Ohhhh February, the month from hell for people who live in the north.  Those feel-good holidays (Halloween & Christmas) filled with wonderful childhood memories are past and we now have to live through second rate holidays (Groundhogs Day & Valetine’s Day) filled with the memories of awkward adolescent incidents.  The cold, dreary days seem to drag on longer than the marks from that blind folded gopher did back in the winter of ’88.  And just like Elle Macpherson (see below) helped countless through many February nights, may my words be like a healing salve on dry chapped hands.

I’m a Homer – Recently read a book by Cleveland Plain Dealer writers Terry Pluto & Brian Windhorst called “LeBron James, The Making of an MVP.”   Good read. It’s no Gordon Wood, but the book chronicles Lebron from the AAU days through last season.

I’m now convinced more than ever that LeBron will re-sign with the Cavaliers.  I would actually throw the word “guaranteed” out there.  A friend and I have an ongoing argument about LeBron leaving for the Big Apple.  He is a Knicks fan and likes to point out the Nike contract clause, NY viewing audience, and local endorsement deals that would make an already rich young man even richer.  I know all about the money and how Madison Square Garden is a basketball Mecca and that Spike Lee gives post game massages, but those are secondary perks for the elite player.  “The Making of an MVP” shows a desire in LeBron for continuity and stability.  The thread was there throughout his young life.  And LeBron thrives in those conditions.

Deep down I believe he wants to be known as the best of all-time and there is one thing which separates players at that level…winning.  And the current environment in Cleveland provides the best opportunity for him to win and play at the highest level.  An owner with deep pockets who has a drive to win, a bright young general manager, and Rodney Dangerfield-esque coach who just keeps winning by stressing defense.  Moving to a new team like New York would bring a number of challenges off the court let alone what happens on it.  I seriously doubt he wants to chance the best years of his career rebuilding a team, adjusting to a new coaching philosophy built around offense, or worrying about jealous me-first players like he experienced with Ricky Davis in an effort to create an atmosphere similar to what he has now.

And if I hear one more person tell me that Dwyane Wade and LeBron would want to play on the same team I just might punch ‘em right in the junk. Do you really think Wade wants to play 2nd fiddle? Do you really think he would be OK with LeBron taking the last shot?  It’s what all great players want: to be the man with the ball in their hands when the clock winds down.

Round Mound – It’s good to see Charles Barkley bringing up an important view on the landscape of the NBA.  What will the bad teams do if/when a savior doesn’t come?  New York, New Jersey, and Miami have all decided that just by clearing cap space wonderful players will flock and Disney songs will play in the background.  How’s that working for the Pistons?  I can’t help but think it’s not that easy.  Don’t get me wrong I understand the logic and know those teams are much better positioned than the salary handcuffed teams like Indiana, Philadelphia, and Washington.  I just don’t believe elite players are mercenaries like Corey Maggette, Ricky Davis, Carlos Boozer, and Larry Hughes.  Shaquille O’Neil was the last franchise player to move locations when free agency allowed him.  When the dust settles this off-season…the free agent fight will be over Joe Johnson.

Proving me wrong – Contrary to what my 7^th grade health teacher told me after class one day…size really does matter.  After beating the Lakers twice and Orlando, I now understand the method to Danny Ferry’s madness.  Bringing a role player version of Shaq into the mix allows the Cavaliers to match up with any team they may face in the playoffs.  I have felt for quite some time that Delonte West holds the key to how the Cavs will fare in the playoffs but that’s just not true.  Delonte was the key to last year’s team…Shaq is this year’s key.

His size can match both Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum’s girth.  The Cavs no longer need to double team Howard in the post where Shaq can play him one-on-one.  The Magic destroyed Cleveland last year with ball movement out of the double team which resulted in wide open shots for Rafer Alston and Michael Pietrus or Hedo Turkoglu and Courtney Lee blowing past defenders on their way to the cup.  The double teams made inferior players (relatively speaking) better than they should be.  In addition, Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon’s length allows the Cavs to match bigger defenders on Paul Pierce and Kobe Bryant.  Cleveland’s versatility defensively might be enough to get them past the Lakers in the finals.

People are ignorant – I like to believe I give people the benefit of the doubt in almost all cases.  But I think I might have let the leash out a little too far.  No, I’m not talking about seeing an orange peel in a bag at the recycling area marked “Paper”.  Or the people at a game who cheer wildly for a shot that goes in well after the whistle has blown.  And no I’m not talking about the person this week who said they get Pearl Jam and Creed mixed up (to which I replied “Ya, I can see that happening except one is a defining band of the past 20 years and the other sucks ass.”)  Who in the sam hill is voting for Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady as starters on the all-star team?  Did your mom drop you on your head when you were young?  Is there a coalition of clueless, hypocritical, out of touch voters besides the religious right that nobody told me about?  I guess it could have been them but I didn’t think AI and TMac were their type of candidates.  I don’t even need to list all the other players more deserving.  It’s just plain stupid that they received that many votes.

Three dots…Speaking of AI, I wonder if he knows that Memphis was 2 – 8 with his presence and is 24 – 14 without it.  Philly is 12 – 16 with and 5 – 15 without… nice to see Utah & Toronto pick it up…Boston can only win if Kevin Garnett is 100% or else they need to make a move…New Jersey is the worst team I have ever seen… Gilbert Arenas is an immature moron…how is Portland eight games over .500 with those injuries?…Josh Howard needs to play better if Dallas wants to go deep in the playoffs…Kobe is a stud for playing through those injuries..how about Happy Walters is the name of Amare’s agent?… Kevin Durant is really, really good…

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Troy Herrod is the newest member to The Sports Union writing staff.  He brings an extensive knowledge of books, swing sets, and dinosaurs (though his extensive knowledge of dinosaurs is matched by his 3-year-old son, who is waaay smarter and has his mom’s good looks – thank God!) … oh yeah, he knows a little about the game of basketball from his days working as the original Yeti mascot for the Seattle Supersonics.

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