Jason, the message isn't that lebron isn't a role model, that was a rip on charles barkley who notoriously said "i'm not paid to be a role model" after one of his many controversies during the 90s. what he is trying to say (i believe successfully) is that he made his "(the) decision" and now he (and everyone else) has to live with it. that said, he isn't going to live his life for anyone else. this is sort of redundant to me, since taking his talents to south beach sort of tipped most people off to that fact already, but he obviously thought (or in this case maybe it's more likely that nike thought it) that he needed to reiterate the idea that he is his own man and he will not be forced to do anything he doesn't want to do. i agree with the sentiment most have expressed; lebron is a phenomenon on the hardwood, but comes across as kind of a jerk everywhere else. that said, i couldn't give a crap less where he decided to play, it was the fact that he decided to turn himself into such a spectacle this past summer that pissed me off. he's still a young guy and i think that he is just an incredibly immature kid, but can you really blame him??? since he was like 16 everyone has been lining up to tell him how awesome he is, by 18 he had more money than god, and he has been walking around ohio being worshiped for the last 7 years... what would any of us be like in that situation? moral of the story is, lebron doesn't give a crap what any of us think about his decision. the irony is that this ad and everything else about him seems to show that he desperately wants to be liked, or maybe he just needs his q score to go up so he can sell more sneakers?

throw in a first round pick and i think that trade is fair...would portland do it, though, is the big question

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=2c6ee8z

how was rondo with the other guys on the team? after his waffling about whether or not he'd even go to camp and then his comments about how he's not clicking with anyone, is he on the outside looking in at this group or is he a part of it, joking around and getting along with everyone? it seems to me like he's kind of defensive or insecure about his place on the team. i understand where he's coming from being one of the best pgs in the league and still seemingly having to fight for an invite to camp, but does it carry over on or of the court?

this was my first season as a red's army reader but it won't be my last...you guys are great and i really enjoyed the jokes, the analysis, the sarcasm, and everything else you two provided.

That website had Cavs over Blazers in the finals at the start of the playoffs...so let's take them with a grain of salt. I say Celtics in six, with the C's taking one in L.A., losing one at home, and finishing them off in Cali...

points: Kobe rebounds: Odom assists: Rondo

ray allen, kevin garnett, paul pierce, awtawn jamison, mo williams...

Celts 42, Cavs 38

what about a sign that says "Fa Q" say it slow.

is anyone else bothered by the fact that even salvatore acknowledged that he was wrong and would talk to the league about rescinded the tech that HE CALLED! the league needs to start fining refs for bad calls. its crap like this that makes me believe that sheed is actually targeted for techs even when he doesn't deserve them. sure, he should know better but the refs absolutely t him up quicker than any other player i've ever seen.