King James Says If He’s Not Going To Wear No.23, He’ll Wear No.6

Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James wants NBA players; including, himself to stop wearing No 23.

James insists that Michael Jordan is one of the greatest players of all time and deserves a tribute for his phenomenal talent and acknowledges that he or other players would be non-existent; if it hadn’t been for Jordan’s contribution to the game.

The comment about players hanging up their No. 23’s and sporting another number other than Jordan’s, first reported by The Plain Dealer, was made after Thursday night’s game against the Miami Heat. James scored 34 points and seven assists to help the Cavs defeat the Heat, 111-104.

Mr. James who has worn the No.23 since a sophomore in high school had an epiphany realizing he should out of respect for MJ stop wearing the No.23.

Another jersey number Mr. James might consider wearing- the No.6. It’s the number of basketball great Julius “Dr. J” Erving, who just happens to be his second-favorite player.

Although, this sounds like a melodic tribute with honoring athletes who have come before them that paved a way for others success, what about the current NBA rules?

According to the NBA, a player must wear a number five years before applying for a switch. The petition would cause for the NBA to change its current policy and perhaps consider other jersey numbers to stop wearing.

With that said; unless, Commissioner David Stern is going to give it a go; Mr. James could see this tribute not likely happening full circle in the league.

I guess it’s similar to other sports; especially, in track and field when the late Florence Griffith-Joyner ruled the track with her glamorous one-legged outfits and phenomenal speed or sprinter Carl Lewis showed up to a meet in a limousine.

No runner would be caught dead wearing one of Flo Jo’s outfits or arriving at a track meet near the back stretch in a limo. Why? Because it’s symbolic of what these athletes represented and contributed to the sport.

A level of respect or a sport creed that exists in most sports, but now players are openly discussing keeping tributes alive and not just retiring a jersey- but giving numbers meaning that embodies a legacy.

Yankees Win World Series: A Cloudy Forecast

It was a redemptive night for the New York Yankees as they beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 in Game 6.

A sluggish season for the team, including teammates Andy Pettite and Alex Rodriguez, who were in the midst of baseball’s steroid controversy.

Remember Mr. Rodriguez admitted to steroid use during 2001- 2003 in February, while his teammate Mr. Pettite admitted use before the 2008 season.

Yanks Hideki Matsui tied a record of six RBIs and Andy Pettitte won the clincher on Wednesday night to pitch New York to its first victory since 2000 and to an elusive 27th championship. Matsui was named most valuable player.

But it was a sweet reward for third baseman Alex Rodriguez who admitted to using steroids, had hip surgery and didn’t join the team until May- finally was able to silence his critics with his team clinching the series title.

However, there is much peculation over this victory for teammates Rodriguez and Pettite surrounding the field as fans and media wonder if these players are receiving a pass on their illegal use of steroids.

In the wake of the steroid controversy, both players openly admitted to using the illegal substances after testing positive and suffered no repercussions for their actions.

Unlike sluggers Barry Bonds and Mark McGuire who denied use and never tested positive for steroids, but were slammed in the public eye and deemed as cheaters.

Call it a perception of the bad boy image or Mr. nice guy that gets some athletes the stamp of approval of illegal use.

You have to question whether or not this victorious win brings a cloudy forecast over if an athlete admits to using a steroid they are no longer seen as a cheater, than one that does not admit to use.

Clearly, fans have made up their minds and decided to give certain athletes a pass for their skullduggery use of steroids or performance-enhancing drugs, but America’s past-time plagued with racial discrimination, cheating scandals, and steroid controversy that can only cleanse itself for one night after winning a series.

Keeping the hopes and dreams alive of athletes that openly admit to usage are indulged in the clouds while their counterparts receive precipitation and thunderstorms.

Will Derrick Mason Follow Through With Retirement?

With only 16 days left before veterans have to report to training camp. Wide Reciever Derrick Mason announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday.

The abrupt decision leaves the Baltimore Ravens with a wide reciever void as QB Joe Flacco will inherit top recievers Marcus Clayton and Demetrius Williams. Not to mention third-string Marcus Smith to join the offensive bunch.

Mason was entering his final year of his five-year, $20 million contract and was seeking an extension. A new contract extension was set to take place soon but never happened.

Now the Ravens are trying to settle a contract with franshise tagged Linebacker Terrell Suggs. Baltimore has already lost a huge ordeal with Defensive Coordinator Rex Ryan and Linebacker Bart Scott that are now with the New York Jets.

Will the Ravens have a prosperous season without their top wide reciever? Or will Ravenstown not see a light on the AFC North Championship or Superbowl?

Final Face Off Gets Ugly: Presidental Debate has Senators on toes

Ok, so what I'm getting ready to discuss has nothing to do with sports, except for the fact that tonight's Presdential debate looked like Senator John McCain was on offense and Senator Barack Obama was on defense.

I'm glad this debate is over-lets vote and get this over with. McCain practically spent 90 mintues on Joe the Plumber from Holland, Ohio and Joe is still undecided.

The CBS focus group- what the hell were some of the subjects talking about-were we watching the same debate! Maybe some them went to sleep or were snorting crack during the debate. One women mentioned something that neither candidate spoke about tonight. I wonder what kind of random sampling they used for this particular focus group?

Senator Obama clearly won this debate tonight even though some anaylast, "the American people," frosty the snow man and those undecided voters want to relish.

Voters at least by now should be committed and know which candidate is right for them.

Oh and by the way, McCain mentioned to Obama that he's not George Bush, if Obama wanted to run against Bush he should have did that in the last election. Well, quite frankly if McCain picked up the mirror he would be able to see his twin, Obama's not blind.

I Knew It: Gay Suffers From Hamstring Injury

Eugene, Oregon- During the Olympic track and field trials of the second quarterfinal of the men’s 200 meter dash fans were in awe after watching sprinter Tyson Gay collapse on the track after running a blistering turn off the curb.

As Gay reached the 150 meter mark, he swung in the air and fell to the ground grabbing his hamstring.

Gay swung in the air and fell to the ground grabbing his hamstring.

It was first released that Gay had suffered from a cramp in his hamstring and it was nothing more. Yesterday, Gay stated that he felt tightness in his hamstring during his warm-up.

It was evident in yesterday’s semifinal that Tyson Gay didn’t suffer from a cramp, but strained his hamstring.

Of course, the Olympic track trails is a tedious task for athletes competing in one or two races because it requires athletes to run a quarterfinal, semifinal and final for each race entry.

That means Gay has to compete in the 100 meter and 200 meter dashes which equals to racing six times.

This is equivalent to running 3x100 meters + 3x200 meters =900 meters. That’s almost like running 1,000 meters in elite competition.

However, this isn’t the first time athletes that were crowned as the “fastest man” suffered from hamstring injuries.

Remember at the 2000 Olympic track and field trials in Sacramento, California, Olympian and World Record holder Michael Johnson and former World Record holder in the men’s 100 meters, Maurice Greene, pulled up with hamstring injuries during the trial of the 200m dash.

Later they bounced back from their injuries to run at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games to win the 400 meters and 100 meter dashes.

So if, Johnson, Greene, and even the great Jackie Joyner Kersee can bounce back from a hamstring injury and claim Olympic Gold; certainly Tyson Gay can beat the odds.

Wariner loses final to former training partner Merritt

It was a compelling race between former training partners, LaShawn Merritt and Jeremy Wariner.

Merritt won the 400 meter race in 44 seconds flat beating defending Olympic gold medalist and former training partner Jeremy Warner.

Warner who finished 44.20 and is no longer under the expertise of former coach Clyde Heart, he found himself struggling the last 100 meters of the race.

Now training under a new coach and racing with a new track spike, Wariner is still managed by Olympian Michael Johnson.

Warner who admitted last night after the 400 meter final that he wasn’t excepting anyone to finish close to him in the race.

Merritt who continued to push the race passed Warner in the home stretch.

It’s interesting how athletes switch coaches once they reached a level of perfection.

Certainly, this can help or hinder an athlete.

In the case of Jeremy Warner, indisputably critics will say that this move has hindered his running performance.

But let’s keep in mind that he was beat at the Olympics Trials not at the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Williamses Showdown at Wimbledon

Tomorrow marks the third time siblings Venus and Serena Williams will play each other in the Wimbledon final.

The family affair is sure to bring up a sibling rivalry between two sisters as one will only be able to win.

It’s their seventh Grand Slam title match and they will be able to share it together. The Williams sisters remind me of my relationship with my older sister Ashley.

Ashley and I were similar to the Williamses accept we ran track. But our skill level and devotion allowed us to push each other in track and field. Sure, we competed against each other and ran on relays together.

I guess the most annoying part about my relationship with sister was the fact that I was a middle-distance runner and she was a sprinter- I would always try to compete in her races.

Ashley and I would race against each other from the 100 meters to the 400 meters. We were definitely a dynamic duo known as “the Green sisters.”

Throughout high school and college we always told ourselves that we would be one and two no matter what.

It was in 1998 at the National Junior Olympics Trials that we set a standard for running the 1,600m relay. I would run the lead-off leg and my sister would always anchor the relay.

We were fast and we knew it-everyone envied the Green sisters.

Looking back at out relationship in sports, I can’t help but to imagine the memories the Williamses share competing against each other.

It’s nothing like competing against the best and my sister was the best sprinter I ever raced against.