Dallas beats the Heat and wins title: Most of world rejoices

The only question ended up being: Are there that many Dallas fans or did everyone just want the Heat to lose after they anointed themselves the greatest team in history last summer?

Answer: It was probably a little of both.

The Dallas Mavericks used balance and team basketball to pull away and beat the Miami Heat Sunday night 105-95 on the Heat's home court in Miami.

The series had mostly been about Dirk Nowitzki vs. Dwayne Wade and LeBron James. The last game ended up being Jason Terry, Dirk and the Dallas team versus a bunch of guys who kind of looked like they gave up.

LeBron had 21, Wade 17 and their under heralded teammates like Mario Chalmers made themselves a factor in the game for Miami, but in the 4th quarter it was all-Dallas. Terry put up a 27 point effort and Dirk finished with 21, despite shooting 9-27 in the game.

Unfortunately, this doesn't make Dallas a juggernaut-multiple title winning team. Quite honestly, winning the title this season was a surprise, even to them. Sadly, this is somewhat of an indictment of the Heat more than a crowning of the Mavericks dynasty.

LeBron James continues to be the greatest NBA player with no title. And there were a lot of people rooting against the Heat because of him. Clearly he and to a lesser extent the other members of the Heat franchise should have kept their mouths shut last summer a decision we hope they all regret now. Yeah, signing James was a coup for the Heat, but we say now what we said last summer. Hold a presser, announce the signing and then shut-up and play basketball.

While having three alleged all-stars on your team is great for box office and having ESPN follow you all season, telling you that you should win the title, you still have to win it on the court and clearly, the Heat as constituted, wasn't ready for that.

Your highlights from SI.com/NBA.com



Your post from ESPNEWS and NBA Entertainment just goes even further to show just how much LeBron has gone completely out-of-touch with the rest of us...
Specifically, at the 2:53 mark...
((HT: ebonygentleman79))


Someone, and the HQ means quickly, needs to get in front of The Bron and make sure he knows the proper responses in a situation like that...

We're just going to go back to our lives, now...

And while the HQ thinks he was trying to embrace his inner heel, he needs to go about it this way if he's going to try and go all out...
((HT: NWA/WWE/youtube))

Mavs make merely mortal Heat melt

The writers have all but made this the series about LeBron James. It isn't. Is the underachievement of a so-called superstar and his superstar teammates a story? Yes.

But the better story is Dirk Nowitzki and his teammates.

The Dallas Mavericks have continued their playoff roll, beating James and the Miami Heat last night 112-103 to take a 3-2 lead in their best of 7 NBA Finals series.

It really bothers us that the story of the Mavericks is being almost ignored in the face of James and his cohorts. Nowitzki, in our minds has proven how elite and how good a player he is and then some in this series. Last night he again led his team with 29 points, including going 10-10 from the free throw line.

Dwayne Wade again led the Heat with 23 and James did chip in with a "Triple-double" and all of the copy space in almost every story.

We just want to know why? Why, national writers, do you ignore the team winning to talk about the failures of the team losing...over and over and over again? We know "Names" sell, but quite honestly, they aren't the story. The story is the better prepared and better playing team and that team is in Dallas.

Please stop selling the opponents of the Heat short. It isn't always about the Heat's "Superstars" falling short. Basketball, like most sports is a team game and many times the better "Team" will beat the "team" loaded with big stars and big egos.

Just my 2-cents.

Game 6 is Sunday night in Miami.

Here's your highlights. Thanks NBAHighlights/YouTube:



OSG fav Dale Hanson of WFAA-TV in Dallas and Bob Ortegel analyze game 5. (Thanks WFAA-TV)



Post game sound with Dirk Nowitzki, Tyson Chandler and Jason Terry on one win away from the title. (Thanks NBC Dallas.com)

View more videos at: http://www.nbcdfw.com.

Dirk sick, Mavs still beat the Heat

Maybe the one is better than the three. Dirk Nowitzki fought off a 101 degree fever and coughing fits to score 21 points and lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 86-83 win against the Miami Heat.

The win evened their best of 7 series at 2 games each.

Dirk wasn't great, but because of his sinus infection, he didn't have to be. His teammates picked him up. Jason Terry had 17 and Shawn Marion went all Matrix for 16 points. All told, 5 Mavs here in double figures.

Meanwhile the mystery that is LeBron James continues. For someone who calls himself "King", he was noticeably absent from this game with 8 points in 46 minutes. Again Dwayne Wade did his best to win the game for Miami, dropping 32 points, but made a couple of late mistakes due in part because Dallas smothered him knowing it would be up to Wade to win the game.

James, is being questioned by more than 1 writer/fan for what is going on with him. After calling himself the "Defensive Stopper", he was barely effective in this game and has taken on a smaller role each game. Granted NBA Basketball these days doesn't have enough room for more than 1 star at a time to take over, James has taken a decided back seat to Wade in this series. The question and possible concern is that he's going to respond to the criticism and try taking back the spotlight, if the Heat want to win, that would be a bad idea.

Game 5 is Thursday night in Dallas.

Your highlights from NBA.com/NBAHighlights:

Mavs can't take the Heat in Game 1

Having a couple of days off wasn't necessarily a good thing for the Dallas Mavericks. But it sure didn't slow down the Miami Heat.

The Heat slugged out a somewhat ugly 92-84 victory in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Lebron James had 24 points, Dwayne Wade 22 and Chris Bosh 19 to lead the Heat, who seem like a different team since the return of utility man Udonis Haslem.

It was a tough night for Dallas as star Dirk Nowitzki, despite scoring 27 points going only 7 for 18 from the field. He didn't get much help. Nowitzki also apparently tore a tendon in his left middle finger during the game going for a steal. The injury while annoying, is not expected to keep Dirk from paying in the rest of the series.

Game 2 is Thursday night in Miami.

Your highlights from SI.com:



Dewayne Wade and Lebron James speak. (Thanks CBS Sports.com)

Heat handle Bulls head to Finals

It was over in a "Flash". Okay, not really, but the Miami Heat used a furious late 4th quarter rally to come back and beat the Chicago Bulls 83-80 last night and win their best of 7, Eastern Conference finals series 4 games to 1.

It was LeBron James closing the deal, with help from the other two Beatles, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. James nailed three long jump shots in the last 2 minutes, Wade had 10 4th quarter points and Bosh blocked 4 shots along with scoring 20 points to lead the Heat to the win.

The win sets up a repeat of sorts of the 2006 NBA Finals when the Heat beat the Dallas Mavericks. The same two teams square off again, with the only holdovers being Dirk Nowitzki for Dallas and Wade for Miami.

Game 1 kicks off Tuesday night in Miami.

Here's last nights highlights, courtesy: NBAHiilights:

The Heat is on: LeBron dispatches Bulls

And while he hasn't vanquished them from the Eastern Conference finals yet, he's now only one game away from doing it.

LeBron James scored 35 points, Chris Bosh chipped in 22 and the Heat took care of the young Chicago Bulls in game 4 of their series Tuesday night, winning 101-93 in OT.

The Heat did what was necessary to win. The hit each of their final 24 free throws in the game. They played defense too, limiting league MVP Derrick Rose to 23 points, and it took Rose 27 shots to get those points.

Game 5 in the series comes Thursday night, as the Bulls try to stave off elimination in Chicago.

Your highlights from SI.com/NBA.com:

Cavs Win Against Heat In Cleveland

((HT: youtube/nba.com))

Hey, this was the Cavs bowl game... this was their moment in the sun since they got absolutely Horizon-jobbed the last time the Threetles were at Quicken Arena...

It wasn't the way it happened the last time...
Nowhere close...

Here's the highlights...


That's what happens when you don't show for starting line-ups...
You think the HQ is kidding...???
Observe...
((HT: NBA TV/youtube))


He was taking his talents somewhere else apparently...

LeBron James sued by Atlanta nightclub....No, really, it's true...

LeBron James/Courtesy: sports.gather.com

((ht: ajc.com))

This whole premise is just wrong. But, boy, it must be nice to be a professional athlete and get paid like the aforementioned Mr. James does, just for showing up at a club.

Here's the deal: Apparently, an Atlanta nightclub, Opera, thought they had negotiated a deal with "An agent" representing LeBron James to do an appearance at their club on March 17th, the night before James and his Miami Heat teammates play the Atlanta Hawks.

It appears, as the story goes, Mr. James and/or his agent got greedy and agreed to make an appearance at a Rival club, the "Gold Room" for more money that night. Yes, this is me sounding stunned.

The agent, one Mr. Chubbie Baby (wow!), with James's company called "Awesomelife". Apparently offered to return Opera's money (that he took in advance), but the bar said no.

Read the entire, bizarre story from AJC.com RIGHT HERE

If this isn't one of the more absurd or stupidest stories we've heard lately, it's certainly in the top 10. We aren't naive enough to think pro athletes don't go out and party on off nights between games. They do. But to take that kind of appearance money...and use it to get a better deal from another club...to do the same thing. C'mon man!

We've not hidden our disdain for Mr.James and his representatives who seem to epitomize everything wrong with professional sports and its various hanger-ons these days. We can only hope that Opera wins this lawsuit and gets some money from the "Alleged King". Not that he'll notice it being gone, but it's just the principal of the whole thing.

Here's our friends at ESPN talking about the "Crying Game" episode from James and the Heat from Sunday night/Monday:

Heat lose again: There's no crying in Basketball!

LeBron James/Courtesy: miamiherald.com

And really, due to circumstances and a few big mouths, there are very few people aside from ESPN producers who are empathizing with the plight of the Miami Heat.

The team proclaimed by alleged experts...and themselves as the greatest after picking up LeBron James and Chris Bosh in the offseason to go along with Dwayne Wade has, well....underachieved a bit.

As for the crying thing. That came on the heels of the Heat losing on Sunday, 87-86 to the Chicago Bulls. It was alluded to in the post game presser by embattled Miami Coach Erik Spoelstra.

Read more from the Chicago Sun-Times (note the headline: Crying game): RIGHT HERE

Here's the Fort Lauderdale (north of Miami) Sun-Sentinel's take on things RIGHT HERE




Really we just can't find room in our collective hearts to be sad for the Heat. This is what they asked for. This is what they wanted. They wanted to be the "Three Amigos" or whatever they are trying to call themselves. They aren't.

While they all may get along just fine off a basketball court, they obviously have some issues on it. Individually they are all very, very talented players. But they are talented players who don't know how to play together within a system. For all the ESPN hype that they may break the record for most wins in a season. That won't happen. They are 43-20 with 19 games left. Heck, they right now are the #3 seed for the playoffs.

It isn't to say they won't be dangerous in the 3 months known as the NBA playoffs, they will. If they get hot, they can still be a problem. But they've been exposed. Teams know what it takes to beat them and they are beating them. It just re-inforces the point that money and superstars may buy happiness, but may not necessarily buy a title.

If you want to know why these guys are mocked almost everywhere outside Miami now, look back and remember this video:

So When Does Riles Take Over...???

The HQ is thinking very, very soon...

Especially after the clunker of intense proportions that El Heat laid in San Antonio against Los Spurs last night...

Is it just us or:
1) Are those Spanish-based conversions of the nicknames seemingly incredibly inaccurate or,
2) Incredibly patronizingly-sounding or,
3) Both...

Just thinking out loud...

At least the Smurfs translated to "Los Smurfos..."

Anyway, here's your anti-El Heat highlights where the Three Kings played more like Slow Poke Rodriguez than Speedy Gonzalez...
((HT: NBA.com/youtube))


The HQ wonders what Eric Spoelstra will put on his resume and if Pat Riley will give him a good reference or not...

This Is What It's Like To Blow A 24-Point Lead

((HT: NBA.com/youtube))

All the HQ can do is laugh at this one...
Orlando comes from behind to beat the Three Kings...
Enjoy...

What should Favre do? This is hi-larious....

((ht: biglead//sports hernia))

Doing the morning search today, we came across this video. This video is absolutely one of the funniest things we've seen in a long time.

To summarize, someone put together a Brett Favre version of the  LeBron James Nike commercial. And it's really good.

The two guys who did it, Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault. Guys, we say "Bravo"!

Cleveland has "The Answer" for LeBron

In the issue of fairness, the city of Cleveland or at least someone there, has decided to put together to LeBron James' NIKE ad.

Without droning on too long....here it is...and yes, it's pretty funny.

LeBron's interesting Nike commercial

LeBron James//Courtesy: jushustle.com

Though we face the risk of drawing the ire of brother Jon for posting this, we found this too interesting to just leave alone.

No, we've been on the record saying how appalled we were by the whole LeBron/ESPN "Decision" infomercial and in fact mock it every chance we get. However, unlike some other critics, we do respect his right to go play for another team.

It's never been about the what...or really the why, but rather the how he did it that infuriated us...along with most of the rest of the sports world, particularly the people of Cleveland whom he humiliated for 60 minutes. We don't know why he couldn't just go to Miami, have his press conference there and say he decided that he needed a change.

To his credit he has admitted he could've handled it better. However...at the same time, rather than just let it go away...he keeps bringing the whole issue up...again and again.

With that in mind, check out this interesting Nike spot. As usual it is a top-flight production and LeBron says some interesting things. But the main reason for posting this.....they found Don Johnson!

Take a look. Thanks Nikebasketball/YouTube:

LeBron doesn't play here any more....

Haha! How long ago was "The Decision" anyway? Surely, there was enough time to change the cover of the team 2011 calendar, wasn't there?

Well, it now has been done, but not before some "Early" editions of the calendar went out...and who was on the cover....none other than now Cleveland arch-enemy LeBron James.

Check out this story from the Cleveland Plain-Dealer RIGHT HERE

Did someone forget about this? Surely by now everyone has heard the famous quote "I'm going to take my talents to South Beach".  Okay, maybe not the folks at the oddly appropriate named company called...get this "Perfect Timing Inc."

Look around, apparently the calendar is for sale in several places, it hasn't been pulled. Well, at least until it makes the rounds of the blogsphere.

Yeah, we find this pretty funny too. And it's a good way to start the day, laughing.

In case the folks at Perfect Timing were wondering, here is some video of Mr. James working out with his current team....The Miami Heat. Thanks NBA.com

Did Maverick Carter Steal A Pendant...? Or Was It Stolen Already...?

((HT: WEWS-TV/Newsnet5))

The Ohio woman who said she paid $5 at a yard sale for a LeBron James pendant that was, subsequently, appraised close to $10,000 says it's been "taken from her."

Vaneisha Robinson had the basketball jersey-shaped white gold pendant appraised by the International Gemological Institute and put it for sale on eBay.

She says she got a phone call Wednesday from the mother of Maverick O. Carter, Katherine Powers. Maverick is the CEO for James' marketing company, LRMR. Robinson went on to say that Powers told her James wanted to buy the pendant and would be there at the house to perform the transaction himself. When she went to the Powers' house, James wasn't there and, according to Robinson, other people threatened her and took it from her.

Wadsworth police Sgt. James Elchlinger says he determined the pendant belongs to Carter. Here's the 9-1-1 call on the night in question...

Carter says it had been stolen from him.
Robinson tells WEWS-TV the pendant belongs to her and she wants it back.

Here's Curtis Jackson standing on front of a monitor with the interviews...


FRIDAY UPDATE: A police report now identifies 19-year-old Vaneisha Robinson of Akron as a suspect in receiving stolen property but doesn't elaborate. No arrests have been made.

dLc = NWO 2010

The comparisons were inevitable...
LeBron does this...
((HT: MisterOldSchool1))


Draw your comparisons...
Bischoff= Pat Riley
Outsiders= Wade and Bosh
Hogan= LeBron

So, who does that make Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Mike Miller...???
And who turns on who first...???
Discuss...

Dan Gilbert fined...nobody surprised...

The NBA acted and acted quickly...okay...sort of quickly and fined Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert $100,000 for his comments about the LeBron Center/LeBronathon.

The story, from the Cleveland Plain-Dealer RIGHT HERE

((Dan Gilbert//Courtesy: WKYC-TV))

We also hope that Jesse Jackson will now go away. Not everything is what he thinks it is. Gilbert was angry and reacted that way. It doesn't make what he said right...but at least to most, he was the jilted lover who didn't even get the time of day before being left at the alter.

Commissioner David Stern also had a few thoughts about the person that Gilbert was hammering, one LeBron James. Stern, much like the rest of us, didn't have a huge issue with the fact that James decided to leave Cleveland, rather it was the way that he did it.

We've already posted our thoughts about one of PR's worst decisions, so we won't go into it. What we do hope is that the negative PR about what James...and in particular, his entourage did, will actually register, though we don't think it will. They really never thought it seems, that people would think that the "Decision" was a good idea. Why can't you just be classy and quietly tell the Cavaliers you are leaving and then show up and do a press conference in Miami the next day?

Anyway, enough, we are done reporting on this. This will be the last we talk about it. What is done is done, you can't change it, you just have to move on...and that's exactly what we are about to do.

In the meantime, check out this story about what Cleveland fans think about Jesse Jackson adding his 2-cents worth. Big thanks to WEWS-TV in Cleveland for this:

King James' dad is actually a DC Lawyer?

This is just plain weird. According to a published report today, the King's pops...is actually a mild-mannered lawyer from Washington DC. Or at least the lawyer is claiming in publicly...now.

Leicester Bryce Stovall told the Post that...he's not "Popping out of woodwork to exploit a celebrity's fame and fortune". After the reporters got done laughing, they asked him some more questions. And oh...he now has a $4 million dollar lawsuit against James and his mother who he accuses of covering the whole thing up.

The source of all this is at the Washington Post's Website RIGHT HERE

While not appearing, at least on the surface, to be crazy or delusional or anything like that, Stovall fills in tidbits of James' backstory. Though we might add, that information isn't hard to find. Apparently he took a DNA test in 2007...no match.

We post this because while we think last week's PR debacle is one of the worst things we've ever seen in...well...the history of sports PR, we are also eager to mock those who appear to be taking advantage of others.

In this case, Mr. Stovall has had plenty of time to go back and make this right if he were really the father, he didn't. Why he waited until now to go public...well, just do the math.

The Final Say on the LeBronathon

We've already vented our collective spleens about the idiots responsible for allegedly managing LeBron James' image, so we won't go there again.

But...our friends at the Big Lead pointed us towards the video done by Dan LeBatard for his radio show on 790 The Ticket in Miami and quite honestly...we're still laughing.

Enjoy....