Me and LeBron

It was a chilly 52 this morning here in central Florida so I'm following LeBron to Miami, if only for a few days. Just in case you have nothing else to occupy you, here are a couple links sent to me this morning:

From Deuce Bruce, today's Paul Krugman column which highlights the evidence of President Obama's dwindling backbone. Isn't it a little early for osteoporosis? Why haven't more people compared him to Adlai
Stevenson, Illinois' last presidential pretender?

From Buzzard, Michael Rosenberg on SI.com. Don't let the title fool you; the article isn't really about LeBron, it's about the soul of Cleveland.

From me: David Brooks, to remind us that if just a little collective sanity emerged there is hope.

Sports Thursday. The return of LeBron

I had an email from Buzzard at the crack of dawn this morning bemoaning the hypocrisy of the NCAA letting Cam Newton off so easy. I’m not bothered so much by that. The big hypocrisy is the way the NCAA, the Division I schools and the bowls siphon off all the dough while the players get pay equal to below minimum wage, based on the free education they get in return. I’m not sure whether there should be quotation marks around the word “free” or “education” in the previous sentence. If I were King of All Sports the college players would be paid – above the table.

On a similar note, I loved what Hines Ward said about the NFL yesterday – and I don’t usually go out of my way to praise wearers of the black and gold. He lambasted the NFL for claiming that they are fining players for hitting too hard as a means of protecting them, while at the same time pushing the players’ union to accept an expansion of the schedule to 18 games next year.

Now I’m sure Hines’ words were motivated in part by how hard the Steelers have been hit with these fines, but it’s hard to argue with him. The NFL has been stiffing former players for years over health care benefits and fought reforms tooth and nail until the science related to head trauma became overwhelming. I’ll never forget the high school practice in 1965 when Charles White hit me with a forearm to the helmet that made me see stars. I can’t imagine what an accumulation of blows like that might do to someone. I may even have a little lasting trauma myself. Why, I’ll never forget the high school practice in 1965 when Charles White hit me with a forearm to the helmet that made me see stars. I can’t imagine what an accumulation of blows like that might do to someone. I may even have a little lasting trauma myself.

But the big sports news today is that it’s 29 degrees with snow showers in Cleveland this afternoon – although the wind makes it feel like it’s 19. Meanwhile, it’s 73 and sunny in Miami. I don’t know what my fellow Cavs fans have in store for LeBron’s return this evening but it better be good if it’s going to overcome the 44 degree swing between his former and current homes. Personally, I think the Heat’s record is justice enough. I swore off the NBA immediately after LBJ announced he was “taking his talent to Miami,” but I have to peak in this evening.

Finally, I’m heading to Miami myself for the weekend. I’ve got Browns v. Dolphins tickets on the 50 yard line and pre-game field passes so I can get right down there and feel completely inadequate.

Miscellaneous

The controversy over the LeBron James-Gisele Bundchen Vogue cover is American lunacy at its best. Apparently the cover is supposed to subliminally recreate King Kong and Fay Wray and reinforce racial stereotypes. I guess I’m unimaginative; to me it just looks like an NBA player in a typical pose, juxtaposed with a typical supermodel looking supermodelish.

If Barack Obama does not become the first black President, I think Cory Booker, the mayor of Newark, NJ may claim the honor. I saw him on Bill Moyer’s program the other night and he was very impressive. He’s 38, was an All-Pac 10 Academic basketball player at Stanford, a Rhoades Scholar, earned a JD at Yale. He had a great job at IBM but gave it all up in 1998 to move into the worst, most dangerous public housing complex in Newark where he lived until 2006 when he was elected mayor on his 2nd try. His message and speaking skills are exceptional.

I was reading People over the weekend and was struck by the number of photos in which a celebrity appeared with his or her children. Not only has celebrity become the leading industry in America, it seems that the industry leaders are giving their kids a leg up in the family business. They seem to be emulating the Paris Hilton/Nicole Richie business model.

The five funniest TV characters of all times, in no particular order: Ralph Kramden, Ed Norton, Norm from Cheers, Ted Baxter and Homer Simpson.