With the suspenseful, much anticipated, over-hyped announcement that LeBron James, the basketball superstar who has dwelled in the loser city of Cleveland for the seven years of his professional career, will take his free-agent talents to Miami and the Heat and join fellow superstar Dwyane Wade and slightly-lower-level star Chris Bosh, the table has been set for Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski to leave the Blue Devils and to begin his much wanted quest for basketball coaching infamy with a National Basketball Association championship to go with his NCAA titles and his Olympic gold medal.
What? LeBron going to Miami was all about Coach K? Not really. It’s just a by-product of a series of events that could culminate with Duke looking for a new head coach, something that would just happen sooner than later when Krzyzewski eventually retires, even though he’s just 63 years old now.
As someone who doesn’t have the NBA on his radar whatsoever, except to watch a few minutes of a game or two (I didn’t watch more than a minute of the season or playoffs this year), I took a little more than just a passing interest in James’ dilemma, if you call it that, of what to do with his free-agency situation. For anyone interested in sports, we knew this would be a big deal in one way or another. He has now surpassed Michael Jordan in NBA notoriety even without a league title.
When James decided to make his announcement, after days and weeks of being courted by six franchises, on a live broadcast on ESPN, The Decision escalated to worldwide leader in sports proportions. Leading up to it, nearly every ESPN (mother ship and other outlets) station hyped it. Colin Cowherd on his radio show which is also shown live on ESPNU was all over himself about it, getting excited at the mere idea of LeBron not only telling the world of his choice on live ESPN, but on how James would keep it quiet, as quiet can be, before saying the magic (oops, that’s another team that was not in the mix), before saying the heated (that’s more like it) words that would please many and disappoint more.
So, at 9:00 p.m. eastern daylight time, right after the weekly episode of Glee, a musical weekly television show that has 19 Emmy nominations, I dialed up 1500 on my Time Warner Cable-based television system and settled in for what turned out to be about 30 minutes of fluff followed by some interesting and much better questioning. Just prior to its start on the 42” Vizio, I was berated with, “I can’t believe you’re going to watch that! Who cares? It’s stupid. I’m going to bed to read.” And so I was left to listen and learn, just as if it was an election night and the results of the town council race in Angier was being flashed onto the screen while a new President was being chosen by the voters.
A couple of quick observations: Jim Gray, the initial interviewer designated by James, was weak, but I think his hands were tied by LeBron and his handlers who controlled the reality show. Maybe, maybe not, but Gray, a free-agent himself and not an ESPN employee, obviously followed somewhat of a scrip with the questions. While Gray was not exactly the Mike Wallace of last night, his effort or lack thereof was much better than what was offered in the first few minutes of the entire show by ESPN’s Stuart Scott, Chris Broussard, Jon Barry and Michael Wilbon, all of whom were convinced the choice would be Miami, but all of whom hedged their bets just enough to be able to say “I told you so” if LeBron picked the Knicks, the Nets, the Bulls, the Cavaliers or one other which I cannot remember or care to remember. Was it the Celtics? Oh yeah.
When LeBron made his dramatic announcement, which went something like, “I’m taking my talent to South Beach to play for the Miami Heat,” the interview with Gray ended shortly thereafter and Wilbon, an excellent Washington Post columnist and insightful NBAer, took over giving the viewers more of what was desired. I was more relieved to listen to that banter than to know where James was going to call basketball home for the next certain number of years.
I was also glad to hear that James passed up an additional $30 million he could have taken if he has stayed in Cleveland so he could join Wade and Bosh and claim his legacy through winning NBA titles and not just with his superior talent and his huge income. He wants to win championships and that admirable. I was also happy to know that the primary sponsor—University of Phoenix—of The Decision program was donating $500,000 and several additional scholarships to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Say what you want about uncaring, egotistical professional athletes, but I believe LeBron is unique in that he wants to share his wealth with those who need it and who need his attention. He is more about being the winner of titles (and playing with his Olympic teammates Wade and Bosh) than he is about the money or he would have stayed at home in Cleveland.
“You have to ask yourself,” said a friend in an email late last night, “if he’s dead set on championships being his main goal, why not play for the Lakers or Celtics for $5.00 a year?” No need to answer that one, but he’s got a good point, sort of. Well, not really.
On the other hand, I was extremely disappointed in his choice because I had it on good authority that he would sign with Kentucky to play for his friend John Calipari. The money would have been just as good, at the very least as much as he makes now. Which bring me to another email from last night: “Now that we know where LeBron is going to play, I’m just curious if anyone has heard where Shavlik Randolph may be playing next year?” That’s not really relevant but…
That brings us back to Coach K and his new opening to coach in the NBA, specifically at Miami. As it turns out, on good authority, Krzyzewski is pretty good friends with Micky Arison, the Israeli-American (born in Tel Aviv in 1949) who is Chairman and CEO of Carnival Corporation (world’s largest cruise operator) and who owns the Miami Heat. His father, Ted, was instrumental in getting the Heat to Miami. And, Micky Arison’s son, Nick, who is now one of Micky’s limited partners in the Heat, was once a manager for the Duke basketball team coaches by Krzyzewski.
While Pat Riley, the team’s president who was instrumental in getting Wade to return to Miami and James and Bosh to move to Miami, appears to be headed back to the bench so he can coach the threesome, I’ll go out on a long limb and say that if Riley returns to the bench, it’ll be short lived, maybe a year or two and then hands will be extended by Arison (both Micky and Nick) and by James, Wade and Bosh to Krzyzewski to give him the opportunity to work again with these three members of his Olympic gold-medal team but this time for an NBA title. Mike will celebrate his 64th birthday next February; I can imagine, just after he turns 65, he could be celebrating an NBA ring. The King has spoken. The table has been set.
Showing posts with label Lebron James. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lebron James. Show all posts
Friday, July 9, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
State Tax; Afghanistan; Charlotte; Gamecocks
Welcome to July. Just a few short takes today. And, with July 4th just a few days away, be sure to participate in the survey to the right.
No State Income Tax? Not Really!
I get a kick out of the reason athletes—Lebron James, for instance—may want to play for teams in Florida or any other states which have no state income tax. To do so will save some taxes but not completely. Most states, including North Carolina, tax athletes and entertainers when they perform within our borders. It’s a payday and they worked in North Carolina to earn the income.
For instance, when the Miami Heat plays in Charlotte, or when the Tampa Bay Bucs play in Charlotte, or when a Florida ice hockey team plays in Raleigh, the visiting team is supposed to withhold taxes for paydays in North Carolina. It may cover just one game day or it may cover practice days as well. Same goes for concert performers at various venues across the state. Tonight, I believe Phish is playing at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre in the Raleigh area. The members of the band are supposed to pay income tax on the payday. Just thought you’d like to know…
The Change in Stances on Afghanistan
It’s interesting that when George W. Bush was President, he and his staff were criticized for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Most Democrats were constantly “yelling” for the United States to get out of both arenas. But, now that Barack Obama is President, most of those same Democrats think it’s the right thing to stay while the Republicans who supported the wars under President Bush are against the continued presence and the senseless deaths of American soldiers now headed by President Obama.
It’s politics as usual. When asked for my thoughts, I’m quick to want to bring all United States troops from all over the world back to United States soil and let all the other countries fend for themselves. Why should we keep an army in Korea? How about Germany? And the many other locations worldwide? Let’s bring all troops home and beef up our borders and pour the money into the needs at home. Maybe it’s a radical stance, but if someone wants to bring troops home from war zones, why not from peaceful zones? Or, maybe, it’s because of our being there that it’s a peaceful zone. Hmmmmm?
Democratic Convention in Charlotte?
Speaking of politics and somewhat peaceful zones, there’s a good chance the 2012 Democratic National Convention will be held in Charlotte which would go a long way to help the Queen City overcome its image as an overgrown country town. Charlotte is up against Cleveland (what?), Minneapolis (wasn’t it held recently in St. Paul?) and St. Louis (a heartland state without the need for a political boost in two years).
For statewide Democrats, especially Governor Bev Perdue, and for President Obama having the convention in Charlotte would help their re-election prospects in North Carolina (and South Carolina), and each might need the boost by then. With 15 electoral votes, North Carolina might be the key state for President Obama. It would also be a huge financial windfall for Charlotte which has the downtown air-conditioned basketball arena for the daily activities and the Panthers football stadium for President Obama’s nighttime rock-star-style acceptance speech.
While much of political conventions is mundane, there are times I would love to be in the gallery, blogging or tweeting. I grew up in a family that took an active interest in politics. Even though I was just eight-years-old at the time, I remember my grandmother being upset when soon to be NC Governor Terry Sanford deplaned in San Francisco and announced his support at the Democratic Convention for John Kennedy for President instead of sticking by good old boy Southerner Lyndon Johnson who eventually was Kennedy’s choice for Vice President.
Of course, conventions then were much better than today. Rarely was a nominee decided prior to the convention unlike now when the primary voting pretty much takes care of that. Conventions today are about posturing, speeches, message, and determining the Party Platform, much of which is never followed line by line once that party gets the power.
As a political junkie, I welcome the DNC to Charlotte and hope that’s the selection. And, since I mentioned Terry Sanford, who was the Democratic nominee for Governor of North Carolina in 1960 (he was elected that fall), can you name the Republican nominee for NC Governor in 1960? Hint: he was also the nominee in 1964? He lost twice. Take a guess and respond in the comments section below. Anonymous responses are welcomed.
Ray gets his CWS Title at South Carolina
Personal congratulations to friend Ray Tanner and to his “Carolina” Gamecocks baseball team for winning the College World Series in Omaha this week. Tanner is head coach at the Columbia SC university and has been so for the last 14 years. His life in college baseball had been at NC State since enrolling there in the late 1970s before taking the Gamecocks top spot in 1996. Ray played for the Wolfpack 1977-80 and then was an assistant coach to Sam Esposito from 1980-87 and was head coach 1989-1996, getting the job when he was 28-years old.
Ray bled Wolfpack Red as much as anyone, but he left NC State when the idea for increased support for the baseball program waned under then athletics director Todd Turner. He went to much greener pastures as far the college baseball is concerned. Ray told me about the day he was hired. He was as assistant coach for USA Baseball and the team was training in Tennessee. South Carolina Athletics Director Mike McGee called Ray and told him a plane was on its way to ferry him to Columbia for the announcement. Ray suggested the announced should be faxed to the media and let it go at that. McGee insisted Ray return to Columbia, and he did to find reporters from every South Carolina television station and daily newspaper as well as many of the radio stations throughout the state. It was an event and showed Ray the importance of Gamecock baseball in South Carolina.
While Elliott Avent has done a nice job at NC State since following Tanner and while major improvements were made to Doak Field after Ray left, Wolfpack fans are left to wonder if Tanner had stayed in Raleigh would the NC State program be of the same level as that at Carolina, the one in Columbia.
No State Income Tax? Not Really!
I get a kick out of the reason athletes—Lebron James, for instance—may want to play for teams in Florida or any other states which have no state income tax. To do so will save some taxes but not completely. Most states, including North Carolina, tax athletes and entertainers when they perform within our borders. It’s a payday and they worked in North Carolina to earn the income.
For instance, when the Miami Heat plays in Charlotte, or when the Tampa Bay Bucs play in Charlotte, or when a Florida ice hockey team plays in Raleigh, the visiting team is supposed to withhold taxes for paydays in North Carolina. It may cover just one game day or it may cover practice days as well. Same goes for concert performers at various venues across the state. Tonight, I believe Phish is playing at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre in the Raleigh area. The members of the band are supposed to pay income tax on the payday. Just thought you’d like to know…
The Change in Stances on Afghanistan
It’s interesting that when George W. Bush was President, he and his staff were criticized for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Most Democrats were constantly “yelling” for the United States to get out of both arenas. But, now that Barack Obama is President, most of those same Democrats think it’s the right thing to stay while the Republicans who supported the wars under President Bush are against the continued presence and the senseless deaths of American soldiers now headed by President Obama.
It’s politics as usual. When asked for my thoughts, I’m quick to want to bring all United States troops from all over the world back to United States soil and let all the other countries fend for themselves. Why should we keep an army in Korea? How about Germany? And the many other locations worldwide? Let’s bring all troops home and beef up our borders and pour the money into the needs at home. Maybe it’s a radical stance, but if someone wants to bring troops home from war zones, why not from peaceful zones? Or, maybe, it’s because of our being there that it’s a peaceful zone. Hmmmmm?
Democratic Convention in Charlotte?
Speaking of politics and somewhat peaceful zones, there’s a good chance the 2012 Democratic National Convention will be held in Charlotte which would go a long way to help the Queen City overcome its image as an overgrown country town. Charlotte is up against Cleveland (what?), Minneapolis (wasn’t it held recently in St. Paul?) and St. Louis (a heartland state without the need for a political boost in two years).
For statewide Democrats, especially Governor Bev Perdue, and for President Obama having the convention in Charlotte would help their re-election prospects in North Carolina (and South Carolina), and each might need the boost by then. With 15 electoral votes, North Carolina might be the key state for President Obama. It would also be a huge financial windfall for Charlotte which has the downtown air-conditioned basketball arena for the daily activities and the Panthers football stadium for President Obama’s nighttime rock-star-style acceptance speech.
While much of political conventions is mundane, there are times I would love to be in the gallery, blogging or tweeting. I grew up in a family that took an active interest in politics. Even though I was just eight-years-old at the time, I remember my grandmother being upset when soon to be NC Governor Terry Sanford deplaned in San Francisco and announced his support at the Democratic Convention for John Kennedy for President instead of sticking by good old boy Southerner Lyndon Johnson who eventually was Kennedy’s choice for Vice President.
Of course, conventions then were much better than today. Rarely was a nominee decided prior to the convention unlike now when the primary voting pretty much takes care of that. Conventions today are about posturing, speeches, message, and determining the Party Platform, much of which is never followed line by line once that party gets the power.
As a political junkie, I welcome the DNC to Charlotte and hope that’s the selection. And, since I mentioned Terry Sanford, who was the Democratic nominee for Governor of North Carolina in 1960 (he was elected that fall), can you name the Republican nominee for NC Governor in 1960? Hint: he was also the nominee in 1964? He lost twice. Take a guess and respond in the comments section below. Anonymous responses are welcomed.
Ray gets his CWS Title at South Carolina
Personal congratulations to friend Ray Tanner and to his “Carolina” Gamecocks baseball team for winning the College World Series in Omaha this week. Tanner is head coach at the Columbia SC university and has been so for the last 14 years. His life in college baseball had been at NC State since enrolling there in the late 1970s before taking the Gamecocks top spot in 1996. Ray played for the Wolfpack 1977-80 and then was an assistant coach to Sam Esposito from 1980-87 and was head coach 1989-1996, getting the job when he was 28-years old.
Ray bled Wolfpack Red as much as anyone, but he left NC State when the idea for increased support for the baseball program waned under then athletics director Todd Turner. He went to much greener pastures as far the college baseball is concerned. Ray told me about the day he was hired. He was as assistant coach for USA Baseball and the team was training in Tennessee. South Carolina Athletics Director Mike McGee called Ray and told him a plane was on its way to ferry him to Columbia for the announcement. Ray suggested the announced should be faxed to the media and let it go at that. McGee insisted Ray return to Columbia, and he did to find reporters from every South Carolina television station and daily newspaper as well as many of the radio stations throughout the state. It was an event and showed Ray the importance of Gamecock baseball in South Carolina.
While Elliott Avent has done a nice job at NC State since following Tanner and while major improvements were made to Doak Field after Ray left, Wolfpack fans are left to wonder if Tanner had stayed in Raleigh would the NC State program be of the same level as that at Carolina, the one in Columbia.
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