Coby getting it done on the court.
You know what’s coming tomorrow right? Yep, Coby Karl awkward high five and general I look out of place reel!
I hit her, I actually hit that lady with the water, Sasha did you see that?
Winning Without Mo - It’s been nice to see the Cavs winning games despite losing Mo Williams to injury. LeBron has had to put the team on his back at times, but that’s what superstars do right? February is going to be a real test for the Cavs, but here’s hoping their luck with Mo on the bench continues!
LeBron’s water bottle kick - LeBron was fined $25,000 for kicking a water bottle after receiving a technical on Wednesday night. There hasn’t been much talk about this, and if the water hadn’t sprayed into the stands and hit some fans there wouldn’t be any talk at all. LeBron was upset and that’s fine by me. I like athletes to show emotion and LeBron can kick a water bottle now and then. If he would have just finished the play with a monstrous dunk on Sasha none of this would have had to happen.
LeBron and McDonalds - LeBron signed a multi-year deal with McDonalds, adding them to his impressive catalogue of Nike, Coca-Cola, and State Farm. LeBron’s first commercial is slated for Super Bowl Sunday where he and Dwight Howard will play a game of HORSE a la Michael Jordan and Larry Bird back in the day. Off the building, off the scoreboard, off the backboard, nothing but net….
I’ve heard rumors that LeBron would resign with the Cavs if they were able to trade for a superstar power forward. That’s right, if the Cavs can land a game changing power forward LeBron would resign, and his signature would be inked before the end of the season! Let me be the first to say this will not happen!
Unless the Cavs can find a way to land Chris Bosh, LeBron won’t be signing a contract with the Cavs before the season ends. It doesn’t make sense that LeBron would wait this long to sign, then decide half way through the season that now was the time. There would have to be a blockbuster trade that improved the Cavs dramatically for LeBron to resign early.
The rumors claim that LeBron told Cavs management that if they could sign a top tier free agent he would sign a new contract before the Cavaliers season ended. There is no credible source and there is no evidence that this conversation ever happened. LeBron wouldn’t even have to make this statement for the Cavs brass to feel pressure to improve.
The Cavaliers organization, and many Cavs fans, are already feeling the heat from LeBron’s upcoming free agency. If LeBron said this to management it wouldn’t get more done than what the Cavs are already attempting. They’re talking to anyone willing to listen and trying to get everyone from Antawn Jamison to Amare Stoudemire in Cleveland. Unfortunately for all of us LeBron fans, these reported whispers of an early resigning are nothing more than words in the wind.
As LeBron gets closer and closer to his second MVP trophy and everyone continues to watch his growth in awe, it seems fitting to look back. LeBron mania was just starting to hit when I filmed this video. It was LeBron’s junior season, but he was already a special player and he knew it.
Notice how he was already signing autographs surrounded by hot chicks. Notice how he spent time on the court during JV warm ups shooting hook shots and dunking the ball. Notice how he knew all eyes were on him as he sat on the bench and cheered his JV team to victory. Notice how he attempted dunk contest worthy slams before the game started. Notice the swagger during his introduction.
This game was against an under matched East Liverpool team, but LeBron made it interesting. It wasn’t his best performance, but he still had some great plays and kept the crowd on the edge of their seats. I would be lying if I told you that I knew this LeBron would be as good as the current NBA MVP, but it was apparent that he was a special player. Akron knew it, I knew it, the people in front of me knew it, and LeBron definitely knew it.
I liked New York more when my hair was this length, baby fros are made for Cleveland. Next question...
Slam recently posted a great article about why LeBron probably won’t be going to New York. After reading it, I can’t agree more with what is being said. Needless to say we thought it was right up our alley!
Although I wish the article said LeBron is going to stay in Cleveland, it actually points out the reasons that The King could easily end up in Miami or New Jersey/Brooklyn. They even discuss the idea of a possible sign and trade with Portland or Houston, which I don’t believe would ever happen, but who knows?
There are two lines in this article that I love. First, “People make imperfect career choices all the time, just because they want to be somewhere. Manhattan has been that somewhere for a lot of people.” Yes, exactly, and LeBron can’t be one of those people! The second quote I loved was this one, “Don’t feel too sorry for Knicks fans if their summer is a let down. They’re used to it.”
