Hell Freezes Over: LeBron Returning To Cleveland

((HT: Fox 8 Cleveland))

LeBron James tells Sports Illustrated he is returning to Cleveland to play for the Cavaliers.

The news broke Twitter...

Here's the latest from the center of the sporting universe


Cavs owner Dan Gilbert Tweeted out his joy:

Welcome Home @kingjames. I am excited for the fans and people of Cleveland and Ohio. No fans and people deserve a winner more than them.....

Heat owner Micky Arison is, obviously, disappointed and the Cavs become an instant contender in the Eastern Conference.

That's The Way To Get The Headlines From USMNT And Wimbledon, LeBron...

From Chris Broussard via Twitter:

LeBron James' agent Rich Paul has told Heat LeBron will exercise early termination option

Now, what...???

We go from this...
((HT: Miami Heat))


And this...
((HT: Miami Heat))


To him opting out and sending the entire NBA world in a tizzy of Biblical proportions...

Melo opts out. LeBron opts out. Cleveland could be a destination if you ask LeBron's wife on her Instagram account.
The Bulls, Mavs, Rockets, and Lakers want Melo.

But who can afford The Bron...???

That's the larger question as an unrestricted free agent...

Or is this just the first step to get everyone re-signed at lesser prices to get Melo (or someone else?) in the fold for the next few seasons to keep stocking the Heat roster...???

You're up, Pat Riley...??/

NBA Finals: AC in San Antonio Fixed, Now Please Stop Whining

Ok, enough already. Yeah, great, sure, we get it. The air conditioner didn't work for Game 1 of the NBA Finals causing discomfort for fans and players alike.

And yeah, we know, in part, it caused Miami Heat star LeBron James to cramp up and rendered him unable to play down the stretch as the San Antonio Spurs won game 1 of the series 110-95.

It's fixed.

Can we please stop talking about it like some sort of Greek Tragedy?

All we've heard for the past 48 hours is how hot it was and that James is a lesser basketball god because he cramped up. And a large group---mostly of judgmental, idiot fans who keep saying "He should have played through the cramps" and "How could that happen to a star?".

It happens. A lot.

For those of you with short term memories (That includes a lot of sportswriters), it wasn't so long ago that the Boston Garden, home of the Celtics during their epic battles with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980's, would routinely be 90 or 100 degrees with no air circulating during the game.

You didn't hear people whining and crying about it then.

((NOTE---I'm not talking about the players. Because if you listened to the post game interviews Thursday, none of them complained about it. Just said it was part of the game.))



So...game 2 will be played Sunday night. In a fully air conditioned arena. It will still be warm. Heck, it's Southern Texas, in June with 18,000 people inside a building.

But no, it won't be 90+ in the building. Everyone will play. Including Mr. James. Who, and I can't believe I'm saying this...doesn't deserve the grief he's getting.

Think about it for a second. IF...any of you have been an elite level athlete and cramped up. (It happens in football all the time). Just try to run or do...well, anything. Or look at it this way: Have you ever been asleep and suddenly had your calf cramp up on you? Yes? You've probably jumped out of bed like you've been shot to try and stretch it out. But you weren't functional for awhile after it happened.

That's what it's like.

For what it's worth, we here at the OSG. Okay, at least the part of us who enjoy basketball, are looking forward to the rest of the Spurs/Heat series. These are your 2 best teams playing at a level others can't compete with right now. This series may, before it ends...go down as being an all-time classic.

For those who missed it, here's the video of LeBron after he locked up...

David Beckham Working Two Sites In Miami Now

((HT: WSVN-TV))

David Beckham was encouraged to move away from his idea of a Port of Miami site for his Miami MLS squad.

Now, he is being told that he might want to look at an area next to the American Airlines Arena downtown where the Miami Heat say.

The idea of being at the Port wasn't warmly received by those who have businesses in and around the area and by those who would use the Port.

Jen Bisram is outside one of the prospective sites where there is a greenspace concern...
WSVN-TV - 7NEWS Miami Ft. Lauderdale News, Weather, Deco

Miami Heat Have A Protest Of Their Own

((HT: NBA on TNT))

As a show of support for the LA Clippers players having to deal with the Donald Sterling mess, the Miami Heat did their own show of support before their game with the Charlotte Bobcats this evening...


The Bobcats were hanging tough with the Heat in Game 4, only being down 4 at the half...

LeBron Almost Half Of Miami Offense

((HT: Sun Sports))

But, they were playing Charlotte...

Here's the effort that was one point short of Carmelo Anthony's season-high of 62


James made 22 of 33 shots from the floor- including his first eight 3-point attempts.
His career best was 56 points back in 2005 for Cleveland against Toronto.

Glen Rice scored 56 to set the Heat record on April 15, 1995, against Orlando, so the Heat record held for almost 19 years...

James had 24 points at halftime then added just as many (well, really 25) in the third quarter...

El Bron Drops Dagger On GSW

((HT: NBATV))

Remember when everyone challenged LeBron James and wanted him to take the last shot- knowing he would pass off...

Didn't do that Wednesday night in the Heat-Golden State game...


James finishes with 36, 13, and 9 in the one-point win as Dwyane Wade sat out...

Video Bomb Wars Continue: LeBron Returns Fire on Dwayne Wade

Haha!

Who doesn't love a good video bomb battle?

Mere days after Dwayne Wade got the best of Miami Heat teammate LeBron James by doing this...



Wednesday night, LeBron fired back. And yeah, it was pretty funny too:



We eagerly await the return fire...

Miami Heat Fans Leave Game 6 Early, Then Denied Re-Entry

Well you can't blame Heat fans.  Down 5 with less than 30 seconds to go.  Not a bad idea to beat traffic home.

Then Ray Allen saved Miami's season and it was a free for all to get back into the American Airlines Arena.

WTVJ in Miami was there when Heat fans tried to get back in the arena.

View more videos at: http://nbcmiami.com.

That dude at the 1:12 mark, doesn't he resemble a modern look for Heat Miser.

So for those who left early, here's Ray Allen's three that tied the game and forced overtime.

 

My guess is no one leaves early during Game 7.

Watching NBA Finals Becomes Hazardous In Miami

((HT: WSVN-TV))

Part of the Shuckers Bar and Grill ended up in Biscayne Bay after a deck collapse that happened while patrons were watching Game 4 last night in Miami.

About 100 people were on the deck when it gave way, and two dozen people were sent to hospital. Most people suffered cuts and bruises, but one person was treated for a fracture and two are listed as critical in local hospitals.

"That was a big gathering watching the Miami Heat and Spurs," said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue spokeswoman Griselle Marino. "There were a lot of TVs and everybody was in celebration and it was loud. So when it started happening, some people didn't even realize what was going on.

"We could have had a lot more seriously injured people but right now it seems to be a very positive outcome."

Patrons that weren't watching the game on the deck dove into the bay to help in the rescue efforts. And, while there were initial concerns that people were under the deck in the bay after the collapse, everyone was accounted for fairly quickly.

Here's your morning update...
WSVN-TV -

North Bay Village Mayor Connie Leon Kreps said her city and government would conduct a "thorough investigation" of what caused the collapse at Shuckers.

ICYMI: Parker Puts Away Heat: Spurs Win Game 1

The game went down to the final 5 seconds. And it finished on a shot by San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker that had to be reviewed.

But it counted. And that's all that mattered.

The running, lunging bank shot gave Parker 21 points for the game and led the Spurs to a 92-88 win in Game One of the NBA Finals.

Did we mention it was played in Miami? Or that the Spurs have been off for nine days after an easy Conference Finals win?

Tim Duncan added 20 points and Kawahi Leonard played smothering defense on LeBron James, holding him to 18 points in the win.

For those of you who weren't able to see the game, here are your comprehensive highlights from our friends at NBA.com:

Roy Hibbert Docked $75K For Post Game Gay Slur

Nobody will ever really know what possessed Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert to say what he did during a post-game interview after the Pacers Game 6 win over the Miami Heat Saturday night.

But he said it.

For some reason, he responded to a question about defending Heat star LeBron James by saying "No Homo".

And though Hibbert has apologized for saying it, it's not something you can really take back. Even by reaching out to Jason Collins, wasn't going to cut it.

With that in mind, the NBA announced Sunday afternoon Hibbert would get a $75,000 fine.

Yes, NBA Commish David Stern has said he believes Hibbert is sincere in his apologies, he still had to fine him. And he's right.

Hibbert is not the first NBA player...or athlete to say things such as this and whether you like it or not, you just can't say stuff like that.

At some point, homophobic comments are going to cost athletes a game. Quite honestly, Hibbert is somewhat fortunate this one didn't cost him one. With the Heat and Pacers going to a game 7 in their hard-fought East Division finals, there's no way something like this would cost a starter for either team a game.

But eventually it will....

And before you say it, we haven't reported on this up until now. That's why we are posting the video of Saturday nights presser:

Pacers Get Split In Miami, Series Tied At 1

((HT: NBA on TNT))

This was huge...

Home court advantage is now with the Indiana Pacers. Roy Hibbert had 29 points and Paul George had 22 as the Pacers took a lead early in Miami against the Heat and held on for the 97-93 win in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.

"We haven't done anything yet," Hibbert said post-game. "We haven't closed the series out. We won one game. A lot of us feel we should be up 2-0."

And Hibbert is right. Save for him not in the game for the last 2.2 seconds, the series should have been all Indiana.
LeBron James had his opportunities in Game 1. It was the idea of the Pacers to take those away from him Game 2...

Here's the highlights...


"Heck of a basketball game, wasn't it?" Pacers head coach Frank Vogel asked the media post-game.

He was right...

The Pacers trailed for only 15 seconds in the first half, and Indiana led by 10 late in the first quarter and by 13 with a minute to go before half time.

ICYMI: Great Game: Heat Barely Beat Pacers in OT

Yes, the NBA Playoff go on forever, but every once in awhile, the games can be absolutely fantastic to watch.

That was the case Wednesday night as the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers squared off in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Heat won 103-102 in Overtime.

The game went back and forth, close most of the way.

Paul George nearly won the game for the Pacers by himself.

He drained a long, 32-foot 3-point shot to tie the game at the end of regulation.

Here are his amazing highlights, including the 3-pointer and nearly winning the game with 2.2 seconds left in overtime. George finished with 27-points



But George was topped by the seemingly incomparable LeBron James. James had a triple double (30-pts, 10-rebounds, 10-assists) and scored when needed.

He was needed as his driving layup at the buzzer in overtime provided the difference, winning the game.

Looks Like Blood In Chicago For Game 3 (VIDEO)

((HT: ESPN/NBA))

And it started early with Joakim Noah and Chris Andersen


Nazr Mohammad baited LeBron James into a technical foul before getting tossed on his own...

No self-control...
Evidence below...


More when there's more...

Other NBA Owners Confirm Kings May Stay Before Relocation Vote

((HT: News10.net))

Nothing like getting folks to use Twitter to talk these days...

A Seattle fan got into a conversation with Heat Owner Micky Arison over the status of the Kings and their possible-but-not-likely travel plans...

Arison actually admitted he wants a team in Seattle, just not the SacKings...
In other news around the sale to the Ranadive group, "sources" are telling the Sacramento Bee newspaper that the Maloof brothers and the NBA would like to see 100-percent of the purchase price be placed in an escrow account to alleviate any fears that the money coming from the Sacramento-based group and the Qualcomm/Jacobs family.

Ranadive has already placed 50-percent in there and the Hansen/Ballmer group has already placed all of its $357-million purchase price in escrow.

Relocation (or lack thereof) could be decided by the middle of next week in Dallas...

Chris Bosh was Robbed

((ht: sunsentinel.com))

No, really, he was actually robbed by people yet undetermined.

It appears that Mr. Bosh and his wife returned home early Thursday morning from his "Birthday Bash" at Miami Beach's Bamboo Club to find that quite a few valuables were taken from his home.

According to reports, the list includes purses, jewelry, cash and watches. Value estimate at nearly $480,000.

And according to the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, there were 5-people in the home when the robbery allegedly happened. Reports say 2 babysitters, his 2 kids and an unidentified person were all in the house at the time of the alleged robbery.

Read the Sun-Sentinel report RIGHT HERE

Security has often become an issue for NBA players, many of whom live lavish lifestyles and have multiple people hanging around them at any given time. Many are family and friends, but many are also "Friends" of friends and other assorted people looking for a handout.

Bosh did tell police that his home is under video surveillance, but that the alarm was off because people were home.

No word on suspects, the investigation appears to be continuing.

ICYMI: Yes, The Miami Heat Can't Seem To Lose

((ht: nba.com))

We have to mention it, partially because everyone else is and partially, well, because it's actually starting to become historic.

The Miami Heat, the most loaded team in NBA history has finally grown into the team everyone expected them to be. After all, they have 3 of the Top 10 or so players in the league (LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh) and now finally have found a pretty good supporting cast.

The Heat have now won 24 games in a row. Game 24 was won after the Cleveland Cavaliers jumped out to a 27-point lead midway through the 3rd Quarter. The Heat ended up winning by 3, 98-95.

For those of you not versed in NBA history, the record for most wins in a row in the NBA--the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972. That team won 33-games in a row.

Your Wednesday night highlights from NBA.com:

Minnesota Timberwolves Have Got Your "Harlem Shake"--AWESOME!

This is FANTASTIC!

The Minnesota Timberwolves appear to have had enough of the Harlem Shake. Particularly the Miami Heat version.

You know, the video that was endless dissected by every anchor and analyst of all sports on ESPN.

Yeah, that one.

Check out the T-Wolves response.

ICYMI: The Miami Heat Harlem Shake May Be The Best of Them

We really hate this craze. Well...okay, maybe hate is too strong a word, it's more like we don't totally understand it.

But we lack some cultural depth by our own admission.

Either way, this is really kinda funny. And well done. The Miami Heat decided to make their own contribution to the 87 gazillion videos now online of them doing the "Harlem Shake".

And quite honestly, this is a funny video.

Granted the dance still looks like a bad hybrid of the Elaine dance from Seinfeld, but that's irrelevant. Hopefully the bar is now set here and nobody will try topping it.

But we doubt it will end here.

Here's your video: