LeBron James' New NIKE Commercial Shows He STILL Doesn't Get It (VIDEO)

Have you seen LeBron James' new Nike commercial? You know, the one that is really not about shoes? It's pretty darn cool—must admit—but in it one thing becomes very clear: he still doesn't get it.

Take a look at the commercial below:



The refrain: "what should I do?" resonates well because it's clear that LeBron is asking everyone that very question—Cleveland fans in general. After all, if not for the public backlash he's suffered from his home state, thanks in large part to his decision to do the....well..."decision", he might not need to do any soul-searching at all.

That said, much like "The Decision", LeBron shouldn't have bothered making this commercial because, on its face, it makes him look like a scared kid who really still isn't all that sure he really did the right thing.

The fact of the matter is, he doesn't need to be asking anyone what he should do. He's already done what he did. It's over. The fans of Cleveland won't ever forgive him, the NBA will continue to pimp him and the Heat for their own benefit, Nike will keep paying him ridiculous amounts of money to shill shoes, and he will garner a new set of fans in Miami.

No one will care—take Don Johnson's advice on that one, LeBron: the heat will die down.

What should you do?...Play basketball, Lebron. That's all anyone should expect you to do.

Charles Barkley Calling Out LeBron James????—Pot...Meet Kettle

Charles Barkley didn't much care for LeBron James "Decision" to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami to form, what some people feel, could be the most talented trio in the NBA next season. Barkley also didn't like James' one-hour ESPN special to announce his decision to the world (join the club). Barkley feels the special was a "punk" move on James' part and doesn't agree with his choice to leave Cleveland in favor of Miami.

Everyone knows that LeBron is probably on a lot of hate lists right now. No one likes what he did or how he did it—he's being criticized from all angles by people who are well-respected in the NBA community. James has already voiced his displeasure of the vitriol, and has made it a point to let people know that he's taking "mental notes" of everybody who has had something negative to say.

Well, while I found that last point (posted via Twitter) to be immature and unnecessary, I can definitely understand the place it's coming from. I mean, seriously,  aside from the ridiculously over-the-top television special, what has LeBron done wrong?

He left Cleveland...okay, sucks to be a Cleveland fan, but he had the right to leave Cleveland. Should he have said he was doing so sooner than he did? Yes, but that doesn't change the fact that he had the right to leave. He wasn't obligated to remain there just so he could say he stuck it out.

It would have been nice for him to say that he helped lead his team to a title, but was he supposed to just stay there so he could, maybe, say that—someday? I don't care what Charles Barkley or Michael Jordan have to say about their wanting the glory of saying "I won this", the end game is a championship—every player wants a ring.

An NBA legend can have all that stats and accolades he wants but, in the end, they all want a ring. Their career is empty without it—just ask Allen Iverson...hell, ask Charles Barkley.

That's why Gary Payton and Karl Malone signed with the Lakers in 2003.

Payton could have remained in Seattle to give it one more try but he didn't. He wanted a ring. Karl Malone was still putting up nice numbers in Utah in 2002, and might have continued to languish there in pursuit of his first title, but he accepted the Lakers overtures and decided to go where his chances of a championship were most favorable.

I don't recall anyone skewering either of them for leaving their respective teams.
Was that because LeBron didn't put in enough time in Cleveland? I mean, he was there for seven seasons, was he supposed to stay for seven more before he bolted—wait until he's near the end of his career before he goes to a hot team to chase a ring?

Please. 

Charles, of all people, should understand the mentality of a man looking for a good situation. As I recall, he made a big stink in Philadelphia once he realized they weren't headed in a championship direction—he wanted out. He wanted to go somewhere that he could be a perennial playoff staple and contend for a title.

Remember that, Charles? You actually likened Philly to...what was the word..."purgatory"? Yeah, that was it—purgatory.

Why didn't you stay in purgatory, Charles? Why didn't you stick it out there and lead your franchise to a title? Hmmmm?  Not only that, what do you call that forced trade to Houston in 1996? Didn't you go there for your one last shot at a title? Didn't you join Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler's team—relinquishing your mantle as "the man"?

Did that make you a "punk"?...just a question.

Listen, I do not condone the actions of LeBron James. I think he did a silly thing turning a simple matter of changing locations into a major press extravaganza. He alienated a lot of people by doing the special and he showed a total lack of respect to his fans and the Cleveland Cavaliers organization.

That said, he still had the right to leave. His reasons may not satisfy his NBA peers or the lot of us who think that his move was classless, but it was still his decision to make. So, Charles Barkley needs to sit down, shut-up, and look at himself before he starts calling LeBron to the carpet because, on the real, he sounds a bit like a hypocrite.

Pot...meet Kettle—indeed.

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• Charles Barkley: LeBron James A 'Punk' (huffingtonpost.com)

Former Orlando Magic Star, Penny Hardaway, Has Hoop Dreams

Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway wants to join the Miami Heat trio of Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James this coming season. He hopes that by doing so, he will finally receive the final piece to his career puzzle—an NBA Title.

Well, isn't that special?

Hardaway is 38-years old (39 on Sunday), hasn't played professional ball in over three-years—more than that if you factor in the time he lost to injury during his final year of play (2007)—and his most recent experience putting the ball through a hoop comes via pick-up games 4-5 times a week.

Excuse me while I go laugh in the corner.
 
Ever since (LeBron) James and (Chris) Bosh decided to join forces with Wade in Miami, everyone wants a piece of their potential success.

I understand that the Heat are looking for roster-fillers to compliment their bench, but it's not like they are looking for NBA retreads to do it.

By his own admission, Hardaway has stated that "mentally I was retired and physically I was retired. I was playing recreational ball,"...uh huh, and that has prepared you for the gruel of an 82-game regular season how?

Granted, he wouldn't play significant minutes, but, he was hardly impressive in his last significant year of play. As a member of the Phoenix Suns in 2001, he played 80 games. He averaged 12.0 points and 3.8 assists.

That was nine years ago.

Every year after that saw repeated injuries and poor play and by the time he reached Miami in 2007, he was absolutely useless. He has nothing to offer the Heat this time around either and I have little doubt that they are well-aware of that fact.

Hardaway may feel like  he "...could really be good in that (Miami Heat)system," but the truth is he's done. He's been done since 2003 when it became clear that he couldn't nail a jump shot with a sledgehammer

Just be like Charles (Barkley), Penny, and accept the things you cannot change. Your playing days are over, you didn't win a championship, that sucks but it is what it is—just deal.

Then again, maybe I'm being too hard on Penny. After all, he did give me years of great entertainment with this:



...NOT!

Stay retired, Penny. No need in messing up a good thing. After all, the "veteran experience" you could offer Mario Chalmers is hardly worth leaving the confines of your cushy online gig—trust me.

Am I being too harsh? Probably, but, come on man—get real—those pennies you drop aren't from heaven anymore, Anfernee— just your pocket. 

Cavs Owner Dan Gilbert, The Gift That Keeps On Giving...

Dan Gilbert, majority owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers and part owner of the company known as  Fathead (the one that sells those "Real. Big" vinyl wall posters) has again done something grand to make us all smile.

Early yesterday Mr. Gilbert decided it would be cute to mark down the price of all the LeBron James' Fatheads in which he's wearing a Cleveland Cavaliers jersey—to the low, low price of just $17.41.

Fatheads normally start at $99.99 and up!

Well, the price itself wasn't as jaw-dropping as the reason he gave for choosing it—it corresponds with the birth year of Benedict Arnold—a revolutionary war general whose inability to stay loyal to any one side made his name synonymous with betrayal and dishonesty long after his death.

Now, I don't know what Dan Gilbert is trying to prove with his childish antics, but all he really did was give the millions of LeBron James fans who could not afford a Fathead with his likeness on it before, a reason to get it now. Once again, Dan...you lose.

If you check the Fathead site, all of LeBron's Fatheads are marked "sold out". The only one remaining at the time of this posting is the one titled "LeBron James Slam Dunk" (pictured).

I suspect it too will be gone before long.

Explain to me again how this makes you look like a genius? Actually, you know what, forget that, how about you just concentrate on not continuing to look like a whiny, little baby—it's not becoming of the owner of a major franchise. Particularly one who has "guaranteed" a championship before LeBron gets one in Miami.

You should really start focusing all of your energy on making that impossibility come true because you are going to need all the help you can get to make it happen—perhaps Tinkerbell is available to assist you in that endeavor.

Oh, Dan, when will you learn?...tsk...tsk...tsk...(consults clipboard and awards another point to LeBron James).

Somewhere LeBron James is laughing at you, Dan. In truth, we all are. A few words of advice—sit down and shut up—because you are treading dreadfully close to becoming a really bad punchline.

James—2. Gilbert—nil.

Not Smart, Dan. Not Smart at all.

Friday's Blue Plate Special, Have It Your Way

Vince Dooley shares his thoughts on the Damon Evans resignation and Mark Richt assures us all that he's not worried about who will take Evans place.

The speculation over who will become the next AD at Georgia appears to be centered around division rivals. Florida's Greg McGarity has already come up in multiple publications and now comes the name of South Carolina's Eric Hyman.

I found a trillion other things to do while this was going on, including washing my hair, reading, and eating a bowl of grapes, but for those who really cared and didn't know, LeBron James signed with Miami on last night.

USC has been banned from the USA Today Preseason Poll—oh no!

In a tragic news item, former Kentucky center, Mel Turpin committed suicide. He was 49-years old.

Georgia's Jakar Hamilton is named as a player most likely to make a big impact in his first season.

Alabama decided to make their first game a holiday—the student body has been given the day off for their Thursday NIGHT game...okaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy.

The New York Times compares the Miami Heat to the New York Yankees.

The Georgia Bulldogs are leading after day one of the College Bass National Championship—I didn't know the Dawgs had a Bass fishing team.

That Nick Saban sure likes to see his name in lights, doesn't he?

Cavs Owner Dan Gilbert Takes LeBron James To The Woodshed

I didn't watch "The Decision".  I fully admit that I was not interested in anything that LeBron James had to say about his future. Shame on ESPN for helping him to make this spectacle what it was and shame on us for allowing it to become important enough to warrant the coverage.

That said, the backlash from the spurned Cleveland Cavaliers organization, specifically that of Dan Gilbert, goes beyond sour grapes and straight into "tell em' why you mad, son" territory.

This guy must have been waiting patiently for the announcement to take place because, as soon as it did, he unleashed hell on LeBron James, his dedication to the Cavs, and his character as a man. Just look at some of the things he's said:

"People have covered up for (James) for way too long. Tonight we saw who he really is."

Is that a fact, Mr. Gilbert? I would offer that we already knew who he was three years ago—and so did you. After all, any player who brands himself "The King" isn't hurting in the ego department.

And what exactly has been "covered up for" about James?

I'm no fan of his but, for my money, no one would give two licks about the Cavaliers or you if James had not led your organization back from its abyss of nothingness.

And weren't you the same guy who spent the last two years squashing any rumors of him leaving Cleveland? You defended him vehemently while placing blame on the media for the persistent rumors and, as I recall, LeBron did nada to dispel the speculation.

Don't be mad because the spade turned out to be a spade.

"I personally guarantee that the Cleveland Cavaliers will win an NBA Championship before the self-titled former 'king' wins one....You can take it to the bank." (from post announcement letter to fans)

Ummmm...okay.

Let me get this straight (now that I've stopped laughing), prior to LeBron's arrival in 2003 your team had not made a playoff appearance since 1991. A losing effort as they were ousted by the Bulls and Jordan in round one.

With LeBron, you not only went to the playoffs the last five seasons but went deep into them and were FAVORED to win the title on multiple occasions—MULTIPLE. Now, you are trying to sell your fans on the idea that you are better off without him?...

Oh my goodness—stop. Just stop... (excuses self to go laugh again).

"LeBron James needs to go to another team with two superstars already so he can win a championship," (AP, 7/8/10)

Can I go ahead and say this?....Okay, thank you—DUHHHHHHH!!!!

Of course he left to find better players to help him win. In the seven-years he was with Cleveland, you gave him a bunch of "has-been", "never-were", and "never gonna be" players to square up alongside him. He needed better than that if you wanted him to bring home the title—you dropped the ball.

LeBron is not Jordan. Jordan elevated the play of those around him—that's not LeBron's thing. He wants the glory minus the responsibility. You should have given him more than the salvation army of nobodies that you did and maybe he would have stayed.

"The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does "right" by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma. Just watch. Sleep well, Cleveland." (from post announcement letter).

What the heck is this, "The Color Purple"? Give me a break, Mr. Gilbert. The curse was lifted when LeBron arrived and it returns with his departure. For all you know, his leaving was part of Cleveland's existing curse.

Wow, Dan, you're a funny guy.

Listen, "The Decision" spectacle was as pointless and unnecessary as the responses that it will generate in the days to come, but the fact is, LeBron James is now a member of the Miami Heat.

Debate all you like about his arrogance, lack of class, and disrespect of the Cleveland fans loyalty—none of that matters now. The deed is done and it's time to see what he's really made of now that he has no excuses.

Will the real LeBron James please stand up?