The New York Times is reporting that the New York Knicks have not given up on signing Lebron James and have in fact made a stealth approach for his signature:
“The Knicks dispatched their senior vice president for basketball operations, Glen Grunwald, and Scott O’Neil, the president of MSG Sports, to northeast Ohio for the additional sit-down Saturday. James was not present at the meeting, which was first reported by The Daily News. On the same day, James listened to pitches from the Chicago Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers with Rose and his longtime business manager, Maverick Carter.”
Interesting move on the part of the Knicks. Shows they’re serious. I’m wondering what moves we can expect from the other teams, particularly Cleveland.
Personally, I’d like to see Lebron stay in Cleveland and finish the job there. If he ever truly wants to be the best player in the world, he’s got to show more leadership and fortitude.
Yesterday the Cleveland Cavaliers won their first game in a NBA playoff season which some people are predicting will see them finally end up as Champions.
Lebron James – the (disputed) best player in the world – came through for the Cavs, scoring 24 points in a 96-83 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
After the game he was quoted as saying: “We have the look of a champion.’’ (Boston Globe)
But the player everyone was focused on was Shaquille O’Neil whose muscle and experience earned him these numbers: 12 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks in 24 minutes.
Shaq was brought in get the Cavs over the hump; to ensure the championship that people believe rightfully, inevitably belongs to the people of Cleveland and the great King James.
The thing about it though is that with Shaq around it makes it look like Lebron was not good enough or great enough to bring the championship home.
I wonder what Kobe Bryant fans think of this.
Many people (most people) still think that Kobe is the (undisputed) best player.
And Kobe fans just keep pointing to the rings when others dare to compare Lebron to Kobe – or – gasp – call James the best.
I wonder – even if Lebron wins the championship – will Kobe fans put an asterisk beside the accomplishment because Shaq was brought in?
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is refusing to man-mark the best football player in the world today when his team faces the best team in the world in Champions League quarter-final action.
Lionel Messi is the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year and his club Barcelona is the reigning Club World Cup Champion but Wenger doesn’t want to focus on one player:
“I have never tried to man-mark a player out of a game during my time at Arsenal,” he says. “It can work, but in exceptional teams you have two or three players you should man-mark and then you have to go to a system where you could create your own problems just by following somebody everywhere.
“I believe we will be playing an exceptional team, so it is up to us to turn up with an exceptional performance. I believe we can do that: if there is one team who can give Barcelona a problem, it is us.” (Source)
It will therefore be very interesting to see what Messi does today. In theory he will be presented with a fresh canvas upon which he will be free to show us his genius.
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney limped off the pitch after yesterday’s loss to Bayern Munich. Given that Rooney is the team’s best player and the fact that they have so little depth up front, United and it’s fans should be worried. But – apparently – keeper Edwin Van der Sar is sounding cool about the whole thing:
“Against Bolton we also played with some other players,” Van der Sar said. “It can happen in the season. You always want your best players available but we know the players coming in can also do a good job.” (Soccernet.com)
Sounds like wishful thinking on Van der Sar’s part. Bolton are no Bayern or Chelsea – the next two teams that United need to beat to keep up their hopes for Premier League and Champions League trophies.
If I were a United fan I wouldn’t be placing my hopes on a front line led by Berbatov. Rather, I’d simply be praying that the injury to one of the best footballers in the world, is not as bad as it seems.
Tiger Woods’ caddy, Steve Williams says that the best golfer in the world will not be heckled on his return to golf after his sex scandal:
“The people that are going to watch at Augusta are called patrons there, not spectators,” he said.
“They are all golf fans and it is a very difficult tournament to get into. It is the only golf tournament in the world there is waiting list to get in to.”
“They will be very happy to see Tiger playing at Augusta where he’s been successful,” said Williams. (Source)
Wouldn’t it be something if after all of the controversy, Tiger picked up where he left off and started winning immediately – including the Masters?
