Sat. PM…Orange Beach, Alabama…due to a heavy travel day, Sunday, posting early.
NASCAR Quiz: Heading into Saturday night’s race, who are the only two drivers to win five races each this season (out of 18 total)? Answer below.
The Decision
What a debacle…what a fiasco. LeBron James chooses the easy way out and goes to Miami to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh because it’s “going to give me the best opportunity to win and win for multiple seasons,” he said on Thursday night. “I want to be able to win championships, and I feel like I can compete down there…All three of us will take less money” to make that happen.
In response Cleveland Cavaliers fans burned his jersey, while owner Dan Gilbert slammed James unmercifully.
“I never wanted to leave Cleveland,” said James, “and my heart will always be around that area.”
Earth to LeBron. Cleveland and Akron couldn’t give a damn about you anymore, but it’s also not as if you chose the Knicks because of the bright lights and the chance to lord over a bigger Kingdom. I think all basketball fans, let alone Cavs fans, would have understood that decision. Or maybe even Chicago. But not Miami and that set-up. Plus it was the way you did it.
Jeff Zillgitt / USA TODAY
“James establishes the Heat as villains in 29 other cities – the NBA’s version of the New York Yankees – but especially in Cleveland, Chicago and New York.”
Mitch Lawrence / New York Daily News
“Just as he did in Game 5 against Boston, LeBron James quit on the Cleveland Cavaliers. This time he quit on them for good….
“James humiliated New York, sought cover with Miami….
“And this guy thinks he can be another Michael Jordan? He’s not even in the same league as Kobe Bryant.”
Yahoo Sports quoted a high-level NBA executive:
“His brand is s— now. He’s destroyed everything.”
But William C. Rhoden / New York Times writes:
“If ever there was a time for LeBron James to leave home, this was it.
“The outpouring of venom from the Cavaliers’ owner and the wrath of jersey-burning fans betrayed a festering resentment that makes James’ decision to leave Cleveland for Miami seem prudent….
“In an amazing abdication of leadership – and a remarkable revelation of flawed character – Gilbert made James a sympathetic figure.
“Referring to a ‘shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own,’ Gilbert called James’ decision process ‘a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with the national TV special of his ‘decision’ unlike anything ever ‘witnessed’ in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.’
“Yet it was Gilbert who created the King James monster; it was Gilbert who nurtured and reinforced James’ prima donnaisms, all of the preening and dancing. Now he acts like a lover scorned and lashes out with gibberish about karma and curses.
“Gilbert must think he really owned LeBron James.
“Surely, he understands business. You win some, you lose some. With LeBron James, Gilbert won a lot more than he lost. Now, Gilbert has lost a gem in James. And he has lost our respect. He has released enough players and let go of enough employees to understand that loyalty, especially in sports, is largely a matter of convenience and timing.”
But many in Cleveland feel Gilbert summed up their own feelings of betrayal. Some acknowledged the comments could have consequences later, when the team goes after future free agents, but as one area businessman put it, Gilbert’s comments were “absolutely refreshing” to hear after James “went on national TV to slap us.”
Former NBA great Reggie Miller:
“LeBron is the Alex Rodriguez (to Derek Jeter). It is still Dwyane’s team. Between LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, one of those guys has to sacrifice and to me it will have to be LeBron James because it is Dwyane Wade’s team.”
Orlando General Manager Otis Smith told the AP:
“I thought (LeBron) was, I guess, more of a competitor.”
NBA TV analyst Chris Webber:
“I’m never mentioning him and Jordan in the same sentence ever again.”
Charles Barkley:
“LeBron will never be the guy. I wish he would have tried to win it by himself as ‘the guy.’”
Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy:
“It seems everybody has a bad taste in their mouth, unless you’re in Miami. Just the way the whole thing was handled, on TV and everything.”
Mike Lopresti / Gannett
“James, the 25-year-old who would be King, has never been richer. He has never looked worse.
“He said his heart went out to Cleveland and the home folks back in northeast Ohio. Then why turn crushing them into a self-promotional spectacle?
“ ‘I know how loyal I am,’ he said during the telecast. Funny, he didn’t look it.
“One must wonder about those advising him – a posse of voices who might be intimate with their meal ticket, but are apparently tone deaf to decency. How could a man this admired end up looking so much like a villain? What’s a camp for, if not to make sure the big guy looks good?”
David Carter, an expert on sports business:
“As great an athlete as he is, I think he brought himself back to the pack in the eyes of many consumers.”
Richard Sandomir / New York Times
“(As for James, Wade and Bosh), All believe they will win a championship as the stars of a superteam. But all gave an irksome rote answer, ‘It’s not about the money,’ in describing their decision to unify as the biggest threesome since the Pep Boys. In an economy like ours, when you’re making $16 million a season, it is unseemly to proclaim purely competitive motivations just because you’re not getting the maximum contract.”
As for the hour-long ESPN program built around The Decision, as you’ve heard by now it was a huge ratings success, greater than anything ESPN has carried this year, except for the Pro Bowl. It was also wretched.
Stuff
–Paul Goydos became just the fourth golfer to shoot a 59 in a PGA Tour event, 12 birdies and 6 pars, in the first round of the John Deere Classic. The other 59s were by Al Geiberger, Chip Beck and David Duval.
But in the tournament itself, after three rounds, Steve Stricker is in the lead, by six over Goydos, as Stricker has fired 60-66-62…188…a PGA Tour record for 54 holes. He needs 65 to break the all-time mark of 254 set by Tommy Armour III at the 2003 Valero Open.
–Some of you might be wondering why in the case of former Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell is codeine syrup so bad? Russell, after an extensive investigation, was arrested for possessing it. I thought the same thing myself, but on arriving in Orange Beach on Wednesday, I saw on the local news (Russell having been arrested in nearby Mobile) that codeine, when mixed with something like Sprint can be as addictive as heroin.
Then I saw a story in the Press-Register of Mobile that said the same thing. Evan Woodbery reports:
“It’s called purple drank, lean, sip-sip or syrup.
“To a wide swath of America, those terms might sound foreign. But anyone attuned to Southern hip-hop culture is well aware of the bizarre concoction of codeine cough syrup, candy and soft drinks that has caused a number of pro athletes to run afoul of the law….
“Assistant Mobile County District Attorney Dave Peacock said purple drank became noticeable in south Alabama within the last decade.
“ ‘It’s a newer thing,’ said Peacock, who did not speak specifically about Russell’s case. ‘People have been abusing prescription cough syrup for as long as there’s been such a thing, but (drank) has caught on the last six or seven years.’….
“Law enforcement officials say a cup of drank typically includes cough syrup with codeine, some Sprite, 7-Up or fruit punch, and perhaps a few hard candies such as Jolly Ranchers, all splashed over ice. The DEA has warned it causes a feeling of euphoria and lethargy that can impair motor skills and cause wooziness – the ‘lean’ comes from the tendency to lean forward while under the influence.”
You might say that drank has the same effect as a six-pack of Wiedemann’s.
–The Texas Rangers, of all people, acquired Cliff Lee from Seattle in a six-player deal, Lee’s fourth team in 12 months, the others being the Indians and Phillies, last season, plus Seattle. But for a contender such as the Rangers, it might be worth it, a crack at the Series this year even as it would appear the Yankees will be top bidder for the free agent to be Lee come November.
So what does Lee do in his first start for Texas, Saturday? Loses to Baltimore in giving up 6 runs, including 3 homers.
–Yes, I’m depressed A-Rod is up to 14 home runs on the season, with an RBI total of 70 thru Friday’s games.
But A-Rod still won’t hit 30 homers this year; it’s the Bar Chat Guarantee! However, with a grand slam the other night he now has 21 in that category, tying him for second with Manny Ramirez, just two behind Lou Gehrig.
–Down here in Alabama, aside from dealing with oil, for those areas where you’re allowed to go in the water, the danger is the rip currents. The day I arrived, four people were rescued about five miles from where I’m staying. [Our county’s waters were off limits…the neighbor’s weren’t.] And then I read in the Sunday paper out of Pensacola that two men drowned there.
Otherwise, I had lots of pulled pork barbecue and double orders of slaw. Shu, the place Mo’s was terrific. They say it’s a chain, with a few locations in Alabama and Colorado, but it hardly looked like one. Just a shack…the way it ought to be, plus southern rock over the sound system. [Also had ‘cue at the Rib Shak, which didn’t have slaw quite as good as Mo’s but the pulled pork was equally tasty. And that’s your pulled pork update for Sunday, July 11, 2010.]
–Usain Bolt ran a 9.82 100 meters in Lausanne on Thursday in his first race back from the Achilles tendon injury that caused yours truly to miss him in New York. The 9.82 is tied with Asafa Powell for best time this year and the two meet in Paris this week. Bolt is the record-holder in the 100 (9.58) and 200 (19.19).
[And this was funny. On Saturday, I’m at my new favorite spot, the Gulf State Park Pier, wearing an Oregon Track Club shirt, when this high school age kid comes up to me and asks if I ran there. No, I replied, but I was in Eugene for the Olympic Trials and know a lot about the team. Where are you from? I asked the kid. Turns out he was a junior in high school in Ohio and had run like a 4:22 mile, which is outstanding and will get him a scholarship somewhere. So I told him that I had seen the great high school mile race in New York the other week and it turns out he ran against that winner I wrote of. The kid desperately wants to go to Oregon so I recommended a book he should read before any interview, “Bowerman,” and he wasn’t aware of it. So aside from drinking beer and eating pulled pork, your editor is doing all he can to help America’s youth. Actually, I only choose to help those involved in track. The rest are on their own.]
–The NBA is so screwed up, Orlando signed Knick Chris Duhon to a four-year, $15 million contract to back-up Jameer Nelson. In reality, Duhon is a guy who you’d pay $1 million per season, with maybe a small signing bonus.
–This was interesting. In Japan, state broadcaster NHK ended a half-century tradition of covering major sumo tournaments because the sport hasn’t responded forcefully enough to allegations of widespread illegal gambling and links with organized crime. I’m shocked! I mean think of it. What sport is easier to fix than this. Even soccer is more difficult, unless you’re talking Bulgaria, right Tony? [Tony is my friend over there who filled me in years ago. Speaking of futbol, as Frank H. wrote me this weekend, we’re all just waiting to hear of the referee scandal at the World Cup.]
–Former figure skating champion Johnny Weird, err, Weir, announced he was skipping the 2010-2011 season to explore and reinvent himself as an athlete and artist. Folks, trust me. You don’t want to be around while he is doing this. Especially guys. I’m just sayin’.
–“The Pacific” received 24 Emmy nominations. “Glee” 19.
–Harvey Fuqua died, 80. If that name doesn’t ring a bell, it should, especially if you’re of a certain age. Harvey Fuqua was the lead of the group the Moonglows, which had a top 20 hit, “Sincerely,” in 1955. The group was later reconstituted as Harvey and the Moonglows and none other than Marvin Gaye was a member. The group had a hit in 1958 with “Ten Commandments of Love.”
Later, Fuqua formed his own record company, Tri-Phi and Harvey, for which he recorded the Spinners, Junior Walker and the All-Stars, and Shorty Long.
Then Berry Gordy hired Fuqua to run Motown’s artist development department and Fuqua had a hand in working closely with Gaye on his collaborations with the great Tammi Terrell. Nice career.
Top 3 songs for the week 7/12/80: #1 “Coming Up (Live at Glasgow)” (Paul McCartney & Wings…not their best) #2 “It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me” (Billy Joel…not his, either) #3 “The Rose” (Bette Midler…gag me)…and…#4 “Little Jeannie” (Elton John…c’mon, superstars, show us something this week, will ya?) #5 “Cupid/I’ve Loved You For A Long Time” (Spinners…another one) #6 “Steal Away” (Robbie Dupree) #7 “Funkytown” (Lipps, Inc.) #8 “Magic” (Olivia Newton-John…passable) #9 “Let’s Get Serious” (Jermaine Jackson…ughh) #10 “Let Me Love You Tonight” (Pure Prairie League…OK)
NASCAR Quiz Answer: The only two drivers to win five races each this season at the halfway point are Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin.
Next Bar Chat, Thursday.
