LeBron James “The Decision” Bingo

LeBron glares knowingly into your soul

LEBRON TV SPECIAL BINGO!

Instructions: Print out the LeBron James “The Decision” Bingo Card (PDF). Select any nine of the following events that you believe might happen, and arrange them in any way you want on the card. Play against friends watching with you, or against others on our Facebook Fan Page. Cross out the appropriate box in the grid whenever any of the actions on the card take place. When you get three in a row (vertically, horizontally, or diagonally), shout “BINGO” and let us know that you’ve won on our Facebook Fan Page or tweet us @paintsdudes.

• You can tell which eye is Stuart Scott’s glass one

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

A big shoutout to the most famous Irish basketball player in the league right now: Shaquille O’Neal. Also of Irish heritage: Kevin McHale, Mike Breen, and Jason Kidd. Who knew?

Blue Chips

Nick Nolte, Shaquille O’Neal, Penny Hardaway, Ed O’Neill, Bob Knight, and Bob Cousy. Need I say more?

The Learning Curve

Its hard to pity millionaires. It’s really hard. They have access to all the pretty things in life. Yet, I have a tremendous amount of sympathy for Mike D’Antoni.

He has essentially gone from driving a Ferrari to driving a beat up Ford Taurus, yet he is still expected to accelerate from 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds. He may be a talented coach who has revitalized the concept of a high paced offense winning at a major level, but he isn’t a miracle worker.

Remember When?

After viewing the Freelancer’s reporting (go ahead, read it…), I remembered that Shaq wasn’t always an old and out of shape center. He used to be what Stan Van Gundy wishes Dwight Howard would be.

ABC Loves The Shaq

While I wasn’t too big a fan of last summer’s Shaq Vs. on ABC, the network has picked up the series for a second season, totaling six episodes. Here’s some athletes I’d like to see Shaq go up against:

The Decay of Greatness

I have given much of my recent thoughts to the concept of athletes aging, and usually not aging well. It is a stark reminder that greatness is fleeting and quickly replaced by more greatness in a newer and flashy form. Athletes can’t age like normal people, at least not in the realm of sports (not in their personal lives, only on the playing surface/field). They age like milk: it is great and delicious and satisfying until one day it has a nauseous smell and an even worst taste.

Live Blogging the Christmas Quintuple-Header

Editor’s Note: This was a live blog. As the afternoon progressed, this post was periodically updated with reactions from the quintuple-header (not a “pentuple-header” as incorrectly reported in Podcast #14)

12:00 PM: Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” kicks off the action, accompanied by ridiculous clips of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade shaking (obviously empty) wrapped presents, replete with equally ridiculous Santa hats. I have a feeling that I will get sick of this song by the end of the first quarter. Hopefully I’ll be able to dig up a YouTube link in case you haven’t seen it yet.

12:02 PM: Fun stat: Dwyane Wade has played in five Christmas Day (and/or Taiwanese Constitution Day) games over the past seven seasons.

12:06 PM: Dwyane Wade warms up by doing pull ups on the rim of the basket. No big deal.

12:08 PM: Tip-off. The Knicks win the tip, sporting green jerseys that look awful.

12:15 PM: Now, those are three words you don’t hear that often in the same sentence: “Knicks,” “winning,” and “streak.” Apparently, they have a five-game home winning streak, dating back to November 29.

Champ’s Power Rankings: Week 4

Playoffs?

1. Los Angeles Lakers: OK, an early home schedule is good and all, and Pau Gasol is back and doing work, and everythings clicking. But, there is no but, the Lakers are the number one team in the league. However, I’m not sure Kobe’s increased scoring is a good sign or not.

2. Atlanta Hawks: Disclaimer: Yes I am writing this after watching their cold effort in their falling to the Orlando Magic, at home. But coming into Monday this team was still on fire, yes they deserve to be here now. Next week? watch out.

3. Denver Nuggets: Coming into the season I was concerned about Denver. Yes, drafting Ty Lawson is a HUGE plus, but they made no offseason moves to improve the team. But then, Carmello Anthony stepped up, he finally is dishing out points and rebounds like a true superstar. Tracking Anthony’s development at a recent trip to the pool really sold me on the Nuggets, they’ve come a long way. They had Allen Iverson around this time last year.

Observations on the Cleveland-Miami Game

Dwyane Wade and LeBron James both look to prove something tonight.

“TNT has the best games” – The Franchise

The Champ and The Franchise are the only two guys watching the game so far tonight, should be a good time.

Observations on the Cleveland/Orlando Game

So the day has come, the Cavaliers and the Magic meet again. Both teams look different, Cleveland with Shaq, Orlando with Dwight Howard.

A Bunch of Chicken Littles

So, being a basketball fan in Northeast Ohio on a night not named Wednesday or Friday, the only basketball on is the Cavaliers. Seeing as how it was also voting day, I couldn’t catch all of the game, however, I have some feelings on what I did see.

Just My Thoughts

Kobe Bryant shows off his fourth championship ring.

At long last, we tip off once more. Eight months away from the 2010 Finals, the Association is already buzzing with the excitement of opening night.

Season Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers

For the Cleveland Cavaliers history does not matter. For a franchise that owns one division title and one Eastern Conference title, there is not much to be said about the team’s history. Sure the Cavs have come close a couple of times, and even with past franchise studs like Austin Carr, Mark Price, and Brad Dougherty, the Cavs have never been within reach of the Championship the City of Cleveland desires.

Season Preview: Phoenix Suns

Team History:

The Phoenix Suns have a history best described as “close, but no cigar”.  The Suns have a grand total of 0 championships in their elongated history. No championships with Kevin Johnson, Charles Barkley, Jason Kidd, Stephon Marbury, or Steve Nash. Despite having often one of the most talented teams in the league, the Suns have never reached the mountaintop.