39 Year Old Penny Hardaway Looking to Make a Comeback

NFL news is at a standstill so instead of writing about Sam Bradford's $45 million I'd rather write about this comedy.

Lil Penny is looking to play a "minimal role" for the Miami Heat this year. The Heat as you all know signed Lebron James and Chris Bosh this summer and are looking for vets to fill the rest of the roster out. Penny made the Heat 3 years ago, true, but a lot can happen in 3 years.

In the video below Penny claims he can still "do this in his sleep" and is ready to play a minimal role. Hmmm..... sounds like a guy looking for a RING.

Why Lebron James’ Decision Was Actually The Right One

Fires are being burned, murals are being torn down, and people are threatening physical violence against a man for his decision. If you knew any better you’d think I was talking about the Oscar Grant decision in Oakland that led to many riots.

But no, not Oakland.

As you already know I am describing the scene in the streets of Cleveland Ohio after Lebron James decided to spurn his home state in hopes of winning multiple championships with Dwayne Wade. Fans are emotional, the owner is spiteful, and everyone in Cleveland is ready to mob their former “King” after seven long years together that culminated in zero NBA titles.

Lebron gave all he could, and at the end of the day it wasn’t enough.

It was terribly clear that Lebron had zero shot at winning multiple championships in Cleveland and he had to leave. In seven years, the best talents that Lebron could get around him were Larry Hughes, Antwaan Jamison, Mo Williams, and a 36 year old Shaquille O’Neal. In that same time Kobe Bryant added Paul Gasol, Dwight Howard added Vince Carter, and Paul Pierce added both Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.

The hardest decision of Lebron’s life had to be made.

Stay and try to win a title for his home state with minimal talent or leave for greener pastures elsewhere? If he stays and doesn’t win he becomes Kevin Garnett in Minnesota, a perennial All-Star who exits the playoffs early every year. If he leaves for New York, New Jersey, or Chicago and cannot win he becomes Tracy McGrady or Vince Carter, an ultra talented swingman who has nothing to show for the prime of his career.

In the end Lebron decided that it wasn’t worth it to try to be the man on an island. He realized he needed help if he is ever going to hold that big gold basketball over his head. He needed a Ray Allen and a Kevin Garnett, or a Paul Gasol and a Ron Artest/Lamar Odom. The opportunity to step into such a situation for the next four to six years presented itself and Lebron could not pass it up.

It was the best decision for the King.

Wearing the crown is overrated without the rings to match.

Lebron Sucessfully Burns Down The Building

I wrote an article a few days back titled, Lebron James: Burning Down the Building On His Way Out in which I talked about just a couple of the ramifications of 'The King's' big decision. Now that it's all said and done and Lebron has decided to join the Superfriends in Miami, fans are chiming in.

We've already had fans publicly burn their #23 swingman jerseys on ESPN. I mean, come on. I wear a L-XL... I would have gladly taken it off your hands.

Anyways check out this post from a frustrated casual fan. As a Bobcat fan who now has to deal with the Superfriends (I refuse to call them the Heat) I can relate to the Pistons analogy.

"I was already wearing thin on the entire league. But I'm officially done. It's a league dominated by teams with superstars. If you don't have one, then you're screwed. The balance is completely lop-sided and I can guarantee that the NBA lost a huge amount of fans tonight; me being one. Why would I ever want to see a Pistons game anymore knowing that they 100% have zero shot at coming away with anything? Or for that case, watch any team other than the Lakers, Celtics, or Heat?

I have never in my entire life seen a league as poorly run as this one. You have 30+ teams and only 2-3 have a legitimate shot at a title. You take away parody and you've lost the entire concept of team sports.

The entire superstar persona of the athletes in the NBA is enough to make me puke. I'm just glad this is over and I'm going on vacation in the middle of nowhere for a week. I would seriously go ape***** if I had to listen to any of this crap in the media this week.

F*** Stern. F*** LeBron. F*** anyhtign that has to do with the NBA. It may as well be the new WWE or WWF....or whatever the hell wrestling leagues are called these days.

I haven't posted on this message board in a while, so don't flame me for starting yet another cry baby thread. It just angers the crap out of me that this egotistical piece of crap is allowed to be bigger than the league itself. The long-term effects of this signing (and the two that coincide) could completely deteriorate the NBA...and it should."

Source: Spawn.con Message Board

Jared Dudley: Lebron Will Be a Knick

In the latest episode of TMZ Live, Suns guard Jared Dudley called in to give his insider opinion on where Lebron will be headed. Mind you, Jared isn't in the James' camp inner circle but he is in the NBA so his opinion holds a little weight.

"What I heard is today is that Lebron already heard from the Knicks and is making his announcement to go to New York tomorrow."

While that statement in interesting, whats more interesting is this little nugget Jared dropped.

"His press conference is in Connecticut, its not even in Cleveland!"

That could be the detail that seals it. Or it could be the James camp once again trying not to tip their hand. But then Jared goes on:

"What I know is that Lebron is disappointed about not winning in Cleveland."

"Lebron loves New York more than any city and that is a fact."

Common perception is that Lebron is going to have a tough time winning in Cleveland with Bosh and Stoudemire now in the Eastern Conference. Most analysts believe that Lebron could choose to align with either the Knicks or the Heat due to the recent moves made by those teams. However, Jared Dudley drops another little gem that makes New York seem like the front runner.

"Next year Eddy Curry is off the books for $14 mill, and they will sign another good player."

When you combine New York City's grand stage with the fact that Lebron decided to start a Twitter account, new website, and launch a hour-long special in his name, it all begins to add up. The King just may be going to play under the lights of the media capital of the world.

Let's hear it for New York...

NBA Mock Draft: Last Minute!

1. Washington - John Wall PG Kentucky
   
2. Philly - Evan Turner PG Ohio State
   
3. New Jersey - Derrick Favors PF Georgia Tech
   
4. Minnesota - Wes Johnson SF Syracuse
   
5. Sacramento - DeMarcus Cousins PF Kentucky
6. Golden State - Ekpe Udoh PF Baylor
7. Detroit - Greg Monroe PF Georgetown
8. LA Clippers - Al-Farouq Aminu SF Wake Forest
9. Utah - Cole Aldrich C Kansas
10. Indiana - Gordon Hayward SF Butler
11. New Orleans - Luke Babbitt SF Nevada
12. Memphis - Ed Davis PF North Carolina
13. Toronto - Patrick Patterson PF Kentucky
14. Houston - Daniel Orton PF Kentucky
15. Milwaukee - Paul George SF Fresno State
16. Minnesota - Xavier Henry SG Kansas
17. Washington - James Anderson SG Oklahoma State
18. Oklahoma City - Avery Bradley SG Texas
19. Boston - Eric Bledsoe SG Kentucky
20. San Antonio - Elliot Williams Sg Memphis
21. Oklahoma City - Craigs Brackins PF Iowa State
22. Portland - Larry Sanders PF VCU
23. Minnesota - Kevin Seraphin PF France
24. Atlanta - Devin Ebanks SF West Virginia
25. Memphis - Hassan Whiteside C Marshall
26. Oklahoma City - Tibor Pleiss C Germany
27. New Jersey - Gani Lawal PF Georgia Tech
28. Memphis - Damion James SF Texas
29. Orlando - Dominique Jones SG South Florida
    
30. Washington - Jordon Crawford SG Xavier
    

Lebron James: Burning Down the Building on His Way Out

Houston.... I mean Cleveland, you have a problem.

As free agency looms and the three ring circus begins to setup around Lebron James the Cavaliers' superstar forward is becoming the teams number one problem. Yes it is almost blasphemy to a Cavaliers fan to even think that Lebron could be a problem. However to this outsider it seems that two things remains clear.

The Cavaliers have almost no leverage in keeping Lebron.

If Lebron is leaving, he is going to burn the building down on his way out.

I'm not going to elaborate on the leverage principle. We all know the theories that surround why Lebron could leave. They haven't found the coach fit for a king. Character issues surround key role player Delonte West. Perennial playoff underachievers Mo Williams and Antwaan Jamison are the best the Cavaliers have around Lebron right now, and then there is that question of what to do with Shaq.

What is more interesting to me is how passive Lebron has been to the organization. There have been rumors that he expressed discontent with GM "The Great" Danny Ferry and head coach Mike Brown. Both were relieved of their duties so all should be well right?

Wrong.

Lebron is making no indication that he even cares what is going on with the organization. Thanks to his passiveness, the Cavaliers just missed out on a chance to sign Tom Izzo as their new head coach.

I can only image the frustration Cavaliers fans must have right now. How can you be happy with the silence from the Lebron camp? How can you be happy with the constant images of Yankee hats and Lebrons fascination with "being like Mike?"

I'm not saying that Lebron won't decide to stay. I'm not even saying that it would be a good thing if he left. I am just pointing out that by not making any indication that he cares about the current state of the franchise he rebuilt, Lebron is possibly doing more harm than good right now.

Mickael Pietrus Wins $17k For Growing an Afro

Woooow, some of the Magic players are even bigger losers than originally thought. (No hate mail please, I like the Magic but I'm a Bobcat fan.)

Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, and Jameer Nelson bet Pietrus that he wouldn't go an entire season without a haircut in a bet that totaled $17,000 which Pietrus won. That's a lot of money for letting your SOULLL GLOOOO!

I think that Pietrus should double his bet and bet Dwight he won't throw less than 17 "inadvertent" elbows next year. Or maybe make 17 free throws in a row. Or maybe that Rashard will score more than 17 points in any playoff game beyond the first round.