Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
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LeBron James to Miami Heat – July 9
SF LeBron James agrees to play for the Miami Heat
By now you have been inundated with non-stop opinions and analysis on LeBron James’ decision to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, so I will spare you from the same babble questioning how these guys can co-exist on the court and who will suit up alongside them. Instead, here are a few random thoughts.
I am still torn with a love/hate feeling about the Big 3 teaming up in South Beach. As a Chicago native and Marquette graduate, I have followed Wade since his senior year of high school and experienced one of the greatest stretches of my life when Wade helped lead my alma mater to an insane run to the Final Four that involved me ending up broke, almost getting fired from my job, and intoxicated more often than sober. In other words, Wade is “my boy.”
With LeBron, Wade and Bosh, Miami instantly becomes the Yankees of the NBA. (Somewhere, Kobe is smiling.) I have heard the word “dirty” tossed around numerous times in the past few hours and I can understand why. In the past, when people asked me who my favorite team was, I always responded, “Dwyane Wade.” Now, I just cannot do that. I am one of the bad guys. I am OK with that but it won’t be near as fun to be a Wade fan… Wait, who am I kidding? Wade, playing alongside LeBron and Bosh for 82 games? I will be glued to the boob tube every time they are on so yup, he’s still “my boy.”
If you have yet to read Cavs’ owner Dan Gilbert’s response to LeBron fleeing Cleveland, treat yourself. It is amazingly awesome. Way to take the high road Mr. Gilbert. You stay classy.
I was on the field covering the Packers-Vikings game at Lambeau Field this past season when Brett Favre made his not-so-triumphant return to Green Bay. I thought that was a sticky situation. Just wait until LeBron shows up for the first time in Cleveland rocking a Heat jersey. It could be the reverse of the Malice at the Palace where the fans run onto the court to beat up a player. Thankfully, Ron Artest will not be involved.
Is LeBron from Canada and nobody told me? Why did he keep saying organ-I-zation?
My new favorite ESPN Trade Machine game is “Blow up the Cavs roster.” Right now, I have a four-way trade involving Detroit, New Orleans and New York that sends Antwan Jamison to the Pistons; Tayshaun Prince, Anderson Varejeo and Delonte West to the Hornets; Mo Williams to the Big Apple; Peja Stojakovic and Darius Songaila’s expiring contracts, Nick Collison, Tyson Chandler, Austin Daye and draft picks to Cleveland. It replaces my favorite trade machine game from last summer, “How can I make the Pacers an all-white team?”
I’m glad this is over and yet excited for it all to begin. You may say you won’t watch the Big 3 in Miami, but like a car crash on the side of the road, you know you will slow down to watch.
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