Hating on the Heat Becoming America's Hobby

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

As a fan of the Cleveland Cavaliers (yes, even post LeBron), I have to confess that there's a part of me that greatly enjoys seeing the Miami Heat in its current state. I'm pretty sure I'm far from the only one taking that stand.

Well, Dwayne Wade believes that's the case.

“The Miami Heat are exactly what everyone wanted, losing games,” Wade said. “The world is better now because the Heat is losing.”

From my view, Wade couldn't be more on point with his statement. The Heat have more than their fair share of haters. By the same token, I think Wade is missing a point or two here.

First, don't play the pity card. It's not becoming one bit. Second, the basketball world has every right to express its hatred of the Heat. Every last right. Follow along here.

Why all the hate for Miami? The answer is simple. Ego.

Let's look back at where the hating all began. It didn't begin with Wade. It didn't even begin with Chris Bosh. It began with LBJ and "The Decision". It's flowed fervently from there ever since. The cockiness and arrogance of how that charade went down not only left a city and a franchised spurned, it left the door completely open for hatred to enter.

And has it ever entered. It's harshness completely felt in the aftermath of a fourth straight defeat.

But that alone isn't it. It's the "festivities" that ensued.

It's Called the 'Retweet' Button, LeBron

Image by __Dori__ via Flickr

Karma.Exactly what is karma? According to Google Dictionary:
Synonyms:
noun: fortune, fate, destiny

1. (in Hinduism and Buddhism) The sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences
2. Destiny or fate, following as effect from cause

Take it for what you will. And most of you know where I'm going with this.

After the Cleveland Cavaliers suffered a major shellacking on Tuesday night at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers, former Cavs player turned Heat player turned villian, LeBron James submitted a tweet he probably wishes he hadn't.

"Karma is a b----.., Gets you every time. Its not good to wish bad on anybody. God sees everything!"

And that could very well be why LeBron suffered a bit of his own karma last night in the form of a 111-105 loss to...the Los Angeles Clippers. Yes, the Clippers. To pile on, James tweaked an ankle in the loss.

But the fun started after the game when James was questioned about his tweet. According to Bill Reiter of FOXSports, James meant no harm in his now infamous tweet:

"I don't think there was no intent at all," he said. "I think everyone looks into everything that I say. And everybody looked too far into it. But there wasn't no intent at all."

What we have here is the double negative. That leads to prove positive. Which would mean he did mean the tweet in a spiteful manner, right?

In LeBron's defense comments, he was adamant that no harm was meant toward the Cavs.

"Like I said, it wasn't no hit at that franchise, no hit at that team," LeBron said. "Especially those players. At all."

Reiter extols that the hit may have been meant for Cavs owner Dan Gilbert. That I would believe until I heard from where the "comment" emanated.

"It was just how I was feeling at the time," he said. "It wasn't even a comment from me. It was someone who sent it to me and I sent it out. But like I said, it wasn't toward that team. It definitely wasn't a good showing by that team last night, and I know they wish they would have played better, but nothing towards them."

LeBron has people, doesn't he? You would think at least one of them would inform him of the "retweet" button. I can find it. It's not hidden. I use it on occasion.

Or is this just a way for James to deflect the issue away from him. Maybe that villian role is settling in on him all that well.

All This for What? Over the Heat?

Is everyone ready? Are you truly ready to have the newest love fest the mainstream sports media feels we can't live without? Well, it's happening whether you like it or not.

I present to you the WWL's latest "thing" to latch onto...the Miami Heat. After all, even with football season being in full swing, there's no coverage of Tim Tebow, so ESPN must supplement us with yet another. Why not the Heat?

Yes, we will be subjected to "expanded" coverage of a team that has done nothing. We will hear sound bites. We will see video...of training camp. We will see pressers. We will hear non-ending analysis. Again, these guys have accomplished nothing but raise the ire of NBA fans. How quaint that ESPN feels our thirst for this ego-driven trio is that unending. Most NBA fans could care less.

ESPN even dispatched a crew to cover the Heat media day and the opening of camp. Correct me if I'm wrong here but didn't the Heat lose in the first round of the playoffs last season? Didn't the Los Angeles Lakers win the title? Where's the coverage of the Lakers? Isn't ESPN Los Angeles going to go full bore with the Lakers side of things? They should and if they don't, they are doing an extreme disservice to the two-time defending champs.

I'm sure the Lakers don't really mind being in the background. Less pressure on them and more on the Big Three in South Beach.

And the analysis? I have an issue with Jalen Rose here. I rarely differ from Rose's opinions, but I have a major one here.

Rose said something along the lines of having respect for the Big Three "leaving money on the table" in pursuit of a championship. News flash. It's easy to leave money on the table when you're still about to ink a nine-figure contract. Just for a history lesson here, Chris Bosh and LeBron James signed for six years at $110.1 million. Dwayne Wade, the face of the Heat franchise, signed for less at $107.5 million for the same length.

Please. Don't give me that garbage about leaving money on the table and that each guy "took a discount". Each will make over $14 million this season. And I'm to feel pity that they "left money on the table"? Respect them for their unselfishness or lack of greed? Hardly.

Back to the main issue. There will be not be a game played yet a whole crew? Really? And we know what will be regurgitated? "The Decision", the number of titles these guys will boast about bringing to Miami (mostly LBJ), James is playing with a chip on his shoulder and that the Heat are the most reviled NBA team.

You didn't exactly need ESPN for that analysis, did you?

Status of Izzo and LeBron Connected

You can't have a team without a coach and you can't have a team without a superstar. Right now, the Cleveland Cavaliers have neither in the fold.

But there could be movement on the coaching front.

Michigan State's Tom Izzo has been deemed as the front runner with Cavs owner Dan Gilbert being a grad of Michigan State.

What's holding Izzo back? According to Lansing, Michigan's WLNS, Izzo wants an audience with King James. The Plain Dealer's Brian Windhorst is also reporting that a high-level source, LeBron would endorse the Izzo hire. Seems like all that needs to be done is for LBJ and Izzo to have a conversation, right? On the surface, yes, but this is deeper.

Izzo is a Michigan (State) guy. He was born in Michigan and has been with Sparty since the Jud Heathcoate era when Izzo was an assistant.He's been in Lansing since 1983. It would be extremely difficult for Izzo to uproot to the Cleveland area. Might have something to do with Cleveland being OSU country. And the Lansing folks are not making the decision any easier by posting numerous "WE LOVE IZZO" signs. There is even a website that business owners have started to attempt to keep Izzo in Michigan.

Bottom line is this. I wouldn't blame Izzo for rejecting the job especially if Izzo determines in a conversation with LeBron that James would most likely decide to head another direction. The Cavs roster would have nothing to offer any top-notch coaching candidate without LBJ as a member of the Cavs.

Without LeBron, all the money in the world couldn't make the Cavaliers coaching vacancy attractive.

Update: The Cavs will once again commence their search for a head coach. ESPN is reporting that Izzo is staying put at Michigan State. With thisnews, te Cv are mr oless back to square one. Byron Scott has no need to jump aborad as the future of one LeBronJames will detrmine the direction in which Clevelnd is headong. - SE

LeBron, LeBron. LeBron

Cavs fans are also scratching their heads.

No, the season didn't go as planned. The Cleveland Cavaliers were stunned by the Boston Celtics in six games leading all of the world to inquire about the future of one LeBron James.

It had to happen eventually, but many are forgetting one thing. LeBron holds the option. He can stay in Cleveland for one more season by exercising his option without signing a new contract. He would collect $17.1 million in the 2010-2011 season. If he declines that option, then he's a free agent. Granted, it's almost a foregone conclusion that LBJ will opt-out.

Cavs owner Dan Gilbert will evaluate the team in the next 7-10 according to his 2:30 press conference he held this afternoon. He has to be skittish at the prospects of losing LeBron. It's been said that the Cavs value as a franchise would tumble $100 million if James were to bolt Cleveland.

If he gets that max deal and stays in Cleveland, what would that mean for Cleveland? Plenty. It's his home. It's his team. It's his town for cryin' out loud. He shares the spotlight with no one.

As far as the Cavs 2010-2011 season, there are a few things that we need to keep fresh in out minds. One is the Shaq's contract is done. He is a free agent, but he's also said he would return as a Cav. The issue might be salary. O'Neal banked $20 million this past season and it's highly unlikely Cleveland will offer him anywhere near that amount. Second, Zydrunas Ilgauskas is also a free agent. There's no man in the middle at all. Third, unless some creativity can happen, there's not a whole lot of cap space available even without Shaq's cash. Finally, is this really a roster that can propel the Cavs to a title? For the second year in a row, a perceived inferior opponent dropped the Cavs in six games.

It got me thinking (and that can be dangerous), amid all the other places LBJ can land, which is best? I'm listing the teams alphabetically.

Noah is a double-double machine and
future star in the NBA.

1. Chicago Bulls
Chicago has become the "hot pick" over the last couple of days.

Pros: Nice young roster makeup with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah makes the Bulls appetizing. LBJ may have no fear playing in the shadows of his idol, Michael Jordan. The Bulls have plenty of room under the cap to add another max deal, too.

Cons: No head coach, although it's interesting to point out that John Calipari was at the now infamous Game 5 in Cleveland along side some of LeBron's "team". Calipari has been linked to the Bulls job. While The Bulls do have a lot of money to spare, they generally don't like to go over the cap due to the luxury tax issue. If the Bulls get two max deal, what's left? There's also no big man as Brad Miller is a free agent.

Kaman averaged 18.5 ppg and 9.3 rpg last
season. Better than what Cavs centers had.

2. Los Angeles Clippers
The other team in L.A.

Pros: With the signing of James, the starting lineup would be set: Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, LBJ, Blake Griffin and Chris Kaman. Oh, and surprise, another lottery pick.

Cons: Where's the bench? Mardy Collins is a restrictred free agent so that only leaves DeAndre Jordan outside of the starters. There's also a vacancy sign hanging outside for a head coach.. Then, there's also the stigma of the Clippers. That may be too bitter a pill for James to swallow. I doubt a max deal would do that. Plus, would LeBron be willing the share the spotlight in L.A.? Kobe pretty much has the town on a string and LBJ is Cleveland. On the issue of Blake Griffin, how healthy is he? That is perhaps an even bigger hurdle.

Wade has a ring and is looking for another.

3. Miami Heat
Maybe the longest shot of these five teams

Pros: Dwayne Wade. Wade has a ring and knows what it takes to win one. That could give LeBron a valuable lesson. There's money to be spent in South Beach. If Pat Riley returns to the bench as coach, LeBron may give the Heat some thought.

Cons: Not much of a roster with all the free agents that could be leaving. You have Michael Beasley and Daequan Cook under contract for next season. That's all. It also said that Wade is wanting former Atlanta Hawks guard and good friend Joe Johnson as a roster mate. Knowing that may limit the Heat's chances.

D'Antoni may be the biggest draw to
the Big Apple.

4. New York Knicks
Once thought as the "front runners" in the LBJ sweepstakes.

Pros: All that money available and can definitely add another max contract, maybe more. The Knicks could add another $2 million to their coffers if they decline options on J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker. The Knicks actually have a coach, too. The Knicks also will benefit from a lottery pick.

Cons: The roster is gutted to free up all that money. No point guard unless you consider Sergio Rodriguez and he's a restricted free agent. I still can't believe that New York didn't give David Lee a better deal prior to last season. He's their best overall player and once again a free agent. If the Knicks can keep Lee, that may work in their favor. Imagine the extra money (about $11.3 million) the Knicks could have if Eddy Curry were to refuse his player option, but I doubt Curry will decline stealing more money from the Knicks. That could be cash that Lee deserves.

Coach K on the Nets' sideline could incline
James to head to Jersey...then Brooklyn.

5. New Jersey Nets
A new owner and a new beginning?

Pros: As a said above, a new owner, Mikhail Prokhorov. He's got the bucks, so the luxury tax most likely won't be an issue. Sure, the Nets had a lousy season last year, but they got a lot of loot to offer, too. Two max deals and maybe even more. Devin Harris is an All-Star and Brook Lopez has started to establish himself as a future star in the league. I thought he should have been on the All-Star team last year despite the woes the Nets experienced. Terrence Williams and Courtney Lee can provide bench strength and they are under contract for next season. The new facility may be enticing, too.

Cons: Again, the Nets are coachless. Well, sort of, but the thought of Duke's Mike Krzyzewski coming to Jersey could be a huge boost for the Nets chances of getting LeBron. If Coach K were to take the post (one he says that he is not interested in taking), getting James might be that much easier due to their affiliation through USA Basketball and the Olympics. He did guide James and Company to a gold.

Any way you look at it, LeBron will be the talk of the NBA world until June 30.

NBA Fans Deserved Better

After watching the Atlanta Hawks be decimated in the Eastern Conference Semis and the performance of the Cleveland Cavaliers last night, don't you think the NBA fans got the shaft?

Woodson deserved better from his team.

In the case of the Hawks, they fought back from a 3-2 deficit to win the seven game series against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Atlanta fans showed up for Games 3 and 4 and, once again, their team didn't. Game 4 was the best showing of the series for Atlanta, but the Orlando Magic basically had no opponent in steamrolling the Hawks to a 4-0 series victory.

Just in case you're curious, here's some telling stats about the Hawks during the regular season against their stats in the Orlando series. All the players listed here averaged double figures in scoring.

• Joe Johnson: reg. season - 21.3 pts, 4.9 asst, .458 FG%; vs. Magic - 12.8 pts, 3.8 asst, .298 FG%
• Jamal Crawford: reg. season - 18.0 pts, .449 FG%; vs. Magic - 17.0 pts, .333 FG%
• Josh Smith: reg. season - 15.7 pts, .505 FG%; vs. Magic - 15.8 pts, .441 FG%
• Al Horford: reg. season - 14.2 pts, 9.9 reb, .551 FG%; vs. Magic - 13.0 pts, 7.5 reb, .454 FG%
• Marvin Williams: reg. season - 10.1 pts, .455 FG%; 6.3 pts, .300 FG%

For the entire series, the Hawks defense was also non-existent allowing 107.3 points a game while they only averaged 82.0 a contest for a difference of 25.3 points a game, an NBA record. For the season, Atlanta averaged 101.7 points per while allowing only 97.0 a game. That makes Orlando's performance look even better. They shut down the Hawks scoring and exposed weaknesses in not only the defense, but in the team's chemistry. Not a confident performance from the conference's #3 seed.

So, what do you do with these Hawks? I have a feeling the team will be disassembled (the kindest way I can put it). Joe Johnson will be a free agent and after his remarks about the Atlanta fans, he might not be welcomed back. It's been speculated that Johnson could demand a max deal. It's also speculated that the series against Orlando could diminish those chances.

Head coach Mike Woodson doesn't have a deal either, and that's unfortunate because Woodson can coach despite the showing from his team. He took a job nobody wanted and turned the Hawks into a quality team. Woodson claims the Hawks are almost there, but after six seasons, this may be Woodson's ticket out of Atlanta. Maybe time has run its course for Woodson, but he will latch on elsewhere. Six seasons. Not many front offices and owners would have that much patience.

James' stunned look says it all.

And what was the deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers last night? Or shall I say what was with LeBron? Call it disinterested or disengaged, LBJ did not even appear to be into this game at all. He wasn't the only Cavs player in that mode either. Outside of Shaq, only James (15) and Anthony Parker (14) cracked double digits in scoring. For the game, Cleveland shot 41.2% from the floor while Boston hit on 55.0% of their shots. Isn't one of Cleveland's strengths defense? Couldn't see that last night either.

James has already taken huge hits for his performance last night. Cleveland never resembled the #1 overall seed and if this is LeBron's team, he must step forward instead of blowing it off like he did in the post game presser. Just look at the pic. That tells you everything you need to know.

And how does Cavs head coach Mike Brown play into all of this? A ton, but I will defend Brown on this account. After a woeful Game 2 performance, Brown's post game comments couldn't have been more correct. Brown displayed the emotion that his team needs. He's not getting that emotion and maybe that's because his team's not buying into it anymore. After that Game 2 loss, a lot of Cleveland's player were a little too cavalier (pun totally intended) about their status in this series. Brown should not have to ignite a fire under their butts every time the outlook is bleak. Wasn't there a phrase "win a ring for the king"? Where's that attitude now?

And don't take anything away from the Celtics. They played their best game of the series by far. Paul Pierce got going with a 21 point, 11 board effort. Pierce added 7 assists along with Rajon Rondo's 7. Ray Allen was 6-9 from 3-point range and led all scorers with 25 points. Glen Davis added 15 and the Celtics had a total of 30 bench points for the game.

This series could easily end tomorrow night. If it does, all the talk will be about LeBron's next residence.

LeBron in a Corn Maze?

Talk about paying tribute to a local sport hero, get a load of this video.



I had to share this for a couple of reasons. First, I experienced my first corn maze this past weekend. If you've never been to one, I highly suggest it, if you're not claustrophobic. It's a great way to spend a couple of hours during the fall season, and it's extremely fun for everyone.

Second, it spurred a bit of a knocking in my head...and a question. Is this going a little too far? Think about it. We are deluged (still) with stories about the grim economy. Who else in Ohio (not Ochocinco) could generate more fanfare (and bucks) than LBJ? Nice touch! If I lived a little closer, I would go.