Drama queen role fit for King James

Perhaps a Nike representative whispered into the ear of LeBron James and told him that all this talk of his impending free agency comes across as being disrespectful to his teammates and to the Cavaliers organization.

Other than the Witnesses living in the Cleveland region, no one is apt to be in a rush to buy shoes from an out-of-touch narcissist.

Whatever the deal, the narcissist finally - and thankfully - decided that enough is enough with his free agency obsession last week.

His teammates know too much already. They know he was all gushy on his last visit in Manhattan, where the Knicks are clearing salary cap space to make room for him. They know he is big buddies with Jay-Z, the rap mogul who has a minority ownership stake in the Nets. And they know James and Dwyane Wade have discussed uniting as a tandem.

Long before the calendar turns to July 1, 2010, though, James has more urgent matters to handle, namely an interminable regular season, the challenge of the postseason and an attempt to maximize the production of the aging Shaquille O'Neal.

"Honestly, you know, this free agency talk is getting old," James said before the Cavaliers played the Magic last week. "You know, it's getting old. I'm going to stop. I think tonight will probably be the last time I answer any more free agent questions until the offseason. I think I owe it to my teammates. I owe it to myself. It's just getting old."

If it is getting old, it is only because James has encouraged and reveled in the speculation. It is only because James is looking forward to being feted like a king in the cities he plans to visit in the offseason. He sees himself as King James, after all.

But James is more drama queen than King James. He is an adulation junkie. Amid the flashing of cameras, he wants to walk across a red carpet with flower petals strewn about it.

All this incessant talk degrades his teammates and devalues the task at hand, which is the business of winning games.

Perhaps James caught one of his teammates rolling his eyes after hearing him discuss anew his free agency, for he spent several minutes deconstructing the topic for the umpteenth time before deciding it was inappropriate in the midst of a season.

"I'm focusing on this season, and this is going to be a really good season for us," James said. "I don't want to have any more distractions to my teammates, to my organization, to my family. This will be the last time I answer a free agent question for the rest of the year."

We are left to hope he sticks to his vow.

But do not be surprised if James, in a moment of self-indulgence, neglects the promise and talks wistfully of July 1 yet again.

It is all about James, in case you did not know.

It is his world, and you should be thankful that you are allowed to live in it.

When he speaks, he expects the world to take notes and respond accordingly.

He has instructed David Stern and the NBA to retire No. 23 in honor of Michael Jordan.

In conjunction with his edict, James said he will not wear No. 23 next season and perhaps will change to No. 6, which is comical if you know the history of the NBA.

No. 6 was worn by the game's greatest winner, Bill Russell.

Russell claimed 11 championships in 13 seasons, two as a player-coach, which dwarfs Jordan's six championships.

But who is keeping count? James certainly isn't.

"I don't think anyone in the NBA should be wearing No. 23," he told TNT's Craig Sager.

If pressed, his employers would say it is a fine idea, too.

They do not want to offend his highness.

They either have read or watched the same self-absorbed interviews as everyone else and can only hope James is not as eager as he sounds about July 1.

An 0-2 start is a wake-up call for Shaquille O'Neal and Cavaliers

Shaq's arrival changes the dynamic for Cleveland, which now plays even slower and, apparently, is easier to defend -- not an ideal situation in LeBron James' walk year. Everywhere else, no matter what happens, the sun comes up the next morning, but not in Cleveland, where the skies wept after the hated Celtics messed up Shaquille O'Neal and LeBron James' debut.

You remember that preseason consensus that James wasn't going anywhere?

Looks like it's time for a new consensus.

This just in: NBA sources say James narrows list of teams he'll consider as a free agent if the Cavaliers tank to 15!

Actually, I made that up to get a jump on the 12 ESPN pundits. Of course, for me as well as for them, if any part of it comes true, I had it first.

Actually, the morning after the opener in Cleveland was wet and dark because it rained. Even if people couldn't see it, the sun came up there, too, presumably.

Unfortunately, that night the Cavaliers were torched in Toronto, where the Raptors spread them out and made them look like traffic cones. When Coach Mike Brown tried the O'Neal-Zydrunas Ilgauskas tandem -- 14 feet worth of slow-reacting big men -- so much traffic whizzed around them, it looked like they needed a Boy Scout to help them cross a busy street.

Of course, the Cavaliers saw a slow start coming before they opened, noting it was a long season, etc.

It is, and this should work, maybe 55 wins' worth, which wouldn't be a disaster. It would just feel like one.

If O'Neal has lost his old explosion, he never lost his old aura. Even with Shaq at 37, expectations still bounce off the ceiling.

"Shaq" and "dominant" just seem to go together, as when James noted after O'Neal's 10-point opener, "He was dominant at times."

Holy bat guano! James should have seen O'Neal in his prime, when it was like trying to lasso Godzilla.

Having belatedly discovered conditioning, O'Neal has dialed back the years but he never regained that explosion that set him off from anyone his size, or would have, had there been anyone his size.

You could chart the decline, even in his Lakers years.

Larry Brown, one of the few coaches to dare single-covering him in his prime, tried it with Philadelphia in the 2001 Finals with defensive player of the year Dikembe Mutombo, and the 2004 Finals in Detroit with 6-foot-7 Ben Wallace.

In 2001, O'Neal averaged 33, laying Mutombo out repeatedly with leading elbows in a 4-1 Lakers romp.

In 2004, Shaq averaged 27 as the rest of the Pistons held Kobe Bryant to 39% shooting from the field in a 4-1 Detroit romp.

Still, the aura remained. With O'Neal at 34 in the 2006 Finals with Miami, Dallas Coach Avery Johnson not only double-teamed Shaq, he hacked him, to boot, putting the Mavericks in the penalty early and leaving three of them to guard four Heat players.

Voila! Dwyane Wade shot 73 free throws in the last four games, which Miami won while Dallas owner Mark Cuban railed about the referees.

LeBron James hosts his annual King for Kids Bike-a-thon in Akron

Name a sporting event that doesn't keep score but has 1,100 winners and LeBron James.

The NBA draft would be a bad guess.

But if you picked James' own King for Kids Bike-a-thon in Akron on Saturday, you can sit in the winners' circle with the 1,100 bikers who rode for charity.

And maybe Akron itself was a winner, too. Mayor Don Plusquellic certainly thought so.

In the past 20 years, the city's downtown has gone from the world's largest vacant lot to a vibrant urban center that gleams and teems with a splendidly intimate ball park and myriad destination restaurants.

The mayor was pleased because James burnished the city's luster when he let it slip out that he was committed to maintaining the bike-a-thon as an annual event no matter what.

But Mahogany Gibson didn't come to dine or take in a game. And neither did Christopher Beard.

They were among the first heat of riders, ages 9 through 14, who formed up in ranks and files like horse cavalry to charge around a one-mile course.

As they and the others waited, volunteer chaperone Dennis Leonard walked along his 11 charges like an unusually genial sergeant, adjusting helmet straps and checking for seat adjustment.

Before they took off, James took the stage and told everyone that he doesn't talk much, "but I'm real excited about this. My whole passion is about inner-city kids."

Plusquellic said that the King "loves to give back" and that his combination of generosity and talent is what elevates him above other NBA stars.

The young riders were also givers. Their participation was in recognition of their efforts in the community and in school.

But they weren't the only competitors. Deaveon Sharpe, 7, was among many scrambling for autographs. She asked a reporter for his and stopped when he said, "I'm nobody." "Yes you are," she protested. "You own the Cavs."

She was directed across the street to Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry, who doesn't own the team, either, but knows who does.

A relative said she'd already scored the signatures of Mo Williams, Cavs coach Mike Brown and "America's Got Talent" host Nick Cannon.

Brett Cavallaro and his son, Noah, 8, came up from Columbus for the family event, a three-mile course. Noah said the biggest challenges were "the hills." Dad said they'd be in the eight-mile main event next year because Noah lamented that the family course "wasn't long enough."

There was no final score on how much was raised for charity, but last year's event funneled $50,000 to the Akron YMCA and the Urban League, through the LeBron James Family Foundation. The mayor's office estimates that a total of 3,000 were downtown for the race, including spectators.

But there were other, less tangible achievements, too.

The best trophies are the ones that are deserved but unexpected, and 11-year-old Andrew Petrisko of Elyria got just such a prize Saturday.

No one may have noticed as he queued up in the first rank for the kids' one-mile event. His presence itself was the trophy.

Andrew has focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, an ailment that placed him in end-stage kidney failure.

His father, Scott, said that as late as a month ago, his son's health made it appear impossible for Andrew to enter. He'd been prepared to ride in a Carebike, a combination wheelchair and bicycle powered by someone else.

But he responded with unexpected speed to an experimental new drug treatment at Akron Children's Hospital.

After the race, Andrew told his dad, "That was awesome."

Andrew's next words were "Can we leave now?" because he had a baseball game in Elyria.

LeBron James meets with President Barack Obama

Silver Spring, Md.- LeBron James visited the White House and attended a movie premiere on Monday in his first public appearances since undergoing surgery to remove a benign growth on his jaw on June 1.

The Cavaliers star looked happy and subdued, and a little self-conscious about the noticeable scar around his right ear, as he walked the red carpet before the premiere of "More Than a Game," the documentary about James and his high school basketball buddies at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron. The premiere kicked off the Silver docs Film Fes tival in Silver Spring, Md.

James ar rived at the premiere with high school teammates Dru Joyce III, Ro meo Travis, Willie McGee and Sian Cotton, former coach Dru Joyce II, Maverick Carter, the CEO of James' LRMR Marketing, and Akron native and the filmmaker Kristopher Belman.

James, wearing a blue pinstripe suit with no tie and his trademark sunglasses, posed for pictures with his friends and teammates. A large number of former teachers, administrators, classmates and alumni from St. Vincent-St. Mary were on hand, and when James and his teammates arrived a band was playing the school's fight song.

"We had a lot of fun with this because these are my best friends," James said. "This was all about friendship for us and it is great to share this."

Despite the large scar behind and on the side of his right ear, James showed no other effects from the surgery. He answered a few questions about the film, but did not answer questions about the surgery or reports that the Cavaliers are trying to acquire Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal.

James visited the White House on Monday afternoon in an appearance that was off the public schedule. He said hello to President Barack Obama (the two know one another from the campaign trail, and the president is a huge hoops fan) and got a tour of the West Wing.

It was unclear whether King James upstaged the other VIP at the White House Monday afternoon - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Nike sticks with LeBron James puppet for Finals

Elimination beckoned, and we all figured we knew what that meant. The run was over, here comes summer vacation, it's time to go fishing.

Except the Nike puppets didn't go away.

Even without LeBron James in the NBA Finals, Nike continues to run ads with the LeBron and Kobe Bryant puppets, playing on the theme that Kobe made the Finals and LeBron has to stay home baby-sitting the little kid next door, Lil Dez.

In fact, the new ads have proliferated like rabbits, becoming YouTube staples and reaching the anchor desk on ESPN's "SportsCenter," with puppet LeBron and puppet Kobe plugging two brand names at once.

"It really wasn't about pitting Kobe versus LeBron in the Finals for us," Nike spokesman DeJuan Wilkins said. "If you look at the seasons and careers that both Kobe and LeBron have had, they're quite impressive.

"We felt this was a time when a lot of people would be paying attention to basketball [at] the largest stage during the playoffs. This was a moment for us to celebrate that, what these guys have accomplished.

"For us, the strategy has always been to show the strength of those two guys together. With LeBron and the [Cleveland] Cavaliers being eliminated from the playoffs, our goal was to continue to showcase both Kobe and LeBron."

The commercials, created and produced by Wieden and Kennedy, play off a consistent theme: One puppet trying to annoy the other/others into submission. Lil Dez is so hyper that when he finally shuts up, overwhelmed by long rows of Nike shoes, he reaches for an inhaler.

The puppets earned enough attention that they served as motivation for the Orlando Magic during the conference finals. Members of the Magic said the commercials assumed the Lakers and the Cavaliers were both Finals-bound, that their chances were being ignored.

When Orlando ousted the Cavaliers, some media types wondered whether Nike would quickly bring out a Dwight Howard puppet. Not a chance -- Howard represents Adidas.

Wilkins said the company has heard that while the LeBron puppet bears a passable resemblance to the real James, the Kobe puppet, sporting a goatee, does not look like the real Bryant.

"You know, he's gone back and forth, you look at old pictures, he definitely had a goatee," Wilkins said. "I think he's at a stage now where he doesn't wear it that often, and when he does, its very, very light."

Howard, meanwhile, settled in with a Vitaminwater commercial that spoofs the Kobe-LeBron ad that the company ran during earlier playoff rounds.

So regardless of what happens on the court the rest of the way, Howard at least gets the last laugh somewhere.

Leap to Europe for LeBron possible but highly unlikely

"It would be unthinkable for a top-level NBA star to leave and play in Europe. (But if anyone did, it's not hard to imagine it would be LeBron James.)

Just as it was unthinkable for an American Olympic team with NBA players to lose the gold. (Bronze in 2004.)

Just as it was unthinkable for an international player to be the NBA's Most Valuable Player (Dirk Nowitzki, 2007) or to be the NBA's top draft pick (Yao Ming, Andrew Bogut, Andrea Bargnani).

In an ESPN.com poll, 70 percent of voters, many of them perhaps prematurely despondent Clevelanders, said they expected a big NBA star to jump to Europe. Will it happen? Probably not. Is it remotely possible? Absolutely.

European basketball isn't really the bush leagues, although it is a big step below the NBA. The big difference is the cut-throat capitalism of European front offices. There is no salary cap. NBA rules let a player's current team pay him more than NBA rivals trying to sign him. It doesn't apply in international basketball.

Earl Boykins, the 5-foot, 5-inch Munchkin from Cleveland Central Catholic and a former Cavalier, is now the highest-paid player in Italy at $3.5 million per year. That's a pittance in the NBA, but Boykins' deal with Virtus Bologna gives him a cut of marketing and sponsorship income.

That's outlawed in the NBA, as is a slice of the ownership pie, another possible European inducement. That might intrigue James, who sees himself as a business tycoon.

He wants to be a billionaire. The rumored European salary is $50 million a year. Compare that to Michael Jordan's top NBA salary of $33 million.

Years ago, eager for NBA gold, James briefly considered challenging the high-school graduation rules in effect at the time for pro eligibility, then backed off.

James is certain to be a Cav for two more seasons. When his contract is up in 2010, he can sign for 25 percent of his team's salary cap. It's 20 percent now. That's why he only re-signed for three years, not four."

Source: LeBron would consider European offer of $50 million a year or more

Jay-Z and the New Jersey Nets? Mike D'Antoni and the New York Knicks?

Heck, the Cleveland Cavaliers' strongest competition for LeBron James' long-term services could be the deep-pocketed new kid on the block -- Europe.

A person close to James said Tuesday that the Cavaliers' superstar would strongly consider playing overseas if he was offered a salary of "around $50 million a year."

James' current contract expires after the 2009-10 season, and while several NBA teams are working to create salary cap space for his impending free agency, none could offer a contract beginning at even $20 million a year.

The Russian team CSKA Moscow and the Greek team Olympiacos, which recently gave Josh Childress a contract approaching $30 million over three years, have already contacted James, according to the person close to him. The person added, however, that no monetary or contractual discussions have taken place.

While $50 million a year seems outlandish, it is within the realm of possibility, considering the $250 million contract David Beckham received two years ago to join the MLS, the $33 million Michael Jordan was paid by the Chicago Bulls in 1997-1998, the strength of the euro in comparison to the dollar, and the fact that European clubs are not bound by a salary cap.

While several NBA players have left the league this summer for more lucrative contracts in Europe, no stars have done so -- or even considered it. Joel Litvin, the NBA's president of league and basketball operations, said the league is not concerned about this developing trend.

"I don't want to say it's much ado about nothing, but we think it's overblown a bit," Litvin said. "It's not something we're losing sleep over. "

But losing a player of James's magnitude would be nothing short of a nightmare for the NBA.

"For the most part, the league considers the players to be fungible products," an official from the Players Association said. "But LeBron is one of the three or four players the league would definitely hate to lose. If a team lost him or Kobe [Bryant] to Europe, it would lose its mind. It would be devastating."

But both Litvin and the Players Association official said they don't foresee anything -- even the loss of a superstar -- leading the NBA to eliminate the salary cap and thereby compete financially with the European teams.

"It would be disappointing to lose one of our star players, but I have no concern at all about the best players playing anywhere but in the NBA for a long time to come," Litvin said. "I'd be surprised if one of our top players chose to go to Europe but if it did happen, there are many players who would step up and fill the void."

The source close to James said he would only play in Europe for a year or two before returning to the NBA. He said James would view it as an opportunity to popularize the game and himself overseas. He added that James would not consider himself to be playing in the "minor leagues."

"Not at all," the person said. "He believes those guys are pros also." "

LeBron James likes N.Y., (Cleveland, L.A., Florida and Jupiter, too!)

Asked about the different stories he told various reporters, including conflicting statements about his age, hometown and even his full name, Dizzy Dean said, "Them ain't lies. Them's scoops."
These days, LeBron James is channeling Ol' Diz.
On June 29, James told WKNR 850's Mark "Munch" Bishop, "I'm dedicated to bringing a championship to this city. I'm bringing a parade to this city. I love this city. I love Northeast Ohio. Right now, I can't see myself going anywhere else."
The next week, he called New York his favorite city and Brooklyn his favorite borough in it.
Since the Nets are to move to Brooklyn in time for James' free-agency season in 2010, and since James' friend, the rapper Jay-Z, has a small part of the Nets' ownership, this was proof that James was halfway out The Q's door.
Except James has a pattern of pledging his allegiance to various teams and various places --- at various times.
He convinced a Sports Illustrated reporter that he was an Ohio State fan in early 2003. James and his Akron high school teammates were playing on ESPN the night after the collegiate football championship game. The story depicted an ebullient James in his Los Angeles hotel room, celebrating the Buckeyes' double-overtime victory.
Or was he made happier than anything by the loss of the Miami Hurricanes in the game?
By Olympic training camp in Jacksonville, Fla., in 2004, James was presenting himself as a fan of Florida State. "I've always been a Seminole," he said, despite going directly from high school in Akron to the NBA.
Over the years, he has said how fond he is of Southern Cal (when in Los Angeles), of Oregon (when in Portland), of North Carolina (in Charlotte), and of Michigan State (in Detroit.) If he had had to go to college, he would have needed a closet full of freshman beanies.
When young, he followed the pro teams that were powers in the 1990s -- the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bulls and the Yankees. The Yankees seem to be the only one that has stuck, at least in ballcap controversies. Even at that, cameras caught him in an Indians cap when the 2008 Olympic team gathered for early meetings recently.
What is important is that James' favorite team really is the Cavs. He likes his teammates and coach and is well-liked by them. He wants his supporting cast to get better. Considering how much he has done for the team and city, he is entitled to say that.
Certainly when he was younger, James told people what they wanted to hear. He has not entirely gotten over that inclination.
His comments about various cities also might be nothing more than a way of attracting the spotlight in times when the news is slow. But they seem to indicate a tug of war between the crossover appeal of the acting and music opportunities in New York and the ties of family and friends he has to Northeast Ohio.
If Cleveland does not offer the entertainment forums of New York, it also offers enough unconditional love to trump any rival. He has "Chosen 1" tattooed on his back, but we chose him as franchise and city savior.
What he says ain't necessarily lies, but it ain't news either. It will take a while to find out what's the scoop with him.

LeBron offering sage advice

When LeBron James was a rookie, he preferred to learn by doing.

He kept in touch with several friends around the NBA who were veterans, but for the most part, he wanted to experience everything for himself. But not every young star feels that way, including the Seattle SuperSonics' budding franchise player, Kevin Durant, and James is happy to oblige.

After getting to know each other last summer when Durant trained with Team USA in Las Vegas, James and Durant have built a relationship and often the Cavaliers' star serves as a mentor.

''I was in the same position Kevin was coming into the league and trying to be the face of a franchise and try to lead the team to victory,'' James said. ''He's having his difficulties in his first year, just like I had my difficulties.''

Durant and James talk or text message each other every few days, discussing everything from the game to their personal lives to injuries. Durant recently had a sprained finger and James, who suffered the same injury last month, gave advice about how to treat it.

''He's been like a big brother to me,'' Durant said. ''I'm very fortunate to have a relationship with probably the best player in the world, and I'm going to take advantage of it.''

James is embracing the role. Not only has he grown into the captain of the Cavs, but he's also built a core of friends around the league who come to him for advice, even though he just celebrated his 23rd birthday last week.

''It's kind of funny because sometimes I'll be a mentor to guys who are older than me,'' James said. ''But I was in the league before them, so I kind of know the ins and outs. It's kind of cool.''

In the locker room

• Zydrunas Ilgauskas is averaging 14 points and a career-high 9.9 rebounds. Usual All-Star Shaquille O'Neal is having a bad year and is out with an injury, so there is a chance Ilgauskas could contend for his third career All-Star Game berth. But he doesn't think so.

''I don't think I've got the numbers for that. If they would consider me, that would be a great honor,'' Ilgauskas said. ''But I also look forward to having those days off, too.''

• Anderson Varejao returned Tuesday after missing a practice with a right quad strain. The injury is likely to nag Varejao for a while, but the team doesn't think he'll have to miss any games. ''It bothers me a little bit when I jump,'' Varejao said. ''I am just going to have to warm up good.''

• Cedric Simmons will play his third game with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League tonight. In two games last weekend, Simmons averaged 11.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 blocks in 28 minutes per game.

No, LeBron James blog is not dead!!!

I just can't write as often as before because of my college duties...

So, what to say about LeBron so far this season? Hahaha nothing more than we already know - PERFECTION!!! :)


He missed 5 last games because of sprained left index finger and we can all see that he is tired of his team losing without him! So, he'll probably be in lineup tonight against Pacers but it's a game-time decision...


It can only get better for Cavs :)

'Saturday Night Live' Kicks Off 33rd Season With LeBron James, Kanye West

Fresh of its recent Emmy wins, NBC's "Saturday Night Live" returns for its 33rd season on September 29 (11:30 p.m. - 1:00 a.m. ET) for three consecutive shows with a diverse and star-studded line-up.

"Saturday Night Live" continues its historic run while breaking new ground, including recently taking home two Emmy Awards, including an Emmy for the SNL Digital Short-turned internet phenomenon -- "D**k in a Box."

The show kicks off its new season September 29 with one of the newest generation of NBA superstars -- Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James. Joining James in his second appearance on SNL (and second SNL Season Premiere) is hip-hop icon Kanye West.

October 6 brings the star of the two biggest comedy hits of the summer to SNL -- writer-producer-actor Seth Rogen. Joining Rogen in making their SNL debut is the critically praised indie band Spoon.

On October 13 , "SNL" will serve a double helping of rock with host Jon Bon Jovi and musical guest Foo Fighters.

James sees better than ever after eye surgery

LeBron James took another step toward improving his game last week, undergoing Lasik eye surgery in Beverly Hills, Calif.

The procedure, performed by Dr. Kerry K. Assil, is designed to improve vision and assures a faster recovery. James' vision has improved to 20/15, according to Assil, and he has already been cleared to resume workouts.

Lasik, which typically takes 10 to 15 minutes, involves a surgeon creating a corneal flap. The flap is then peeled back and a laser is used to reshape the cornea. Once the cornea is reshaped, light rays coming into the eye will properly focus on the retina for clearer vision.

James recently led the United States team to a gold medal in the FIBA Americas tournament in Las Vegas, which qualified them for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

He is scheduled to host the season premiere of "Saturday Night Live" from New York on Sept. 29. On Oct. 2, James and the Cavaliers open training camp and defense of their Eastern Conference championship.

James Is Just One of the Guys

Kobe Bryant was the first to track down LeBron James, elevating to chest bump the star after he made a ridiculous, 40-foot bank shot at the end of the first half of the United States' 113-76 victory over Brazil on Sunday.

James howled and scowled. Then, one by one, James's teammates rushed to bump chests with him to celebrate the just-inside-of-half-court heave that gave the United States a 19-point lead and kept Brazil at bay.

A day later, the United States looked lethargic and uninterested at halftime against Mexico until James anointed himself "the energy man" and scored 16 points, including three three-pointers, in the first seven minutes of the third period to spark another lopsided victory in the FIBA Americas Championship.

James hasn't been asked to score much, only to fill the gaps in this Olympic qualifying tournament. No longer playing the role as "King" of the Cavaliers -- the team he led to the last NBA Finals June -- James is relishing being just another member of the court.

"Whatever they need from me," said James, who averaged 13.8 points, 5.5 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals in the first five games of this Olympic qualifying tournament. "This is about the team."

Before exploding for a combined 40 points against Brazil and Mexico, James was content crashing the boards and being the team's best playmaker not named Jason Kidd. "If my teammates need me to score, or if I sense they need me to score, I'll do that," he said. "I'm still going to rack up the rebounds and assists."

If the Americans need a stop, James is reading the passing lanes like a defensive back to get steals and get the team off and running on the break. He is breaking up lulls in action with electrifying, Youtube-worthy dunks or finding Bryant and Carmelo Anthony cutting to the basket for slams. And, the 6-foot-8 James even played extended minutes at power forward when Tayshaun Prince went down with an ankle injury and Anthony was in foul trouble early against Brazil.

"For me, it wasn't such a bad thing," said James, who claims that he has beefed up to 260 pounds since the Spurs swept him out in the NBA Finals. "I'm used to playing big minutes and I put my body in good shape to do that."

With role players like this, who are the stars, again?

"Kobe, LeBron and a number of guys are saying, 'I'm willing to change my role from what it is on my current team to fit this team,' " U.S. Coach said. "It's called being unselfish.

"Our guys are only concerned about one score, the score on the scoreboard. You have two of the great players in the world in Kobe and LeBron and they're fine. They're fine. LeBron is more of a pass-first player anyway. You put him and Jason Kidd out on the court and you almost have two point guards, which is why our break is so good."

With the exception of surrendering 100 points against Mexico, the Americans' defense has been solid as well, holding opponents to just 36 percent shooting and 73.4 points through the first five games. Bryant has set much of the defensive tone by taking on the challenge of guarding the opposing team's best players, but James has been especially active on the defensive end, switching on picks and shouting out instructions. He also has a team-high nine steals.

"I want to try to be as aggressive as I can on the defensive end and that's one aspect of the game that I've gotten better at," James said. "Being a leader on the court, I'm going to let my game speak for itself but I'm going to go out there and try to help us communicate the best we can on defense."

James has two bronze medals in international competition, after third-place finishes in the 2004 Olympics in Athens and the world championships last summer in Japan. He said he doesn't use those losses as motivation for winning a gold in Beijing next summer.

"It's not about making up [for the past], it's a new beginning for us," James said. "For me 2004 doesn't mean much. I was part of the team but I really wasn't part of the team. This is a new group of guys and we understand how important this is and we are going to come out and play hard and try to win. We always chant: '1, 2, 3, Dominate.' We know we can go out and play the game of basketball. We know we can beat anybody."

I apologize

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LeBron James to Host NBC's SNL

Live from New York, it's LeBron!
Cavaliers All-Star forward LeBron James, fresh off co-hosting the ESPY Awards earlier this month, will host the season premiere of 'Saturday Night Live' in September, an NBC spokesman confirmed Wednesday.
The 22-year-old James will be the latest prominent athlete to host 'SNL.' His boyhood idol, NBA superstar Michael Jordan, hosted the show in 1991. Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning appeared last season.
His 'SNL' appearance was first reported by Daily Variety.
James got positive reviews for his work co-hosting the ESPYs along with Jimmy Kimmel. The show honored the year's best sports moments and athletes.
James appeared in several skits and danced and sang a version of Bobby Brown's 'My Prerogative' with rewritten lyrics about his own fame.
Later this week, James is expected to report to mini-camp with the U.S. national team as it begins preparations for next month's FIBA Americas tournament, the regional qualifier for the 2008 Olympics.
Last season, James led Cleveland to its first NBA finals, where the Cavs were swept in four games by the San Antonio Spurs. He was the overall No. 1 pick in the 2003 draft, and in four seasons, James has become one of the league's star players as well as one of its most popular.

James' joke criticised

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LeBron James threw the baby out with the bath wa ter when he co-hosted the ESPYs last week. In trying to make fun of his "King James" image, he created a worse one in a matter of seconds.
Shouldn't anyone be in hot water after slam-dunking a baby?
The criticism has been slight so far because ESPN broadcasts the similarly named ESPYs, and the "worldwide leader" isn't going to criticize itself. Also, the ESPYs audience skews to the young and attention-challenged.

No one except comedian Dane Cook acknowledged the ill-advised skit. Cook wondered if James' dancing in a Hammer/Bobby Brown send-up or "when he dunked the baby" was more tasteless.
In the skit, James stood at the side of the stage, holding a baby in a blanket in his arms. The baby looked too big to be his infant second son, Bryce Maximus, but who knows? It's hard to tell on TV. Then James jumped and dunked a doll wrapped in the same blanket through a basket. After it smacked off the floor, he said, "Let's see if Angelina Jolie can adopt that baby."
Jolie is an actress, a magnet for the tabloids and entertainment shows, and one half of the Brangelina couple with Brad Pitt. People magazine can't publish without them.
Jolie is comic gold to some because she is a serial adopter. But international adoption agencies say her celebrity status has brought increased awareness of the problems children face in such impoverished nations as Cambodia and Ethiopia, from which she had adopted children. Other parents have been encouraged to follow her example. It was tone-deaf to bash this kind of work.
By the most generous interpretation, the skit was part of a show-long attempt by James to mock himself while throwing criticism back at his detractors.
Some fret about his egomania because he likes to be known as basketball royalty. So the Cavaliers forward entered the show on a throne, borne by muscle-bound bearers, with what looked like the Imperial margarine crown perched on his head. Co-host Jimmy Kimmel knelt and kissed his ring.
Those of us who have been around him for years in the media like him for this. He can poke fun at himself. It is rare in a world in which players take offense at any perceived slight and speak of themselves in the third person. Later in the show, James mocked his nervous habit of biting his fingernails, chewing at them as if they were an ear of corn.
As for the baby slam, however, if it was supposed to be some kind of reply to fans wondering why he hasn't married his girlfriend, it didn't work.
And why drag Angelina Jolie in for doing a good deed in a world in need of it?
It was shock for the sake of shock. James was playing against type as the guy who wants everyone to like him. It also was an appalling lapse in judgment.
Blaming the people who wrote the script doesn't work. James has made almost no missteps in his endorsement and entertainment career. He chooses smart, funny commercials that let him "showcase," to use one of his favorite terms, his sense of humor. He has held his own with David Letterman.
It was up to him to say he would not do the skit. Because humanitarianism isn't the butt of a joke. Because child abuse isn't funny.

LeBron welcomes baby boy

LeBron James will have at least one good memory from the Finals.
James' longtime girlfriend, Savannah Brinson, gave birth to the couple's second son just before 1 a.m. Thursday at Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital. Bryce Maximus James weighed in at 8 pounds, 6 ounces and was 21 inches long when he came into the world at 12:51 a.m. Brinson chose the first name and James picked the middle name in honor of Russell Crowe's character in the movie Gladiator, James' favorite movie.
It was a long night for both parents: Brinson was in labor for nearly nine hours, and James was unable to sleep, getting no rest until after the Cavs' shootaround at 11 a.m.
``It puts everything in perspective,'' James said. ``I think this is definitely special for me, being a part of this, being a part of the NBA, being a part of the NBA Finals. Having my family is an exciting time also -- it's great. Win, lose or draw, this is special to my family. To have another James come into the family, it doesn't get any better than that.''
James was happy he could be present for the birth. He had said he would miss the birth if it conflicted with a Finals game. He and Brinson have been together for more than four years. James, who is a year older, took Brinson to her senior prom at Buchtel High in 2004. The couple had their first child, LeBron James Jr., in October 2004.
Dad is hoping his two sons can follow in his footsteps.
``Right now, they look like two small, small forwards,'' James said. ``Kind of like Tayshaun Prince.''

Bruce Bowen defense?! :-/

Bruce Bowen went into Game 1 of the NBA Finals taking sole responsibility for limiting Cleveland Cavaliers' star LeBron James.
James didn't get his first basket of the game until 7:15 remained in the third period. He missed 12 of his 16 shots and had only four assists.
Bowen, though, took minimal personal satisfaction.
"I'm happy with the victory," he said. "He didn't have a 48-point game, and I'm happy with that."
It was up to Bowen's teammates to give Bowen the credit he deserved.
"We do a pretty good job containing people," Tim Duncan said. "It helps a little bit to have somebody like Bruce. That's definitely not something you look past. He's guarded every position throughout these playoffs, and he's done a great job with it. So a lot of credit to him."
During this playoff run, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has used Bowen on Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony, Deron Williams and now, James. He knows Bowen gives his team concept the best opportunity to succeed.
"He takes great pride in guarding the other team's best player," Popovich said. "He doesn't always stop him. Our team defense is what we count on, but team defense begins with individuals taking responsibility, and I think Bruce does that very well."
With four full days to prepare for the Cavs, the Spurs' coaches put together a defensive scheme to contain James that included strong hedging from the big men on pick-and-roll situations. That had the dual effect of double-teaming James while taking away his passing lanes.
Nevertheless, Bowen's approach was typically single-minded: Stay in front of James and prevent him from getting past to attack the rim and the Spurs' big men.
Duncan may be the NBA's best defender at the rim, but Bowen believes any defender that counts on him to clean up mistakes is defeated before he starts.
"If I rely on Tim, he gets past me, just like that," Bowen said, snapping his fingers. "Now it's LeBron with a head of steam against Tim Duncan. That's just a bad situation for Tim. Any time a big man is dealing with a guy coming at him with a full head of steam, it's difficult.
"So if I can do my job, in the process he can come over and help."
Midway through the first quarter, Bowen's defensive work on James forced the Cavs' star to give up his dribble, just as Duncan came over to help. A frustrated James ended up forcing up a shot that Duncan swatted right back at him.
Afterward, Bowen chuckled at the notion that Duncan might put a photo of the block in his locker. James has a photo of his dunk over Duncan in the Cavaliers' Nov.3 regular-season victory over the Spurs displayed in his locker in Cleveland.
"That's what our big fellow does for us," Bowen said, smiling. "Everybody here is trying to cover for one another. This is what happens at times."
Bowen knows what happened Thursday at AT&T Center is no guarantee the Spurs will have similar success against James in Sunday's Game 2.
"It's not something you can be too happy with at this point," Bowen said, "because at this point in the year it's about how you react after victories. I want to make sure I stay hungry and understand I can improve in some areas, as well."

LeBron James magic

Auburn Hills, Mich. -- LeBron James put on one of the most memorable playoff performances in NBA history on Thursday night.
James had dunks, fadeaway jumpers and he scored the winning basket in a thrilling 109-107 double-overtime victory over the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals.
James finished with 48 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in 51 minutes. He also scored 29 of the Cavs' last 30 points, including 25 straight. Cavs coach Mike Brown is glad he was a witness. "This was the single best game I've ever seen on this level and in this atmosphere hands down," Brown said. "He was absolutely phenomenal."
Despite his playoff-best performance, James was more satisfied with the victory.
"If I did everything I did tonight and we lost, it means nothing," James said. "The win is the most important thing for us, and we need one more win to reach our goal."
The Cavs are in the same position they were in last season in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Pistons. This time, however, the Cavs hope for different results. The Cavs can close out the series and the Pistons' season on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. in Game 6 at The Q.
"Willing my team to victory is definitely pleasing to me," James said. "This is one of the biggest wins in Cavaliers' history.
"But we have a goal. We can't dwell on this when we have another game on Saturday. We'll do our best to try to win that ball game and get where we want to be all year."
Just like last year, the Cavs trailed, 0-2, in the conference semifinals against the Pistons but roared back to win three straight. The Cavs forced a Game 7, but lost the series. Now, they're one game away from advancing to the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.
The Cavs led by two points late in the first overtime, but Eric Snow fouled Chauncey Billups with 3.1 seconds left. Billups nailed the free throws to tie the score. Snow attempted a desperation shot at the buzzer to send the game into double overtime.
Late in the second overtime, James nailed a fall-away 3-pointer to tie the score. Moments later he scored inside on a layup for a two-point lead with 2.2 seconds left. Billups missed the final shot to end the game and James' spectacular moment.
"I feel terrible," said James, when asked how he felt physically. "I'm everything. I'm banged up, I'm winded, I'm fatigued, and I have all day tomorrow. "But it'll be tough to get some rest when you have a crazy 2-year old [his son James Jr.] running around the house. Hopefully, I can take him to one of his grandmother's house."
The Cavs struggled in the third quarter throughout the postseason. They have been outscored 10 of 14 times in the third entering Thursday's game. James also has struggled in the third (averaging 5.1 points in the postseason), but the Cavs turned things around Thursday. They outscored the Pistons, 19-18, in the third, although James still did not have a breakout third (2-of-6 for six points). However, he did enough.
The Cavs trailed by eight but a 12-4 run, capped by Anderson Varejao's layup, tied the score at 65.
Tayshaun Prince fired up the Pistons and the crowd with a reverse dunk for a five-point lead, but a James' turnaround jumper followed by a James drive and kick to Daniel Gibson for a 3-pointer tied the score at 70.
In the second quarter, the Pistons extended their lead to eight, but the Cavs went to an inside game and cut the deficit to two after Zydrunas Ilgauskas' tip-in. Varejao's dunk with 2:43 left gave the Cavs' their first lead of the quarter. James' tip-in extended the Cavs' lead to three. The Pistons tied the score at 50. The Cavs trailed at the half after two Jason Maxiell free throws.
James had 13 points at the half. Billups had 13 to lead the Pistons. Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes had three fouls each at the half.
Larry Hughes started his second straight game thanks to another shot of pain killer in his injured left foot. Hughes played well early. He nailed consecutive 3-pointers. He finished with eight points in the first quarter, but added only one point in the second half.
The Pistons, however, led, 21-15, with 4:13 left in the first. It was their largest lead of the series. The crucial moment in the quarter happened late. James made a no-look pass to Varejao, who was open in the lane. Antonio McDyess came over and clothes-lined Varejao on the layup attempt. Varejao hit the floor. James ran over but players from each side held everyone back.
McDyess received a flagrant two foul, and he was ejected. James received a technical but remained in the game.

King James is dethroned??!

The NBA, like most professional leagues, often takes on a ``what have you done lately?'' mantra. For the media that cover it, the answer concerning LeBron James seems to be a resounding: ``Not so much.''
In what was considered a surprise, at least in Cleveland, James was left off the All-NBA first team, which was announced Thursday. James not only made the team last year but led in overall votes. This time, though, he wasn't all that close. The San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan edged him for the last forward spot by getting 30 more first-team votes. James landed a spot on the second team.
The Phoenix Suns' Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire, the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant and the Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki also were on the first team.
James' scoring numbers were down this season, but he became the first player since Oscar Robertson to average at least 27 points, six rebounds and six assists for three consecutive seasons. James, as he usually does, downplayed the significance of individual honors.
``It doesn't matter for me. I'm happy to be part of an elite group, it doesn't matter first or second team,'' James said. ``I've just got to play well for my teammates and continue to get better.''
James' teammates and coaches weren't as diplomatic.
``Not to mention he's one of the best individual talents in the game, he's also on a team that won 50 games,'' Larry Hughes said. ``That's definitely a knock on us and a knock on him, because he's done everything asked of him to make us one of the best teams in the league.''
``Wow. I'm shocked. Do I look shocked?'' Drew Gooden said. ``A lot of people are shocked. We'll see what happens.''
Perhaps it isn't all that surprising, considering this awards season has shown a general lack of appreciation for the Cavs' season.
``LeBron is our guy, so I'm a little biased,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said. ``What he does I truly believe a lot of people take for granted. I guess that's how the business is.''
If there was any solace to be taken by the Cavs, it's their 2-0 lead over the New Jersey Nets in the conference semifinals. James focused on that and alluded to the fact that all the other players on the second team and two players on the first team are out of the postseason.
``I know we're still in the playoffs, and we won 50 games,'' James said. ``There's a lot of guys on the first team and the second team (who) are out of the playoffs -- you can take it from there.''