Man… it is still Rodney King who said it best… Okay, so you all know I’m not the biggest LeBron James’ fan, but after reading an article about a man suing LeBron (and his mom), I’m sorta hoping he comes out on top on this one (Uh, well, if it’s not true).

D.C. lawyer, Leicester Bryce Stovell (funny and similar letters, huh?), is suing LeBron and his mom, Gloria, basically because he says he’s LeBron’s father and they’re saying he’s not. That’s it in a nutshell. Stovell is saying he met Gloria in a Washington bar and restaurant (Uh rah, she was like 15 or 16 at the time, but let’s go along with it.), hooked up with her, and didn’t see her again… Obviously, creating LeBron. Stovell appears to be a bit salty because he’s being denied paternity (Paternity? Crack up! Isn’t LeBron like 62? Doesn’t this happen when the child is like 3 months?).

LeBron’s attorneys are like, really dude, you didn’t want anything to do with this kid (apparently) and now he has one of the biggest contracts in NBA history and it is simultaneously lining up with you wanting to be in your alleged kid’s life? Wow… (NOTE: This was me paraphrasing the attorneys’ words… Not sure if “dude” was actually in the court notes.).

Integrity and dignity are the only two things I’m bringing up… I hope these traits prevail.

Hey Readers,  this is Hubby.  Let me apologize for the lull in posting… Wife and I are enjoying the warm ocean waves in the Dominican Republic and this excellent experience on the Punta Cana resort doesn´t feed the desire to stop and post, but the beat goes on, right?… Anyway, here are my vacation ponderings…

As you may know my wife, the standard blogger here, has never denied her love for the L.A. Lakers. We happened to be watching ESPN and the story about Pau Gasol truly intrigued us. As a young man, Pau had two things he wished to become and do: a basketball player and a doctor. Here is the interesting thing… the catalyst for his desire to become a doctor was watching one of his basketball idols, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, announcing his retirement because he had contracted HIV. I remember watching that same press conference and feeling that same sense of loss that I am sure Pau felt at that moment. It is in these times of loss that we, human beings, tend to find real appreciation in a person, place, or thing. It is also in these times of loss that we resolve to make changes and hopefully changes that benefit our family, our community, our nation… you get it? But anyway…

According to the story Pau decided to pursue his dream of professional basketball and put his medical studies on hold. He could not continue his rigorous schedule of both medical and basketball training. What came to my mind reading his story is the fact that no matter how famous, successful, or prominent we become we still all have to make choices that will affect our present and future reality. According to Pau, he believed that he would be able to pursue his medical career after his basketball playing days were over. Even if he gets the chance to accomplish this, he still had to choose at one point in his life.

…back to the beach!

Ummm, I’m feeling that Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield feeling with this whole Shaquille O’Neal situation. Enough is, well, enough in my opinion. Seriously… Shaq, let your name retire in lights, in grandeur… in the true sense.

If you haven’t heard, O’Neal just signed a 2-year, $3-million deal with the Boston Celtics and my stomach almost literally jumped through my knees and onto the ground (Uh, no exaggeration here!). Why Shaq? You’re 38, a champion, an All-Star, and one of the most prolific big men in the game (Ever!) and you’re gonna add to this tremendous NBA legacy this jumping-jack experiment? It’s crushing (not quite crushing, but you know), and actually appears rather desperate.

I heard Michael Jordan the other day talking about the love of the game and how nothing ever truly quenches that thrill… He continued by saying in his mind he still believes he can hang-undoubtedly-with the youngsters, but that it’s his body that just can’t physically do it any more. I’m guessing this is a bit of Shaq’s reality, as everyone knows he’s a diminished shadow of himself. And can you imagine the massive ego he’s going to have to swallow when he finally says (which I hope is any moment now) “I’m done”?…

Dwyane Wade, now one of the “Big 3″ for the Miami Heat, made a faux pas the other day…

He was attempting to make the analogy that the media was making and would continue to make “this” into more than what it needed to be. “This” would be the Heat’s mega acquisition of a couple of the NBA’s most sought after free agents, Chris Bosh and LeBron James, to add to superstar and free agent, Wade. The thing is, Wade’s comparison might have been a bit much… he compared this hot topic to that of the unending media coverage of the catastrophe of the World Trade Center. Yes, (close your mouth) the deadliest attack in American history Wade compared the Heat’s new face to.

Now, I get it… I actually heard the sound bite and it wasn’t that bad. I casually shrugged my shoulders and thought to myself that using this time in history might be a bit much, but I felt no malice associated with it. He felt the enormity of the situation and wanted to give what, he thought, would be a justifiable and clear comparison. He quickly sent out an apology, before (well… during) the swarm of analysts and media alike could jump at the chance to catch blood in the water (Love the animal/insect references…).

We’ve all done it… That insert-foot-into-mouth feeling. I just think people should look at the intent of the thing. You could tell his demeanor was nothing associated with conflict or evil dealings. Yes, it was bad wording and timing… and yes, basketball isn’t that serious. But, my focus is to always look at that heart of the matter. His heart was in the right place. Give the man a pass!…

So, I’m finally at the point where I can wrap my head around everything and actually comment… Last week was just too much and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and hearing…

First, I have to say that, again, the hype around someone who hasn’t won a thangggg is mind boggling to me… But I digress. The Cavaliers majority owner, Dan Gilbert, took me over with his ignorant and emotionally stated comment regarding LeBron James’ relocation decision. Now, I’m maintaining a more positive and upbeat stance on this versus going the other route, but I can see the points stated regarding misplaced loyalty, racism, and the like. I guess my biggest question is, who cares? I mean, really. Now, my mother (69 years young I add) is a popular culture guru, which is weird in and of itself, and when she kept updating me on the latest LeBron happening I just thought, why me?

After experiencing from the comfort of my couch, a wonderful championship run by the L.A. Lakers, I am involuntarily dragged through the mud of the LeBron train and I’m drained, truly. I’m happy for him… Well, more indifferent, but we’ll call that “happy” instead. Maybe he’ll finally win the big game with the Miami Heat and then, finally, I would be more agreeable to the world stopping for a champion.

And to sum it up, surely CNN, Good Morning America, and primetime television shows (to name a few) can find something else to talk about and someone more deserving to interview… Wait, how ’bout that Harlem NY guy, Geoffrey Canada,  who is changing the world (literally) one block at a time. This world is hilarious…

Call it ESP, 50/50 chance, purple being my childhood fave color, or L.A. being one of my best vacation spots… I knew they would do it, again… I said it at the beginning of the NBA season and didn’t waver. When you believe something and can’t shake it, go with it. Just go with it!

Congratulations, Lakers, on your win over the Boston Celtics for the 2010 NBA Championship!

Yep, “I can chew” is right.

As random as this story is, it actually needs to be shared for others to glean some wisdom and–hopefully, common sense. So, New York Knicks big man (on-the-bench big man) Eddy Curry is chewing a big old gum wad in debt [Let me start off first by saying that although totally irrelevant to this story, his son's mother was murdered in Jan. 2009, leaving his little man motherless and that is a troublesome reality for anyone.]… Now here’s the debt-to-debt (Crack up!) ratio layout:

Curry has made more than $57 million in his 9-year NBA career (Okay, now that’s money coming in.). He apparently defaulted on a $575,000 loan with an 85 percent interest rate (What the…), and has been ordered to pay back $1.2 million to Allstar (Funny ironic name) Capital Inc. Now we have been in debt before, right, and we’re expected to pay, right? Well, Curry doesn’t think he should because he owes:

• More than $1,000 a month for cable and satellite television (Must haves… I understand),
• $17,000 a month to various relatives including his parents, sister, and father-in-law (Family can juice you… I get that.),
• $30,000 a month for “household expenses” (I don’t have this problem “yet”, but I can see maybe having it.),
• $207,000 a month in garnished wages that haven’t been elaborated upon, but adds up to almost $2.5 million that he never sees over the course of a year (These are the breaks, man!), and
• $350,000 to Juwan Howard (Okay. Whatever.).

What? And this isn’t adding the numerous cars and trouble with home foreclosures, oh and yes, the weird sexual harassment situation against him. It seems to me, Eddy, that you need to stay in bed for a couple days and just let things take its course (It works for me.). But seriously, where is the discipline and restraint? Where is thinking about tomorrow and the future… Or how ’bout this, my son’s future? The whole entitlement thing that ’cause I have bills I can’t pay another bill is draining to me. Officially drained.

For those who don’t know, we are in the Playoff Semi-Finals for the NBA 2009-2010 season… and, I must say, the thrill of it all has been a bit lessened by the “King“’s hype being silenced, with all of the prophesied whispers of the season coming down to Kobe and LeBron. Okay, so we are over that, right? The season has left us with the L.A. Lakers matched up with the Phoenix Suns and the crazy series between the Boston Celtics paired against the Orlando Magic… Every one’s on the same page now, right? Okay…

If I focus on the latter pairing, for me, the game is less of a competition because there is a resounding sound that Dwight Howard and his Magic  team have given off since Game 1 of the series (…best of 7 I might add). The play is quite reactive on the court and the demeanor is lethargic to say the least. Now, the series is 3-0 Celtics, but I truly believe it had more to do with the blood the Celtics smelled in the water than because they were/are the all around better team. And guess what, Howard’s tone–with even another game he could possibly help win–is already of defeat.

You know, we see this match up on the Discovery channel (Do you know how many “croc guys, who live in the wild,” shows have popped up of recent?)… And I’m back… We see the phenomenon in corporate America, on the play grounds and in Pre-K, and even in the grocery stores. It is the natural process of things, where by only the strongest will survive. So, what is your sound? Seriously?… What do you have floating in the waters beside you (stay focused!)? Are you allowing your “competitors” of sorts command your day and ultimately beat you out of the prize you know you’re more than well deserving of? My mom used to tell me before I left the house that I was a reflection of her… the family. At the time, I was like… Really, Ma! Give it up! But, even then, it gave me something to strive for. I knew I just couldn’t be an average Joe because it reflected poorly on the family. That “sound” my mother placed within me then stays with me up ’til this day. I give it all my best… or, I decline in associating my name to it. You probably won’t win them all (that’s life!), but your sound will remain when the battle is long done.

Who sets these rules? I mean, you can go into the military when you’re 18, but can’t drink (legally) until you’re 21. You don’t have to go to school any more after 16, but you’re still considered a minor in terms of statutory situations… And let’s not even talk about 30 and over clubs (LOL!).

So, why are there age rules for the NBA (There are for other sports, too, but my story is about basketball so go along with me…)? For obvious reasons (or maybe not that obvious), the NBA made a change some time back determining 19 as the entry age before declaring for the draft. Before that time, high schoolers could completely forgo college and head straight into the League (Sports Interruption: Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James became stars straight out of high school.). And we’re back… The thing is, some felt like the transition (mentally and physically) was too abrupt for young people to adjust to and remedied that at least 1 year of college would help ease the huge transition.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a 6-time MVP, 19-time All-Star selection, and in the ’80s helped Magic Johnson lead the L.A. Lakers to 5 NBA titles, says the NBA should raise its minimum age for entry into the League to 21. So uh… I’m thinking with those types of numbers somebody might want to take a listen to the living legend, huh? He feels like there’s a disturbing sense of entitlement among many of today’s young pros and all they’re concerned with is “where’s my money”, but have no regard for the game or the fundamentals. He continues with the substantial argument that they’re depriving themselves of the emotional and physical maturity necessary to meet on- and off-the-court challenges. Check out this quote from Abdul-Jabbar talking about his UCLA coach:

“He said if I let my intellectual life suffer because I was so into being an athlete that I would be less than I could be. I would tell all students to pursue your dreams but don’t let your education suffer.”

Wasn’t that deep (Crack up!)… Naw, it was really was (Don’t you feel all inspired?). You know, I’m just glad someone cares. I’m talking about someone who really knows what its all about and isn’t just talking from a turned-up-nose point of view. When I started this post, I didn’t know I would take this position on the subject, but I like the fact that there’s a reason behind his stance… that it’s not just some rhetoric for a political position or something. He wants to see the game back to how it used to be… fundamentals and gratitude for the opportunity. I can dig that… I still have issues with the 30 and over clubs (I don’t want to see a 65-year-old dancing to Prince. Eek.)!

Yep! I literally have one question… Do you think LeBron James deserved to win the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the 2009-2010 season?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sixersphotos/ / CC BY-ND 2.0

You know, I totally understand bringing the best out of your team concept and just being an all-around dominant player, but what about Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder (Exactly! They have a team… I could stop right here with making my point.)? He has been beyond outstanding and, uh, the team (Yes, the Thunder) made it to the Playoffs. I think the hype around LeBron is tremendously overrated… Now, now, before you go there, I do agree with the fact that he’s a beast on the court and subject to embarrassing an opponent at any given time. I just don’t think I’ve seen so much hype around a player who hasn’t won a ring, period. I think it sends the wrong message.

For me, the message conveys that, in the case of Durant, no matter how good I am I have to wait to shine ’cause this guy is the one in the commercials. It’s not about making your bones, because Durant has done that already. It’s a popularity contest, which I believe waters down the integrity of the game. All I want him (LeBron) to do is win a ring…