New Nickname

I've called them, the SuperFriends.  I've heard other nicknames from Miami Thrice to the Big Three.  None of those were catchy enough LeBron.  In a postgame interview after the win in Charlotte on Monday night, he announced the trio's new nickname.  The Heatles.  Get it?  Heatles.  Named after the Beatles.  Yeah, I find it wack too.  His reasoning is that when they go on the road, they sell out arenas like a rock band.  Yeah, that might be true LeBron, but that's still corny as hell.  Last time I checked, you don't give yourself a nickname.  Heck, my 1 1/2 year old son has a book about a turtle wanting to give himself a nickname.  In the book, the turtle's friends tell him it don't roll that way.  So you already know this ain't cool.  Try again LeBron.  Try again.

Source: Yahoo Sports

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Truly A Blessing

So yesterday, I was watching the news and saw a story on this man, Ted Williams.  He's a homeless man out of Columbus, Ohio who has quite the talent.  He has a radio voice that's out of this world.  You would never think a voice would come from this man.  The local Columbus Dispatch conducted an interview with him off the expressway.  Check it out:



As you heard, he fell on hard times due to drugs and alcohol.  Thank the Lord he's been sober for two years.  So after the Columbus Dispatch posted the video on You Tube, he received an job offer.  A job offer from the Cleveland Cavaliers.  A spokesman for the Cavaliers says that they are trying to work out the details on a position for him which may include him working at Quicken Loans Arena.  So many people paid him no mind getting off the expressway.  It took a local paper to take the time out to speak and film Williams and now, it changed his life forever.  Kudos to the Columbus Dispatch.  Shows people still have hearts.

Source: ESPN

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Trouble In Paradise???

The two-time defending World Champion Los Angeles Lakers haven't played as such the past few weeks.  Dropping an embarrassing loss to the Memphis Grizzliers at home Sunday night 104-85.  Boos rang down and down loudly on the club in the Staples Center.  Kobe had to revert to the old Kobe for a bit in the game last night.  You remember the old Kobe.  Taking the majority of the shots.  Going one on five.  In the 3rd quarter, the Lakers had a total of 22 shots.  Kobe had 12 of them by himself.  That didn't sit well with head coach Phil Jackson.  Jackson said:

"Kobe had to screw up the game and start energizing the team by going one-on-one. That takes the rest of the guys out and as a consequence, that didn't bring us back in."

Well damn.  Shots fired, no safety. Get low. Well, I can't blame Kobe totally.  He found that his team was struggling and he tried to kick start a rally.  It just never came.  But I've noticed that the Lakers are being outplayed by younger talent in their losses the past few weeks.  Memphis with Gay, Mayo, and Conley last night.  San Antonio with a few of their young stars last week. Can't forget the Superfriends of Miami on Christmas Day.  I honestly don't think there's cause for concern.  I rememeber LeBron & Shaq as Cavaliers smacked L.A. by 20 on Christmas last year.  Who ended up hoisting the championship trophy in June?  Oh, okay.  Yes, the landscape has changed dramatically this season.  The emergence of Dallas, San Antonio, and even Utah in the West.  Can't forget Oklahoma City as well.  I say that to say that even with the Lakers stuggling right now, wouldn't you want it to happen now than let's say April?  It's not even the All Star break and people want to hit the panic button.  Relax.  The Zen Master himself will meditate and get his ball club back on track.  If the Lakers bomb and lose 17 out of their last 18 games like another team I know, *cough cough* the Cavaliers, *cough cough*, then please by all means grab a hammer and bang the crap out of the panic button for the Lake Show.

Source: L.A. Times, ESPN Los Angeles

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Caron Butler's Season Could Be Done

Word out of Dallas is that Caron Butler has a tear in the patellar tendon in his right knee.  He suffered the injury Saturday night in Milwaukee.  He was flying in for an offensive rebound where he planted to jump and his knee gave way.  The Mavs aren't sure if it's a partial or full tear of the tendon. They are waiting for the results from the MRI. If it's a partial tear, he could only be sidelined for about 2 months.  If a full tear, he's done for the year.  This comes at a bad time because Dirk Nowitski has been day-to-day with a sprained knee.  Butler becomes a free agent after this season.  So hopefully this injury won't hurt his chances on landing a contract in the summer.

Source: ESPN Dallas

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Word On The Street

Is that the Cleveland Cavaliers are interested in the 6'11" power forward Andray Blatche of the Washington Wizards.  He's averaging 17 points and 8 rebounds a game this season.  With the Wizards bringing in Rashard Lewis a few weeks ago, I guess Blatche is expendable.  Or maybe the fact that the fight with his teammate JaVale McGee done him in.  Either way, I feel bad for him.  The Wizards aren't any better than the Cavs.  At least in Washington, he has John Wall.  In my book, John Wall > Mo Williams.

Source: The News Herald

Not MVP Material

Finally, LeBron has said something that I can agree with.  He's not winning the MVP for a third consecutive time this season.  The reigning two-time MVP of the NBA admits that taking his talents to South Beach diminished his chances or even Dwyane Wade's on winning the award. LeBron on his MVP chances by joining the Superfriends in Miami:

"When we decided to come together our Most Valuable Player chances kind of went out the window. I think they classify it as an individual award. They look at it like the less help you have, the more numbers you have then the better chance for you to win that award."

Now don't get me wrong, LeBron plays an intricate part in the Heat's success so far.  He doesn't have to score the brunt of the team's points.  He can concentrate on grabbing boards and dropping dimes.  D-Wade is the one you see with the 30 or 40+ points.  But that's what he wanted.  He didn't want to be the workhorse anymore.  James, Wade, and Bosh all sacrificed their individuality to form the juggernaut. It's working out pretty well if you ask me.  I'm sure if you asked LeBron if he would trade MVP trophies for the Larry O'Brien and a championship ring, he would do it in a heartbeat.


Source: ESPN's Heat Index

Not A Good Sign

Brandon Roy of the Portland Trail Blazers has been bothered by nagging soreness in his knees. He hasn't played since Dec. 15th. Back in Nov, he took himself out in a game against New Orleans because of the knee problems. With him missing games, general manager of the Blazers Rich Cho may be contemplating shutting down Roy for the rest of the year. When asked by The Oregonian about making that decision, Cho answered:

"I can tell you it will most likely be for an extended period. We’ve talked about (ending his season) and it’s a possibility, but we want to explore a couple of other things first.’’

Roy has missed 10 total games this season. The Blazers have already had their heart broken with another young star of theirs. Greg Oden. Oden has missed this season due to another knee injury. So GM Cho definitely wants to make the right move for the young career of Brandon Roy.

Source: OregonLive.com