LeBron James Rates Shaq's MC Skills 'A 10'

LeBron James may be the best player in the NBA (and there are arguments for him being the game's best of all time), but he hasn't yet tested his skills on the microphone like some other basketball stars. Allen Iverson, Ron Artest, Chris Webber and Kobe Bryant have all dipped their toes into the rap game with varying degrees of success, but perhaps the most successful (and ubiquitous) baller-turned-MC is Shaquille O'Neal. Shaq has put out several hit records and dropped a couple of popular singles (especially during the beginning of his career), and he happens to be James' newest teammate on the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs got to the Eastern Conference Finals before falling to the Orlando Magic last season, but maybe Shaq is the missing piece of the puzzle.

James may not have any experience as a rapper, but he certainly knows his way around the hip-hop game. (You need only look at the soundtrack to his new movie "More Than a Game," which features appearances from T.I., Jay-Z, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Lil Wayne and Kanye West, for proof.) So he knows a thing or two about quality rapping. But how would James rank his newest teammate as an MC?

MTV Shows

So there you have it. While LeBron named Jay-Z as his number one pick for the annual MTV News Hottest MCs list, he thinks that Shaq could easily hold his own with the likes of J. Hova. Along with a championship, maybe LeBron can broker a long-awaited collaboration between Jigga and Shaq

source: by Kyle Anderson in Music
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The Late Show with David Letterman / LeBron James vs. David Letterman

source : youtube

On the court, on the screen: LeBron a starring starter for slam-dumk fall films

The autumn months, often considered the hunting season, also tends to flush out of the Hollywood wilderness a slightly better class of movies than the summer's every-weekend parade of sequels and comic-book adaptations.

That's because Hollywood studios are gearing up for Oscar time and still want to present the illusion they are capable of making good, grown-up movies.

Still, with the Halloween month of October bringing the usual wagon-load of horror-exploitation and Christmas-pandering movies not long after that, expect something for everyone at the screens.

One feature this fall with strong local ties — "More Than a Game" — the basketball documentary that follows young LeBron James and four cohorts during a period of years. Cameras followed them from a decrepit Akron gym to the championships, as James' exploding worldwide celebrity threatened to upstage the sense of mutual cooperation and teamwork. Don't forget, it was a basketball documentary, "Hoop Dreams," which made many 10-best lists of the 1990s.

Various documentary crews have been angling (some even filing lawsuits) for the privilege to tell the LeBron saga from the inside. But it was the unsung filmmaker Kristopher Belman who got the gig. With heavy promotions by ESPN and releasing company Lions Gate, the film opens nationally on Oct. 2.

Here are the rest of the highlights of fall releases:

* "Astro Boy": Nicolas Cage proved in "G-Force" he could be unrecognizable for trick voice-overs for animated features, and he's also contributing to the audio track of this CGI feature version of the Osamu Tezuka character who helped introduce Japanese animation to worldwide audiences. It retells the origins of Astro Boy as a robot replica of a bereaved scientist's dead son who becomes a superhero in a "Metro City" of the future. (Sept. 23)

* "Fame": A remake for the hip-hop and "High School Musical" era of the gritty 1980 feature (also adapted into a Broadway musical) that depicted the hopes, dreams and disappointments of a bunch of teenage would-be entertainers and musicians enrolled in a specialty urban art school in New York City. (Sept. 23)

* "The September Issue": Maybe LeBron would have had even more documentaries made about him if he'd gone into the fashion industry instead, as there have been recent nonfiction portraits of designers Valentino, Karl Lagerfeld and others (not to mention the mockumentary "Bruno"). This documentary promises to show the real truth about Anna Wintour, the legendary editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine for 20 years, who was trashed in a thinly disguised characterization in the book and movie "The Devil Wears Prada." (Sept. 25)

* "Surrogates": A few decades ago there was a mild craze for cyberpunk movies based on "virtual reality." This science-fiction thriller one takes it a step further: Bruce Willis discovers that dark side of a sort of the esperience of virtual reality in reality experience. In other words, it's a world where people experience life (and death) vicariously while jacked into lifelike robot replicas. (Sept. 25)

* "Paranormal Activity": Trying to score the same sort of success that "The Blair Witch Project" had a decade ago, Paramount has been using the internet and other 2.0 media to get the word out about this viewfinder-POV shocker in which a new homeowner tries to document spooky stuff in her new residence with hidden cameras. Actually it's a slightly bigger-budget remake of cheaper indie project of the same name by Israeli filmmaker Oren Peli. (Sept. 25)

* "Capitalism — A Love Story": When the economy collapsed, there was at least one person who had to be deliriously happy about it — gadfly filmmaker Michael Moore. Throughout his career, he has been smirkingly pointing to corporate American greed (and its handmaidens in government) at the root of every social problem, from health expenses to gun violence to the war in Iraq. Here, Moore examines the business meltdown of last year, and it's practically guaranteed that the review in the Wall Street Journal will be a big thumbs-down. (Oct. 2)

* "The Invention of Lying": British comic Ricky Gervais stars in a comedy set in an alternate world that looks just like this one except that lying is absolutely unknown and everyone tells the truth. Gervais plays a downtrodden guy who discovers the art of deception and finds how he can use this newfound skill to turn his personal and professional life around. (Oct. 2)

* "A Serious Man": The Coen Brothers, turning away from George Clooney and Frances McDormand for a while, deliberately cast a group of unrecognizable, unknown actors in this dark comedy, set in 1967, about a college professor facing the ruin of his personal and professional life, partially because his shiftless grown brother won't move out of the house. (Oct. 2)

* "Whip It": Recently women's roller derby made a big comeback, resuming in Austin and spreading across the U.S. as a cultish sport that combines riot-girl feminism with the larger-than-life cartoon posturing of pro-wrestling. Here's the big-girls' derby drama, directed by Drew Barrymore (of all people) and starring "Juno" actress Ellen Page as the young Texas heroine. (Oct. 2)

* "Zombieland": A horror-action-comedy for the Halloween trade in which the planet is overrun by flesh-eating zombies. A few frightened kids team up with an ace zombie exterminator named Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) to try to survive. (Oct. 9)

* "Couples Retreat": Whatever happened to "Christmas Story" juvenile lead Peter Billingsley with his by-association tie to Cleveland? He's the director of this comedy about four couples of varying dysfunction venturing to a tropical island to work on their relationships and/or suntans. (Oct. 9)

* "The Stepfather": From the same team who made the unwanted remake of the slasher flick "Prom Night" comes this unwanted remake of a 1987 slasher-thriller that at least got some good reviews at the time. Playing on longtime youthful-paranoid fears of step-parents, the picture once again shows the travails of a kid who gets back from boarding school to discover his mother shacked up with a new boyfriend (Terry O'Quinn in the original; Dylan Walsh here) who may be a closet psychopathic serial killer. (Oct.16)

* "Law Abiding Citizen": Gerard Butler stars as a family man who engineers a revenge scheme against the criminals who shattered his household. Butler might be following in the footsteps of Liam Neeson in "Taken," Kevin Bacon in "Death Sentence" and all the way back to Charles Bronson in "Death Wish." But the twist here is that Butler's character is in jail himself, and he manages to entangle a prosecutor (played by Jamie Foxx) into the plot. (Oct. 16)

* "Where the Wild Things Are": As "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" and "The Polar Express" have proven, Hollywood is now pouncing on doing feature adaptations of lushly illustrated children's storybooks. Must be easier on the Los Angeles crowd to absorb a book of 20 pages or so (or have a personal assistant read one to them). This has innovative director Spike Jonze using computer special effects to bring to life author Maurice Sendak's classic about Max, a rambunctious boy who feels misunderstood at home and escapes to an imaginary island of mischievous monsters. (Oct. 16)

* "Saw VI": When the first "Saw" movie came out, it seemed gory and gruesome, yes, but also fresh and smart. Five sequels later, don't we all wish the Time Traveler's Wife or somebody could go back to 2002 and destroy that one at the lab? The latest chapter has a new serial killer taking over for the late Jigsaw (that's been the plot for about the last three or four "Saws" now) and trying to get rid of annoying witnesses, and so forth. (Oct. 23).

* "Amelia": Oscar-winning Hilary Swank portrays Amelia Earhart in a biopic of the famous pioneering woman aviator (subject of an ongoing exhibit at the International Women's Air and Space Museum in downtown Cleveland) who vanished during an around-the-world flight in 1937. (Oct. 23)

* "Good Hair": This sort of follows in the footsteps of "Religulous" or "Expelled," wherein a documentary host better known as a perceptive funnyman goes on the road after a big issue. Here comic Chris Rock visits hair salons and styling battles, scientific labs and even Indian temples to explore the way black hairstyles have affected the culture and self-esteem of black people. Among those interviewed are Ice-T, Nia Long, Paul Mooney, Maya Angelou and The Rev. Al Sharpton. What, no LeBron? (Oct. 23)

* "Michael Jackson — This is It": Who would have guessed a year ago that a Michael Jackson concert film would be a fall 2009 event? Following the eccentric entertainer's sudden death, extensive rehearsal footage of his planned series of never-realized concerts set for London has been worked into this Columbia feature. It shows what Jackson's stage comeback as a singer-dancer-choreographer and showman might have been like. Heartless exploitation or a landmark in music-film history? (Oct. 23)

* "Cirque du Freak — The Vampire's Assistant": Ever since the "Lord of the Rings" features, studios have been going crazy trying to get a profitable successor film series going based on libraries full of popular children's sagas (which is why "Inkheart," "The Golden Compass," "Eragon" and "The Seeker — The Dark is Rising" got greenlit). Here's the latest attempt, a Halloween-flavored adaptation of the first two books in Darren Shan's popular paperback set about a boy indoctrinated into a magical traveling freak sideshow populated by real vampires and werewolves. (Oct. 23).

* "A Christmas Carol": In a repeat of the motion-capture CGI technology he demonstrated in "Beowulf" and "The Polar Express," director Robert Zemeckis used photo-realistic computer-graphics overlays on Jim Carrey and other actors in the latest version of Charles Dicken's holiday classic. (Nov. 6)

* "The Box": Cameron Diaz and James Marsden star in a movie-length "Twilight-Zone" type tale that brings to literal life a frequently posed ethical question: Imagine there was a magical box containing a button that, if pushed, would bring you instant riches and prosperity ... but simultaneously somebody else, somewhere would have drop dead. To which a lot of the caliber of folks in showbiz might respond, "Okay. What's the catch?" (Nov. 13)

* "2012": Columbia Pictures' latest CGI disaster movie, not unlike "The Day After Tomorrow" but with the timely hook of the Mayan calendar running out, has the proverbial all-star cast (John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Thandie Newton, Danny Glover, Woody Harrelson) in a tale of folks trying to survive global upheavals and environmental catastrophe on the title date. (Nov. 13)

* "Planet 51": A new CGI family feature plays the old narrative switcheroo with the concept of alien space invaders. This time it's an Earth astronaut who lands on a distant world inhabited by little green people in a 1950s-level culture. The space-suited human's presence naturally creates the alien equivalent of flying-saucer scare. Voices include Duane "The Rock" Johnson, Jessica Biel, Gary Oldman, Sean William Scott and John Cleese. (Nov. 20)

* "The Blind Side": Yet another inspirational sports drama based on a true story. This one tells the life story of NFL pro player Michael Oher, once an at-risk black youngster who was adapted by an affluent white family. The fact that Oher now plays for the Baltimore Ravens might not endear Northeast Ohioans to this jock-u-drama. (Nov. 20)

* "New Moon": Adolescent girls who should have something better to do are waiting across the world for the next installment of the movies based on Stephanie Myers' smash novels about a romance between a teenage girl in the Pacific Northwest and a handsome vampire dude. If you didn't know anything about vampires and just saw the trailer for this, you'd assume it was a variety of supernatural creature whose major characteristic was being young, male and not able to keep a shirt on. (Nov. 20)

* "The Road": The release has been delayed for a full year (a bad sign) for this big-screen adaptation of the bleak Cormac McCarthy novel that was an unusually depressing Oprah's Book Club pick. It shows the struggle of vagabond father and son trekking south through the dangerous, near-lifeless ruins of North America after some nameless catastrophe ravaged the planet. (Nov. 25).

* "Nine": Not to be confused with "9," this is director Rob Marshall trying to repeat his success with "Chicago" in an adaptation of the Broadway-musical version of Federico Fellini's "8 1/2," about a creatively-stalled movie director (Daniel Day-Lewis) caught up in reveries about his life and loves. (Nov. 25)

source :By Special to Arcade arcade@MorningJournal.com

LeBron makes sure ex- teammates in spotlight

"Shooting Stars" (The Penguin Press, 272 pages, $26.95), by LeBron James: LeBron James has gotten plenty of attention over the years. Now the Cleveland Cavaliers superstar is sharing the spotlight with the childhood friends who helped him get his first taste of basketball glory.

James is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world. But his high school team wouldn't have won three national championships in four years without the teammates whom he loved as brothers.

In "Shooting Stars," he tells the story of how he met Dru Joyce III, Sian Cotton and Willie McGee. All four came from poor Midwest backgrounds and were connected by a common love for the game.

The cast of characters is compelling.

Joyce is an undersized point guard whose desire to prove himself is so fierce that he lashes out at anyone who questions his abilities. Cotton is a defensive stopper who rebels against authority, coasting in school so people won't think he's smart. And McGee is the quiet kid who grew up in wilting poverty, which gave him a maturity the other teenagers lacked.

The story focuses so much on these three that a reader might wonder how James was the one who ended up in the NBA. For example, after narrating the events of a compelling game, he lists his teammates' statistics, then adds almost as an aside that he, too, happened to have a good game.

James goes into a smidgen of detail about his early years. He describes growing up fatherless in Akron, Ohio, where his sleep was often interrupted by the wail of police sirens. He also talks about his love for playing football and his accomplishments as a talented wide receiver.

But he quickly returns the book's spotlight to his friends.

Doing so maintains the continuity of an interesting story, but readers who want to learn how James got so good will come away disappointed. He doesn't say much about how he developed his talents or honed his work ethic.

The book, co-written by Buzz Bissinger, is a quick read. It's an uplifting tale of bonding, of a handful of friends who grow as tight as brothers as they get squeezed by pressure, expectations and even racism. It's hard not to root for the group, and it's gratifying when their hard work and loyalty to each other leads to a happy ending.

Central Division Preview

Beyond the Arc's trip around the league continues with the Central Division:

Ego Trippin': Shaq looks to take credit for another young turk's title.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
Conference Rank: 3rd
Forum Date: Tuesday, December 8th
Notes: By adding Shaquille O'Neal to Lebron James, the Cavs now boast two of the five most famous active basketball players on the planet and arguably the two grandest personalities in the game. This will make for high ratings and good copy, but will it actually make the Cavs a better basketball team? Shaq had a bounce-back season for the Suns last year, but at age 37 and with ever-present conditioning challenges, the wise money would be on his falling back into the natural decline that was evident before last season. For the Cavs, the questions are two-fold: Can Shaq hold up well enough to be a positive contributor come playoff time, particularly in giving them a bigger, stronger body to put on Dwight Howard in a potential rematch with the Magic? And can Shaq be deferential enough not to disrupt the team's strong on- and off-court chemistry? If those questions are answered in the affirmative, then the Cavs will be a title contender as long as Lebron James — a.k.a., the best basketball player in the world — is healthy.
Pivotal Player: Shaq will garner the headlines, but a relatively obscure off-season addition could be equally crucial. Last season, the Cavs struggled with pick-and-roll defense, which Shaq won't help, and against taller perimeter scoring threats (most notably Hedo Turkoglu in the playoffs). Free-agent signee Anthony Parker, a 6'6" swingman who played with Toronto last season, will give the Cavs another wing player with size to flank Lebron. And as a career 40% three-point shooter, Parker could be a big asset on both ends. Given incumbent two-guard Delonte West's offseason troubles, Parker could be asked to start and play big minutes for the Cavs this season.
Memphis/Griz Connection: Maybe the real obstacle to the Cavs' title quest last season wasn't Dwight Howard or Hedo Turkoglu, but the presence of not one, but two players the Grizzlies let walk: Lorenzen Wright and Tarence Kinsey. The Cavs will this year embark on a their quest with a roster free of former Grizzlies.

Danny Granger should have another huge scoring season for a team that focused on defense this summer.

2. Indiana Pacers
Conference Rank: 7th
Forum Date: Friday, December 18th
Notes: The Pacers are one of the most counter-intuitive NBA teams in recent memory: A non-descript, workmanlike run-and-gun team. Last year's model played the third fastest pace in the league, after only Mike D'Antoni's Knicks and Don Nelson's Warriors, and was fifth in scoring. Point guard T.J. Ford is an open-court blur and small forward Danny Granger bloomed into a dynamic scorer, but the rest of the team didn't necessarily look the part, lead by a vanilla frontcourt rotation featuring Troy Murphy, Jeff Foster, and mammoth rookie Roy Hibbert. And this summer, the Pacers added a bunch of blue-collar scrappers, lead by former Grizzlies Dahntay Jones and Earl Watson and draft pick Tyler Hansbrough.
Pivotal Player: With double-digit scorers Jarrett Jack and Marquis Daniels replaced on the perimeter by Watson and Jones, the Pacers figure to be better defensively, but they’ve lost a lot of scoring punch. If Mike Dunleavy — once expected to miss half the season after knee surgery but apparently ahead of schedule — can't return to the lineup and to his 07-08 form, then the pressure will be on second-year swingman Brandon Rush to provide some offense. Rush wasn't the instant impact player some expected as a rookie, but developed well and finished strong, averaging double digits in March and April and shooting 37% from three-point range on the season. He's got a chance to carve a major role this season.
Memphis/Griz Connection: Grizzlies fans know both Earl Watson and Dahntay Jones as physical defenders who bring a bit of swagger to the game, but their near-total lack of offensive skills have made them journeymen. Though their shared lack of viable three-point shooting could be a problem, they should both be significant rotation players for the Pacers.

Derrick Rose can get around Kevin Love, but may not be able to get his Bulls around the Raptors and Pacers in the playoff race.

3. Chicago Bulls
Conference Rank: 9th
Forum Date: Tuesday, March 16th
Notes: Remember when the Bulls refused to part with either Luol Deng or Ben Gordon in order to acquire Pau Gasol? Well, they should have been willing to part with both. Deng — unsurprisingly given his limited skills and limited athleticism — now seems to be settling in as a sub-all-star talent on a hefty contract. Gordon is a dynamic scorer that the Bulls let walk in free agency this summer. Meanwhile, the team is still searching for a viable post scorer, the reason they were interested in Pau in the first place. A classic case of a team overestimating its own talent. Nice job, Bulls.
The team was only 19th in the league in offensive efficiency last season even with Gordon and now have his 21 points per game and deadly fourth-quarter shot-making to replace. The Bulls hope John Salmons can duplicate his career-high scoring binge (18 points per game, 41% three-point shooting) after coming over in a late-season trade, but last season's numbers look pretty flukish in the context of Salmon's career. Jannero Pargo, returning from a year overseas, is a poor man's Gordon and a good signing by the Bulls, I think. But ultimately the combination of losing Gordon and not addressing their lack of frontcourt scoring will put more pressure on the team's rising sophomores: Point guard Derrick Rose and coach Vinny Del Negro.
Pivotal Player: After five years in the league, Luol Deng is still only 24 and still has a chance develop into a frontline player. He needs to stay healthy, having missed 53 games the past two years, and correct his production drop-off from last season. I don't think he really has it in him, but we'll see.
Memphis/Griz Connection: It'll be interesting to see what kind of response Derrick Rose gets upon his return to Memphis, since he seems to be getting more blame for the SAT scandal than Calipari. I expect he'll still be warmly received. I also think he will be an awesome NBA player, but the offensive burden on him and my lack of faith in Del Negro has me projecting the Bulls just missing the post-season.

"I hope when I get old I don't sit around thinkin' about it, but I probably will."

4. Detroit Pistons
Conference Rank: 11th
Forum Date: Wednesday, October 28th
Notes: This will be a serious transitional season for the Pistons who, after a decade of playing slow-paced, defensive-oriented, veteran basketball, will start the season with only two of its championship five (Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince) and is quite likely to end the season with only one (Prince). (Oh wait, I forgot they're bringing The Shadow of Ben Wallace back; I think the point still applies.) With a new coach (first-time lead man John Kuester) and new young finesse scorers with wobbly defensive reps (Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva) imported from division rivals (Bulls and Bucks, respectively), this team will have a much different look and will be hard to get a read on.
Pivotal Player: With Gordon and Hamilton unlikely to be able to play together in the backcourt, third-year guard Rodney Stuckey will be depended on heavily as the likely starting point guard and he hasn't proven yet that he can handle it after an erratic second season. Stuckey is a talent, to be sure, but I'm not convinced he's really a point guard.
Memphis/Griz Connection: Kwame Brown's Expiring Contract was a key piece in the Pau Gasol trade, but Brown himself wasn't good enough to demand minutes for a 22-win Grizzlies squad. Then he got a two-year contract from the Pistons! Joe Dumars: Front-Office Genius. There's actually a chance Brown could start in the middle for Detroit, his frontcourt competition a mix of the aged (Wallace), the undersized (Jason Maxiel), and the erratic (Chris Wilcox).

Coach Scott Skiles and rookie guard Brandon Jennings: It's always all smiles at the press conference.

5. Milwaukee Bucks
Conference Rank: 15th
Forum Date: Saturday, November 21st
Notes: Great NBA subplot on a terrible team this season: Old-school former point guard coach Scott Skiles trying to mentor new-school flashy rookie point guard Brandon Jennings. That and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute's bid to replace Bruce Bowen as the league's best pure defensive specialist might be about it for entertainment value from the Bucks this season. The team was 23rd in offensive efficiency last season and payroll slashing cost them Richard Jefferson, Charlie Villanueva, and Ramon Sessions. That's a combined 49 points a game. And a team projected to start Luke Ridnour, Michael Redd, and Hakim Warrick isn't exactly going to make up that lost production on the defensive end. The Bucks could be easily the worst team in the East, and should contend for worst overall record next season.
Pivotal Player: With the roster now crammed with unproven prospects and mid-level journeyman, the Bucks bid for respectability will fall heavily on the shoulders of Michael Redd and center Andrew Bogut, both of whom missed more than half of last season with injuries (knee and back, respectively). With Bogut still not all the way back, according to the latest reports, the Bucks really need Redd to reassert himself as one of the league's elite perimeter scorers.
Memphis/Griz Connection: The Grizzlies withdrew their qualifying offer to Hakim Warrick this summer, and he landed in Milwaukee for similar money. If Skiles can stomach his lackluster defense, Warrick will get the chance to start and get plenty of shots for the Bucks. This is good news for fantasy owners who can get Warrick cheap. It is not good news for the Bucks. Hopefully Warrick can parlay a good statistical season into a decent contract next summer to become somebody's frontcourt bench scorer, the only role to which he's really suited.

source:Chris Herrington

Nets’ LeBron pursuit: From Russia, with love

Once LeBron James(notes) meets Mikhail Prokhorov, the superstar’s sightline will reflect an unprecedented visage. When offering a global vision of business and basketball, here’s an NBA owner who can look James in the eyes. Russia’s richest man is 6-foot-7 with an air of cool and a tenacity of the streets.

For James, there’s a chance that Prokhorov won’t seem like a stranger from a faraway place but rather a reflection of himself. Together, they are creations of their own industry and connected through a need for global conquest. All along, James has craved something bigger of basketball fame and fortune.

Once, it was Nets’ part-owner Jay-Z who planned to escort LeBron into Brooklyn. Now, this strapping 44-year-old Russian oligarch with an estimated fortune north of $9 billion has arrived in the NBA threatening to make Mark Cuban and Paul Allen feel like mom-and-pop store owners. Prokhorov comes with a flair and a steely obsession with winning.

Forbes magazine ranked Mikhail Prokhorov as Russia’s richest man with a worth of $9.5 billion.

(AP)

Suddenly, his arsenal and ambition make him the most dangerous man in basketball.

“He has the personality, the charisma and the wherewithal to reach any of the league’s young stars on a level that I don’t think other owners can,” David Vanterpool said by phone Wednesday. “He likes to go out. He likes to fly to Europe and go to the most exclusive resorts. He’s going to connect with these guys.

“I would think right now that a lot of people in the NBA would be scared to death of this guy, if for nothing else the unknown of what he might do here.”

Vanterpool played two seasons for Prokhorov’s powerhouse CSKA in Moscow, winning Euroleague and Russian championships. These past two years, Vanterpool, who played for Detroit and Washington in the NBA, had a job on the CSKA bench as an assistant coach. He had heard the talk for years about his old boss wanting an NBA team, and finally Prokhorov made an offer that Nets beleaguered owner Bruce Ratner couldn’t refuse.

With lingering suggestions of possible underworld ties, there are some suggesting the Russian won’t pass the NBA vetting process. As long as his issues don’t spill into the public eye, no one should expect the commissioner’s office to dig them up. As vetting processes go, most expect this one to bring all the tenacity of a Michael Jordan gambling investigation.

And anyway, NBA ownership is hardly an exclusive club. For every upstanding Abe Pollin, there are far too many scoundrels, slime balls and empty suits. Prokhorov has posted $700 million to spare this sorry franchise, and the league will live with whatever ethical lapses befell him on his rise to becoming Russia’s richest billionaire.

For the NBA, James and Dwyane Wade(notes) and Chris Bosh(notes) – the Class of 2010 – are in play again in New York. The Knicks and Nets have cap space, and just maybe a star or two will come save the world’s biggest market.

The NBA has become a recession-ridden league with owners slashing roster payrolls and front-office staff. Owners are begging for commissioner David Stern to crush the Players Association in collective bargaining with a bigger percentage of league revenue and perhaps even a hard salary cap. As long as these CBA rules are in place, Prokhorov can offer the New York stage with unlimited resources. Cablevision reached its spending breaking point with the New York Knicks, but the days of the Nets as a cash-strapped punch line are over.

This Russian is liable to treat $70 million luxury-tax payments like drops in the Jersey Turnpike toll buckets.

“If he sees something as a reasonable, smart move, then money won’t be an issue,” Vanterpool said. “I don’t see the luxury tax affecting him. You’re talking about a billionaire who will take a two-week vacation that ends up costing him $10 million. He’ll do whatever it takes to win, and win big.”

Prokhorov’s brashness doesn’t come in the basketball arena but in the clubs and fancy European resorts. Truth be told, they never noticed where the owner would sit in the arena most nights in Moscow and seldom witnessed him courting coverage with the cameras and notebooks.

He far outspent other teams in Europe, won titles and now wants to do it on the biggest stage of all. He hired the best coach overseas and had payrolls bigger than some NBA teams. One NBA executive with strong Eastern European ties says to expect Russian and Lithuanian basketball legends Sarunas Marciulionis and Arvydas Sabonis to be included in a dramatically changed Nets organization. With CSKA, Prokhorov tried to hire Toronto Raptors assistant GM Maurizio Gherardini but was spurned. He could revisit the Italian executive for the Nets’ top job, and it wouldn’t be long until the NBA had its first foreign coach, Ettore Messina.

For now, Prokhorov would be wise to re-sign president Rod Thorn to an extension, and sources with knowledge of the Russian billionaire believe it’s a distinct possibility.

Whatever happens, Prokhorov won’t be running the Nets like Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Prokhorov likes to hang with the players, but not so much in the locker room and huddles. He likes it in a social way, and so do they. It’s like running with James Bond, jets on a moment’s notice to the most exotic locations in the world. That’s how he lives, and that’s how they’ll roll. He can offer a superstar lifestyle that few would dare try in the public eye.

The fact there are whispers about him would give him street cred with a lot of players. Mostly, players see owners as dopes to be stroked, but invading Brooklyn with the Russian boss and a stocked, bloated payroll could be a blast.

Two years ago, Prokhorov was detained for four days as a material witness in an investigation into a prostitution ring at a French resort. He was never charged, but French authorities alleged someone was jetting prostitutes in and out of there. When his CSKA team traveled to the Euroleague championships, NBA executives marveled over the spillover of Prokhorov-supplied blondes and brunettes that turned the tournament locale into a remote Playboy Mansion.

“Unlike anything you’ve ever seen in your life,” one Eastern Conference executive said. “They flooded the hotel. But the [NBA office’s] international people know all about it. They were staying there, too.”

Said a Western Conference official, “Stern will have to put 24 hour guards around this guy’s castle. Unless this guy completely divorces himself from his lifestyle over there, he’s going to have a little trouble assimilating. I mean, we do have some rules over here. … But damn, he’s got more money than anyone here, and that’s going to win out.”

For whatever wink-wink that comes with suggesting that Prokhorov made his fortune as simply a “banker and mining executive,” there’s a grudging acceptance that he’s the future of the NBA. Someone had to get the Nets to Brooklyn, and if it took $700 million of funny money, most of Stern’s bottom-feeder owners couldn’t care less. When no one is looking, most of the NBA Board of Governors will be pestering Prokhorov for jet rides from Russia, with love.

“I guarantee you that some of the owners in our league who are desperate to sell were on the phone with Stern today looking for other foreign owners with deep pockets,” one team president said Wednesday.

LeBron James used Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert’s connections to get him into the prestigious Allen & Company billionaire conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, this summer, a gathering of 260 of America’s richest and most powerful people. As much as James wants to win championships, he also wants an unprecedented global brand. There’s still a good chance that he’ll pursue it with his hometown Cavaliers, but the odds tilted a touch on Wednesday, when a $9 billion man pledged $700 million to a fledgling NBA franchise.

One of these days, Mikhail Prokhorov could get his audience with LeBron and other NBA stars, and tempt them with unprecedented resources and possibilities. Historic player meets historic owner, gaze into each other’s eyes and they’re liable to concoct the most historic partnership of all.

As the Nets bled money, as the move to Brooklyn seemed a bleaker proposition, it felt like Cleveland could exhale. Suddenly, the game changes and here comes this charismatic and charming and murky Russian rolling out of his jet with basketball’s deepest pockets and a gripping global pitch.

Here comes trouble for everyone.

Here comes tomorrow.

source: Adrian Wojnarowski,

Best Basketball Bloopers

Watch Best Basketball Bloopers!



source: youtube.com

Cleveland Cavaliers afternoon news roundup: LeBron James on cover of Cleveland-operated STACK Magazine

John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James during an interview last month about the film documentary "More Than a Game."Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James and his former St. Vincent-St. Mary High teammates are cover subjects of the current issue of STACK Magazine, which is distributed to more than 9,500 high schools nationwide and reaches some five million prep athletes.

James and his SVSM friends - Dru Joyce III, Romeo Travis, Sian Cotton and Willie McGee - are also the subjects of a documentary movie, "More Than a Game," that was released this summer.

STACK Magazine, part of Cleveland-operated STACK media, includes in the feature story written by Josh Staph:

Of course, a great deal of their sustained success at SVSM can be attributed to the group’s combined ability and talent; but without the strong bonds and friendship, the championships would’ve been out of reach. “It was just chemistry,” LeBron says when asked about their on-court success. “In a team sport, if you don’t have chemistry, you can’t win. You can only do so much with individual talent. That chemistry that we had off the court just automatically came out onto the court. You know where guys are without even playing with your eyes open. You know everyone’s strengths, so you’re not going to give the ball to a guy if he’s not in his comfort zone. It was just easy for us.”

Near the top: Training camp begins next week, and the Sporting News has just released its team rankings.

About the Cavs, ranked No. 2 overall and best in the Eastern Conference:

Shaquille O'Neal can still play. Get him 11-13 shots per game, then keep your fingers crossed when he's at the free-throw line, and the Cavs will easily win 65-plus games.

source:Starting Blocks

Shaquille O'Neal getting welcome party at Cleveland's Barley House -- and you can be there: After Dark

Mark Terrill, Associated PressROLL OUT THE RED CARPET: Shaquille O'Neal will be the guest of honor at a "Welcome to Cleveland" bash Sunday night at the Barley House.



Cleveland's bars and restaurants are counting down the days until basketball season.

Not just because those "crowds" of Indians fans aren't cutting it and Browns fans are too depressed to do much of anything.

Ladies and gentlemen, roll out the red carpet for the man whose entertainment value is outmatched only by his appetite . . . Shaquille O'Neal.

That's exactly what the Barley House plans to do. At 9 p.m. Sunday, the bar-restaurant -- 1265 West Sixth St. in Cleveland's Warehouse District -- will host a "Welcome to Cleveland" bash for Shaq.

You know, the guy who played the rapping genie in "Kazaam" and promises not only to bring a title to Cleveland, but also give LeBron James acting lessons.

Might as well call the Irish bar O'Neal's come Sunday.

Shaq will not only arrive on a red carpet, he'll also mingle with fans and party with an A-list of athletes --James, Mo Williams, Anderson Varejao and some other guys who play for the Indians and Browns. Admission is $10. Call 216-623-1700.

A Goth happy ending

OK, maybe Goth fans always seem depressed. But they were downright crushed when the Chamber closed in July.

A fire claimed the bar, part of the Phantasy Nite Club entertainment complex on the 11800 block of Detroit Avenue in Lakewood.

At 10 tonight, the Goths will be happy campers. The Chamber is reopening with a bang -- the first Superhero/Villain Masquerade Ball.

"The place was gutted from the fire," says owner Michele DeFrasia. "But we completely remodeled it, and now it has a nice ambience and a very industrial Goth look."

Within days of the July 14 fire, bar regulars offered to help rebuild it.

"We'd been doing the Chamber for more than 15 years," says DeFrasia. "So it was really sweet to see how much it meant to people."

The Chamber will resume Goth Fridays and Saturdays and '80s Wednesdays. The other clubs, the Phantasy and Symposium, were reopened in July. Admission to tonight's ball is $3 for those 21 and older; $5, 18-20. Call 216-228-6300.

Players turned playas

Most musicians can't hit the side of a barn with a basketball, let alone a backboard or a rim. (Hey, I'm not some jock; I just know enough musicians and I'm being honest.)

That's what makes the "3 on 3 Basketball Tourney" at Now That's Class sound like a sweaty spectacle. From noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, the bar -- 11213 Detroit Ave., Cleveland -- will host the event, which features musicians taking their turns at basketball.

You see, three musicians, all in the same band, will play against other band-turned-teammates on the parking lot behind the club. If you've never played out together, but still want to play, you can do a 10-minute set in the club before hitting the court. Entry is $10 per team. Call 216-221-8576.

source John Petkovic

Cleveland Cavaliers Shaquille O'Neal No. 1 athlete in Twitter following; "Shaq Vs." top-rated sports reality show

Tracy Boulian, The Plain Dealer Cleveland Cavaliers personable center Shaquille O'Neal leads all athletes, worldwide, in Twitter followers.

If Shaquille O'Neal can help the Cleveland Cavaliers experience the same success he's enjoyed with a couple off-court ventures, expect a ticker tape parade down E. 9th St. next June.

The Big Aristotle leads all athletes, worldwide, in Twitter followers, with nearly 2.3 million of them, according to trackingtwitter.com. O'Neal is seventh overall in the "celebrity" category.

USA Today also reports on the Shaq tweeting phenomenon. Writes Chris Colston:

By himself, new Cleveland Cavaliers center Shaquille O'Neal has more than 2.27 million Twitter followers, seventh among all "celebrities" at trackingtwitter.com.

"As recently as last year, (social networks) weren't even a major topic of discussion," says Mike Bantom, NBA senior vice president of player development.

The NFL is the only other professional sport with more than a million Twitter followers (1.11 million). Some others: Major League Baseball (506,000), PGA Tour (16,000), WNBA (9,800), NHL (6,000), LPGA (4,000).

Shaq has nearly 50,000 times more Twitter followers than does Starting Blocks, which has 46 followers at last check, and a Twitter address of @sblocks

"Shaq Vs." No. 1, too: O'Neal's television reality series, "Shaq. Vs.," was the most viewed sports-based reality series of the summer, reports the fully interactive sports magazine, SportsArizona:

ABC’s “Shaq Vs.” was the most-viewed sports-based reality TV show of the summer, averaging 3.97 million viewers over five episodes. The show’s finale, which featured Cavaliers center Shaquille O’Neal challenging swimmer Michael Phelps in a race, was the series’ most-viewed episode with 4.432 million viewers. ”Shaq Vs.” showed gains its final three weeks, but no episode finished higher than 46th in the rankings among all broadcast TV primetime shows in a given week.

Here are those sports-based reality shows, with their network and average weekly viewers:

"Shaq Vs." ABC 3,972,000
"The Superstars" ABC 3,619,000
"The T.O. Show" VH1 1,442,000
"4th & Long" Spike 759,000
"Keyshawn Johnson: Tackling Design" A&E 512,000
"Jockeys" Animal Planet 439,000

source: Starting Blocks

Knicks offering LeBron his own TV channel?

As everybody knows by now, LeBron James(notes) will be a free agent next summer. While it's fully expected that he'll end up re-signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers since that team can offer him more money than anywhere else, it has long been expected that he'll at least see what kind of dollars he'll be offered by other teams.

Well, it's looking like he won't just be offered money by other teams. The New York Knicks have been re-organizing its roster seemingly since the minute Donnie Walsh took over the team in order to have enough room to offer James as much as it possibly can. Now word has come, via the New York Daily News, that Cablevision, which owns the Knicks, will throw in a whole TV channel for LeBron if he wants it. That could bring in other revenue for James so the team could sneak around some salary-cap issues.

Still, it's hard to see James leaving Cleveland, where a quality team that James dreamed of being on as a kid has been built around him and the team has done all sorts of things to help him be comfortable, for the Knicks, a team that has, to vastly understate it, struggled mightily in recent years.

Source: New York Daily News

By Mark Miller

LeBron coming to the Nets?

New York Knicks president of basketball operations Donnie Walsh has reportedly been plotting for some time on how he can convince LeBron James(notes) to leave the comforts of the Cleveland Cavaliers to come and play for his embattled squad. Just imagine how unhappy Walsh would be if James ended up leaving Cleveland to go play for the New Jersey Nets.

Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov is very close to taking majority ownership of the Nets from Bruce Ratner and folks are thinking he's going to turn around the team's poor financial situation (it lost $25 million in the first six months of this year, according to the New York Post) and fix any battle it's having with the residents of Brooklyn, who are doing anything they can to keep the team from building an arena in the borough's already-busy downtown.

Prokhorov's rubles could change everything, especially how the Nets approach the big-name free agents of next summer: LeBron James, Chris Bosh(notes), Dwyane Wade(notes), and Amar'e Stoudemire(notes).

There's even a rumor that the basketball-loving Russian could bring back the wacky and cool design that famed architect Frank Gehry had for the proposed new arena (that might never get built) rather than the eventual ultra-blah airplane-hangar-like building that Ratner ended up with due to lack of dough to throw around. That is no longer a problem for the Nets.

Source: New York Post

By Mark Miller

Cleveland Cavaliers may not be done tinkering with roster

Chris O'Meara

The Cavaliers appear to be in the market for a third guard to help Mo Williams and Delonte West with the ball-handling duties in the backcourt.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Cavaliers are just days away from opening training camp but may not be done with their roster.

The Cavs are considering adding another guard to the mix, according to multiple league sources. They have been making calls on some remaining free agents and testing the trade-market waters to see who might be available.

Even before Delonte West was facing a possible suspension after he was arrested and charged with illegal gun possession last week it was arguable the team could use another ball handler. Mo Williams and West are the only two players on the team that have proven they can play point guard. Daniel Gibson has done it but hasn't proven he can be effective. Last season the Cavs' third-string point guard was Tarence Kinsey, who was released in July.

It is believed the team had some interest in former Cav Flip Murray before Thursday when he agreed to a contract with the Charlotte Bobcats. There are several other veteran guards who are without jobs as the league prepares to open camps Monday.

The list includes players like Chucky Atkins, Juan Dixon, Bobby Jackson, Jerry Stackhouse and Jacque Vaughn. It is also possible the team will look to trade for a guard or simply stand pat.

One thing the Cavs have going for them is roster flexibility. They only have 12 players will fully guaranteed contracts in camp with three forwards -- Darnell Jackson, Jawad Williams and Rob Kurz -- among the favorites to win the final three roster spots. That makes them attractive to veterans looking for a team.

While the Cavs still have their $1.99 million biannual exception to use, it is believed they would prefer to sign players to minimum contracts if they sign anyone at all.

Ticket info: The Cavs will put individual regular-season game tickets on sale starting Wednesday to their "Cavalier Insider" members. To become a member, fans can sign up at cavs.com. There is an eight ticket limit per customer. All remaining tickets will go on sale Saturday, Oct. 3 at 10 a.m. Those tickets can be purchased at cavs.com, The Q box office, or by calling 888-894-9424.

source: Brian Windhorst

LeBron James Chooses to go 'Back To School' With STACK Magazine

LeBron James and His High School Teammates Share Their Story with Millions of
Young Athletes in STACK's Back-to-School Issue


NEW YORK, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- STACK Media, the leading producer and
distributor of sports performance, instruction and lifestyle content for
active young males, announced today an exclusive relationship with perennial
NBA All-Star and 2009 MVP LeBron James.

The Cleveland Cavaliers' star forward is featured on the cover of STACK
Magazine's back-to-school issue with his four high school teammates, all of
whom seek to inspire millions of young athletes with their individual success
stories. The issue is scheduled to arrive in more than 9,500 high schools --
nearly 50% of our nation's secondary schools -- this week.

STACK's exclusive feature article on LeBron focuses on his tight-knit group of
friends--who bonded as basketball teammates at St. Vincent St. Mary High
School in Akron, Ohio. Known as the "Fab Five," members of the group recollect
their friendship growing up together and stress the importance of community
support for young athletes. They even take friendly jabs at each other. In
addition to the extensive feature story, the issue also contains photos of
LeBron and his teammates, plus "Art of the Dish" -- advice and instructions
from LeBron, with graphic "how-to" pictures, on the four basketball passes he
uses to make everyone around him better on the court.

"LeBron is more than just an athlete; he is living proof that young people can
achieve their dreams in any facet of life," said Nick Palazzo, Co-founder and
Co-CEO of STACK Media. "When we launched the company in 2005, LeBron was our
first cover athlete. Since then, we've grown our business tremendously and
LeBron has continued to dramatically improve his game, becoming a worldwide
superstar. Combined with our shared Ohio roots, this created a perfect
opportunity to work together again."

STACK Magazine is distributed six times per year at no cost to high school
athletes. It is the only national publication requested and distributed by
high school athletic directors, with a circulation of more than 800,000 and a
readership of more than five million athletes. Every issue of STACK contains
dozens of pages of nutrition and training tips from elite professional and
collegiate athletes and their trainers. In addition to LeBron James, the
back-to-school issue also features articles on three-time Olympic gold
medalist and world record holding sprinter Usain Bolt and New York Jets
starting quarterback Mark Sanchez.

STACK's magazine content is complemented by thousands of exclusive articles
and videos on STACK.com. To view video clips of LeBron and the "Fab Five,"
visit http://stacktv.stack.com/.

STACK's online audience exceeds 4 million unique visitors per month. The
company's focus on athletic performance enhancement and its demonstrated
ability to engage the elusive demographic of 12-to-24-year-old males have
attracted numerous blue-chip advertisers, including Nike, Gatorade, Procter &
Gamble, Right Guard, PlayStation, and MGM, among others.

About STACK
A diversified media company, operating both print publishing and digital media
business units, STACK is a leading provider of original "how-to" sports
performance information, inspiring and engaging active young males. The
publishing unit includes the company's flagship publication, STACK Magazine,
periodic special issues and a line of books. The internet unit includes
STACK.com, STACK TV and STACK Media, a distributed media network powered by
STACK's large library of online videos. STACK Media is one of the top sports
properties on the Internet, with an average of more than 4 million unique
visitors per month, according to comScore. In both print and online, STACK
continues to deliver authoritative information on safe, effective drug-free
training--for strength, speed, conditioning, agility and flexibility.


SOURCE  STACK Media

LeBron James Chooses to go 'Back To School' With STACK Magazine

LeBron James and His High School Teammates Share Their Story with Millions of
Young Athletes in STACK's Back-to-School Issue


NEW YORK, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- STACK Media, the leading producer and
distributor of sports performance, instruction and lifestyle content for
active young males, announced today an exclusive relationship with perennial
NBA All-Star and 2009 MVP LeBron James.

The Cleveland Cavaliers' star forward is featured on the cover of STACK
Magazine's back-to-school issue with his four high school teammates, all of
whom seek to inspire millions of young athletes with their individual success
stories. The issue is scheduled to arrive in more than 9,500 high schools --
nearly 50% of our nation's secondary schools -- this week.

STACK's exclusive feature article on LeBron focuses on his tight-knit group of
friends--who bonded as basketball teammates at St. Vincent St. Mary High
School in Akron, Ohio. Known as the "Fab Five," members of the group recollect
their friendship growing up together and stress the importance of community
support for young athletes. They even take friendly jabs at each other. In
addition to the extensive feature story, the issue also contains photos of
LeBron and his teammates, plus "Art of the Dish" -- advice and instructions
from LeBron, with graphic "how-to" pictures, on the four basketball passes he
uses to make everyone around him better on the court.

"LeBron is more than just an athlete; he is living proof that young people can
achieve their dreams in any facet of life," said Nick Palazzo, Co-founder and
Co-CEO of STACK Media. "When we launched the company in 2005, LeBron was our
first cover athlete. Since then, we've grown our business tremendously and
LeBron has continued to dramatically improve his game, becoming a worldwide
superstar. Combined with our shared Ohio roots, this created a perfect
opportunity to work together again."

STACK Magazine is distributed six times per year at no cost to high school
athletes. It is the only national publication requested and distributed by
high school athletic directors, with a circulation of more than 800,000 and a
readership of more than five million athletes. Every issue of STACK contains
dozens of pages of nutrition and training tips from elite professional and
collegiate athletes and their trainers. In addition to LeBron James, the
back-to-school issue also features articles on three-time Olympic gold
medalist and world record holding sprinter Usain Bolt and New York Jets
starting quarterback Mark Sanchez.

STACK's magazine content is complemented by thousands of exclusive articles
and videos on STACK.com. To view video clips of LeBron and the "Fab Five,"
visit http://stacktv.stack.com/.

STACK's online audience exceeds 4 million unique visitors per month. The
company's focus on athletic performance enhancement and its demonstrated
ability to engage the elusive demographic of 12-to-24-year-old males have
attracted numerous blue-chip advertisers, including Nike, Gatorade, Procter &
Gamble, Right Guard, PlayStation, and MGM, among others.

About STACK
A diversified media company, operating both print publishing and digital media
business units, STACK is a leading provider of original "how-to" sports
performance information, inspiring and engaging active young males. The
publishing unit includes the company's flagship publication, STACK Magazine,
periodic special issues and a line of books. The internet unit includes
STACK.com, STACK TV and STACK Media, a distributed media network powered by
STACK's large library of online videos. STACK Media is one of the top sports
properties on the Internet, with an average of more than 4 million unique
visitors per month, according to comScore. In both print and online, STACK
continues to deliver authoritative information on safe, effective drug-free
training--for strength, speed, conditioning, agility and flexibility.


SOURCE  STACK Media

Consequences could be harsh for West, Cavs

The arrest of Cavaliers guard Delonte West on Thursday on gun charges brings up a myriad of questions.

Police charged West with two criminal counts of carrying a handgun, and issued him a traffic citation for driving "in excess of reasonable and prudent speed," Prince George (Md.) County records show.

West had a Beretta 9mm in his waistband, a Ruger .357 magnum strapped to his leg and a shotgun in a guitar case slung over his back. It was within his rights to carry the shotgun.

All three weapons were loaded.

Not only will West likely face suspension from the NBA, it's possible he'll have to do jail time.

Police seized his guns and his three-wheeled motorcycle. He was released from jail early Friday on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 20. The Cavs are playing in Indiana that night.

Timberwolves guard Sebastian Telfair was suspended for three games for having a loaded gun in his possession.

Don't be shocked if West is not eligible to play for several games this season. Could his possible suspension be as long as 10 games? Are you glad the Cavs signed Anthony Parker now?

The NBA's collective bargaining agreement allows players to own licensed guns, but they can't carry them while attending any team function.

You might not want to hear this, but the majority of professional athletes carry guns. If they don't, someone in their entourage probably does.

Many of them feel they are needed for protection.

No one is quite sure where West was headed with that arsenal. He had enough firepower to do some major damage.

West's father, Dmitri West, told the Washington Post his son might have feared for his safety.

"All I can say is Delonte was looking behind his back and protecting himself," he said. "Bottom line is there's a lot of not-too-nice people out here."

If this was a lesser player, the Cavs might try to dump him. The fact that he rode a motorcycle, coupled with the gun charges, could be grounds for the Cavs to attempt to void his contract. After former Browns tight end Kellen Winslow Jr.'s motorcycle accident, fans in Cleveland are well aware of the potential pitfalls of such mishaps.

But West has become a key cog on the team. He's important to their defense and offense, and he plays well off LeBron James.

West, 26, has battled depression and is bipolar.

He's not a bad guy. He's not a Pacman Jones. He's a guy who has issues.

West recently was married and purchased a $1.05 million home in Fort Washington, Md., a suburb of Washington, D.C. He might be able to get past this incident, but he'd better have a very good lawyer.

source: By Bob Finnan

Lined up for LeBron

Stow man leads pack for book signing, finishes 'Shooting Stars' as he waits

BATH TWP.: John Keener was entering the Barnes & Noble Booksellers on Friday morning when he noticed a big orange X on the sidewalk in front of the store.

It was the spot where fans would line up to meet basketball star LeBron James and get his autograph on copies of Shooting Stars (Penguin Books, $26.95), the book that the Cavaliers forward co-authored with Buzz Bissinger.

Keener of Stow said he had intended to come back for the event, but impetuously decided about 11:30 a.m. to stay and be first in line at Saturday's book-signing event .

''LeBron's a good man. It's an experience and the
kids will like to meet him,'' Keener said.

Three of Keener's children joined him two hours before James arrived at the store shortly after 2 p.m. Saturday.

Keener, who described himself as an avid reader, said he finished reading the book as he waited outside the store Friday with dozens of other fans.

Shooting Stars recounts the St. Vincent-St. Mary basketball team and the friendships formed by the players during James' final two years at the school.

''It has a great ending,'' Keener said.

300 wait overnight

Throughout the day, more than 1,000 people stood in lines that formed outside and snaked through the rows of bookshelves inside the building. There were about 300 people in line overnight, some of whom waited up to 22 hours before James' arrival, said Kelly Fogel, the store's community relations coordinator.

It was Fogel's job to give them an enjoyable experience.

''We made sure they had food, water and juice, and we gave them Scrabble, Trivia and Word Search [games] to play,'' she said.

''What's important to us is to keep them happy and let everybody get a chance to see LeBron,'' she said.

About 30 additional employees were brought in to make sure the event went off without a hitch, and dozens of police officers were on hand to keep the crowds from getting rowdy.

By agreement, James was at the book store for 90 minutes.

The parking lot had a carnival atmosphere as the Irish Marching Band performed, and cheerleaders got the crowd excited under the direction of coach Dave Colopy.

Some of James' fans said they made friendships during the long overnight wait.

Illinois State University students Andrew Short, Aaron Ahart, and LeVonne Verges said they ''bonded'' with Byran Stinchcomb and Jimmy Jones of Kokomo, Ind., and Jason Shoemaker of Cuyahoga Falls, over games of corn hole and football.

Three visit alma mater

The three said they visited James' high school alma mater before they arrived at the bookstore Friday afternoon.

Patty Burdon, the school's public relations director, said the school welcomes visitors who want to see the school James attended.

She admitted the national recognition the high school has received ''is pretty fabulous.''

''One of the things LeBron and Buzz wanted to stress in the book is the high academic standards at the school. You can't coast though St. V and LeBron's not a coaster,'' she said.

Keeners in first group

As expected, the Keener family was the first group to ride up the escalator, greet James and have their book signed. James smiled at the children and was as cordial as the brief meeting would allow.

Eight-year-old Tommy Keener, who wore a LeBron James basketball jersey, will remember the day he bumped knuckles with James.

His sister, 11-year-old Abby, shook the star's hand. ''That was awesome,'' she said.

source : By Kathy Antoniotti
Beacon Journal staff writer

Delonte West's firearms arrest another challenge for the Cleveland Cavaliers

Joshua Gunter/The Plain Dealer

Delonte West has always received support from the Cavaliers regardless of the situation, but last week's arrest on firearms charges are yet another obstacle to the relationship between player and team.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There’s no doubt that Delonte West was in the wrong for speeding on a motorcycle with three loaded guns when he was pulled over by police in suburban Washington D.C. Thursday night. After that, though, not much is cut and dry.

The last 12 months have been a constant and complex balancing act for West and the Cavaliers, who dearly love their hard-nosed guard’s personality and ability. What to do about this latest situation might prove the most dicey.

Though they would never talk about these issues publicly and discuss it very little privately, it has been a challenge for the team on how to handle West.

Last August, West was charged with marijuana possession in Prince George’s County, Md., while he was a restricted free agent and the Cavs were in a contract stalemate with him. The team had a difficult decision because it places a high value on character within the locker room. Usually this would be a red flag on any free agent.

So they had several long talks with him and then did some checking on the facts. Ultimately, they decided to trust him and gave him a three-year contract worth $12.6 million. It turned out to be fair -- after investigation the district attorney dropped the charges against West a few weeks after he signed the contract.

During a training camp practice last season West exploded at a referee and then teammates and coaches who tried to break it up. It was a stunning mood switch for a player who is often easygoing, never seems to budge under pressure on the floor and usually is cracking jokes.

Shortly after that, West left the team to get treatment for a mood disorder that he said he’s battled his whole life. His teammates were quite supportive. The team wanted to do whatever it could to help him from time off to treatment to simple positive re-enforcement.

When he returned, West opened himself up to the fans by talking about his struggle with bipolar disorder. It not only endeared him even more to the fan base that was attracted to his style of play and personality, but also to people who have battled mood disorders and depression. Mail poured into the Cavs from people who West had inspired.

West then went out and had the best season of his career, his first as a full-time starter. He was a significant factor in the Cavs winning 66 games. But behind the scenes there was never a doubt that he was often battling with his emotional problems.

Some games West would sit in his uniform at his locker for an hour after the game staring into space. Sometimes he would refuse to talk to anyone. Other times he would be his jovial self, cracking up the locker room and fitting into the team’s pregame “family photos.” He filmed several segments for the ESPN show “Jim Rome is Burning,” showcasing his dry sense of humor that made him a YouTube hit.

But he also often came to games late, even showing up to a home playoff game an hour before tipoff. Once, at a game in Los Angeles, West wasn’t on the bench when he was introduced as a starter and no one on the team seemed to know where he was for a few minutes.

Those episodes, however, never seemed to affect his play. Trying to be supportive, the team apparently gave him plenty of space. The media, appreciative of how open he’d been and sensitive to his battle, looked the other way.

It was the same this summer when another YouTube video appeared of West and a friend waiting for their food to be cooked in a KFC drive-thru. Making jokes and freestyle rapping, West was quite funny. But numerous people left comments that it wasn’t funny because it appeared he was under the influence of something.

Whatever the circumstances, the image couldn’t have made the team happy even as they continued to try to be supportive of West’s issues.

Which leads to this current situation. It likely will come out in time just what West’s state of mind was as he traveled down the highway with the guns. His father told The Washington Post, “all I can say is Delonte was looking behind his back and protecting himself” and hinted he was concerned for his safety for some reason.

No matter what, it isn’t going to be as simple as West did something wrong and then he’ll be punished. There are gray areas and decisions the Cavs may have to make about how to deal with West. How they can continue to try to help him, how to understand him. Or perhaps even where they should draw the line.

source : By Brian Windhorst September 19, 2009, 9:39PM