If someone were to rank celebrity body parts by media attention, LeBron's right elbow would currently fall somewhere between Kim Kardashian's ass and Megan Fox's stumpy thumbs. Unlike those other famous anatomical anomalies, however, the state of 'Bron-'Bron's 'bow is shrouded in secrecy. While the reports and MRI results suggest that it's more a boo-boo (well, a sprained elbow and bone bruise) than a fully-fledged injury, there are whispers that the situation is a little more serious for the Akron Hammer (it'll catch on) and his shooting arm.

This has been a wild month for the Chicago Bulls organization. The whispers of LeBron, Chris Bosh, and now Phil Jackson as head coach have been spreading around the NBA like wildfire. Can the unthinkable occur? How is this even possible? This is something that the rest of the league does not want to happen. The perfect storm might be brewing somewhere in the background of the conference finals. Many people’s feelings are getting hurt around the internet if you are not a Chicago Bulls fan. This team can possibly acquire Videogame James, CB4, and Phil Jackson?

If you're watching the Bulls-Cavs game right now, feel free to join us as we liveblog the action. Just leave a comment in the box to let us know what you're thinking as you watch the game and we'll add you as a participant.

In her second exclusive feature for HoopsVibe, Marija Kero tells us in no uncertain terms how she feels about Joakim Noah, Mark Cuban and the unscrupulous women that roam the streets of New York in search of NFL prospects.  Bonus feature: The emoticons make a comeback!

The 2010 Draft Lottery is over. The results are in.

You wouldn't believe the number of inky abominations etched into the pelts of pro ballers.  I'd originally planned a simple list of the league's ten worst tats, but when my dishonourable mention section hit double digits I realised I'd need to expand the scope of the project a little.  Even when I elongated the list to twenty-five terrible tattoos, I still found that I had to exclude some real atrocities.  In the end it took a full fifty spots to showcase the shittiest skin art in the L.

It’s official. LeBron James is a free agent. He’s up for grabs. People were waiting to exhale. Don’t exhale just yet until the first week of July. The Boston Celtics has eliminated the Cleveland Cavaliers from the second round in a disastrous series.

Through the Melo Rule, the owners want to limit how much control a player has on where he plays. Players, meanwhile, want the freedom to go where they please. And the player who inspired the rule found it amusing that it could become a part of his legacy. ``I’m just glad I can be part of something,” Anthony said last month. “When I’m dead and gone, the Melo Rule will still be here. I’m just excited that they named a rule after me.”

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Carmelo Anthony’s reaction reveals much about modern stars.

Instead of wanting to create a legacy on-court through winning, many want to create a legacy off-court through business.

This is sad.

For instance, the Denver Nuggets gave Anthony everything. They rolled out the red carpet, supported him during his off-court indiscretions, and paid him like a tier-one superstar.

The returns were mixed. At times, Anthony, was out of shape, feuded with Coach George Karl, and was consumed with scoring.

Bottom line: the Nuggets weren’t a contender until they brought in Chauncey Billups, who provided the leadership that was expected from Anthony.

Then came last year. Perhaps inspired by LeBron James’ Decision, Anthony held the Nuggets hostage for months by refusing to sign an extension and flirting with teams in the New York area.

The rumours were too much. It was 24-7. And a major distraction for the Nuggets, New York Knicks, and New Jersey Nets.

After several near-deals, Anthony got his wish and was finally traded to the Knicks. The process was ugly and again showed the polarization between have and have-not markets.

It also showed that high profile players can and will hold several teams hostage for months in an effort to get their way.

Rather than calling the process an unfortunate but necessary part of business, Anthony is proud. He doesn’t realize that his actions have created a sticking point in negotiations between players and owners, which, in turn, has delayed the 2012 season.

Compare Anthony to another ‘Legend’. Larry Bird, the Hall of Fame forward, was never proud of the ‘Larry Bird Rule’ in the old Collective Bargaining Agreements. He was too busy winning.

Perhaps Anthony should learn something from Bird. Perhaps he should focus on what matters -winning.  

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

The second round series is currently one to one. On May 3, 2010, the Boston Celtics dominated LeBron’s Cavs on their home floor 104 -86. Kevin Garnett did the usual damage of 18 points and 10 boards. Ray Allen chipped in with 22 points, but the star was Rajon Rondo racking up 13 points and 19 assists. LeBron, The Cavs, and the fans were hopeless and dumbfounded.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The great ones put in work regardless of the circumstances.

Even though there’s a lockout, Kevin Durant and LeBron James are training with the hope that owners and players will solve their differences and have a season.

Click the video below, watch these superstars train, and get at HoopsVibe News with thoughts in the comment box below.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

So where do these two guys measure up against Kobe? Kobe is a scientific dawg. He works out every day, practices every day. Most of the other stars are just dawgs, not scientific dawgs. Me, I’m a freak-of-nature dawg because of my size. LeBron could be a scientific dawg like Kobe, but he’s got a lot going on like I did, so that’s preventing him from being one.”

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Shaquille O’Neal thinks Kobe Bryant is a ‘scientific dawg’, which apparently makes him better in the clutch than LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

For the record, I don’t know what a ‘scientific dawg’ is. I do think Shaq is saying Bryant is a superior fourth quarter player because of his focus and commitment to his craft.

Perhaps.

At this stage in their careers, James and Wade are better athletes - and maybe better players - than Bryant. But Bryant always possessed an intangible that more often than not propelled him to greatness when it mattered most.

This was evident from his early days sitting on the Lakers' bench as a 17-year old rookie under Coach Del Harris.

He is indeed the closest thing to Michael Jordan that the NBA has ever had. Shaq, his former nemesis, has to show respect by dubbing him a scientific dawg’.

--Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

The regular has ended some time ago and it’s time to touch on the players and moments that made this season memorable. The playoffs just started and it is going to take awhile to determine the champion, but I’d like take this time to look back at stuff that impacted the season and future to come. Hold up. There will be some moments that did not impact the season. It was just funny to point out.  Dwight Howard wins another Defensive Player of the Year, Scott Brooks wins Coach of the Year, and Aaron Brooks won Most Improved Player. We can safely assume that LeBron James won Most Valuable Player.

Brought to you by the makers of Michael Jordan versus series, LeBron versus line, Kobe versus and the barely visited Dwayne Wade versus LeBron debates, we bring to you the latest and greatest in the long line of internet debates, Kevin Durant versus LeBron James. Yes, it is another one in a classic barn burner debates spark by large usage of extreme GIF images to represent reaction and smart witty remarks with people using a lot of free time to dissect statistics.

As the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls rage war in the first round of the playoffs, ABC decided to air a segment at halftime called, “The Chase down Block.”

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Just a hunch, but I’m guessing LeBron James doesn’t like being asked who’d win one-on-one against Kobe Bryant.

This, however, did not stop The King from taking himself when asked by a British reporter. Click the video, watch James get snaky with a foreign scribe, and get at HoopsVibe News with thoughts on LeBron vs. Kobe.

LeBron vs. Kobe in one-on-one? Get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below with thoughts.

I start taking a couple of steps towards Pat. Udonis Haslem steps in and I shove him out of the way. Then Zo tries to grab me. I threw him aside like he was a rag doll.Now it's me and Riley face-to-face, jaw to jaw. I'm poking him in the chest and he keeps slapping my finger away and it's getting nasty. Noisy, too. He's yelling "F--- you!" and I'm yelling back, "No, f--- you!" Zo is trying to calm us both down and he has this kind of singsong panic in his voice. He keeps saying, "Big fella, no big fella, big fella!" I finally turn around and tell him, "Don't worry. I'm not going to hit the man. Do you think I'm crazy?"

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Shaquille O’Neal’s tell-all tour continues. No player, coach, man, or woman will be spared.

The future Hall of Fame center has a spill-the-beans book coming out, so he and his people have leaked excerpts to create a buzz.

Like O’Neal’s World Wars with Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant. Like O`Neal`s take on LeBron James ignoring Coach Mike Brown in Cleveland. Like O`Neal`s lack of a relationship with iconic center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

The latest: O’Neal nearly fought Pat Riley, also known as the oil slick, during practice with Miami. Of course, O’Neal says he was heroically sticking up for teammate Jason Williams.

This may or may not be true. There’s no disputing O’Neal has had problems with coaches.

There was the fallout with Riley. There were problems with Phil Jackson, another all-time great on the sideline. And he undermined Terry Porter in Phoenix.

So before blaming others, O’Neal should perhaps look inward first. This, however, is unlikely.

--Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Hoops Vibe’s Very Quick Call: This is what we are missing. LeBron. Kevin Durant. Rudy Gay.

The best athletes in the world are not able to perform in the proper forum because they and their bosses can’t agree on splitting billions of dollars in revenue.

Anyway, watch King James drop 43 at Gay’s charity game and get at us with thoughts in the comments box below.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

The mythical biggest collection of free agents is coming. Neither of these guys is worried about what teams are doing to set themselves up financially to obtain any one of them. They’re too worried about erupting over their team to the press, wondering if the team is good enough to move forward with, or taking suggestions from fans if he should wear eye goggles. What kind of sales pitch would you come up with to seduce any of these guys to join the dark side? Get him an expensive sports car? No. They get them for free. Get them girls? No. They get them for free at the clubs. They’re called “Jump offs.” Clothes? Movies? Videogames? Jobs? Houses? A soul? What? What can possibly be a great selling point to get them to sign with your team?

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: ‘Basketball Never Stops’ -even if there’s a lockout.

The good folks at Nike have filmed an awesome ad campaign called 'Basketball Never Stops'. In this clip, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and others discuss what this suddenly famous saying means to them.

Click the video below, watch it, and tell HoopsVibe News what Basketball Never Stops means to you.

1 hour ago: Would love to see @JCrossover in a Heat uni! What you guys say? 1 hour ago: Maybe @SteveNash in a Heat uni! So we can help each other get our 1st ring

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Lockout or not, LeBron James is recruiting.

'The King' recently tweeted that he’d like Jamal Crawford and Steve Nash to sign with the Miami Heat when the labour impasse is solved.

Crawford, a perennial Sixth Man of the Year candidate, would punish opposing defences for double-teaming James and fellow Heat superstars Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade.

He’d have the same role as Mike Miller. Except Crawford can create off the dribble and has had better luck staying healthy.

The former Bull, Hawk, and Knick is a free agent. Nash, however, is not.

The two-time MVP still has a year remaining on his contract with the Phoenix Suns, so he’d need spend-thrift owner Robert Sarver to buy him out.

Then there are concerns about Nash’s mediocre defense. His teammates and basketball IQ should make up for his tiny stature, though.

We just need a new collective bargaining agreement to see if James’ tweets become reality.

--Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

A random NBA fan wrote on Twitter a message directed at Heat owner Micky Arison. "Fans provide all the money you're fighting over," wrote the fan."Honestly u r barking at the wrong owner," replied Arison on his Twitter feed. Arison has been categorized by NBPA Executive Director Billy Hunter as part of a group of owners eager to reach a deal with the players.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The players union may be splitting, but so are the owners.

Case in point: Micky Arison, the owner of the star-studded Miami Heat, who tweeted his frustration over the two sides not finding common ground on a new collective bargaining agreement.    

Arison wants to settle on a new CBA, so his Big Three can win a championship and he can maximize his investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade.
 
Clearly, Arison isn’t alone in wanting to settle. Other big-market, ‘have’ owners are comfortable in winning these negotiations with players and do not wish to extract blood.

Unfortunately, the Bulls, Celtics, Heat, Lakers, and Knicks are in the minority. The Blazers, Bobcats, Bucks, Suns, and eighteen other owners are determined to have total victory.

And so we continue to wait for basketball.

--Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

“Everybody’s always asking, ‘Who is better between Kobe (Bryant) and LeBron?’” Johnson said. “I’m like, Are you kidding me? I’m like you’re kidding me … Kobe, five championships; LeBron, zero. I love the young man though. I know he’s going to get better in the fourth quarter this year.”

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: He speaks the truth.

Magic Johnson isn’t hating on LeBron James by saying that the Miami Heat three-man can’t compare with Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant.

Magic’s reasoning is fair: Bryant has five championships, while James has none.

After all, championships have long been the mark of greatness in the NBA. Superstars, the real elites, measure themselves by the number of times they hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy in June and not individual statistics.

Johnson was simply holding James accountable to this criteria. To be fair, James is currently superior to Bryant, but has yet to enjoy true post-season success.

Until James does, he’s not in the same company as Bryant.

O.Sandor

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

RT @_celestial: @KingJames Hey LeBron, what's one thing most people don't know about you?(How much I miss my fans in Ohio/Cleveland)

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Absence, it seems, has made LeBron James’ heart go fonder.

Not long ago the All-World superstar showed little or no regard for his fans in Cleveland, announcing on live television he was leaving the Cavaliers for the Miami Heat.

And then it began. The hate.

Cavaliers’ owner Dan Gilbert declared jihad in a letter on the team’s website. Fans burnt his jerseys. And The Backlash to The Decision started.

James, of course, responded. He told anyone and everyone he was an Akron guy and that he was not, in fact, from Cleveland.

After a year of defiance and being public enemy number one, James is changing his tune in an attempt to make peace with those he perhaps alienated.

Now he misses his fans in Cleveland. Six months ago such an admission would have been about as likely as pigs flying.

--O.Sandor

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
 

In addition to (LeBron) James, (Dwyane) Wade and (Chris) Bosh, the Heat were represented at Saturday’s game by free-agent point guard Mario Chalmers, with former Heat player Dorell Wright also among those participating. Heat forward Udonis Haslem, still working his way back from last season’s foot injury, coached James’ team.

Center Eddy Curry, a Heat free-agent target, was a no-show, leaving unanswered questions about his conditioning. Wesley Matthews and Lou Williams also were removed from the rosters, with Harden and Tristan Thompson added.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: This wasn’t supposed to happen.

The media had been reporting on the new and improved Eddy Curry, who had lost one hundred pounds to specifically earn a contract with the star-studded Miami Heat when the lockout ends.

Curry’s body wasn’t the only thing that had supposedly changed. His supporters claimed he had matured and wouldn’t be a distraction.

Saturday’s friendly at Florida International University was key. Curry had a chance to suit up with or against potential teammates, while developing a relationship with the Heat’s rabid fans.

That opportunity is gone.

Fans aren’t talking about Curry’s skill or fitness. Instead they’re wondering why a player who wants to join the Heat couldn't bother to turn up.

If he wasn't healthy, why not attend and earn some goodwill?

It’s not a great first impression. The more things supposedly change with Curry, the more they seem to stay the same.

O.Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The South Florida Classic was exciting, but everyone wanted to know when the NBA games would happen.

Yesterday Dwyane Wade led Team Wade to a 141-140 win over LeBron James’ Team James in a charity match at Florida International University.

A game with several All-Stars is worth watching, however, fans and media were focused on the three month old NBA lockout.

Click the video below, watch Carmelo Anthony discuss his love for the Heat’s Big Three, and Wade, and consider his thoughts on the NBA’s labour impasse.

-O.Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Despite the on-going labour strife, two of the game`s biggest stars, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, are continuing with workouts.

What does it mean?

Well, nothing if owners and players fail to find common ground on a new collective bargaining agreement and financial framework.

Nevertheless, click the video below, watch ‘The Big Two’ train in Miami, and get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

--O. Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Hopefully, there will be more basketball highlights. And soon.

LeBron James took a break from labour negotiations to wow the masses at Chris Paul's charity game in Winston Salem. Click the video, watch The King's aerial antics, and get at HoopsVibe News with thoughts in the comment box below.

 --O. Sandor

Before a stunning confrontation between Dwyane Wade(notes) and NBA commissioner David Stern in Friday’s labor meeting, Wade, LeBron James(notes) and Chris Paul(notes) told their Players Association peers that they’re willing to sit out the season rather than make further concessions to the owners, sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Wade, James and Paul were at the forefront of a strong players presence at a Park Avenue hotel for Friday’s contentious bargaining session. In a private union meeting prior to the bargaining session with owners, James kept reiterating to the group of elite players that they shouldn’t give back a greater share of the league’s basketball-related income (BRI) than what they’d already conceded in previous negotiations.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Will the Average Joe concede or take a stand and sit with the superstars?

It’s great for LeBron James, Chris Paul, and Dwyane Wade to announce publicly they’ll boycott the season to get better terms in a collective bargaining agreement.

These guys, the crème de la crème of the NBA, have more money than they know what to do with. They could retire today and be set for life.

So missing a year’s salary isn’t the end of the world, however, many of the league’s rank and file won’t share their hardline approach.

The back-up guard or reserve post is likely extended and needs work. Right now, they may be feeling financial pressures and things will worsen once they miss that first November pay cheque.

--Oly Sandor

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

If the NBA institutes a hard salary cap and eliminates the mid-level exception, the Celtics would likely to be forced to build around their Big Four with minimum-salaried players.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The new NBA will be different.

With the luxury tax likely replaced by a hard cap financial structure, have-franchises like the Boston Celtics will have a top heavy payroll.

Translation: the green and white will pay big-ticket salaries to Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Rajon Rondo, and everyone else will earn the league minimum.

So GM Danny Ainge and the club’s front office are searching far and wide for bargains that can plug holes and fill roles next to their Big Four.

The green-and-white’s front office are scouting colleges, Europe, Asia, and anywhere else there's basketball.

This, of course, could be the new reality of the NBA, where a hard cap and revenue sharing creates some semblance of parity between big and small markets and have and have-not franchises.

In theory, an NFL style system sounds good, however, the NBA has always been a star driven league with high profile franchises. Think of the following for LeBron James and 'The Heatles' last season.

The NBA’s new and different financial system may kill the golden goose of showcasing players and teams.

--O. Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

I do think they’ll take a chance on Eddy Curry. They’ve worked him out several times and have been impressed with what they saw. The only concern was Curry’s weight, but he has been working hard this summer and has dropped over 100 lbs. He’s been in Tim Grover’s ATTACK gym every day and he’s determined to prove he can still play. Don’t be surprised if they sign him after the lockout ends. He’s a low-risk, high reward addition who could make a difference in Miami.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The Miami Heat had a top-heavy salary structure under the old collective bargaining agreement.

They’ll have little room to strengthen their roster when the lockout ends and the new, stricter financial system is finally agreed upon by owners and players.

After all, the Heat took on three ‘max’ contracts when they signed Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade in July of 2010.

So Executive Pat Riley will have to go value-shopping whenever there‘s a free agent period, and hope to find a deal or two.

Fortunately, there will be bargains. Like Eddy Curry.

The puffy post became a league-laughingstock, earning and spending tens of millions of dollars per year to gain weight on the Knicks’ injured reserve.

Apparently, Curry wants to salvage his career. He’s dropped over 100 pounds and is eyeing a spot on the Heat’s roster. Curry`s post moves would create space on the perimeter for James and Wade and allow Bosh to roam on the elbows.

Best of all, the price would be right for the Heat. 

--O. Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Just when you thought the NBPA decertification talk had died down...two sources say prominent agent Leon Rose has joined that crowd. (Sam Amick, CNNSI)

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: LeBron James, no matter how much he tries to keep a low profile, always makes national headlines.

Take the lockout. In an attempt to gain leverage over owners in the ongoing labour strife, James’ agent Leon Rose is encouraging his client and other high profile players he represents to vote to decertify their union.

This is not James. This is his agent. But it doesn't matter.

Decertification would kick off a series of complicated lawsuits that would make it impossible for the season to start on time or be played at all.

This would be like dropping a nuclear bomb on all the gains the NBA made last season. 

To be fair, James may have good reason for supporting this option: he and fellow stars are frustrated with the owners’ negotiating tactics and the concessions union head Billy Hunter is making.

The tension mounts as fans want a solution and an NBA season. James could take a hit if the union decertifies.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below with thoughts.

Dan Gilbert took to Twitter to deny he helped derail collective bargaining agreement negotiations. "Some of these NBA 'bloggissists' flat-out make stuff up and then try to dupe readers into believing their fiction is real. Sad & pathetic," Gilbert wrote.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: At least Dan Gilbert didn’t write a venom-laced letter and publish it on the Cleveland Cavaliers’ website.

The always outspoken owner of the Cavaliers didn’t like reports he was responsible for the impasse between players and owners at Tuesday’s bargaining session.

So Gilbert responded, calling the speculation by bloggers ‘sad and pathetic’.

The loan tsar is ripe for criticism on many things, however, he’s not responsible for the breakdown in negotiations. The players were overly optimistic about finding a quick solution; the owners are determined to get a hard cap.

The league’s issues are far greater than Gilbert. He was just a convenient scapegoat for what happened on Tuesday..

--Oly Sandor

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

“My only problem is the whole misuse of the name,” Bosh said. “If I stink it up on the court…. my family takes a lot of pride in our name. My ancestors, we’re very prideful with the Bosh name. I don’t like it being made fun of. I don’t think they appreciate it, either.”

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: He’s once again taking ‘Heat’.

Just twelve months ago, Chris Bosh was taking flak for the way in which he left the Toronto Raptors and signed with the Miami Heat as a free agent.

The criticism continued all year as Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade became targets for hoop heads living outside South Beach.

Most of it was fair. Some of it was not.

Over the summer, James and Wade have managed to avoid the spotlight and keep a low profile, while Bosh has continued to be a target.

ESPN’s Skip Bayless recently called the left-handed power-forward Bosh Spice, implying he was soft and precious like a member of the all girl group from Britain.

Recently, Shaquille O’Neal, when making his first appearance as a TNT broadcaster, took a swipe at Bosh, saying the Heat had two superstars in James and Wade.

Here’s the bottom line: Bosh is the third star. There will be a backlash until he wins a championship.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Memo to NBA players. Stop parodying The Decision, especially if you`re not funny.

Case in point Gordon Hayward, of the Utah Jazz. The second-year pro spoofed the LeBron James showcase in attempt to create publicity for his new job as a professional video game player.

Click the video, watch Hayward’s awful and awkward attempt at humor, and get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

--Oly Sandor.

I believe, for the first time in the history of this franchise, it is championship or bust, sort of where Riley stood during the best of Lakers times.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It’s championship or bust for the Miami Heat in 2012. Just like in 2011.

The Miami Heat made a bold statement when they won The Great Free Agent Sweepstakes of 2010, signing superstars Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade to multi-year contracts.

With this coup, the organization committed to winning a championship each year. And nothing but hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy and hosting a victory parade will do.

After all, owner Mickey Arison invested nearly $300 million in these three players. And James - at the post-signing celebration - predicted ‘multiple championships’.

So the Heat have set lofty expectations, which justifies reporter Ira Winderman suggesting it’s championship or bust in South Beach.

To fulfill these lofty expectations in 2012, the Heat must upgrade the point guard position and shore up the bench.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

The Miami Herald reported Sunday that they expect one of the first calls the Heat make to be to free agent PF/C Nene.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: They’ll call. They’ll talk. That’s as far it will go, though.

Despite having little cap space, the Miami Heat reportedly have interest in signing Denver Nuggets post and soon-to-be-free agent Nene.

Having interest is fine. Getting a sought after center to take a huge pay cut is unrealistic.

The Brazilian opted-out of the last year of his contract with Denver, leaving close to $11 million on the table. Whenever the lockout is settled, he’ll ask for, and likely get, term and money as a free agent.

The Heat are in no position to offer either. With $65 million in committed salary for 2012, they`ll have little-to-no flexibility when the owners get their new financial system.

So the Heat will call Nene. He may listen and consider taking less money to play with Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade.

Then he’ll remember what he gave up ($11 million) and will sign a big ticket pact with another team.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News with the comment box below.
 

We’re going to make some plans. We’re going to plan to do something,” Bosh said in a telephone interview from Los Angeles. “I think just getting around each other, I think it’s important as far as team-building is concerned and just getting something going. We’re pretty much still in the process of doing that.”

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Like the EPMD album, the Miami Heat has unfinished business.

At least that's the way superstar Chris Bosh sees it, who told reporters the Heat would start preparing for the 2012 season even though there’s little sign the NBA's labour troubles will be resolved.

The Heat, right or wrong, has been called many things by those outside Florida: arrogant, cocky, self-absorbed, villainous, and evil.

But there's no doubting their dedication as Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade seem focused on returning to the Finals and winning the championship that eluded them in 2011.

Consider that the lockout provides ample free time for the Three Kings to enjoy their wealth. They could lie on a beach, party non-stop in Vegas, and appear at training camp, whenever the lockout is solved, looking like former Vancouver Grizzlies post Bryant Reeves.

Instead, all three are working. Wade and James are focused on improving their already strong chemistry, while Bosh is punching the clock.

When training camp finally opens, the Heat - because of Bosh, James, and Wade’s determination - has to be the early favourites.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: For one night fans could forget the lockout and enjoy basketball as the Melo took on the Goodman on Tuesday night.

There were big names like Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James, while youngsters like Eric Bledsoe and Josh Selby dazzled with their aerial antics.

Click the video, watch the highlights courtesy of hoopsmixtape.com, and get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

--Oly Sandor.

After the Goodman League defeated the Drew League last weekend, they were soon being dubbed the best summer league in the country. However, many other regions that didn’t get a chance to compete disagreed with that sentiment and wanted their shot against Goodman’s finest.

On August 30, one such league will have that opportunity. The Melo League is located in Baltimore and has had many NBA players in their gym throughout the course of the summer. They’ve been one of the more competitive pro-am leagues in the nation over the last few years and want to see if their All-Stars can take down the group from D.C.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It’s Tyson vs. Douglas. It’s Ali vs. Frazier. It’s Celtics vs. Lakers. And it’s Silva vs. GSP.

Forgive the hyperbole, but the August 30th game between the Goodman League and Melo’s All-Star squad may be the only basketball fans see for a while.

Thankfully, Wednesday’s tilt will be a star-studded affair. The Goodman squad features Kevin Durant, Brandon Jennings, and John Wall, while Melo’s All-Stars will be represented by Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, and Chris Paul.

Hopefully, Commissioner Stern and union boss Billy Hunter’s bargaining session, also on Wednesday, is fruitful, and fans get an NBA season to follow this interesting friendly.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Love or hate the Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade knows that he and teammates LeBron James and Chris Bosh set a trend the rest of the NBA will follow for years. “Yes, we have,” Wade said. “I don’t know whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing, but more guys are going to look to team up and do things like that.”

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: You can’t fault them for what they did. You can, however, fault them for how they did it.

Yesterday Dwyane Wade told media he, Chris Bosh, and LeBron James started a trend for superstar free agents last summer by signing with the Miami Heat.

He’s right. The days of one superstar leading a contender is over. The crème de la crème have to partner up to win an NBA Championship (of course, the new collective bargaining agreement may change this).

Contrary to popular opinion, there’s nothing wrong with great players seeking each other out and deciding to play together.

Free agency is about choice, right?

In fact, it shows this trio values the collective experience of winning more than being The Man on a second rate franchise.

So credit Bosh, James, and Wade for deciding to share, but criticize Bosh, James, and Wade for the way they came to this decision.

Last July, Bosh and Wade took the cameras everywhere. They talked about making a documentary on their free agent experiences; they fired off annoying, mindless tweets.

Bosh, in particular, showed a lack of respect for the Toronto Raptors, the team he led for the previous seven years.

Then there was James. ‘The Decision’ was an exercise in how not to handle free agency. He went from beloved superstar to hated villain.

Bosh and Wade also became bad guys when they pranced on stage and held a championship celebration -even though they hadn’t won a game or practiced together.

Wade is right. The Three Kings started a trend for free agent superstars. Some of it was good; some of it was bad.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Had a dream my hairline was back! Woke up and went to bathroom, turned on light slowly. Same ol story. Damn! Lol

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: He can't beat them, so he joined them.

LeBron James' shrinking hairline has been a source of amusement for NBA players and stand-up comedians. This morning James got in on the act, poking fun at his balding dome via twitter.

Hopefully, this is a sign James is willing to put a troubled 2010-11 season behind him and lighten up.

A little humor would lessen the 'Heat' James and his Miami teammates will face whenever the season begins.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

“At that point it was me. Obviously we went through a lot last year. It was unfair some of the stuff that we had to endure but we grew from it. That’s over with. We move on to whenever we play basketball again and we will be a different team.”

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It’s relative.

Yes, Chris Bosh, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and the Miami Heat endured a massive backlash last year and were the undisputed league villain.

Was it unfair, though?

On the one hand, this trio handled their South Beach union with as much modesty and class as Kanye West at an awards show.

On the other hand, Bosh, James, and Wade stay on the right side of the law, take care of their kids, and are involved with charity.

So to lump James in with Charlie Sheen, Donald Trump, and Tiger Woods may be a tad harsh. 

Of course, the public is split. The Heat are as polarizing and captivating a team to take to an NBA floor or compete in a North American sports league.

Perhaps the Heat were treated poorly, however, the public will not have sympathy for three highly paid professional athletes.

Instead, The Three Kings should embrace being the villain. The sooner they accept being the bad guy, the sooner they win that ever elusive championship.

And only then will the hoopla, controversy, and speculation teeter off.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

DR: It was great but I’m not satisfied. I won’t be satisfied until I win a championship. I’m not satisfied at all. There’s not a doubt in my mind that I’m not going to win a championship. I’m going win multiple championships. It’s not a doubt in my mind.

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: It's not the same. Not even close.

In an interview with Hoopshype, Derrick Rose, the 2011 MVP and rising superstar for the Chicago Bulls, admitted he wants to win multiple championships.

Such a declaration should sound familiar. LeBron James was, and still gets, roasted for making a similar statement last summer after taking his talent to South Beach.

There's a difference between Rose and James, though.

Rose was talking about what he wanted to achieve in his career, which is fair. All players, especially the creme de la creme of the NBA, should have lofty goals.

James, however, was acting like he already won multiple championships when he boasted to fans at the Heat's pre-emptive victory parade. The glitter, glitz, and hype of that July day in 2010 was as grand as the L.A. Lakers' championship parade a month earlier in June.

Of course, the Heat hadn't won a thing yet -and wouldn't win a thing, losing to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals.

So, put the daggers down. Rose's comments pass the smell test, while James is struggling to move past last July's blunders.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below. 

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: This isn’t breaking news. And this isn’t a surprise. People don’t care for LeBron James.

James, the infamous and famous swing for the Miami Heat, scored near the bottom of an Ipsos poll that surveyed the public about their feelings towards athletes and celebrities.

The NBA’s current villain was joined by Charlie Sheen, Donald Trump, and Tiger Woods as the public's least favourable athlete/celebrity.

Here’s the question: does James deserve this?

Sure, The Decision was as a poorly planned and executed exercise since, well, ever. And The Celebration and The Prediction that followed were as bad.

However, James doesn’t do drugs, drink to excess, reference Tiger’s Blood and/or ‘winning’, cheat on his spouse (repeatedly) and claim to be a family man, attend sex addict therapy, or lead a bizarre crusade to discover where exactly the leader of the free world was born.

So we can hate the arrogance with which James handles basketball-related activities. We can’t hate the loyalty he shows lifelong friends, family, and Akron, Ohio -even if those relationships have gotten him in trouble. 

Perhaps we should despise James and the Heat for what they actually are: the New York Yankees of the NBA. And perhaps we should recognize James isn’t the Sheen, Trump, or Woods of the NBA.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
 

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Challenge issued. Challenge met.

Yesterday Kobe Bryant dominated Los Angeles' famous Drew League, meeting the request of Dino Smiley, the league's commissioner, that he appear.

After all, Kevin Durant showed. Same with LeBron James. So why not Kobe?

However, Bryant did more than appear. He ran things; the Black Mamba scored 45 points, which included getting mobbed on-court by fans after hitting the game-winning jump shot over Oklahoma City Thunder swing James Harden.

The real excitement might have been outside the gym. Once word spread that Bryant was playing, hundreds looked through the window of the gym because the facility was at capacity for fans

Clearly, Bryant's Drew League appearance was a success. Watch the video of Bryant sinking the game-winning shot over Harden and get at us with thoughs in the comment box below.

--Oly Sandor.   

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Add The Game to the ever-growing list of those who have bashed Miami Heat superstar LeBron James.

Apparently the California rapper takes a swipe at James in his soon-to-be released The R.E.D. album, saying “Fall back like LeBron’s hairline against the Mavericks / He lost” (Credit to Holly at The Score for the discovery).

This is nothing, however. The Game reportedly goes there. Yes, there ...

“Then I hit LeBron’s mom in Bron-Bron’s coupe /
With Delonte West taping, we had bon-bons too /
With Cleveland cheerleaders, they had pom-poms too”

One word: Wow.

Right now, James is a target; Tiger Woods aside, he's the most controversial figure in professional sports. Media, fans, NBA stars, and rappers have all slung their share of mud at James.

Some of this is deserved. The Decision and The Celebration, both part of James' departure from Cleveland to Miami, accurately portrayed the All-Star as self-centered and vain.

What is legitimate criticism? What is unfair? And where's the line?

Referencing a rumor involving James' mother and former teammate Delonte West, who suffers from mental health issues, is too much.

Way to much, in fact.

Keep in mind: James will eventually win an NBA championship. He and his Heat are too good not to. Last year they came within two games of winning it all -even though 2011 was their first year together and everyone outside of Florida wanted them to fail.

When that day comes, when James finally hoists the Larry O'Brien trophy, he'll have his revenge.

While criticism of his play, fair or not, may continue, this kind of nonsense will hopefully stop.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Looking back on last year’s free agency and “The Decision,” do you look back and think it could have been done differently or do you just own up to it? Chris Bosh: “I say you own up to it. We all make mistakes. I think anybody would be kidding themselves if they thought they were perfect at anything.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: So, Chris Bosh believes LeBron James made a mistake with The Decision.

Well, left-handed power forwards in glass houses shouldn`t throw stones, right Bosh?

In an interview, Bosh indirectly said James slipped up last summer by announcing on ESPN he was ‘taking his talent to South Beach’ and leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat.

James admitted as much last year, although he couldn’t, or wouldn’t, say what he’d have done differently.

Equally as damaging to the Heat was Bosh, James, and Dwyane Wade’s collective decision to announce their arrival the way teams celebrate a championship.

The Three Kings held a massive party, and acted more like rock stars than NBA superstars. A sold out stadium of Heat faithful cheered. To be fair, James was the one who predicted multiple championships.

Bosh`s arrogance at this pre-emeptive celebration - along with James and Wade’s surliness -  turned off  fans outside Florida and solidified the Heat’s status as villains.

From that moment the Heat was public enemy number one. And they have yet to get the bulls-eye off their back.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Curry weighed 350 when he auditioned for Miami in March. Curry intrigues Pat Riley, who might offer him a minimum deal postlockout if he loses another 12 pounds or so. His skills “are there, no question,” Grover said.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Eddy Curry could soon become Pat Riley’s Greatest Reclamation Project.

Reports indicate Curry has dropped close to 40 pounds and, if his waist line continues to shrink, he may sign with the Miami Heat for the minimum when the lockout ends.

This is rather remarkable, especially when considering how low the skilled big had sunk.

Curry made $31 million to play in 30 games over the last three seasons. He blew most of that $31 million and, reportedly, took out high-interest loans from dubious characters. And then there was this.

Of course, Curry might not be best for South Beach. He was a finesse-five for the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls, and the Heat need a defensive-minded banger down low.

Still, Curry won’t cost much, so, perhaps, he’s worth the risk -as it will appease the people behind Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade.

Move over Rafer Alston, Derek Anderson, Ike Austin. Smush Parker, Antoine Walker, and all others. Eddy Curry may soon be coming. You’ll have competition for Riles’ Greatest Reclamation Project.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
 

The chorus is "win, win win, win win," but at the 40 second mark Terry starts singing "lose, lose lose," and then says to the camera, "I feel like LeBron right now."

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It’s not just media. It’s not just fans. Players are piling on, too.

During the last year, Miami Heat superstar LeBron James has been criticized, and even mocked, by anyone and everyone associated with professional basketball.

Yesterday Dwight Howard teased James about his vanishing hairline. Today Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Terry insulted James in a revised, Jet-version of a soon-to-be released rap song.

Of course, Terry‘s Mavericks beat James’ Heat in the NBA Finals, so he holds bragging rights. The league’s top sixth-man called James a loser.

This, perhaps, is a touch harsh.

Thanks to the magic of the Internet, we, along with James, can watch Terry's slight over-and-over again.

Watch the video of Terry getting at James and tell HoopsVibe News your thoughts in the comment box below.

--Oly Sandor.