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By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 09:40 p.m. EST, Nov 05, 2009
CLEVELAND: LeBron James wore the hat of his favorite baseball team after the shoot around at Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday.
He's also well aware that there will be a parade honoring the New York Yankees today. He, however, is completely focused on playing the New York Knicks.
''My parade begins at 8 o'clock,'' James said with a grin.
He's well aware of the zoo that will open once he descends upon Madison Square Garden tonight — just as it was when the Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade visited New York recently. The Big Apple openly covets any top-tier free agent who rolls through town. Call it the Yankee mentality — if you can't build a team with players you draft, buy someone else's.
''There's going to be a lot of energy for them to see their team and for them to see us and see me because they know July 1 is just around the corner,'' James said.
Some might argue the point, but James said he's never given New Yorkers or anyone else any reason to believe that he wants to leave Northeast Ohio.
''I'm looking forward to winning an NBA championship here,'' he said. ''It's going to be a long season. And I can't think about what's going to happen after July 1st or what I'm going to do. I'll focus on that when the time comes.''
Still he didn't hesitate to extend his congratulations to the Yankees, a team he's openly cheered, and he realizes that they were built primarily through free agency.
''At the end of the day, guys still have to go out there. Money can't help you swing the baseball bat. Money can't help you grab the ball,'' he said. ''Money can't help you turn double plays and money can't help you close out games. At the end of the day they still have to go out there and win games, and they did that.''
Big-time bribe
Teammate Shaquille O'Neal couldn't help teasing James about what he will face in New York and offered the superstar an incentive to announce his intentions Thursday night before game time.
''Five million if you do it right now,'' O'Neal teased.
''No way. I'm not doing that,'' James replied laughing.
''Ten million. Cash. In a bag at your house,'' the Cavs center countered.
O'Neal finally walked off into the training room as he chuckled to himself.
West and refs
One of the first things casual observers jumped on regarding Delonte West's return was a technical foul he received on his first night back. For anyone else , that might have been no big deal. For West, given recent events, there might be a tendency to overreact. Coach Mike Brown isn't, however.
''I don't like any of our guys getting techs, so anybody who gets [them], I'm going to watch close,'' he said. ''We pride ourselves on being a no-excuse team. But yeah, we want to get our point across at times, but we do not want to give up points to help our opponent just so we can get the last word in.''
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohio.com/thomas. Follow Cavs coverage on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cavsabj and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CavsABJ
CLEVELAND: LeBron James wore the hat of his favorite baseball team after the shoot around at Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday.
He's also well aware that there will be a parade honoring the New York Yankees today. He, however, is completely focused on playing the New York Knicks.
''My parade begins at 8 o'clock,'' James said with a grin.
He's well aware of the zoo that will open once he descends upon Madison Square Garden tonight — just as it was when the Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade visited New York recently. The Big Apple openly covets any top-tier free agent who rolls through town. Call it the Yankee mentality — if you can't build a team with players you draft, buy someone else's.
''There's going to be a lot of energy for them to see their team and for them to see us and see me because they know July 1 is just around the corner,'' James said.
Some might argue the point, but James said he's never given New Yorkers or anyone else any reason to believe that he wants to leave Northeast Ohio.
''I'm looking forward to winning an NBA championship here,'' he said. ''It's going to be a long season. And I can't think about what's going to happen after July 1st or what I'm going to do. I'll focus on that when the time comes.''
Still he didn't hesitate to extend his congratulations to the Yankees, a team he's openly cheered, and he realizes that they were built primarily through free agency.
''At the end of the day, guys still have to go out there. Money can't help you swing the baseball bat. Money can't help you grab the ball,'' he said. ''Money can't help you turn double plays and money can't help you close out games. At the end of the day they still have to go out there and win games, and they did that.''
Big-time bribe
Teammate Shaquille O'Neal couldn't help teasing James about what he will face in New York and offered the superstar an incentive to announce his intentions Thursday night before game time.
''Five million if you do it right now,'' O'Neal teased.
''No way. I'm not doing that,'' James replied laughing.
''Ten million. Cash. In a bag at your house,'' the Cavs center countered.
O'Neal finally walked off into the training room as he chuckled to himself.
West and refs
One of the first things casual observers jumped on regarding Delonte West's return was a technical foul he received on his first night back. For anyone else , that might have been no big deal. For West, given recent events, there might be a tendency to overreact. Coach Mike Brown isn't, however.
''I don't like any of our guys getting techs, so anybody who gets [them], I'm going to watch close,'' he said. ''We pride ourselves on being a no-excuse team. But yeah, we want to get our point across at times, but we do not want to give up points to help our opponent just so we can get the last word in.''
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohio.com/thomas. Follow Cavs coverage on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cavsabj and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CavsABJ
Comments
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akron, oh
Posted 07:47 AM, 11/06/2009
And the New York have had winning teams when?
Akron, Oh
Posted 07:55 AM, 11/06/2009
LeBron loves playing in front of the home crowd - do you really think he is dragging this out, leaving money on the table, to stay????? If so, please bring me a tshirt back from your vacation on Fantasy Island and give Rourke and Tattoo my best.
uniontown, oh
Posted 08:02 AM, 11/06/2009
We all know a big offer is coming. However do you really think Lebron would leave all that Akron has to offer for Manhattan? Uh, never mind. What did I do with that hat?????
Akron, OH
Posted 10:21 AM, 11/06/2009
LeBoob being LeBoob.
Posted 02:28 PM, 11/06/2009
Lebron should have announced his intention to stay in Cleveland right before the start of this season because not doing so has put even more pressure on this year. He knows he will get the maximum money here and - even if I disagree with some of the moves - there is no doubt this organization has shown its loyalty to Lebron. What more can they do? What more can the fans do? This is the one are where Lebron's immaturity really stands out. I'm getting tired of this cat and mouse game. I love Lebron and don't want to see him go. But if he goes, he goes. And up until now we haven't won a championship with him.
