The Voice of God

I think when a lot of people hear "the voice of God" in terms of sports context, they think of John Facenda, of NFL Films fame. But, as a Yankees fan, the best set of pipes ever belongs to Mr. Bob Sheppard. Maybe, I shouldn't say best set of pipes ever, but as far as public address announcers are, he is by far and away the best there is, was and ever will be. Sheppard once said his philosophy of what a PA announcer should be is clear, concise and correct. Sheppard exemplified all three and you could probably add another "C" to it as well. In terms of class. Even though Sheppard has been retired for about 3 years now, his voice still lives on. He is featured prominently on the YES Network's bumpers ("You are watching the YES Network"), and to this day he still announces one person's name each game. Derek Jeter, made a request that a recording of Sheppard be used when Jeter comes to the plate. Jeter will also have that honor, when he steps to the plate during Tuesday's All Star Game.

Never going to the "old" Yankee Stadium is one thing I really wish I could have done. I also would have love to have heard Bob Sheppard in person. Seldom in today's day and age do I think public address announcers or regular play by play announcers get lumped into the distinction of being lumped in with a team's legacy. There are only a few exceptions, Vin Scully with the Dodgers, Chick Hearn was with the Lakers, and I'd throw Bob Sheppard into that. Sheppard may not be tied in with the Yankees as much, but no doubt he is the voice of Yankee Stadium and he always will be.

Here's more links and features on Bob Sheppard.
Buster Olney tribute
ESPN Story
YES Network Coverage
MLB Network Tribute

Lebron, Lebron, Lebron

Have you heard of this guy that plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers? Supposedly, he's pretty good. Some call him "King James", but he was born Lebron Raymone James in Akron, Ohio. Tonight, Lebron will decide his legacy when he chooses where he will play basketball for the foreseeable future.

If Lebron chooses to leave Cleveland for somewhere else, I think his legacy is destroyed. If he goes to Miami (which is the hot rumor), he can win six rings, and I don't think it rebuilds his image. Lebron is turning just the ANNOUNCEMENT of where he is going to play into a three ring circus. When Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player ever, came back from his gambling suspension, I mean retirement in 1995, he did so by issuing a statement that simply said "I'm back." Lebron James is handpicking his interviewer (Jim Gray) and holding his decision on national television (ESPN. I am surprised he didn't ask to go to the Oval Office so he could have Obama get him some network TV time from the Press Briefing room at the White House) from a secluded bunker in Greenwich, CT. He could be the biggest villain in Cleveland sports history supplanting Art Modell, who took a whole football team out of Cleveland moving it to Baltimore. I also contend if Lebron was just playing for the Cavaliers, but from Saginaw, MI or Waco, TX, it's not a big deal if he leaves, because he is not a native Ohioan. Would you rather get 1 ring for a habitually losing sports city, or 6 rings in a city to where each year you don't win the championship, it's a failure.

Now, let's look at the final choices (let's just go ahead and throw the Clippers out, because my 3 year old and 2 year old have a better chance of playing with the Dutch in Sunday's World Cup Final).

1. Miami Heat: Some people list them as the favorite in the clubhouse. But, I think this would be one of the worst places he could go. It is a ready made championship, Lebron doesn't have to work for it as much, he just becomes another piece. Besides, Miami will never be his team. It's D-Wade's team. Imagine if Michael Jordan had gone to the Celtics or Lakers, and Bird and Magic had been a little younger. Jordan would be no where near as famous and remembered with either the Celtics or Lakers, as much as he was with the Bulls.

2. Chicago Bulls: It's Michael's team, it's Michael's town. If you win 5 rings, Michael won 6. If you make a 30 footer at the buzzer, Michael sank a 31 footer to win one. If you sneeze, Michael sneezed quieter, or louder, however you feel to put it.

3. New Jersey Nets: The Kremlin controlling Lebron? Child please. Plus, in some people's eyes, Jersey is New York's arm pit.

4. New York Knicks: The league needs the Big Apple to be important. They haven't been in the mainstream eye since Patrick Ewing was there. Plus, Lebron is buddies with guys like CC Sabathia, and those folks (it's worked out for CC so far by the way) so he's hanging with his buddies. Also, Lebron would be playing in the world's most famous arena 41 times a year.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers: The hometown team. Lebron's legacy will never be as strong anywhere else. Weakness is your supporting cast is about as strong as that of Tim Lincecum's biceps. But, you have an experienced NBA coach and a winner as a player (Byron Scott). I think help would be on it's way, it may just take a year or so. There are plenty of players out there the Cavs could trade for to help in the post or on the wing (David West, PF New Orleans, Al Jefferson, PF Minnesota, Gilbert Arenas, SG Wizards, Chris Kaman, C LA Clippers, Zach Randolph, PF Memphis, Marcus Camby, C LA Clippers, Elton Brand, PF Philadelphia,). Granted, some of those players would be gambles or reaches, but the other thing is maybe you can trade for a big superstar (i.e. Chris Paul) or someone of that ilk to help. I think 1 ring in Cleveland is greater then 4 in Miami. The reason I say that is no one has won a ring in Cleveland, while Dwayne Wade took Miami's championship virginity years ago.

The one thing I do think though is Lebron James PR team has put him in such a negative light, it's going to take some time to recover from this. I think for the goodwill aspect, he must return to Cleveland. Otherwise, I think he is going to come off as a selfish, me first, childish, spoiled sports villain. The one thing I do think is worth taking note of, is TNT/NBA TV's David Aldridge stated that this media truck goes both ways. So, Lebron can think he has ESPN in his pocket and everything like that, but if it goes the other way, and Lebron has negative publicity, then he has got to take the bad with the good.

Lebron, Lebron, Lebron, he is enough to drive Jan Brady crazy.

Where, oh where will Lebron (and the others) end up?

I think in today's day and age, more people enjoy off season's as much as they do season's. I think people crave hot stove talk and player movement more now then they have in the past (although, I do think most people like superstars to stay in one place, but I'll address that in a future blog). So, I will address the top free agents, and where I think they will end up.

Lebron James
Named Possible Suitors: Bulls, Cavaliers, Clippers, Heat, Knicks, Nets
My Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers
I have debated this with friends, and I think Lebron comes back to Cleveland in part to his Ohio roots. Tom Penn, on ESPN's NBA Fastbreak, brought up some good points. If you go to Chicago, you have to win 7 NBA titles, because Michael has 6. If you go to Miami, you need to win 2 without Dwayne Wade to top Wade's solo title. Now, Penn was making the case for Lebron going to New York, stating if you win just one title in New York, then you are immortalized forever. I just see Lebron returning to Cleveland, as a situation where the NBA can market a star as bringing a championship to his hometown. Does Lebron need some pieces around him in Cleveland? Sure, but I think Lebron needs some complimentary pieces not superstars. I think superstars at their superstar levels rarely co-exist and are able to win titles. I know there are examples you can point to, and say I am wrong, but I don't think it has happened lately. Even when the Celtics won their title over the Lakers, I don't think Kevin Garnett was still a superstar at this point, I think he had settled into becoming a complimentary player. I think Lebron stays in Cleveland though. But, if I had to rank them in order of where I'd see him going, I'd say Cleveland, then New York, then New Jersey, then Chicago, then Miami and I think that hell has to get a little chilly before he plays for the Clippers.

Dwayne Wade
Suitors: Heat
I think there are other suitors for Dwayne Wade, but just none that are really named. I think Wade probably stays, but what if he went to his hometown team, the Bulls. Imagine the Bulls with Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, Dwayne Wade, Joakim Noah and the Bulls would probably add another max player in the front court. With that being said, I think more often then not top tier superstars are better off staying put, so I think he stays in Miami.

Chris Bosh
Suitors: Chicago, Miami, NY Knicks
I am very unsure to where I see Bosh headed. I think he would like to play with Lebron James, but I don't see him traveling to Cleveland to do so. Plus, I see him going in a sign and trade wherever he goes. I am going to say he goes to Miami, and I see the Heat sending Michael Beasley, Quentin Richardson and Dorrell Wright back to Toronto. But, with Bosh I really have no solid inclination, if I had to throw down money, I'd just assume as to throw down on Pick 3 or Pick 4.

Joe Johnson
Suitors: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, LA Clippers, NY Knicks
I saw on ESPN's Bottom Line, where Johnson says he wants to stay in Atlanta. If that's the case, then he stays in Atlanta. They can offer him the most money. The only other strong contender I see is New York. Johnson played for Mike D'Antoni in Phoenix, so there is familiarity with the system. Plus, I think Johnson would put up just as big of numbers in New York, as he would in Atlanta. Now, the thing is would Johnson want to play in a big city? Some people just aren't big city guys. I definitely see Johnson playing in the Big Apple or back to Hot 'Lanta.

Dirk Nowitzki
Suitors: Dallas
I see Nowitzki playing for the German National soccer team before he leaves Dallas. I just don't see him playing for anyone other then the Mavericks. I think addressing this topic more is just a waste of finger movement.

Paul Pierce
Suitors: Boston, LA Clippers, New Jersey
I see Pierce probably staying in Boston, but I would not be 100 % (probably 88 %) shocked if he went to play for his hometown Clippers. Pierce is from So Cal, but I am a big advocate (again something that will be discussed in a future blog) of superstars leaving a place that they have had great success damages their legacy. I think Pierce is just looking to cash in a little more with a better contract, as the collective bargaining is expiring pretty soon.

Amare Stoudemire
Suitors: Miami, New Jersey, NY Knicks, Phoenix
Alright, well I got Bosh going to Miami, which means I can't have Amare to the Heat as well, but I also don't see Amare going back to Phoenix even though I have heard he doesn't want to sign with the Knicks. What about Chicago? I don't know that he would fit in with the Bulls. I think Amare is a good player in a run and gun system. Could Golden State land him in some type of trade? Maybe Dan Gadzuric, Vlaidmir Radmanovic, Charlie Bell and a 1st round pick? Now, in no way am I saying, I think that is value for Amare, but it is salary matchup.

Carlos Boozer
Suitors: Chicago, Miami, New Jersey, NY Knicks
Again, I can't place him in Miami, if I have Bosh in Miami, so under that scenario I have Boozer headed to the Bulls. I see Chicago or Miami as the likely destinations for Boozer. I think if he heads to Chicago, the Bulls become a very dangerous team. I see Boozer in Chicago as a good fit, but he's had his eye on Miami for a long time. With that being said, I am going to say Boozer ends up in Chicago.

David Lee
Suitors: New Jeresey, NY Knicks, Toronto, Utah
Put seven or eight teams on a dart board and throw a dart and you hit a team and you have David Lee's destination. ESPN pundits all have mentioned the four teams I have listed above. This one is kind of hard for me to pick, I don't know that I see Lee headed back to the Knicks, but at the same time, I don't know what new team I would see Lee headed to either. I am going to go with the Knicks, but I honestly don't know, but think he would be a good player for many teams.

Rudy Gay
Suitors: LA Clippers, Memphis, Minnesota, New Jersey, NY Knicks
I think all the suitors are strong (maybe with the exception of Minnesota), but what about Phoenix? I don't think they could do a Stoudemire swap, but I think Gay would work well in Phoenix. When it comes down to it, I see him signing with the Clippers or remaining in Memphis, but I would list New Jersey as the most likely dark horse.

Guys I look for to be traded before the seasons starts includes Al Jefferson (Minnesota). He might be some good help in Cleveland for Lebron (if he stays). I don't think Chris Paul leaves New Orleans. Carmelo Anthony is rumored to be on the block if he turns down an extension from Denver. I think Melo will go to the Northeast somewhere. I could see New Jersey or the Knicks. Also, I would put Baron Davis and Gilbert Arenas in the trade possibilities, but I think you would just need to find someone to take on those contracts, because they are owed a ton of money.

NBA free agency season, it's fantastic!