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Will Cleveland Forgive Lebron?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LeBron Goes Public on Coach Brown’s Z Snub

LeBron James criticizes coach Mike Brown’s failure to play Zydrunas Ilgauskas in record-setting game Saturday
By Mary Schmitt Boyer, The Plain Dealer
November 30, 2009, 2:40PM
Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer

via cleveland.com

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — LeBron James criticized Cavaliers coach Mike Brown today for his failure to insert Zydrunas Ilgauskas into Saturday’s win over the Dallas Mavericks, which would have given Ilgauskas the Cavaliers record in games played at 724.
Speaking after a rousing game of touch football following today’s practice, James said:

“Me personally, I definitely thought he should have played. I’m not trying to stir up anything with coach or the organization. I

don’t know who made the call. But sometimes one game is a smaller thing. What was on the line the day before yesterday was way bigger than us playing the Mavericks, and that was Z breaking the record to become the franchise leader in games played.
I stand behind Z and whatever Z feels at this point in time, I definitely — if I was in control of it — would have put him in, probably would have started him. You could have easily started him and subbed him right out and had the standing ovation from the fans with a timeout. If you didn’t want to play him, there were a lot of ways for that accomplishment to be accomplished.
It’s a sensitive subject. I’m not one to raise havoc or raise fire into the locker room or our team. But, for me, I speak the truth. I stand behind Z and I feel like Z not playing wasn’t the right thing. As a friend of his, I was very upset, and I know he was also.”

 

Ilgauskas, who worked on his shot while most of the rest of his teammates took part in the football game, declined an invitation to speak to the media, the first time reporters remember that happening. Saturday’s game might have been the first time in his career he did not play in a game based on a coach’s decision, although that cannot be verified.
He was the first person to head to the locker room after Saturday’s game and the first person to leave the locker room, also two rarities. He reportedly was devastated by the decision, in part because he had a contingent of family and friends at the game to help him celebrate.

It has been a difficult season for the 33-year-old center, who is coming off the bench for the first time in his career, backing up Shaquille O’Neal.

Dwight Howard Talks Shaq and Cavs – (and does Shaq impression)

via ESPN

Cavs take chance on Powe (Associated Press)

Associated Press

CLEVELAND — Leon Powe once thought he was the nation’s top 10th-grade basketball player. Then he saw one of his AAU teammates play: LeBron James.

Powe asked his coach if James was in his graduating class. He was.

“Aww man,” Powe said. “There goes my No. 1 spot.”

He’ll gladly take a backup role to James again, as soon as his repaired left knee allows it. Powe signed a two-year deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers on

Wednesday, even though he isn’t expected back on the court until sometime around the All-Star break. The Cavaliers are paying Powe the league minimum for a three-year veteran.

“The money is not the issue with me,” Powe said. “The issue is I want to get my knee back healthy and go out there and play basketball. The money will come.”

The Celtics let the 6-foot-8 forward leave following a third surgery on his left knee, this time to repair a torn ACL suffered in the playoffs. Powe is strengthening the knee in Los Angeles and should begin running in about a month. He is expected in Cleveland in two weeks to continue his rehab.

“It’s always tough leaving the place you started,” Powe said in a conference call on Thursday. “I gave them every opportunity to have me over there, which didn’t work out. It wasn’t my fault. I had to move on.”

Powe averaged 7.7 points and 4.9 rebounds in 70 games last season.

He is reuniting with James after the two stormed the country on AAU teams and at summer camps during their high school years. Powe, 25, watched James take over games long before he became an NBA superstar.

After Powe broke into the NBA alongside stars such as Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, Powe now joins James and Shaquille O’Neal.

“Shaq is one of the greatest players of all time and ‘Bron is going to be right there in that category,” Powe said. “Those are two great personalities. That’s the fun thing about playing with guys like them. They’re easy to get along with and it’s easy to play with them.”

By remaining in the Eastern Conference, Powe might not have to wait long for a reunion against his old team. The Cavaliers and Celtics are likely to again be two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, and Powe admits he’s already dreaming of a postseason meeting.

“If that happens, that’s going to be fun for me,” he said. “I know Boston is a challenge, but our team, the Cavaliers got better and we’ll take on all challengers.”

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

Non Story of the Day: “People Still on LeBron for Not Shaking Hands”

OK, here’s what ACTUALLY happened.  He was pissed off and wanted to get off the court.  That’s it.  He hated

losing and wanted out of there.  LeBron is the super star of the league and hasn’t made any mistakes and I agree with him, he hasn’t had a “black eye” yet. The media is really stretching to try and get something juicy to write about him (free agency, handshake-gate, dunk-gate, T-Shirt-gate, etc…).  Tell you what, if the worst thing LBJ does in his career is wear a funny T-Shirt or not shake hands, it’ll be fine by me.

here’s the story from realgm.com:

“LeBron James defended his decision not to shake hands with the Magic after his Cavaliers were eliminated from the NBA playoffs this past season.

James was asked by a reporter if not shaking hands following the loss put the first blemish on his reputation on Tuesday while promoting his upcoming movie, “More Than a Game.”

“I still haven’t had a black eye, for one. Two, I don’t regret anything that I do. The only thing I apologize for that night is not doing the media [session, after the game].

“The media, your … job don’t start until ours’ finish. You guys can’t report and write you guys’ story until we take a shower, until we come out and sit on the podium. That’s the only thing I apologize for. As far as shaking hands, it’s something that is not done in the NBA. If it was something like tennis, after tennis, you play, you win, you lose, you go to the center and shake hands, it happens every game in tennis.”

ESPN Breaks Down the Cavs

Cleveland: Scary thought — the Cavs won 66 games and got better in the offseason. Whatever they get from Shaquille O’Neal will dwarf the contributions of Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic a year ago, so that trade is a home run for Cleveland. Beyond that, they addressed the greatest area of concern by adding size and depth on the wings in the form of Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon.

Cleveland also kept Anderson Varejao, and while their payroll is on pace to outstrip the national debt, that’s Dan

Gilbert’s problem. On the court, they’ve strengthened three key rotation spots without losing a single important player.

The Cavs can make a strong case that they will match much better against Orlando now, especially against Dwight Howard with Shaq in the middle. One caveat, however: They must overcome the distraction of the most eagerly anticipated walk year in sports history.

Lebron Speaks

Whenever Lebron speaks, or doesn’t, it creates some sort media storm. He finally broke his summer silence and spoke about a number topics. The topics include “dunk-gate”, “handshake-gate”, “Shaq-gate” and “future contact and staying in Cleveland-gate. ”

I’m too lazy to really dig and try and find the article (I’m mean I clicked on one link and it wasn’t there, what do you want from me?), plus I’m not sure if its even available.  Besides, the genius that is J.E. Skeets over at “Ball Don’t Lie” has the perfect wrap.

Check it: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/LeBron-James-breaks-silence-on-Dunkgate-hands;_ylt=AlsxJpnSxtUZ8vr_SSMSREY5nYcB?urn=nba,181361

My favorite part, Lebron talks in the third person.  I’m looking forward to more of this.

Anyway, I’m Crunch and I used to post in parts awhile back.  Took a sabatical and now I’m back to add commentary and kill time at work.

Hot Sauce in Mah Bag

The guys over at LeBron2010 have been blowing up lately.  Whether getting shoutouts on Jim Rome or just making awesome T-Shirts.

Well they made another. Personally, this one is even funnier

If you don’t get the joke, you should google it and figure it out, its worth it.

p.s. this post officially debuts the “Delonte” tag.

Cavs Introduce #15 Jamario Moon… Get Laughs from Lil' John

Ferry introduces Jamaro (link)

Moon seems like a humble guy.  I like him fine.  But the real reason for this post is to give a nod to Lil’ John (yeah THAT Lil’John, from Big Chuck and Lil’ John).

Basically at the end of the interview John jumps up on stage (although you can’t see him on camera because he’s too small) and proceeds to tell Jamario to buy his bling from him (Lil’ John Rinaldi owns Rinaldi Jewelers).

It was awesome because all Clevelanders get the joke and Jamario looks confused but still remained polite.  Classic.

Shaq to Get His Own Reality Show

The “Witness Protection Program” will apparently be starring in his own sports-themed reality TV Show, and its not filled with some “B” list athletes.  It co-stars some of the biggest names in each of their respective sports.

Here’s what ESPN had to say:

“Shaq Vs.,” which is set to premiere Aug. 18 at 9 p.m. ET, begins filming Wednesday in Pittsburgh, where Shaq will take on Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in football.

Future episodes of the hour-long show will feature Shaq against Olympic swimming sensation Michael Phelps, boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya, St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols, tennis star Serena Williams and beach volleyball Olympians Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh.

Shaq told USA Today that he came up with the idea as a way to train for the NBA season. Shaq figured Americans “would really want to see an athlete play another sport,” according to the newspaper. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Shaq’s new team, have cleared the 37-year-old O’Neal to take part in the show.

He is scheduled to report for the Cavs’ opening of training camp on Sept. 15.

According to USA Today, the episodes will feature preliminary challenges, news conferences, quality time with needy kids and negotiations of a handicap between Shaq and his competitors. Each episode will climax with a main event.

There’s no cash prize for the winner. “Bragging rights are always better than any monetary prize,” O’Neal told USA Today.

Shaq will train with a coach for one week leading up to each challenge.

“These athletes may be on top of their game, but I am up for the challenge,” O’Neal said. “I plan to train hard and win, so look out.”

Maybe this is why he said he wanted to fight Brock Lesner (that can be the only sane reason to do so)