Le Basketbawl

The “Cleveland Plain Dealer” has reported that according to their sources the Miami Heat will play at the Q Arena in Cleveland, Ohio for the first time next season on December 2. The reports state that the contest will be broadcast on National TV as “TNT” will carry the game. It will be the first return to Cleveland since the Cavaliers former star tarnished his image in the NBA by running away from his responsibility last month. James decided that he could not bring a team to an NBA Title on his own so he followed Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade to South Beach by signing on as a Free Agent.

Your Old Pal New York Vinnie above all despises Frickin Phonies, and “The Un-Chosen One” proved to be one of the Frickin biggest of all time last month. New York Vinnie would have never had a problem if James had just told the truth during his NBA career, that he did not have the “Stones” to do it by himself! Instead the Frickin PUD tried to come off as a Frickin leader. That turned out to be an absolute lie, when he ran away like a little “Frickin Nancy-Boy” in July.

Now the question becomes, will this Pato have enough “Stones” to tell the fans of Cleveland the truth of why he ran away? That he  was not enough of a man to complete his mission? A little before Christmas present brought to the NBA in early December. New York Vinnie is already Frickin Pumped!

Hang onto your seat because it is going to be pretty bumpy ride for the next few minutes here at “The House That New York Vinnie Built,” also known as Le Basketbawl. Before Your Old Pal New York Vinnie gets to the subject at hand, please allow me to give you some background information. Your Old Pal New York Vinnie is from mixed heritage. New York Vinnie’s “Sainted Moms” who passed from the “Big C” when I was just 12 years old was Puerto Rican. New York Vinnie’s POPS is full blooded Italian resulting in New York Vinnie being a very”Ethnic” looking guy.

New York Vinnie has lost track of how may times I have been called “Guido” or “Chico” as an insult; to say that racial profiling is a sensitive subject with me does not come close to describing the anger it causes within me. Despite the fact that we live in supposedly “Enlightened Times” with an African-American as our President, there are still a lot of “Frickin Racist PUDS” out there. In all corners of our society.

On the other side of the coin, though, there are people who have an agenda in this country that try to bring someone’s race, creed, religion, or sexual-orientation into situations that it has no place being. A few years ago when Michael Vick was going through his self caused trials and tribulations due to his dog-fighting ring, the Atlanta Chapter of the “NAACP” tried to blame Vick’s problems on his being a black man. Of course that was nothing but Frickin Crappolla and people realized as much.

Sunday the “Associated Press“ reported that the Reverend Jesse Jackson has accused Cleveland Cavaliers Team Owner Dan Gilbert of perceiving former Cavaliers All-Star forward LeBron James as if he were a “runaway slave.“  Jackson issued a press release Sunday from his organization the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

The Reverend wrote “He speaks as an owner of LeBron and not the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers. His feelings of betrayal personify a slave master mentality. He sees LeBron as a runaway slave. This is an owner employee relationship; between business partners; and LeBron honored his contract.”

New York Vinnie always has the utmost respect for a Man Of  The Cloth; even though the last time we heard from the “Good Reverend” was back in 2008 during the race for the White House when he said he wanted to cut our current President’s ”Nuts Off.”

But the Reverend Jackson is trying to make a racial issue where one does not exist. Did Dan Gilbert make some emotional ill-advised statements Thursday night? Absolutely.  And he may be fined by the NBA or lose prospective Free Agents in the future because of them. But Gilbert would have reacted the same way if it was Dirk Nowitzki or Steve Nash! Race has nothing to do with the situation.

We have enough problems in this society.  We certainly don’t need to fabricate ones that don’t exist  like the Reverend Jackson is doing in this situation. Were Gilbert’s comments over the top? Absolutely.  But they were not “Frickin Racist.”

There Is No Joy In Cleveland; “KING PUD” is heading to South Beach. Thursday night as millions watched on ESPN there sat LeBron James with the only guy in the world who could make Pete Rose a sympathetic character one of the biggest Douches in broadcasting; Jim Gray. New York Vinnie thinks that the choice of Gray to interview the reigning NBA MVP was actually dead on; as you had a pair of weasels sitting together on Nation-Wide TV.

It is a very good thing that your Old Pal New York Vinnie is not a gambler; for I would be flat  busted if I bet on all the predictions I have made over the last few months. LeBron James proved New York Vinnie wrong by showing his true colors Thursday night when he announced he was abandoning his teammates and his city to go play for the Miami Heat. New York Vinnie knew that “KING PUD” had character; I just always assumed it was good not bad.

LeBron James could have showed Thursday night that he was a “TRUE CHAMPION” that he had integrity and would not walk away from a job he had not completed. Instead he took the easy way out; showing that he is not truly a leader at all. Instead he followed Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to the Heat leaving his teammates holding the bag and breaking the heart of the city that idolized him!

Gray at one point during the interview asked the “Un-Chosen One” the difference between winning an NBA Title in Miami as opposed to winning one in Cleveland. James responded that a Championship is a Championship; which he knows is absolute Crappolla. The sports fans of Cleveland would have their lives transformed by one of their teams winning it all; Miami has felt the thrill they have had the experience.

New York Vinnie told one of our regular readers Kobe of the NBA that I am not a fan of LeBron James but had always admired what he seemed to stand for. That was proven to be totally false Thursday night as the integrity and loyalty that New York Vinnie thought “KING PUD” possessed was no where to be found. Maybe those values no longer exist for his generation; which maybe a big part of the reason we find ourselves in the Frickin Sewer this planet has become.

New York Vinnie wishes no ill-will towards “KING PUD” or any of the Miami Heat. However New York Vinnie is going to be very wary from now on about sticking my neck out to defend any Pro Athlete. That truly is a sad reflection of our times.

After six days of little activity in the National Basketball Association the action was fast and furious on Wednesday Free Agents announced where they were going, one young superstar got a contract extension and the last vacant coaching position in the NBA was filled. Announcements went literally from coast to coast as many questions about next season as well as the next few fell into place.

The biggest news of the day comes from the “Miami Herald” as they reported  Wednesday that Miami Heat All-Star guard Dwyane Wade announced that he was re-signing with the team. Former Toronto Raptors All-Star Chris Bosh also told members of the media that he will join D-Wade in Miami as he will also become a member of the team. Wade will get a six year contract for the NBA maximum which is $125 million. Bosh will either get a five year deal worth $96 million or if Miami can work out a sign and trade with Miami he would receive the same deal Wade is getting.

Wade had gotten an offer from his home-town team the Chicago Bulls and was tempted to take the deal. However the veteran guard told reporters “Eventually, it came down to Chris and his decision to want to be down here in Miami with me, and I couldn’t pass up on that. I’ve had an opportunity to play with (Shaquille O’Neal) and I get an opportunity to play with Chris right when he hits his prime, so right now, I’m one of the luckiest men in the NBA and the world. Today we wanted to let the Miami Heat fans know what they can look forward to for next year. It’s going to be a great time down here on South Beach. This decision is about winning and winning multiple championships.”

Although the Bulls lost out on acquiring Wade they had a pretty big signing of their own as the “Chicago Tribune” reported Wednesday that the team has locked up one of the most talented big men in the NBA. Chicago signed former Utah Jazz power forward Carlos Boozer to a reported five year deal said to be worth $76 million.

“ESPN” has come up with the title for their TV Special to air Thursday night at 9:00 pm when Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star forward LeBron James announces where he be playing for the next few years. They are calling it “The Decision” and at least one positive is coming out of this over the top moment. All money the show gets in advertising will be donated the “Boys And Girls Clubs Of America.”

As we move further west “The Oklahoman” reported Wednesday that the Oklahoma City Thunder have given their All-Star forward Kevin Durant a five year deal reported to be worth $85 million. Durant was a key factor in the Thunder making the NBA Western Conference Playoffs this past season.

Our final destination is “The City Of Angels” as the “Los Angeles Times” reported Wednesday that the Los Angeles Clippers have signed former Bulls bench boss Vinny Del Negro to be their next head head coach. Del Negro was the head coach with Chicago for the last two seasons as he went 82-82 and made the Playoffs in both seasons.

The Clippers had  a season of turmoil firing former General Manager and head coach Mike Dunleavy and going 29-53 for the season. Del Negro told reporters that he looked at his new job as a good choice for him. He said “The opportunities, when they present themselves, you have to jump on them sometimes. It’s the only one I really went after. I don’t look in the rear-view mirror, I just look forward. I wouldn’t have done this if I didn’t feel I could make an impact. How it will all turn out, we’ll have to see. I can assure you the players will improve. If players are not going to perform the way I feel they should, they won’t be on the court. I have the support from management and ownership.”

While NBA MVP LeBron James is enjoying his time being courted by half the NBA the team he has played for his entire career was introducing their new bench boss to the Cleveland fans and media. The “Cleveland Plain Dealer” reported Friday that the Cleveland Cavaliers held a press conference Friday as their new head coach Byron Scott  spoke about his career in the NBA and what he expects to accomplish running the show for the Cavaliers.

Cavaliers Team Owner Dan Gilbert almost made a huge mistake last month as he tried to hire Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo to run his club. In New York Vinnie’s opinion that would have been a disaster in the making because most coaches who have had a great run in the NCAA have not been able to transfer that success in the pros. Izzo after much deliberation turned the offer down which led Gilbert to explore other options.

Earlier this week reports out of Cleveland were that Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw was the front runner to get the gig. Shaw has never been a head coach at any level; and although he has the potential to be a good coach he has no track record. Byron Scott on the other hand is a proven commodity getting the job done in New Orleans and New Jersey.

Scott in his first stop as a head coach took the New Jersey Nets to the NBA Finals twice. In his last gig as head coach of the New Orleans Hornets he was named NBA Coach Of The Year in 2008 when he helped the Hornets to their only Southwest Division Title in their existence.

To say that Scott got it done as a player would be a major understatement. B-Scott was the starting guard for the “Show-Time Era Lakers“  and won three NBA Titles in his career on the hardwood. He held his own on a team that had some of the best players in the history of the NBA.

New York Vinnie has told you all along that LeBron James will sign up for another stint with the Cavaliers. Hiring a proven winner like Byron Scott only makes Cleveland more attractive to the “Chosen One.”  The buzz around Cleveland after  the Cavaliers had lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round of the NBA Playoffs was that Cleveland had quit on coach Mike Brown in the Playoffs. That will not happen on a team coached by Byron Scott. You can take that to the bank if you catch New York Vinnie’s drift.

Your Old Pal New York Vinnie has no patience what so ever. If there is a problem New York Vinnie wants it resolved Yesterday! Nothing on this Planet fries New York Vinnie’s bacon more than leaving an issue unresolved. Once a decision has been made then New York Vinnie is fine even if I do not agree with it. But as long as it remains open-ended New York Vinnie is not a happy man.

Perhaps it is a trait that was passed down through the genes or possibly it is a by-product  from growing up in the “Greatest City To Ever Exist On The Planet, New York City.” But what ever the reason if you want to hang with New York Vinnie you can not be afraid to be decisive. Life is too Frickin short to be standing there with your finger in your ear if you catch New York Vinnie’s drift.

Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo seems to be the total opposite of New York Vinnie on this subject as he is keeping the Cleveland Cavaliers, the NBA and basketball fans in suspense for the last few days. Cleveland Team Owner Dan Gilbert wants Izzo to be the new bench boss for his club and has extended an offer to the college coach. Izzo originally said that he would have a decision on his future by Saturday; but he then extended that window to Monday.

The “Associated Press” reported that the Spartans head coach spoke with players and coaches as his annual basketball camp started Monday morning. One of the campers asked Izzo if he had  made a decision on whether he was going to stay with Michigan State or make the jump to the pros with Cleveland. The coach pointed to members of the media in the stands and responded “Bad question. Those guys up there want to know that.”

New York Vinnie understands that the college coach is getting off right now being in the center of the spotlight. New York Vinnie also realizes that he is trying to milk this situation for all it is worth. But the Frickin cow has run dry and Izzo is still at it; and in New York Vinnie’s opinion this has gotten really Frickin old really fast. And the longer this routine goes on the more New York Vinnie thinks that Tom Izzo is a Frickin PUD!

Yo Izzo; it is time to make up your mind on this one way or the other. Either do your business or get off the pot if you catch New York Vinnie’s drift. If you truly think that you can transfer your success from the NCAA to the pros then go ahead and take the job. New York Vinnie believes that you and the Cleveland Cavaliers would be better off if you stay at Michigan State; but if you have the confidence in yourself and your program then make the move.

New York Vinnie has consistently written that I do not believe that a college coach can be successful in the NBA and that the Cavaliers would be far better off with a proven guy like Byron Scott. But if Izzo truly thinks he can make the leap then he should take the opportunity. But one way or the other it is time for this man to make up his mind.

If you have been following the NBA Playoffs over the last few weeks you may have woken up Wednesday morning with a heavy-duty case of Deja-Vu! After three games of the NBA Finals the Boston Celtics trail the Los Angeles Lakers by a 2-1 margin after losing game three of the series in Boston Tuesday by a final of 91-84. The Celtics had taken away the Lakers home court advantage by upsetting the defending NBA Champions at the Staples Center Sunday when Boston ended up with the victory by a final of 103-94. But with their loss at home on Tuesday they have promptly handed back that advantage to Los Angeles.

The reason this may seem familiar is the Celtics wnt through the exact same scenario in the second round of the Post Season when they played the Cleveland Cavaliers. Boston would surprise the Planet in game two of that series by upsetting the heavily favored Cavaliers team in Cleveland winning game two 104-86. They would return the favor in game three of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals as Cleveland knocked the stuffing out of them in Boston as they routed the Celtics 124-95.

Tuesday night’s game was like a Frickin roller-coaster as Boston started off hot and then Los Angeles took over. The Lakers had a 17 point lead in the second quarter but the game became a battle once again in the fourth when Kevin Garnett knocked down an oustide “J” to cut the Los Angeles lead to 70-69. The Celtics could not get any closer and faded down the stretch giving the Lakers the victory. But at the same time they sent a message to Los Angeles that no lead in this series is going to be safe.

The way New York Vinnie saw things on Tuesday Boston veteran Garnett certainly did not look as if he had lost a step as Lakers forward Pau Gasol said after game one. And it was another “Golden Oldie” Los Angeles point guard Derek Fisher who came up huge for the Lakers in the fourth to clinch the win. Both these teams have a wide array of players who are capable of taking over a game at any time. In New York Vinnie’s opinion that is what is making the 2010 NBA Finals a great series so far; these games will keep you on the edge of your chair until that final buzzer has sounded. That in New York Vinnie’s world is Entertainment!

New York Vinnie does not have a rooting interest in the Finals as “MY BOYS” the New York Knicks have been spending the last few weeks puttering around their houses. But as a fan of “The Greatest Game On Earth” New York Vinnie is being very entertained. This series has the potential to go down as one of the greatest NBA Finals in the history of the game. This series is far from being over; and New York Vinnie believes the best is yet to come!