Draft Room

I wrote this shortly before the fantasy draft.  My post-draft thoughts are in italics.

I have a very clear idea of what I want to draft each round.  I practiced it in a mock draft and was pretty successful.  The positions I want each round are:
1 - RB (I know I'm taking CJ)
2/3 - QB & WR
Rivers & Wayne
4/5 - WR & RB
Ryan Grant & Boldin
6/7 - QB & TE
Eli and Vernon Davis
8/9 - RB & WR
85 and Jonathan Stewart
10/11 - DEF & RB
Green Bay and Kyle Orton - I noticed that solid QB options were flying away, so I knew it was time to get #3
12/13 - WR & QB
Malcom Floyd and Felix Jones (because I took the QB in the previous round)
14/15 - WR & K
Kenny Britt, Matt Forte, and Kicker - forgot there were 16 rounds

I came up with this plan to address each position in the optimal timeframe.  I want to have a top-tier player at RB, QB, and WR, so I think it makes most sense to take one in each of the first three rounds.  I don't think a round 4 QB will be too different from a round 6/7, so that is why I am fine with waiting to find my second string QB.  The only reason why I would divert from this strategy is if there is someone too tempting left on the board (like Ryan Mathews in round 2/3). 
Interestingly enough, Ryan Mathews was there!!  It was a hard decision and I took a minute to make up my mind.  In the end, taking a rookie RB was too risky to forfeit a solid QB and WR with years of strong results.  I am really happy with how the strategy worked out.  It was a lot safer than being tempted by who was the "best available" and screwing myself in the end at one position.  I ended up picking a lot of the "safer" players than newer starters.   
As for the QB selection timing, the round 4 QBs were Flacco and Cutler while the round 6/7 QBs were Matt Ryan, Kevin Kolb, Eli (the one I got), and McNabb.  Point proven. 

Players I like for their potential increased value (I'm not going to say "upside"!): Terrell Owens, Steve Breaston, Matt Moore, Chad Henne, Jerome Harrison, Cedric Benson, Chris Cooley
...and I didn't get any of them.  Breaston, Moore, and Harrison are even Free Agents!  I wish I would have gotten Benson - I was three picks too late.  I am thinking about making a move to pick up a free agent or two, but I think it's best to wait until closer to the start of the season.  I want to see who ends up starting in a number of slots.    

Players I am probably over-valuing: Jahvid Best, Carson Palmer, Austin Collie, Kellen Winslow
Collie and Winslow are also available post-draft.  I am hopeful for Jahvid, but I am very concerned about our O-line's ability to open a crack. 

Players I don't like: Brett Favre, Mark Sanchez, Shonn Greene, Steven Jackson, Hines Ward, Brandon Marshall
Interesting that four of these six players went to two teams (and also appear on Mike's worst pick list).  In retrospect, the only one I think that went at the right time was SJax.  The others were taken too early. 

Chicago White Sox

Our White Sox experience started off horribly.  We waited in traffic for 30 minutes after getting off the highway to park.  About a block before we got to the lot, the police officer closed the street and started re-routing people around... to the place where we got off the highway.  We were directed to a lot in a small college across the highway that was a mile away from the stadium.  The fee?? $23.  I forked the money over and tried to forget about it.

U.S. Cellular is a stadium that is not sure whether it is old school or new.  It features ivy covered walls in centerfield and a traditional monochromatic lightbulb scoreboard in left that are reminiscent of its crosstown rival.  They play organ music, except it usually involves modern pop songs like "Poker Face".  My favorite feature was the most detailed "around the league" LED scoreboard I've ever seen.  It displays players on base as well as the current pitchers and batters for every game around the league.  They do a great job with giving fans interesting "did you know" stats during the game.

The first thing that I associate with U.S. Cellular Field are the 1970s fair-ride-pinwheels on the top of its scoreboard.  I don't know the history or significance of the pinwheels, but I don't like them.  The dimensions of the stadium make it feel very large.  The steep upper deck is positioned very close to the field, creating great views from the cheap seats (which we retreated to in attempt to get out of the sun).  The scaffolding behind the outfield seats closes in the ballpark and intensifies the crowd volume. 

For lunch, I had the "Chicago dog". It starts out with mustard and onions (no surprise). Next there is the brightest green relish ever.  Then some tomatoes (kind of like "unprocessed ketchup" - I do without). Then a pickle (often comes on the side, but let's pile it on top). And then whole hot peppers (for some spice). Then celery salt (no idea). The White Sox version was pretty good, but the concessions lines are horrible. Stacey was gone for at least an inning and a half (I honestly started to get worried). When I got my Chicago dog, it seemed like the person made every attempt to take their sweet ass time.

The game itself was great.  The Tigers and White Sox went back and forth and it was a high scoring game.  They didn't really do any kind of promotions, but there was a random Blue Angel flyover between innings around the 7th or 8th.  They shot off some fireworks after home run shots (keep in mind it was a day game).  I liked the experience, but I am glad the Tiger's parking and concessions aren't that bad.

Washington Nationals

The first unique aspect of Nationals Stadium that I noticed while walking to it was the centerfield entrance.  That is the main concourse of the stadium since it is the closest to the metro and faces the city.  The traditional home plate entrance has a facade that reminds me of the old Yankee Stadium.  The path leading up to it has a list of important years to the team (that I ignored).  This is all a complete waste because nobody uses this entrance.  I took this picture 10 minutes before the game began. 

The most impressive feature of the inside of the stadium is the large video scoreboard.  The Nationals website boasts that it is a 4,500 square foot HD screen.  The rest of the stadium, however, is fairly boring.  The design is "prototypical 21st century ballpark".  The background scenery includes the parking garage and a few nondescript buildings.  The placement is a curious decision because they would have a great view of the capital if the stadium would have been rotated 10-20 degrees counterclockwise.  Another overlooked feature is the centerfield lawn (the spot where Zimmerman's walk-off home run landed).  The lawn and the gap to the right of it look out of place.  The park as a whole seems fairly "cookie cutter".

The prices for tickets and food at the Nationals Stadium were high compared to other parks, but is understandable compared to the rest of D.C.  The biggest surprise from the entertainment department were the fireworks blasted off at the beginning of the game and after the win.  It was a great way to stir up excitement for the game.  Although, that energy was killed immediately by the boring, slow, out of place music between innings.  Outside of the logical "Oversized Head Presidents Race", they offered little else in terms of entertainment and promotions.  Overall, the ballpark and the stadium atmosphere was decent, but forgettable.

  

Music to your ears?

Saw this guy on Ellen today. You might wonder why he's singing in a weird Russian accent until the end. I love that he's wearing a Tiger's jersey.

Project Complete

I think one of the most satisfying things about owning a home is completing projects (and not having to hear babies cry at 3am or walk through geese poop everywhere). When we moved in, the flower bed by our deck was very incomplete. It was clear that the previous owners intended on working on it but stopped once they sold the house to us. In fact, they left a bag of mulch sitting in the middle of it.

Stacey and I renovated the garden over the course of two weekends. We started by raking up the existing mulch and evening the dirt out a little more. The next step unexpectedly took the longest - we found a stump on the right side. Instead of hiring someone to remove it, we dug it out. The problem was, one removed root lead to another, and another... I used every tool imaginable to get it out one piece at a time. I used my hand saw (thanks Mike), hedge clippers (thanks again), garden sheers, power drill, shovel, spade, a newly purchased hatchet - basically anything that would cut or dig. We finally got a satisfactory amount of it out, so we planted everything. The next step was placing the hexagonal stones (22lbs a piece) and digging enough ground out to make them level. After that, we spread this weed-preventing plastic sheet across the whole thing. Finally, we spread the old mulch with the new stuff on top of it.

When all was said and done, we got:
45 bricks
6 bags of mulch (to add to the one the previous owners left us)
wine rose plant
purple hybiscus bush
3 sets of lillies
spiral pine tree

We only spent $130-150, which I think is pretty good for a pretty sizeable gardening project.

BEFORE


AFTER

The Reaction

While the whole LeBron saga has been overblown and everyone's probably sick of it, I have a lot of thoughts on the situation that I wanted to discuss.

I am not sure if you're going to believe me, but right after the Cavs lost in the playoffs this year, I predicted he would land in Miami. I came to that conclusion because Wade seemed like the only one was going to recruit free agents to come to his team and the organization has a recently won a championship. Plus, it's freaking Miami beach.

As important as this announcement is for Miami, however, another critical question mark is who else will be on their team. Winning the championship is not going to be as easy as just showing up. You can't even pencil them into the Finals next year. The talent in the NBA right now is consolidating. In the East, I feel the current rank is Boston, Miami, Chicago, Orlando. In the West, it is the Lakers and then in distant second the Nuggets and Mavs. Should one of the three get injured for much of next year, the team's status would drop quite a bit. There is still a lot to learn about this team and how they will gel with their coach.

I don't feel too bad for the Cleveland fans. He gave them seven years and the team in return was not able to surround him with enough talent to win the championship. You can't blame him for leaving for "greedy reasons" because he would have made more money contractually by staying in Cleveland. Ultimately, his job and his goal is to win a title. His career is much more limited than the average person's due to physical limitations. If he has a better opportunity to win somewhere else, and accomplish his goal, it makes sense for him to leave. I'll allow you to be upset for the weekend about the public parade that he created to announce the decision - then get over that :) The people I do feel bad for is business owners near Quicken Loans Arena. They're going to lose a lot of business because of something they can't affect.

One writer on Sports Illustrated's website wrote a scathing article on ESPN's decision to produce a show for LeBron. He attacked the network's journalistic integrity and ridiculed how overblown the story has become. While I agree that parts of the show were questionable (allowing LeBron to hand pick his interviewer, calling him "King James" 10,000 times during the broadcast), they didn't shy away from the tough questions. They showed footage from Cleveland of people lighting his jersey on fire and asked for his reactions. If SI or any other sports news outlet was offered exclusivity to broadcast the event, there's no question they would've done it.

If Tom Izzo had gone the other way, what is he thinking tonight? It is kind of interesting that he left money on the table for a better chance at success and so did LeBron. Although, once LeBron starts winning championships, he is going to make way more money than he would have if he stayed in Cleveland and his championship drought continued.

What happens to the giant LeBron Nike billboard that is in Cleveland across from the arena? Is it still up? Did someone burn it down tonight?

NBA Superstar

Quick - who came in second to LeBron James in the MVP voting?

He also lead the NBA in scoring this year.

I don't pay attention to pro basketball either, so I was surprised to hear it was Kevin Durant. I am quickly becoming a KD fan.

I thought it was pretty cool to see him at the NBA Draft. He was genuinely excited to see how it would all play out and seemed to want to meet his new teammates immediately. And that's what makes him unique - he is a young talent who has been a great teammate. Today, he showed up at the Summer League game to cheer on his potential teammates. Nobody goes to the Summer League games! They only have one row of chairs!

His excitement for all things NBA is palpable and commendable. And the NBA has taken note. He has done a lot of outreach for the NBA and Nike recently, including going to China.

To juxtapose Durant's team-attitude with the prevailing "build me a team so I can win a championship" attitude from this year's free agency class would be an oversimplified comparison. However, you have to recognize that Durant's enthusiasm and devotion is rare. This comes from a person who was drafted by a lame-duck franchise that was moved to a small market in the midwest. I'm sold on Kevin Durant as one of the best players and one of the most admirable personalities in the NBA.

Pump It Up

I cannot believe I am defending Kim Kardashian, particularly when it comes to a "tweet", but here it goes. After all, Kim is famous for having a big ass and a sex tape (thanks Joel McHale). I don't remember the last time we had a breast feeding argument, so it's about time.

She is facing a large amount of public scrutiny for posting a message on Twitter criticizing a woman for breast feeding without a coverup and then changing her baby's diaper on the restaurant table.

The story reminded me of a segment on "What Would You Do?" that aired a month or two ago.


The segment set up a biased scenario since the cafe manager had a very loud and immature response ("eww! put your hooters away!") I disagree that this form of indecent exposure should be permitted in the name of women's rights and "nature". I understand that a woman has to feed her child regularly and often with little notice. I am certainly not proposing that women should have to hide in a bathroom for breast feeding. (I do, however, feel that changing its diapers should absolutely be done in a restroom since it is very unsanitary and unpleasant to other diners.) There is no reason women can't use a coverup to create some semblance of privacy. It is not harmful to the baby and you can still maneuver them to make sure everything is going correctly.

So, to answer the news segment's, title - I would never directly complain directly to a woman who is breastfeeding, but it would make me uncomfortable and I would probably find a way to move to another part of the store.

If you want to read a ton of opposing opinions, visit this article.

Most of the arguments in favor of public feeding entail include "it's healthy and natural... if you don't want to see it, don't look... they need to eat..."

Well, since we should be so tolerant... regular ejaculation can be helpful for men in preventing testicular cancer. So next time I am in the mall, maybe I should whip it out in the name of keeping myself healthy and if people don't want to see it, they should look away.

***The above comments don't make me sexist because Stacey agrees - except for the part about me masturbating in the mall***

Championship Run Begins Now

It's over! Yay! I had a ton of thoughts going through my mind during the Izzo press conference, so here's a few:

-Good job, Kev - you're right again.

-Glad to hear that what ultimately made him decide to stay is the players, because that is the main difference between the NBA and the NCAA and they will keep him here for years to come. Great to see the players supporting him so much and hugging him -there doesn't appear to be any tension and I think it's because, as he said, if they were offered a first round contract with that much guaranteed money, would they have returned? No.

-Can't ignore the absence of Chris Allen. Yes, I know Mike, he lives in Georgia. That reinforces the rumors that have been propogated by Roe's dad. I would be extremely disappointed if he left.

-One question that I don't feel was answered enough - if LeBron was there, would he have left? It seemed like the lack of a guarantee that LeBron would return is the real reason why he's still here.

-What an exchange between Izzo and Lynn Henning! I think Simon, Hollis, and Izzo took a few too many jabs at "the media" - they are going to get some push back eventually. However, after rereading the "It's Too Late for Tom Izzo to Return to MSU" article, I think Henning made some unfair criticisms. Is Izzo really obligated to give a daily briefing if he hasn't made up his mind yet? No. Had the situation grown "embarrasing"? No. He also speculated unfairly as to why Izzo would want to leave - that he is growing tired of recruiting. But if Izzo doesn't like this level of media scrutiny, why in the hell would he consider coaching in the NBA? If the past week of reports from the Cleveland Plain Dealer prove anything, it's that he would be given a very short wick before their writers explode.

-Ok, we have to start thinking of Fantasy Football team names. A few quick ideas:
H To The...
MSU Coach 4 Life
Tom's Team
2011 NCAA Champs
6/12 = F4
...and so Mike can keep some of his namesake: CummingBack

-Unfortunately, I sense that the clock is ticking on Izzo's tenure and this past week moved the hour hand one step closer to midnight. I think he will step down in as little as 3 years, but very likely within the next 5 - especially if he wins another championship.

-Did anyone know his contract guarantees that he is paid an extra 5 years after he retires from MSU as a consultant? If we're talking about money, how can you give that up?

Voicemails

My Feelings

Fuck you Dan Gilbert. I'm taking back your MSU Fan card.

Sports Armageddon

Look at the date of my previous post and our comments - can you believe that was THREE days ago?! Every morning this week, I literally wake up and immediately turn the TV to Mike and Mike to see what the latest news on the Izzo situation is. I have watched far too much ESPNNews waiting to see "Breaking News..." scroll across the bottom. While the end of an era for Michigan State appears imminent, I feel like the sports world as a whole in the past month has completely blown up. I think there will eventually be a book written or a movie produced about this month in the sports world. Consider my power rankings of the most surprising, significant moments of the past month (or so) in sports.


1. Three perfect games are thrown in a period of a month. There had, of course, only been 18 previous perfect games in MLB history. Between 1922-1956 there were none.

2. The Big 10 had been hinting at expansion for a few months, which they said would be a long, thought out process. In a matter of days, an ultimatum laid out by the Big 12 has forced immediate defections. By next week, the Big 12 as we know it could be gone.

3. The biggest free agency period ever in any sport, one that has been anticipated for years, is on the horizon in the NBA. The top free agents are rumored to be meeting together to discuss a mutually beneficial plan.

4. The World Cup is here! I don't have any kind of exciting follow up, but it's rare and everyone else in the world is crazy about it!

5. Stephen Strasburg debuts to wild anticipation and throws 14ks - the second most ever in a major league debut.

6. USC, one of the biggest football programs of the last decade, is punished for violations. They may still have to forfeit the BCS Championship and the Heisman committee may decide to rescind Reggie Bush's Heisman. (Side note: How peculiar does Pete Carroll's timing look now?? He leaves USC during the investigation and a few months later the program is punished? And he says he wasn't knowledgeable about the violations?)

7. Weeks after saying that he wouldn't want to go to the NBA until he wins a second NCAA Championship, Tom Izzo is on the verge of ending his 27 year career at MSU and accepting the Cleveland Cavaliers' head coaching job... and who knows if LeBron will be returning.

8. Hockey is growing even stronger - Chicago wins their first championship in 41 years.

9. The biggest rivalry in the NBA continues with the Celtics and Lakers facing off in a rematch of the 2008 Finals.

10. College basketball icon John Wooden passes away.

Worried Again

Report: Cavaliers make offer to Michigan State coach Tom Izzo

I know that this happens all of the time, but this one makes me worried. Cavs owner, Dan Gilbert, graduated from MSU. Another article I read said that he is taking over the Cavs' front office moves and that is the reason why their GM, Danny Ferry, left the team. They said that "Gilbert, a staunch Michigan State man, is determined to hire away Tom Izzo. Unless [LeBron] James tells him he wants John Calipari, and then they’ll hire John Calipari." What I don't understand is how they think that hiring Izzo helps their chances of getting LeBron to stay. If there was any chance in the world that he went to college, he said he would go to Ohio State. OSU has even developed a "LeBron James inspired OSU jersey".

This raises an interesting question - if you're Gilbert and you own an NBA team, does your love and passion for all things MSU and Tom Izzo make you want to have him as your coach? Or do you not want to mess up your "other team", particularly before they have one of the best shots at winning the national championship in the country?

You Can't Do That on Television

I am definitely a TV junkie. I tried to cut down on the number of tv shows I regularly watched this year, but I think I just shifted the shows I watch. No more "Biggest Loser" or "24", but I picked up "Community" and "Flash Forward". Summer television is always a wasteland of shows that weren't good enough to air during the winter months, though. I am always surprised to learn some of the shows that they air over the summer. To exemplify this, I have designed a quiz - I have 8 descriptions for television shows. One of these shows is a fake - it's not airing this summer. Your job is to come up with the name for the show based on these descriptions and to spot the fake. Bonus point if you can prove that you have watched any of these shows before. The answers are posted in the comments.

#1
Charlotte Payne is looking for love and has rejected multiple marriage proposals -- but she has yet to meet Mr. Right. When she joins a popular online dating site, she gets a little help from her dating counselor, Andrew, who requires her to take a 100-question compatibility test. The questions aren't easy for Charlotte to answer, and each one requires her to recount a poignant and humorous time in her life. The test becomes a journey of self-discovery for Charlotte who begins to realize what she truly wants in a relationship.

#2
Seven strangers must come together to solve the puzzle of their lives. All of them have been taken from their everyday lives and have arrived in a deserted town with no recollection of how they got there. While being held hostage, the strangers are constantly watched by omnipresent "security" cameras with no idea who or what is behind them. Every attempt to leave is thwarted by unforeseen circumstances, which seem to derive from mysterious forces. At every turn, these strangers-turned-comrades are threatened physically, psychologically and emotionally. Their chance at survival is to rely on each other. But who can they trust in this vulnerable state - either behind those cameras or amongst themselves? Their decisions will have moral and ethical consequences, as alliances are forged and relationships brokered.

#3
Somewhere between the demands of her career, her ex's wedding and her kids' busy schedules, Dana James is noticing her tight-knit family starting to unravel. An unexpected offer to purchase her family's mountain property sets up a weekend road trip, which she hopes will bring her family back together. But when they arrive, they quickly learn that the mountain is much more than it seems. An ancient secret and a treacherous quest will test the family like never before. It's an edge-of-the seat thriller that reminds us that when times are tough, families don't run away from problems - they run back to each other.

#4
Can a family of small-time criminals go legit? This is the story of the Wests, who are forced to change their lifestyle after the man of the house gets sent to the big house. Crime is their business. Cheryl, loving mother and devoted wife, will do everything she can to keep her family together and on the straight and narrow.

#5
Five gorgeous females and five hot men will live together while they compete (they think) to become the "Face of Vegas." Unbeknownst to them, they'll be deliberately challenged by moral situations to see if they really are kind, generous and compassionate and have what it takes to be truly beautiful inside and out. The attractive contestants assume they're being judged solely on their physical attributes when, in fact, the episodes will showcase two sides of each person, one that displays outer beauty as well as one that exhibits inner beauty. One person will be eliminated each week based on their behavior and how well they ranked in each challenge. At the end, the person who has successfully demonstrated both inner and outer beauty will win $100,000 and will be featured in People magazine.

#6
Todd Donovan works for Mid America Novelties, which sells products like whoopee cushions, foam fingers, and wallets made of bacon. This is the stuff upon which the American way of life is built, but try explaining that to someone who lives on the other side of the world. Todd must do exactly that when he's sent to run the company's call center in India. Todd's culture shock leads to hilarious situations with his new employees

#7
This new action comedy explores what happens when an old-school cop and a modern-day detective expose the big picture of small crime. Dan Stark is a washed-up detective who spends most of his time drunk or re-hashing his glory days. A stranger to modern police work, Dan has the reputation as being a bit of a wild card. Dan's new partner, Jack Bailey, is an ambitious, by-the-book detective, but is sometimes a bit too snarky for his own good. He has a dead-end position in the department and is stuck solving annoying petty theft cases that nobody else wants. Worse, he's been given the thankless task of babysitting Dan, the drunk pariah who can never keep partners for long.

#8
This family comedy is about three brothers who hire a charming, wayward schemer to stand in as their father when their real one goes to prison. What begins as a simple business relationship evolves into a family like no other. The three brothers find their dad-for-hire, Ron Snuffkin, working at the local sporting goods store. Ron, a lovable slacker who can't catch a break, is forced to draw from an array of skills and dig into a vast bag of tricks as he steps into the role of patriarch to the boys of the Gunderson family.

Sports Update

The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired Dontrelle Willis from the Detroit Tigers today. In return, Detroit retains the rights to pay Dontrelle Willis the rest of his contract and receives a reminder that they got Miguel Cabrera for taking Willis off the Marlins' hands.

***BREAKING NEWS: LeBron Leaving for Florida***

Today's dose of unintentional comedy:
LeBron Leaving for Florida - Columbus Dispatch dispatch.com

Fads I Just Don't Get

I feel very old when I consider what's hot today in teenage pop culture. I just don't get it. As you can see by my list, I think our "youth culture" (another phrase that makes me look old) is very feminine-driven. When did teenage boys become pansies?? So here's my power rankings for things that I don't get (a.k.a. why I'm old).

1. Twilight - is it almost over??
2. Everything else "vampire inspired"
3. Two high school boy fashion trends - the long hair in your face and tight pants - when did looking like a girl become cool?
4. Justin Bieber - is he part of the reason for #3? How is he collaborating with Ludacris and Sean Kingston?? Does this not take away every bit of their street cred?
5. Glee - I enjoy some acapella now and then and I love hearing NPH sing, but come on
6. Twitter - again, nobody cares about your mundane everyday life
7. Teenage Mom shows - I thought that teenagers who got knocked up were outcasts. Is this because of Juno or because of Sarah Palin's daughter?
8. Dancing with the Stars - It's ballroom dancing!! There's nothing cool about ballroom dancing!!

Changes

As Stacey can attest, I don't deal with change that well. In the past six months, my office has had 5 new hires and added 3 new positions. Our office dynamic has swung so much I think I'm sea sick. I have been having to take more of a leadership position to keep things together and I'm glad I can step back now.

In regards to change I have implemented myself, I am very happy with how well painting our basement has turned out. It definitely wasn't a selling feature of the house. It is 1/3 finished, 1/3 laundry room, 1/3 crawl space. The part that is finished is modestly sized - big enough to hang out in but not enough to supplant our "family room". It has wood paneling, which gives me a "parents baseroom" vibe, even though my parents never had wood paneling. We decided to paint it an off-white color. The y-chromosome in me says it's white, but apparently it is off-white enough to appease Stacey. It brightened up the room nicely and makes the basement look a little larger than before. With the temperatures jumping past 80 recently, I could see myself spending more time down there to save a little on our energy bill. I think I want to take it one step further and add track lighting to really brighten it up. Now I need to study up on electrical maintenance.

Lost

I know neither of you watch Lost, but I am very excited for the end. How could you not be intrigued by this?? (It's not an actual promo, but was created by some fan with a lot of time on their hands).

King of the City

Chris Broussard's article on LeBron's recent MVP acceptance ceremony highlights what makes him different than a lot of other superstars (i.e., Kobe). Many people have looked for deeper meaning in his words about Akron; some say they indicate he's staying while others believe it was a farewell acknowledgement. I am not taking this either way, but I do appreciate LeBron for his attitude.

Since he gained nation-wide attention as a high school junior/senior, LeBron has been doing all the right things. He has been saying the right things, surrounding himself with the right people, and demonstrating the right balance of maturity and personality. I am not saying LeBron is a "good person". In a "post Tiger/Letterman/Roethlisberger/etc" world, nobody is willing to make strong value judgements about someone's character. But I do think he is fairly selfless, genuinely interested in his teams' success rather than his own (because he knows making his team better will lead to his own success), and is appreciative of his roots and the people who helped him get where he is. I think he appears to have better character and is a better teammate than Michael, the person who he is compared to most.

I am in the small minority of people who believe he will be returning to Cleveland. I don't think it will have anything to do with winning or losing a championship this year. I believe, through this event and many of his other actions, that he has a deep connection to Northeast Ohio. He is going to get a max contract no matter where he goes. I don't see him benefitting any more from a "marketing standpoint" by being in LA or NYC. I think he actually appreciates not having to deal with as much paparazzi in Cleveland. And, while having a good support group of teammates is necessary, I don't think he would be tempted by the opportunity of an "All Star Lineup".

I remember when he completely took over the 4th quarter series-clinching game against us in the playoffs a few years ago. He took his game to another level and everyone outside of Michigan was in awe of his performance. Now that the Pistons are in the crapper, I can appreciate LeBron a little more. I am by no means jumping on the Cavs bandwagon, but he is enjoyable to watch. I appreciate him thanking his hometown fans and acknowledging his teammates while winning an individual award.