Photo. Jonathan MannionLeBron was at the Indians game last night. In Cleveland. Wearing a Yankees cap. Craig Sager (it’s weird watching Sager and David Aldridge doing baseball games) tried to give ‘Bron a hard time for it, but he was just like, “I’m here to represent for the Yankees.” Guess you can’t blame LeBron too much for not being an Indians fan; considering when he grew up, the Indians were still, for the most part, in their Terrible Phase during his formative sports-fan years. Although it would have been funny had we found out Albert Belle was LeBron’s favorite athlete growing up. Speaking of Indians from LeBron’s childhood, how about Kenny Lofton being back with the team? He’s like 40 and the dude can still fly … Not sure how much it had to do with Deron Williams’s now-famous “Why pass to someone who doesn’t work on their jumper” dagger, but the Jazz are bringing in Jeff Hornacek to work with AK-47 on his shot. That right there should show AK how much the team values him. If they hired you one of the best shooters of the last 15 years to get your shot together, they clearly want to get you more looks … When Marcus Williams went down with his foot injury, it was obvious the Nets had to pick up another PG, at least on a temp basis. They just got their man in Darrell Armstrong. One name that actually came up in the office for that spot? Gary Payton. We broke down GP’s Hall of Fame resume in the second installment of our “Hall of Fame Watch” series. And if you missed the first of the series on T-Mac, check that one out here … Speaking of point guards, the Fantasy Doctor breaks out his Top 40 fantasy PGs to have on your draft board this year. GP and Armstrong aren’t on there, but a few Atlanta Hawks are … And speaking of T-Mac, we found this clip of Mac, KG, Duncan, Arenas, Dwight Howard and Chauncey playing pickup with some kids in Cali from when we were out there for an adidas ad shoot over the summer … How old is Yi Jianlian? The birth certificate say he’s 19. Some say he’s 22. At his first practice with the Bucks yesterday he didn’t bother clarifying, giving the questions about his age a “No comment.” Usually we take that to mean he’s not as young as reported. Of course, none of this will matter until we’re well into Yi’s career. Take someone like Dikembe Mutombo; whether he’s 41 or 45 or 50, the guy can still play, and it’s not like anyone would sign him to a long-term contract anyway … Everything we read about Bucks practice said Yi looked OK at times but was overally sluggish following a 15-hour flight the day before. Andrew Bogut predicted Yi will hit the rookie wall sooner than usual because he’s been playing so much ball with the Chinese national team his summer … Everyone in New York — plus a lot of people outside the city — wholeheartedly believes NY will always be the top producer of hoops talent. Over on High School Hoop we looked at the current crop of NY youngsters and put them up against New Jersey’s finest. Who’s got the better squad? Check out “Border Wars - New York vs. New Jersey” and tell us what you think … Also on HSH, the guy who helped mold Kevin Durant the ballplayer shows you some tips on building your quickness in the latest Baller’s Workout … Yesterday we talked about Chris Bosh’s foot (plantar fasciitis) possibly bothering him all season. Now it’s Brandon Roy with the foot issues. The same heel injury that forced Roy to miss some games last year has become a problem again, and he’s likely gonna miss the whole preseason. It seems like the Blazers would be smart to have B-Roy go under the knife now if that’s what it takes to solve the problem. We don’t know how long that would put him on the shelf, but worst-case scenario is he’s fully healthy by the time Greg Oden (and probably another ‘08 Lottery pick) is ready to roll … This week we learned that 1) Spencer Hawes hurt himself running, and 2) Hawes had microfracture surgery when he was 14 years old. Did the Kings stumble upon the next Curtis Borchardt? … And you’re not gonna believe this, but a Duke product is having injury issues early into his NBA career. Josh McRoberts rolled an ankle yesterday, and Jarrett Jack wasn’t even pretending to play the optimistic card about it: “He’ll be out more than a week,” Jack said, rebutting the initial injury report. “His ankle is huge; it’s the size of a basketball. One of the worst I have seen.” … From the Ewwwww Files, Delonte West had his left big toenail removed yesterday. Ewwwww … We’re out like Delonte’s toenail …
October 5th, 2007 at 7:09 am
João says:
If Portland pick the #1 or #2 rookie next year again, they will have a great young team in 2009, 2010 2011 …
October 5th, 2007 at 8:05 am
Amar says:
about big hurt curt: he had avascular necrosis in his navicular bone in the foot . . . no way he would EVER get better, I don’t know what the utah jazz doctors were smoking when they gave that draft day trade the ‘okay’ . . .
October 5th, 2007 at 8:34 am
Eric says:
They have had many NBA games on ESPN Classic lately….wouldnt it be great if 2K created an old-school NBA 1996 with next-gen technology.
October 5th, 2007 at 9:05 am
DOC says:
Let Lebron rep who he wants. But why Bogut always got something to say, he need to shut up and practice so he can prove his bum ass deserved the top pick
October 5th, 2007 at 9:12 am
buckets says:
they only love new york on vh1…jersey stand up
October 5th, 2007 at 9:29 am
Jules says:
alls I gotta say is, LOLz @ everyone in the Chicago media that said we should have picked Hawes over Noah!
October 5th, 2007 at 9:59 am
bron hater says:
Can someone please explain why LeBron would be “here to represent for the Yankees”? City allegiances are serious business. Good thing the fans in Cleveland are good-natured: they chanted “Take off the hat!” until Bron did so. If this were Philadelphia, they would have chanted “Take off his head.” Part of being an NBA or a Global Icon is being true to the locale from which you come. He comes from Ohio! In all fairness Akron is closer to Cincinnati than it is to Cleveland, and also not too far from Detroit. So any of those teams would be legit. And when Tom Brady did it this summer, it was even more heinous.
October 5th, 2007 at 10:12 am
Tom from Cleveland says:
Uh, when LeBron was in his formative sports years, the Indians were pretty good. He was 8 when the Jake opened and the Tribe got good, so I don’t think you can blame that for him being a Yankees fan.
Uh bron hater, you should look at a map. Akron is much closer to Cleveland than Cincinnati.
October 5th, 2007 at 10:21 am
Rob says:
Spencer Spencer Spencer…i just hope he can play in 60 games this year.
October 5th, 2007 at 10:25 am
bron hater says:
Tom from Cleveland, you are right and I am an idiot. And I’d like to piggyback on your point about how good the Indians were. Let’s think back to 1995 when they had a magical squad with Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome and Omar Vizquel? (Was Omar on that team?) Those were formative years for Bron. And “Major League” was made about the Indians! Everyone’s seen that movie!
I’m also revising my earlier point that it was more heinous for Brady to wear it. Though Brady should never don a Yanks hat given his New England ties, he wasn’t wearing one at a game where his city’s team was battling the Yankees. Lebron is bush league.
October 5th, 2007 at 10:46 am
bliz289 says:
Bad move by LeBron. If you want to privately root for the Yankees, cool. But to disrespect the city that has shown you so much love? Not cool at all.
October 5th, 2007 at 10:50 am
Jules says:
ERIC - what they need to do is have classic teams in NBA gameslike they do in Madden. How sick would it be to run with the 96 Bulls or some of the 80s Lakers/Celtics squads? or the early-90’s “Run-TMC” Warriors?
October 5th, 2007 at 11:04 am
Christian Grant-Fields says:
Man…there are plenty of people who like teams that are from cities they don’t live in. How many young dudes loved the Cowboys when they were on their run? How bout the Bulls?
Lebron obviously doesn’t like the Indians, I respect Bron’ for being true and honest. I bet you there a ton of Cleveland natives that aren’t Cavs fans.
October 5th, 2007 at 11:10 am
Tom from Cleveland says:
Drew Gooden is boys with CC Sabathia from their days growing up in Oak-town. Drew should rep the Tribe the next time CC pitches at home.
October 5th, 2007 at 11:20 am
jamesinva says:
maybe lebron did that in a way of showing that hes mad about the cavs situation. after going to the finals they did nothing to upgrade the team and is in limbo of losing 2 euro players from last year. he probably wants to leave the team or will in the future.
the injuries to the trail blazers makes me sick…but yes the team will be loaded with young talent when they make another lotto pick next year.
and bogut needs to seriously do his thing rather than talk negative about others. damn aussie is whack
im out like sideshowbob will be
October 5th, 2007 at 11:33 am
Ak47 says:
You guys are over-reacting over a cap…wow I can’t wait for the season to begin!
BTW I don’t think Boguts was running his mouth…he was just saying typical-random-pointless things that some NBA players say about youngsters, that’s it. No more, no less.
October 5th, 2007 at 11:37 am
SWAT says:
Honestly fellas the traditional blue NY fitted is a part of hip hop, just as much as wheat colored TIMS are. Before i even follwed sports I was wearing the hat because so many cats wore them in the videos…remember YO MTV RAPS! He may have just grown into an NY fan.
October 5th, 2007 at 11:58 am
CHI-C says:
You can tell this a basketball site, the Indians had one of the best and most exciting lineups of ALL TIME. I’m a whitesox fan and I still could appreciate those indians teams of the 90’s.
October 5th, 2007 at 12:28 pm
jay says:
man portland got some bad luck…well if roy is out for awhile…oden done for the year..they land…gordon or mayo next year…look out!!!
October 5th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
Terrell James says:
Armstrong was a great pick-up for the Nets and if Hornacek can’t get AK’s shot right no one can.
October 5th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Fire Water says:
LEBRON THINKS HE IS BIG TIME, LIKE THE YANKEES. HE IS A GLOBAL ICON, ALSO LIKE THE YANKEES.
October 5th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
sans says:
Bron has been a Yankees fan forever, so he claims, and no one in Cleveland hates on him more than the drunk Yankees fan down the bar, who shouts obnoxiously even while his team gets waxed 12-3. People either hate or love the Yankees, there’s no in between, and Bron loves them. Yeah, Omar was on that team, not to mention Jim Thome, Albert Belle, Sandy alomar, Carlos Baerga, Eddie Murray, Chuck Nagy, Dennis Martinez, and Moral Orel Hersheiser. Not to mention Richie Sexson and Jeremy Burnitz waiting in the wings. And the first run of Kenny Lofton, who, in his third run with the Tribe does look amazing. Can he play until he’s 50?
And don’t make jokes about Albert Belle. He might find you.
October 5th, 2007 at 10:13 pm
Austin Burton says:
LeBron was born in ‘84. The Indians had one above-.500 season between ‘84 and ‘94. It was in ‘95, when LeBron was 11, that they went to the World Series. Very likely he’d already been a Yankees fan by that time.
October 6th, 2007 at 12:53 am
Saku 39 says:
Yankees Win % by Year
1984 - .537
1985 - .602
1986 - .556
1987 - .549
1988 - .528
1989 - .460
1990 - .414
1991 - .438
1992 - .469
1993 - .543
1994 - .619 *Strike Year*
Unless LeBron was the biggest Kevin Maas fan I don’t see why he would like the Yanks, based on their performance. Zero postseasons and attendance was less than half it is today.
I know this is really minor but just wanted to point out that the Yanks weren’t great at the time.
October 6th, 2007 at 3:17 am
B says:
Who gives a sh!t why he’s a Yankees fan. He said thats his team and he’s rollin with his team even if it’s not the most popular choice.
Me, I’m hometown with the Sonics and ‘Hawks all day but I stayed about 15 min from downtown and went to games as a kid.
It is what it is man. I think the Cleveland folks are just taking this as another sign of their worst fears coming true, LBJ leaving for NY or another large market.
October 6th, 2007 at 7:32 am
Timur says:
Kevin Durant will rock this season!
http://www.squidoo.com/KevinDurantDunk