MIAMI (AP)?Adding a new layer to the rift between LeBron James(notes) and Dan
Gilbert, the NBA?s two-time reigning MVP and new Miami Heat forward has told GQ
magazine that he isn?t sure the Cleveland Cavaliers owner ?ever cared? about
him during their time together.
In an article released Tuesday, James spoke of how widespread criticism of
his decision?and how he chose to make it a television event?is fueling him
this offseason, plus reiterated how Ohio will always remain his home.
But perhaps his sharpest words were reserved for Gilbert, the owner who
lashed out at him shortly after James announced that he would be joining the
Heat.
?I don?t think he ever cared about LeBron,? James is quoted as saying.
?My mother always told me: ?You will see the light of people when they hit
adversity. You?ll get a good sense of their character.? Me and my family have
seen the character of that man.?
Gilbert did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
James made similar remarks on the night Miami signed him to a six-year
contract, doing so while sitting alongside the other two legs of the Heat
superstar triangle, Dwyane Wade(notes) and Chris Bosh(notes).
Gilbert was clearly scorned by James? choice, firing off a now-infamous
letter to Cleveland fans describing it all as ?a shameful display of
selfishness and betrayal.? He called James ?narcissistic? and
?self-promotional? and vowed the Cavaliers would win a championship before
?the self-titled former king.?
Further, in an interview the same night with The Associated Press, Gilbert
said he felt James quit on Cleveland during the 2009 and 2010 playoffs. Gilbert
was ultimately fined $100,000 by the NBA for what commissioner David Stern said
were comments that fell into the category of being ?a little extreme.?
In the GQ article, James took exception to the ?quitter? tag.
?Every night on the court I give my all, and if I?m not giving 100 percent,
I criticize myself,? James said.
He added that he?s looking forward to seeing the Cavaliers as opponents this
season.
?I do have motivation,? James told GQ. ?A lot of motivation.?
Among other highlights from the article:
? James said he wouldn?t change any part of ?The Decision,? the
made-for-TV event in Greenwich, Conn. where he announced his playing plans to an
audience of about 10 million viewers. The hourlong show made $2.5 million for
Boys & Girls Clubs. ?When I found out I had an opportunity to do that for those
kids, it was a no-brainer,? James said.
? Despite his feuding with Gilbert, James thinks that if he could ever play
for the Cavaliers again someday, it would be ?a great story.?
? James explained he?s always had an uneasy relationship with Cleveland
because he?s from Akron, a half-hour away. ?It?s not far, but it is far,?
James said. ?And Clevelanders, because they were the bigger-city kids when we
were growing up, looked down on us. ? So we didn?t actually like Cleveland. We
hated Cleveland growing up. There?s a lot of people in Cleveland we still hate
to this day.?
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Monday, August 30, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
James doubts Gilbert cared about him (AP)
MIAMI (AP)?Adding a new layer to the rift between LeBron James(notes) and Dan
Gilbert, the NBA?s two-time reigning MVP and new Miami Heat forward has told GQ
magazine that he isn?t sure the Cleveland Cavaliers owner ?ever cared? about
him during their time together.
In an article released Tuesday, James spoke of how widespread criticism of
his decision?and how he chose to make it a television event?is fueling him
this offseason, plus reiterated how Ohio will always remain his home.
But perhaps his sharpest words were reserved for Gilbert, the owner who
lashed out at him shortly after James announced that he would be joining the
Heat.
?I don?t think he ever cared about LeBron,? James is quoted as saying.
?My mother always told me: ?You will see the light of people when they hit
adversity. You?ll get a good sense of their character.? Me and my family have
seen the character of that man.?
Gilbert did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
James made similar remarks on the night Miami signed him to a six-year
contract, doing so while sitting alongside the other two legs of the Heat
superstar triangle, Dwyane Wade(notes) and Chris Bosh(notes).
Gilbert was clearly scorned by James? choice, firing off a now-infamous
letter to Cleveland fans describing it all as ?a shameful display of
selfishness and betrayal.? He called James ?narcissistic? and
?self-promotional? and vowed the Cavaliers would win a championship before
?the self-titled former king.?
Further, in an interview the same night with The Associated Press, Gilbert
said he felt James quit on Cleveland during the 2009 and 2010 playoffs. Gilbert
was ultimately fined $100,000 by the NBA for what commissioner David Stern said
were comments that fell into the category of being ?a little extreme.?
In the GQ article, James took exception to the ?quitter? tag.
?Every night on the court I give my all, and if I?m not giving 100 percent,
I criticize myself,? James said.
He added that he?s looking forward to seeing the Cavaliers as opponents this
season.
?I do have motivation,? James told GQ. ?A lot of motivation.?
Among other highlights from the article:
? James said he wouldn?t change any part of ?The Decision,? the
made-for-TV event in Greenwich, Conn. where he announced his playing plans to an
audience of about 10 million viewers. The hourlong show made $2.5 million for
Boys & Girls Clubs. ?When I found out I had an opportunity to do that for those
kids, it was a no-brainer,? James said.
? Despite his feuding with Gilbert, James thinks that if he could ever play
for the Cavaliers again someday, it would be ?a great story.?
? James explained he?s always had an uneasy relationship with Cleveland
because he?s from Akron, a half-hour away. ?It?s not far, but it is far,?
James said. ?And Clevelanders, because they were the bigger-city kids when we
were growing up, looked down on us. ? So we didn?t actually like Cleveland. We
hated Cleveland growing up. There?s a lot of people in Cleveland we still hate
to this day.?
digg
add to facebook
del.icio.us
Twitter
Gilbert, the NBA?s two-time reigning MVP and new Miami Heat forward has told GQ
magazine that he isn?t sure the Cleveland Cavaliers owner ?ever cared? about
him during their time together.
In an article released Tuesday, James spoke of how widespread criticism of
his decision?and how he chose to make it a television event?is fueling him
this offseason, plus reiterated how Ohio will always remain his home.
But perhaps his sharpest words were reserved for Gilbert, the owner who
lashed out at him shortly after James announced that he would be joining the
Heat.
?I don?t think he ever cared about LeBron,? James is quoted as saying.
?My mother always told me: ?You will see the light of people when they hit
adversity. You?ll get a good sense of their character.? Me and my family have
seen the character of that man.?
Gilbert did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
James made similar remarks on the night Miami signed him to a six-year
contract, doing so while sitting alongside the other two legs of the Heat
superstar triangle, Dwyane Wade(notes) and Chris Bosh(notes).
Gilbert was clearly scorned by James? choice, firing off a now-infamous
letter to Cleveland fans describing it all as ?a shameful display of
selfishness and betrayal.? He called James ?narcissistic? and
?self-promotional? and vowed the Cavaliers would win a championship before
?the self-titled former king.?
Further, in an interview the same night with The Associated Press, Gilbert
said he felt James quit on Cleveland during the 2009 and 2010 playoffs. Gilbert
was ultimately fined $100,000 by the NBA for what commissioner David Stern said
were comments that fell into the category of being ?a little extreme.?
In the GQ article, James took exception to the ?quitter? tag.
?Every night on the court I give my all, and if I?m not giving 100 percent,
I criticize myself,? James said.
He added that he?s looking forward to seeing the Cavaliers as opponents this
season.
?I do have motivation,? James told GQ. ?A lot of motivation.?
Among other highlights from the article:
? James said he wouldn?t change any part of ?The Decision,? the
made-for-TV event in Greenwich, Conn. where he announced his playing plans to an
audience of about 10 million viewers. The hourlong show made $2.5 million for
Boys & Girls Clubs. ?When I found out I had an opportunity to do that for those
kids, it was a no-brainer,? James said.
? Despite his feuding with Gilbert, James thinks that if he could ever play
for the Cavaliers again someday, it would be ?a great story.?
? James explained he?s always had an uneasy relationship with Cleveland
because he?s from Akron, a half-hour away. ?It?s not far, but it is far,?
James said. ?And Clevelanders, because they were the bigger-city kids when we
were growing up, looked down on us. ? So we didn?t actually like Cleveland. We
hated Cleveland growing up. There?s a lot of people in Cleveland we still hate
to this day.?
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Tiger Woods Struggles in Second Round at The Barclays
Filed under: PGAPARAMUS, N.J. (AP) -- Jason Day can't get a straight answer from doctors on the mysterious health issues sapping away at his energy. He at least knows exactly where he stands after two rounds of The Barclays.
A tournament that once looked as though it might belong to Tiger Woods shifted late Friday to the hands of the 22-year-old Australian, who showed some of his great promise with three late birdies for a 4-under 67 and a one-shot lead.
Nine players had at least a share of the lead at some point during the second round until Day's late surge. He was at 8-under 134, one shot clear of Kevin Streelman (63) and Vaughn Taylor (70) going into the weekend of the FedExCup's first playoff event.
"I just tried to stay as patient as possible, and it just kind of fell in my lap, which was really good," he said.
Woods didn't so much lose his patience as much as his putting stroke. Part of that was playing in the afternoon on greens that became bumpy under foot traffic and a day of blazing sun, as Woods expected.
More: Barclays Leaderboard | Photos
He wasn't planning on missing a 20-inch par putt on the fifth hole, or failing to make a single birdie on the easier front nine.
"I didn't hit it bad at all," Woods said. "I hit it really good. As I said, I didn't putt really well. I hit it as good as I did yesterday. If I don't make putts, I don't score."
He wound up with a 73, eight shots worse than his opening round.
A tournament that once looked as though it might belong to Tiger Woods shifted late Friday to the hands of the 22-year-old Australian, who showed some of his great promise with three late birdies for a 4-under 67 and a one-shot lead.
Nine players had at least a share of the lead at some point during the second round until Day's late surge. He was at 8-under 134, one shot clear of Kevin Streelman (63) and Vaughn Taylor (70) going into the weekend of the FedExCup's first playoff event.
"I just tried to stay as patient as possible, and it just kind of fell in my lap, which was really good," he said.
Woods didn't so much lose his patience as much as his putting stroke. Part of that was playing in the afternoon on greens that became bumpy under foot traffic and a day of blazing sun, as Woods expected.
More: Barclays Leaderboard | Photos
He wasn't planning on missing a 20-inch par putt on the fifth hole, or failing to make a single birdie on the easier front nine.
"I didn't hit it bad at all," Woods said. "I hit it really good. As I said, I didn't putt really well. I hit it as good as I did yesterday. If I don't make putts, I don't score."
He wound up with a 73, eight shots worse than his opening round.
Jets LB Pace injures foot, could miss Sept. 13 season opener
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Jets linebacker Calvin Pace injured his foot against the Washington�Redskins and will miss the Jets' Sept. 13 season opener against the Baltimore�Ravens, according to the New York Post.
Jets coach Rex Ryan said Pace has "something with his foot," an injury suffered during the Jets' 16-11 preseason loss Friday night. Pace, who led the team with eight sacks last season, left the game in the third quarter. The severity of the injury wasn't immediately known after the game. "We expect him to be out a few weeks," Ryan told the Post. "It's a big loss, but we're fortunate we have a lot of depth at that position." Veteran Jason Taylor -- signed in the offseason as a situational pass rusher -- will step into Pace's spot in the lineup. "I wasn't going around telling everybody I was a situation guy," Taylor said. "I want to play." The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Jets coach Rex Ryan said Pace has "something with his foot," an injury suffered during the Jets' 16-11 preseason loss Friday night. Pace, who led the team with eight sacks last season, left the game in the third quarter. The severity of the injury wasn't immediately known after the game. "We expect him to be out a few weeks," Ryan told the Post. "It's a big loss, but we're fortunate we have a lot of depth at that position." Veteran Jason Taylor -- signed in the offseason as a situational pass rusher -- will step into Pace's spot in the lineup. "I wasn't going around telling everybody I was a situation guy," Taylor said. "I want to play." The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Ndamukong Suh Roughs Up Delhomme
Filed under: Browns, Lions, AFC North, NFC NorthThe good news for the Detroit Lions is that in rookie defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, they've found themselves a player who likes to rough up opposing quarterbacks.
The bad news is that if Suh makes a habit of roughing up opposing quarterbacks the way he did to Cleveland's Jake Delhomme on Saturday, he's going to get suspended.
In the second quarter of the Browns-Lions preseason game, Suh absolutely brutalized Delhomme. Suh grabbed Delhomme by the facemask, yanked him down as he threw the ball away, then tossed him to the Ford Field turf like a rag doll. It was an ugly, dirty play, albeit a play that showed the kind of fiery aggressiveness that makes for a great defensive tackle.
The bad news is that if Suh makes a habit of roughing up opposing quarterbacks the way he did to Cleveland's Jake Delhomme on Saturday, he's going to get suspended.
In the second quarter of the Browns-Lions preseason game, Suh absolutely brutalized Delhomme. Suh grabbed Delhomme by the facemask, yanked him down as he threw the ball away, then tossed him to the Ford Field turf like a rag doll. It was an ugly, dirty play, albeit a play that showed the kind of fiery aggressiveness that makes for a great defensive tackle.
Cavs unveiling post-James era uniforms (AP)
CLEVELAND (AP)?Austin Carr fondly remembers his glory days playing guard for
the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1970s.
Under coach Bill Fitch, they didn?t have as much talent as many other teams,
but those wine-and-gold expansion Cavs had something special.
?We were 12 men deep,? Carr said as he helped the Cavs unveil new uniforms
for 2010-11. ?You knew every night we were going to play 100 percent. Nobody
was going to quit.?
Realizing he had taken a shot at former Cavaliers? star LeBron James(notes), Carr
raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders.
At this point, what else can be said?
Long before James announced he was leaving as a free agent for Miami, the
Cavs planned to wear new uniforms next season and Tuesday they presented their
?updated? look, a throwback to their early years in the NBA.
The uniforms include a ?deeper? wine and ?brighter? gold hue than the
team?s previous uniforms. They also include the word ?Cleveland? written in a
block-style lettering as opposed to the script of the past.
On Monday, owner Dan Gilbert said jokingly that the new uniforms would
include the Comic Sans font. It?s the style he used in his infamous letter to
Cleveland fans on July 8 after James announced he was leaving Cleveland.
The Cavs insist they are trying to move on, but James was again in the news
being quoted in an upcoming GQ interview that he feels Gilbert never cared about
him and his hatred for Cleveland dates back to his days as a kid growing up in
Akron.
Carr, who was the league?s No. 1 overall draft pick in 1971 and Cleveland?s
first bona fide hoops star, remains disappointed in James? departure. The
two-time MVP announced his decision in a prime-time TV special, breaking the
hearts of his biggest fans.
?As an ex-player, I might have left myself,? said Carr, a color analyst
for the team. ?So I don?t begrudge him for that. But the way he did it was
unprofessional and uncalled for.?
After James announced his decision, Gilbert fired off his impassioned letter
ripping James for being ?narcissistic? and predicting the Cavs would win a
championship before ?the self-titled former king.? Later, he told the
Associated Press that he felt the superstar quit in this year?s playoffs.
Although it seems the Cavs are trying to move on, James? magazine interview
has reopened the issue. He?s the one who can?t seem to let things go.
?That?s his problem,? said Carr, who cried unashamedly the night the Cavs
won the NBA draft lottery and the rights to draft James. ?Not ours.?
Carr was joined by former teammate Campy Russell at a launch party for the
new uniforms. Both players laughed at the length of the shorts compared to the
tight-fitting ones they wore.
?We wore Daisy Dukes,? Carr said.
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the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1970s.
Under coach Bill Fitch, they didn?t have as much talent as many other teams,
but those wine-and-gold expansion Cavs had something special.
?We were 12 men deep,? Carr said as he helped the Cavs unveil new uniforms
for 2010-11. ?You knew every night we were going to play 100 percent. Nobody
was going to quit.?
Realizing he had taken a shot at former Cavaliers? star LeBron James(notes), Carr
raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders.
At this point, what else can be said?
Long before James announced he was leaving as a free agent for Miami, the
Cavs planned to wear new uniforms next season and Tuesday they presented their
?updated? look, a throwback to their early years in the NBA.
The uniforms include a ?deeper? wine and ?brighter? gold hue than the
team?s previous uniforms. They also include the word ?Cleveland? written in a
block-style lettering as opposed to the script of the past.
On Monday, owner Dan Gilbert said jokingly that the new uniforms would
include the Comic Sans font. It?s the style he used in his infamous letter to
Cleveland fans on July 8 after James announced he was leaving Cleveland.
The Cavs insist they are trying to move on, but James was again in the news
being quoted in an upcoming GQ interview that he feels Gilbert never cared about
him and his hatred for Cleveland dates back to his days as a kid growing up in
Akron.
Carr, who was the league?s No. 1 overall draft pick in 1971 and Cleveland?s
first bona fide hoops star, remains disappointed in James? departure. The
two-time MVP announced his decision in a prime-time TV special, breaking the
hearts of his biggest fans.
?As an ex-player, I might have left myself,? said Carr, a color analyst
for the team. ?So I don?t begrudge him for that. But the way he did it was
unprofessional and uncalled for.?
After James announced his decision, Gilbert fired off his impassioned letter
ripping James for being ?narcissistic? and predicting the Cavs would win a
championship before ?the self-titled former king.? Later, he told the
Associated Press that he felt the superstar quit in this year?s playoffs.
Although it seems the Cavs are trying to move on, James? magazine interview
has reopened the issue. He?s the one who can?t seem to let things go.
?That?s his problem,? said Carr, who cried unashamedly the night the Cavs
won the NBA draft lottery and the rights to draft James. ?Not ours.?
Carr was joined by former teammate Campy Russell at a launch party for the
new uniforms. Both players laughed at the length of the shorts compared to the
tight-fitting ones they wore.
?We wore Daisy Dukes,? Carr said.
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The Curious Case of Andrea Collarini
Filed under: Davis Cup, ATP, Sports Business and MediaIf you can't beat 'em, buy 'em. Is that what we're down to in American tennis? Is that the American Way?
The U.S. Open starts Monday, just two weeks after a historic low in U.S. tennis, when no American men were ranked in the world's top 10. It's the great fall of U.S. tennis. And word now isn't just that no one is on top, but that no one is coming, either. The U.S. doesn't know how to develop players at all.
The best place to learn the art and nuance of the modern game is on clay, but Americans can't play on the stuff. It's not easy to find red clay courts in America, where hard courts suit the U.S. style of power and dominance.
But working through the minors now is an 18-year-old American left-hander, a clay court specialist who has been called "the chosen one.''
That's right, Andrea Collarini (pictured) reached the final of the junior French Open in May on the slow, red clay. He'll play juniors at the U.S. Open next week.
So how do you explain him?
"I have to use the expression,'' a spokesperson for the Argentine tennis federation, AAT, told me, "they are stealing a player.''
The U.S. Open starts Monday, just two weeks after a historic low in U.S. tennis, when no American men were ranked in the world's top 10. It's the great fall of U.S. tennis. And word now isn't just that no one is on top, but that no one is coming, either. The U.S. doesn't know how to develop players at all.
The best place to learn the art and nuance of the modern game is on clay, but Americans can't play on the stuff. It's not easy to find red clay courts in America, where hard courts suit the U.S. style of power and dominance.
But working through the minors now is an 18-year-old American left-hander, a clay court specialist who has been called "the chosen one.''
That's right, Andrea Collarini (pictured) reached the final of the junior French Open in May on the slow, red clay. He'll play juniors at the U.S. Open next week.
So how do you explain him?
"I have to use the expression,'' a spokesperson for the Argentine tennis federation, AAT, told me, "they are stealing a player.''
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