It’s not cheap to go to a game at Madison Square Garden. In fact, it’s a huge ripoff. It would be nice to see a quality product when you pay that much money. But that’s not the case with the Knicks. The team will sell out 28 games this year even though they may win less than 15 home games. But that’s nothing compared to the early 2010-11 season ticket sales.
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Here’s a look at the John Calipari Maker’s Mark bottle, which is expected to be available statewide beginning April 2. Estimated price: $49. A total of 24,000 bottles will be made available. [Courier Journal]
LeBron’s M.J. tribute is all about business. [Yahoo]
Rich Eisen ran another 40 yard dash this year. He got smoked by Terrence Cody. [NFL]
Two marketing reps got into an “altercation” at the NFL Combine. [NFP]
What is The Jerome? Dan Wetzel explains. [Yahoo]
John Daly was told to get professional help by the PGA and was on probation six times. [ESPN]
Brian Orakpo and Dan Snyder were chilin’ with Cameron Diaz during Super Bowl weekend. [WaPo]
Another picture of A-Rod and Tom Cruise. [SBJ]
Soon-to-be-megastar Justin Upton is about to sign a six-year deal that will pay him about $50 million. [Ken Rosenthal on twitter]
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If you have any links you’d like to share with BLS for Nuts & Bolts or even an original post email them to me at teamscrew@bigleaguescrew.com
Tags: 40 time, 40 yard dash, bottle, john calipari, LeBron James, maker's mark, Nuts & Bolts, rich eisen
Dear LeBron,
Let’s start with full disclosure – I am a born and raised Knicks fan. So I’ll spend a few sentences pleading with you to sign with the Knicks. Please, please, please sign with the Knicks this offseason. We Knicks fans have been suffering for so long now. We need you. Ok, now that that’s out of my system, let me explain why you should sign with the New York Knickerbockers this coming summer in the most unbiased way possible.
Tags: chris bosh, Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, NBA, new york knicks
LeBron hosted his annual “2 Kings” dinner and afterparty in Dallas. The two hung out with celebs including Diddy, Russell Simmons, and Drake. [TheYBF]
Bar Refaeli is supposedly pissed that Brooklyn Decker got the 2010 SI Swimsuit cover. [CocoPerez]
Kallas says it was a mistake not to re-sign Matsui and Damon. He called Matsui’s $6.5 million signing with Anaheim a “piddling sum” then says he should play 90 games at DH and pinch hit in 40 games. 300-ish at bats for $6.5 million is not exactly a lot of bang for the Yankees’ buck. [Kallas Remarks]
We defended the Nick Johnson (and Curtis Granderson signings) and refuted this garbage weeks ago. [BigLeagueScrew]
The Sports Illustrated swimsuit models pretty much all smoke. HOT! [TMZ]
Free agent pitcher Chien Ming Wang will decide which team he will join at some point this week. [William Ladson on twitter]
Jose Canseco responded to his critics on twitter with a profanity-laced tweet. He also said he hasn’t “touched a steroid in over 2 years.” That long?!? [Out of Bounds]
In the first week of recruiting for 2011, the Texas Longhorns have already secured a mind-boggling 13 commitments. [Austin American Stateman]
Troy Smith, who played at Ohio State, was gung ho about potentially playing for the Browns. Word is that Smith could get traded to the Raiders to play for his former coach Hue Jackson. Still pumped up about getting moved, Troy? [ESPN]
The first black ice skating duo will compete at the 2010 Winter Olympics. The team is composed of Canadian-born Vanessa James and France’s Yannick Bonheur. I’m not exactly sure why James, born in Canada and raised in England, is allowed to compete for France. But it’s still historic! [Bossip]
Phillies slugger Ryan Howard is dating an Eagles cheerleader. She previously dated one of the Flyers. Gross. [TheBigLead]
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If you have any links you’d like to share with BLS for Nuts & Bolts or even an original post email them to us at teamscrew@bigleaguescrew.com
Tags: 2 kings, 2010 sports illustrated swimsuit edition, bar refaeli, brooklyn decker, diddy, jay-z, LeBron James, nba all-star, Nuts & Bolts, parties, ryan howard
We’re about five weeks away from the NBA trade deadline. With the February 18th date approaching, Chris Bosh is apparently generating a lot of interest. ESPN’s Chad Ford reports that interest in Bosh from the Lakers and Rockets could have a big impact on the LeBron Sweepstakes as well.
Sources from both the Knicks and Nets have told Ford that they don’t expect to land any major free agents unless they can pair that player with another big-time signing. He also notes that the Nets were already starting to question the prospect of a big move:
Even before the rumors surfaced this weekend, the Nets were having second thoughts about their 2010 summer strategy. A source close to the Nets’ thinking told me that they are concerned that if they don’t land LeBron or Bosh, they may be stuck in the same situation the Pistons were in last summer — with no elite free agents on the market, the Pistons were forced to overpay role players to fill out their roster.
The Knicks may also be re-thinking their strategy for 2010. The same factors may force Donnie Walsh’s hand to make a move soon or to wait until the dust settles in the 2010 free agency period. Nets team president Rod Thorn said that he expects “major deals” before the deadline. On the Lebron front, the latest rumor is that Pat Riley may go “all in” on LBJ.
Tags: 2010, chris bosh, cleveland cavaliers, free agents, houston rockets, LeBron James, los angeles lakers, NBA, new york knicks, trade deadline
Mike Lupica gets paid to write, but that doesn’t mean he gets paid to make sense. The senior sportswriter recently made a case for LeBron coming to New York in his Daily News column. Re-hashing nothing new, Lupica states that marketing dollars and “the chance to win it all” will deliver LBJ to New York.
Considering we’ve known about LeBron’s impending agency for years, there has been very little verified information to come out of the James Camp. So how does Lupica anchor his “new” argument? Using Tiger Woods, of course! Yes, seriously. Lupica seems to think that LBJ will land in New York to soften the blow to Nike’s marketing cachet according to one of his mogul-type friends. Huh? Even if that did make sense, casual observers have always been aware of Nike’s desire for LeBron to play in New York — Tiger Woods scandal or not.
A guy I know from sports, a mogul-type, one who knows the NBA and knows the business side of sports even better, was talking the other day about the possibility of LeBron coming to the Knicks. He is not a New Yorker, by the way, and is not a Knicks fan. He just thinks the whole thing makes sense, and not just for the Knicks and for the league.
“I am hearing,” the guy said, “that Nike wants LeBron in New York even more than ever, because of Tiger.”
He was referring to Tiger Woods. Maybe you’ve heard about him.
So Nike wants to pass Tiger’s torch to LeBron but needs him in New York to do so? Whatever you say, Anonymous Sports Business Mogul Associated With Mike Lupica. Tiger was (is?) clearly one of sports’ biggest stars. However, it doesn’t make sense to lump LeBron and Tiger into the same category simply because they’re Nike frontmen. Sure, they both have international fame and are top individuals in their sports. But there’s a reason why LeBron endorses Sprite and Bubblicious while Tiger promoted Accenture and Tag Heuer. The potential to net over a billion dollars in their careers doesn’t make them the same guy.
This is not a case of black and white even though Lupica would like to frame it as such. Unfortunately for him, the reasons AGAINST LeBron returning to Cleveland are not necessarily reasons TO sign with the Knicks (see the LeBron to the Bulls and LeBron to the Lakers theories). LBJ may have a shot at more endorsement dollars in New York, but the same is true about a number of different markets. That being said, the other half of Lupica’s argument about winning is laughable. Does he really have a better shot to win with the scraps currently inhabiting the Knicks’ roster than with Cleveland?
A month ago, I thought Donnie Walsh had no shot at LeBron, none, forget about it. But lately the Knicks have become a team their best and most diehard fans want to watch. In the short run, as you try to imagine LeBron in New York, you can see him actually wanting to be able to kick the ball out to the Italian kid, Danilo Gallinari, because you can see how the Italian kid might end up being the best shooter in the gym one of these days.
Or there is David Lee, who plays like a champion every night, no matter what the score. If there is a way to keep Lee. There is Wilson Chandler. In November there seemed to be no hope for this season. The year ends differently.
Michael Jordan had Chicago, Kobe has L.A., why not New York for LeBron? He clearly does have a fascination with the big bad city, and with the Yankees. Maybe that “27″ on the sneakers after the Yankees won the Series really was more than an instant message.
LeBron is smart, which means he understands that as big as he has gotten, and as fast as he has gotten there, the only way he becomes as big as he wants to be is by winning it all. And maybe coming here and having at least one big player come with him is the best way.
To say that LeBron James might stake his future on Danilo Gallinari and David Lee is absurd hyperbole. While we’re fans of both players, they’re only marginally better than teammates LeBron has had in Cleveland. Unless James knows a way to wipe Eddy Curry and Jared Jeffries’ contracts from the books, Lupica’s point about winning with the Knicks is shaky at best. Even LeBron will need more than a couple of decent supporting players to win a championship — this isn’t NBA Jam.
It’s also outlandish that Lupica claims to think that LeBron would take a pay cut so the Knicks can sign another talent. If James is going to (literally) bet the house on a team, it’s hard to believe that LeBron will choose the Knicks. The team has only finished above .500 once in the past decade. LeBron’s only experience with a losing season was his rookie year and his major wager could end with a similar result.
But let’s be serious. Is it even possible for LeBron James to become a BIGGER star? The answer is yes and no. First, it’s doubtful there are that many people planning on jumping ship to become LeBron fans simply because he wears blue and orange. Second, LeBron Fatigue is already developing across the nation. The guy said he wanted to be a billion dollar athlete. He’s exhibited poor sportsmanship. He had a video of him getting dunked on confiscated. He’s also featured in the now-annoying Nike puppet commercials. James is a hair away from being considered pompous and over-exposed. Expecting to arrive in New York for His coronation might be the last straw for a lot of non-Knicks fans.
Yes, LeBron can still be the King of New York. Though that wouldn’t really elevate his stature much. As previously mentioned, he already has international appeal and maybe Lupica forgot that people love to hate it when New York wins. Coming to New York City might just make LeBron “East Coast Kobe” rather than the innocuous Midwest wunderkind he is now. At the same time, it could make it look like King James thinks he’s bigger than the game. And that’s almost certainly the case if LeBron is willing to risk colossal failure for an incremental increase in his “legend” and bottom line.
Mike Lupica could be right and LeBron may end up in the Big Apple. However, he also parallels LeBron’s budding career with those of Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. And when did those guys ever play in New York or take a pay cut to win? Let’s hope this is the last time that Lupica regurgitates the logic of his anonymous mogul buddies.
Tags: 2010, basketball, cleveland cavaliers, danilo gallinari, David Lee, free agents, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, michael jordan, mike lupica, NBA, new york city, new york knicks, tiger woods
Ron Artest is known for doing and saying crazy things but he made a lot of sense when talking about the Knicks. The Lakers’ small forward recently talked about players’ potential fear of coming to the Big Apple. Artest said that most players are afraid of pressure and the media.
Ron Ron said that he wouldn’t feel any pressure in New York. He also believes that LeBron can succeed in NYC. Artest went on to say “f*ck the media” and that he was “always trying” to get to New York. Unfortunately, that won’t happen now. At least as a player. Here’s what Artest had to say about an eventual return to New York:
“Everybody knows how I feel about New York now. I was always trying to get there…I love New York. Maybe when my career is over I can go there and probably do something with the organization or something. I don’t know. Maybe coach or something.”
So yeah, TruWarier may actually come back to the City. Unfortunately, he thinks it could be as a coach instead of a player. Hey, it can’t be worse than Isiah.
Tags: basketball, coach, free agents, LeBron James, los angeles lakers, NBA, new york knicks, ron artest
Coming into the NBA, I thought LeBron lacked range. He certainly proved me wrong over the past few years and has developed a nice stroke from downtown. He’s even showed off his long-range prowess with an under-handed 3/4-court shot on 60 Minutes.
Well, LeBron is back at it for a good cause. He was recently at a school where he promised to gift all of the students with sneakers if he hit a half-court shot. Of course, LeBron drained it and the kids all got new kicks.
You can check out more videos of LeBron helping out kids plus video extras from his movie More Than A Game here. You can see LeBron’s ridiculous shot on 60 Minutes here.
Tags: basketball, cleveland cavaliers, half-court shot, LeBron James, more than a game, NBA, state farm, videos
He may be injury prone and overrated, but that doesn’t stop Jeremy Shockey from running his mouth. On a good day, Jeremy Shockey is one of the top 10 tight ends in the league. But he still decided to take a shot at LeBron James, the best basketball player in the world.
The neanderthal apparently has a twitter account and used it to say that he thinks King James would run a 4.9 40 yard dash. Princess Jeremy also used the 140 character message to say that he wouldn’t even make a practice squad. It’s kind of hard to believe that James wouldn’t be better than the likes of the extremely tall and catch-challenged Leonard Pope.
It seems like LeBron would be a pass-catching tight end that doesn’t do a ton of blocking. Though, a college career in football would have probably added much-needed lower body strength to LeBron’s frame. Shockey’s claim of a 4.9 40 time for James seems outlandish. NFL centers can run the forty yard dash that quickly. For reference, Shockey came into the NFL draft in 2002 with a 4.58 to his name.
Shockey and James actually had surprisingly similar numbers in their last season of high school football. In 2001, LeBron James had 1160 receiving yards on 57 receptions with 16 touchdowns and was an all-state wide receiver as a junior at St. Vincent-St. Mary in Ohio . He quit football after that season to focus on basketball. As a high school senior, Jeremy Shockey had 1107 yards on 50 receptions with 5 touchdowns in 1998. He was an all-state wide receiver and also played linebacker at Ada High School in Oklahoma. While the level of competition may have been different, the numbers are shockingly close.
After assessing the comments, we’re going to have to chalk this one up to bitterness. Could LeBron James hack it in the NFL? Probably. Would he be better than Jeremy Shockey? That’s up in the air. But I think LeBron made the right decision considering the fact that he’s about to sign a mega-contract and is the frontman for brands like Nike and Sprite. On the other hand, Shockey’s most notable endorsements were for G-Shock watches and Hungry Man frozen dinners (below).
Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan is facing adversity
The Jets have lost 4 of 5, and face the New England Patriots on Sunday. While reading about the Jets has become a chore due to the extreme reactions of the media to every week’s result (win or loss), here is a refreshing take on why Rex should be himself and keep talking tough. (NY Post)
Mike Tannenbaum’s take on “Cry-Gate”. Much to my suspicion, he doesn’t consider it a big deal. (Sports Radio Interviews)
Tila Tequila is suing her Ex, Shawne Merriman for false imprisonment, bruising. (TMZ)
Watching the Browns has made LeBron James believe he can play in the NFL. Coincidentally, watching the Knicks has made me believe I could play in the NBA. (Boston Herald)
UPDATE — Browns coach Eric Mangini to LeBron: “Come on down.” (NBC Sports)
Former Pats players accused of roughing up HS basketball players in a charity game. You monsters! (Boston Globe)
Rather than have to play for the Warriors, Raja Bell has elected to have surgery on his left wrist. (Contra Costa Times)
Former Devil, Red Wing, and Ranger Brendan Shanahan has retired from the NHL. The future Hall of Famer will most likely accept a position in the league office. (NY Daily News)
Theo Fleury plans sexual abuse charges against former junior coach. (FanHouse)
Fat coach story #2 for today. Kansas athletic director Lew Perkins has launched an investigation into allegations that coach Mark Mangino has been treating his players inappropriately. (FanHouse)
Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie will visit a Serbian healer to have a placenta rubbed on his injured ankle. I shit you not. (ESPN)
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If you have any links you’d like to share with BLS for Nuts & Bolts or even an original post email them to me at john@bigleaguescrew.com
Tags: LeBron James, new york jets, Nuts & Bolts, Rex Ryan
You may or may not know that Cleveland Browns receiver Braylon Edwards is beefing with LeBron James’ “people.” Nobody can be sure exactly how the rift began. Frankly, I’m not so sure anybody cares.
The bad blood became public this week when reports emerged claiming Edwards has punched a friend of LeBron’s. This was later confirmed by by alleged victim and LeBron. In response to the incident, King James released a statement aimed at the former Michigan receiver:
“I’ve never crossed paths with Braylon before, but it seems like there’s a little jealousy going on with Braylon and me and my friends. I have no idea why. I’ve never said anything to Braylon at all. But for him to do that is very childish. My friend is 130 pounds. Seriously. It’s like hitting one of my kids. It doesn’t make sense.”
Basically, it sounds like Braylon was mad that one of LeBron’s underlings was giving him a hard time at the door of a club. Edwards’ name was not included in the police report and there are no charges pending against him. So it looks like Braylon will avoid legal and potential NFL disciplinary repercussions. I just hope this issue is resolved with Braylon getting punched in the head.
Tags: assault, braylon edwards, cleveland browns, cleveland cavaliers, crime, feud, fight, football, LeBron James, NBA, NFL, punch
He's either saying "I believe..." or "What I saw, was..."
Namath is impressed by Mark Sanchez. No word on if he thinks Mark is quality and classy yet. (NY Post)
Sanchez gets “fired up” on game day with James Taylor, Elton John and Billy Joel. Really. (Jets Blog)
You know how I know LeBron James is a superstar? King James held court on The View. (Bossip)
Joanna Garcia thinks Nick Swisher is great. Coincidentally, we think she’s also great (Read: hot). (Gunaxin)
The Yanks have clinched a post season appearance. Does Joe Girardi deserve an extension? (NY Daily News)
Supreme Court Justice (and Yankees fan) Sotomayor to throw out first pitch against Sox. (Washington Post)
With Jets flying high, 2-0 Giants fly under the radar. That’s just fine with them. (NY Daily News)
Mario Manningham making a lot of GMs look dumb. (Big Blue View)
Rangers’ rookie Center Anisimov is an early Calder candidate…if he makes the team. (Beyond the Blueshirts)
Sheff not done cookin’. Plans to play one more year, but it might not be for the Mets. Good for him. (NYPost)
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If you have any links you’d like to share with BLS for Nuts & Bolts or even an original post email them to me at john@bigleaguescrew.com
Tags: joanna garcia, joe namath, LeBron James, mark sanchez, new york jets, new york mets, new york rangers, new york yankees, nick swisher, Nuts & Bolts
