2009-2010 NBA Season, Lebron to Miami!

[GRT]

rofl, man i love Simmons, here's his mailbag column from 09

Q: You know how when top recruits in basketball or football make their college decision, they often call a press conference and put the three hats of the schools that made the final three in front of them ... then pick up the hat of the school of choice and put it on? What if LeBron announces he will pick his 2010-11 team live on ABC on a certain date for a show called "LeBron's Choice?" What type of crazy ratings would that get?
-- Drew, Columbus, Ohio

SG: "LeBron's Choice" sounds too much like a Lifetime movie -- like, he became the first NBA player to make himself pregnant and now he can't decide whether to give up the baby for adoption or not. I'd go with something more newsy, like "Decision 2010: LeBron's Verdict" or "The LeBron Sweepstakes." Actually, it might make more sense to make this a six-episode show, along the lines of "The Bachelor" -- maybe "The LeBrachelor"? -- in which he'd start out with 29 GMs, then narrow them down to eight, then six, then four, then three, then two, then one.

Regardless, you're right -- this should be a televised event. If LeBron were smart, he would market the event through his company, sell the rights to a network and reveal his choice on that show. We know what the offers will be. (New York, Miami, Chicago, Memphis, New Jersey, the Clips and the Zombie Sonics can offer the max. Cleveland could offer the max plus an extra year. Nobody else could offer as much.) It's a cut-and-dry thing. So why not? He could even make it pay-per-view. If people were willing to pay $44.99 for a UFC 106 card headlined by Jenna Jameson's washed-up husband fighting a guy who hadn't won in two years, I'm pretty sure they'll pony up $44.99 for "Decision 2010: LeBron's Verdict."

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2...flpicks/091125

[Zoolander]

Simmons is definitely my favorite sports writer out there. ^that is great, and I loved his last article, the world cup 20 questions.

[kisada]

yeah i've liked him a lot for a long time. he just brings a great viewpoint on things that most other writers are afraid to breach, and he's so entrenched in the modern era it's almost impossible not to relate. it's amazing though how he's espn's most popular writer despite the fact that he writes about movies and pop culture about 50% of the time. he's never broken a sports story or written anything serious either, lol.

i don't think other sportswriters like him very much though, specifically because he masquerades as a real journalist when he's not. a few years ago i spoke with a prominent sportswriter and when i mentioned simmons he kinda gave me this look like "oh, another simmons fan, great," and he seemed to be a little annoyed lol.

[GRT]

he's a sports columnist, not a sports journalist, not his fault a lot of his readers can't distinguish the two

[Moss]

He doesn't break stories but he has definitely written serious articles. I like that he is willing to call out just about everyone. The fact that he isn't a "real" journalist that is busy trying to get interviews and break stories is a good thing and gives him a fresh perspective.

[kisada]

He doesn't break stories but he has definitely written serious articles. I like that he is willing to call out just about everyone. The fact that he isn't a "real" journalist that is busy trying to get interviews and break stories is a good thing and gives him a fresh perspective.

oh yeah, i agree. i don't think i'd enjoy sports nearly as much as i do if i'd never seen things from his side. one thing that bugged me a little though was he spent about 3 years lambasting isiah thomas (for being isiah) and a couple months killing david stern over some other stuff, and when he met up with thomas and got stern on his podcast he completely rolled over. like, the one guy whom i expect to drop serious questions came away with stars in his eyes.



btw: apparently the knicks are talking to boozer. so basically they just signed a guy who detests playing center to a brand new 100M contract, and are exploring the possibilities of signing another PF and throwing amare under the bus. guess the knicks finally figured out that they'd need a real rebounder to make up for amare, lol.

[Moss]

Well the Isiah thing was all about Gus Johnson getting them to talk to each other and bury the hatchet. I missed the Stern podcast so that is a shame if what you say is true. Still, I wouldn't expect him to bring the NBA commissioner on his show and hit him with tough questions.

If the Booze rumor is true, NY wasted 2 years to get Amare and Boozer, GG

[Heavencloud]

Wow a one hour special on Lebrons' signing? I'm gonna laugh if he stays in Cleveland and keeps losing. Hope it happens honestly, he's a great player but a one hour special on a contract signing? Really?

[GRT]

[Zoolander]

Wow a one hour special on Lebrons' signing? I'm gonna laugh if he stays in Cleveland and keeps losing. Hope it happens honestly, he's a great player but a one hour special on a contract signing? Really?

No kidding, I mean what the fuck. I wish D Wade and Bosh/someone else would go to the Bulls and dominate for the next 5 years while Lebron keeps losing in Cleveland.

[Andarvi]

DWade and Bosh to Miami. Yikes.

[Rhinox]

I'll believe it when I see it from different sources.

I've seen everything from Lebron heading to miami with bosh and wade to lebron going to chicago with Dwade the last 4 days.


It's funny how people have short memories when it comes to twitter and how often these guys are wrong. What was the rumor yesterday? that Bosh was heading to Cleveland?

It might turn out true but man I got real soured on relying on twitter for breaking sports news this weekend. even from so called "journalists"

the reason I have my doubts is Chris Bosh doesn't seem like the type of guy willing to leave 30 mil on the table. and Miami has garbage under contract which toronto doesn't want in a sign and trade.

[Andarvi]

http://espn.go.com/

front page now. seems the only question is if its a sign and trade or straight up contract for bosh.

[Dimmauk]

Wow a one hour special on Lebrons' signing? I'm gonna laugh if he stays in Cleveland and keeps losing. Hope it happens honestly, he's a great player but a one hour special on a contract signing? Really?

Yeah so he is either detroying Cleveland on National TV for an hour, or we get to watch his Ego show for an hour. I'm finally starting to understand the Lebron hate.

Bosh and Wade in Miami is good and all, but it wont make them Champs.

[Andarvi]

Yeah I have been the biggest apologist for Bron up until now: hes insufferable. Don't care how dominating he can be, shit is just beyond ridiculous levels. If he doesn't stay in Cleveland, holy shit lol.

And even if Miami gets Bron its a 3 man show, the rest of that team and bench would be abysmal.

[eunhye]

With a ESPN special on where he's signing (putting the money towards the children's charity is great) it looks like the Nets to me. He would have Jay-Z come out and that russian billionaire flashing bling.

[Quixon]

With a ESPN special on where he's signing (putting the money towards the children's charity is great) it looks like the Nets to me. He would have Jay-Z come out and that russian billionaire flashing bling.

If he signed with NJ I might literally shit my pants. Then clean myself up and go buy season tickets.

[Rhinox]

NJ saying dwade played the league as a corporate spy to see what they were pitching. Bosh

If lebron signs with dwade and bosh their really is no point in watching playoff basketball if your team is in east

The thing that makes me rage the most is that it happening to the shittiest sports city in the country

[Zoolander]

ESPN interviewing Wade and Bosh right now, both of them are indeed going to Miami. Guess we'll see what happens with Lebron now. Miami still has a bit of cap room I think. I'm happy for Wade either way, the guy is such a great player, watching him and the Heat in the playoffs was painful.

[kisada]

they got 11 mil

good enough to sign a couple decent starters and a buncha backups. their bench is likely going to be godawful lol.