Tag: sports

I don’t care about basketball, much less the NBA. But in a world of superpaid sports stars chasing championships and money and lower state income taxes, it’s almost mindblowing for a bona fide superstar in his prime to defy all the experts and announce that he’s going to return to Cleveland because it’s the place he calls home:

Before anyone ever cared where I would play basketball, I was a kid from Northeast Ohio. It’s where I walked. It’s where I ran. It’s where I cried. It’s where I bled. It holds a special place in my heart. People there have seen me grow up. I sometimes feel like I’m their son. Their passion can be overwhelming. But it drives me. I want to give them hope when I can. I want to inspire them when I can. My relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball. I didn’t realize that four years ago. I do now.

Remember when I was sitting up there at the Boys & Girls Club in 2010? I was thinking, This is really tough. I could feel it. I was leaving something I had spent a long time creating. If I had to do it all over again, I’d obviously do things differently, but I’d still have left. Miami, for me, has been almost like college for other kids. These past four years helped raise me into who I am. I became a better player and a better man. I learned from a franchise that had been where I wanted to go. I will always think of Miami as my second home. Without the experiences I had there, I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing today.

I went to Miami because of D-Wade and CB. We made sacrifices to keep UD. I loved becoming a big bro to Rio. I believed we could do something magical if we came together. And that’s exactly what we did! The hardest thing to leave is what I built with those guys. I’ve talked to some of them and will talk to others. Nothing will ever change what we accomplished. We are brothers for life.  I also want to thank Micky Arison and Pat Riley for giving me an amazing four years.

I’m doing this essay because I want an opportunity to explain myself uninterrupted. I don’t want anyone thinking: He and Erik Spoelstra didn’t get along. … He and Riles didn’t get along. … The Heat couldn’t put the right team together. That’s absolutely not true.

I’m not having a press conference or a party. After this, it’s time to get to work.

When I left Cleveland, I was on a mission. I was seeking championships, and we won two. But Miami already knew that feeling. Our city hasn’t had that feeling in a long, long, long time. My goal is still to win as many titles as possible, no question. But what’s most important for me is bringing one trophy back to Northeast Ohio.

I always believed that I’d return to Cleveland and finish my career there. I just didn’t know when. After the season, free agency wasn’t even a thought. But I have two boys and my wife, Savannah, is pregnant with a girl. I started thinking about what it would be like to raise my family in my hometown. I looked at other teams, but I wasn’t going to leave Miami for anywhere except Cleveland. The more time passed, the more it felt right. This is what makes me happy.

To make the move I needed the support of my wife and my mom, who can be very tough. The letter from Dan Gilbert, the booing of the Cleveland fans, the jerseys being burned — seeing all that was hard for them. My emotions were more mixed. It was easy to say, “OK, I don’t want to deal with these people ever again.” But then you think about the other side. What if I were a kid who looked up to an athlete, and that athlete made me want to do better in my own life, and then he left? How would I react? I’ve met with Dan, face-to-face, man-to-man. We’ve talked it out. Everybody makes mistakes. I’ve made mistakes as well. Who am I to hold a grudge?

I’m not promising a championship. I know how hard that is to deliver. We’re not ready right now. No way. Of course, I want to win next year, but I’m realistic. It will be a long process, much longer than it was in 2010. My patience will get tested. I know that. I’m going into a situation with a young team and a new coach. I will be the old head. But I get a thrill out of bringing a group together and helping them reach a place they didn’t know they could go. I see myself as a mentor now and I’m excited to lead some of these talented young guys. I think I can help Kyrie Irving become one of the best point guards in our league. I think I can help elevate Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters. And I can’t wait to reunite with Anderson Varejao, one of my favorite teammates.

But this is not about the roster or the organization. I feel my calling here goes above basketball. I have a responsibility to lead, in more ways than one, and I take that very seriously. My presence can make a difference in Miami, but I think it can mean more where I’m from. I want kids in Northeast Ohio, like the hundreds of Akron third-graders I sponsor through my foundation, to realize that there’s no better place to grow up. Maybe some of them will come home after college and start a family or open a business. That would make me smile. Our community, which has struggled so much, needs all the talent it can get.

In Northeast Ohio, nothing is given. Everything is earned. You work for what you have.

I’m ready to accept the challenge. I’m coming home.

It’s remarkable to see how James declines to hold a grudge against Dan Gilbert after the Cavaliers owner published a bitter, nasty open letter to him after he left Cleveland for Miami. This is the statement, and action, of a man who embraces responsibility and leadership. I won’t be surprised if there are more than a few people outside Northeast Ohio hoping that one day, LeBron James is able to present that one trophy to the place, and the people, he obviously loves.

After last night’s Brazilian meltdown, I can’t imagine either of these teams are feeling great about their chances against the Teutonic steamroller. But someone has to play the role of the sacrificial lamb, and after all, it is an honor to simply be nominated as a World Cup finalist.

Holland is the glaringly obvious choice, in light of the fact that Argentina will be missing Di Maria, its second most-effective player of this World Cup. But Argentina has the second coming of the little magician on its side in the grand tradition of Diego Maradona, so it is simply not possible to count out la Albiceleste.

The Oranje have no Dennis Bergkamp to save them now from the magic of Messi. Look for Argentina to uphold the tattered honor of CONMEBOL!

EXTRA TIME: Neither team can manage to get past the back four and everyone is afraid to shoot in the box.

This is exactly the matchup I would have expected at the beginning of the tournament. But it looks very different than the one I was expecting; I assumed Brazil would blow away Germany at home without too much trouble. Now everyone is assuming that Germany will overpower a Seleção missing both its best player and its captain.

But I’m not so sure. Hulk hasn’t been scoring, but he hasn’t been off by much and I really don’t like Germany’s tall, but slow defenders playing a high offsides trap against him. And if Neuer comes out of the box 20 times to cover for them like he did in one game earlier in the tournament, he likely won’t finish the game. I doubt it will escape Scolari’s attention that France never attacked that high line with central through balls.

Also, Germany has really not been very impressive aside from its first-game demolition of Portugal, which looks considerably less significant after the USA all but beat them. So, I’m going to go against the grain and anticipate that the Seleção  will ride the crowd, and the referee’s favor, to an upset of Germany.

UPDATE: ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME? Four goals in six minutes. It’s 5-0 and Germany is absolutely humiliating Brazil. Brazil looks like a little kid’s team with no idea how to play defense.

GERMANY 7 BRAZIL 1 And it wasn’t that close. I think we have our answer now about which German team is the real one. It’s the one that destroyed Portugal, not the one that toyed with Ghana, France, and the USA. I’ve played on two teams that beat badly overmatched teams 13-0 (and scored nine of the 26 goals in those games myself), and neither of those victories were as comprehensively destructive as this World Cup semifinal.

Also, between the pass, the first touch, and the finish, I think Schurlle’s goal had to be the goal of the tournament… so far.

Everyone has to appreciate what Costa Rica has done in this tournament. They were amazing in the group stage and no one expected them to make it this far, let alone win the Group and make it past the first knock-out game. That being said, there is no way they can hang with the Oranje tonight. No way. It’s been a phenomenal run for Costa Rica, and between them, Mexico, and the USA, any discussion of the possibility of removing a slot from CONCACAF has been silenced. But it ends here.

Argentina v Belgium is an interesting question. Belgium has the better team, but Argentina has Messi. Is that enough? I don’t think so. Belgium also has one of the best central defenders in the world in Kompany; that’s not enough to cancel out Messi, but it should be enough to slow him down. And while Messi has been brilliant at times, he simply hasn’t taken control of the games the way some were expecting.

ARGENTINA 1 BELGIUM 0. A goal that is both lucky and well-struck in the eighth minute is the only one; a deflection bounces to Higuaín, who immediately buries a nice volley. Like France yesterday, Belgium never seemed to get in gear. Messi has the opportunity to put the game away in injury time, but can’t beat the keeper on a one-on-one. He’s very good, but he’s no Maradona.

And Brazil v Colombia. Two big games. While I really like the way the French have been playing, the Germans regularly raise their game and I expect them to be able to hold off the very good French attack UNLESS they play the same high offsides-trap that they featured against the USA. That’s simply not going to work when France can throw three fast strikers against it, particularly given a French midfield that actually believes in providing its attackers with through balls.

I’m expecting the big upset in the later game. Brazil has not impressed me, not even a little bit. Fred has shown nothing, Hulk is a brute who tries hard and bears absolutely no resemblance to the Romarios and Ronaldos of World Cups past, and Neymar is clearly struggling with the weight of having to carry the nation’s expectations very nearly on his own. Colombia isn’t afraid of anyone and they are playing very well as a team. I think they’ll win and they won’t even need extra time or penalties to do it.

Germany 1 France 0. Frankly, a rather boring game. Germany scored early on a set piece, France never seemed to feel much sense of urgency, and I didn’t see a single through ball attacking Germany’s high defensive line. France had a chance or two, but nothing too crucial, and neither team seemed to have much in the way of energy. Rather disappointing from the same French team that crushed a good Swiss team 5-3.

FIRST HALF: Brazil 1 Colombia 0. This is the best Brazil has looked all tournament. The goal was a bit lucky, since Thiago Silva caught the Colombian defender sleeping on the far post, but Brazil has had most of the good chances. Colombia has a 4-on-2 that is so inept they don’t even manage to get a shot off. At this point, Brazil looks capable of winning by three.

The Swiss have never beaten Argentina, and Shaqiri is no Messi, the hat trick in the group stage notwithstanding. So an upset here would be even more unlikely than for the USA against Belgium.

Two serious underdogs, but both capable of pulling off an upset. Both games should be entertaining.

FIRST HALF 0-0. Switzerland could easily be up 2-0, but a great save and a poor shot leave it tied. Argentina definitely has the edge on talent, but the Swiss have been the better team so far. The defenders are living on the edge, however, by repeatedly attempting to dribble the ball out under pressure rather than simply clearing the ball from the top of the box.

SECOND HALF 0-0. Argentina took over the game and had several decent chances, but tough defending and a great pair of saves in succession by Bernaglio kept Switzerland in the game.

It’s interesting to be watching the game with little girls.

Little Girl 1: Who is the guy with the green shirt?

Me: He’s the assistant referee.

Little Girl 1: He runs up and down a lot.

Me: He has to stay even with the ball. It’s his job to watch for offsides.

Little Girl 1: What’s offsides?

Little Girl 2: It’s when the ball goes off the side of the TV.

Little Girl 1: Oh, okay. (In a tone indicating “that makes sense”)

Me: (nods

EXTRA TIME: Argentina 1 Switzerland 0. Looked like it was going to penalties, but Lichtsteiner got careless, Messi pulled the Swiss defense to him, and laid a perfect pass to Di Maria, who finished nicely. Di Maria deserved the goal, as he was the only player on either team that was actually trying to win the game for the second extra period. Switzerland then hit the post on a corner in extra injury time, but that was as close as they got.

USA v Belgium

FIRST HALF 0-0. Shaky start for Team USA, but they settle down and finally begin counterattacking. They gradually take control and start getting great runs down the right side, but just don’t have the technical ability to finish off the chances they’re creating. Belgium owns its own right side; DaMarcus Beasley is working hard but he’s a bit overmatched. Belgium is the more skilled side, but contra the pre-match reports, the US is more than matching their athleticism.

The challenge will be when the players start to tire; that’s when the more skilled team usually starts taking advantage of the extra time and space created. Johnson went out with a hamstring, but his replacement has been more than adequate, and remarkably, is even more attack-oriented.

SECOND HALF 0-0. Belgium wins 16 corners, but ferocious US defense and outstanding goaltending by Howard keeps the USA in the game. Yedlin, the right back, is somehow the entire US attack. Dempsey has two opportunities to send someone through, but he’s got tunnel vision and takes two nothing shots instead.

Belgium is controlling the game and the USA looks beat, but they manage to make it to extra time with a little help from the Belgian attackers shooting wide.

EXTRA TIME: Belgium scores once quickly, then again near the end to seemingly put the game away. But a great drop-in by Bradley puts the US back in it. USA wins a lot of respect for refusing to quit and go quietly, but they just don’t have the technical ability to match their spirit. 2-1 Belgium.

Two games of nominal interest. Neither France nor Germany should have to go to penalties to win. I think Algeria is the more likely upset, but it would be a huge shock to see either of the two European powers lose here.

Nigeria had a goal disallowed, but the midfielder was definitely a step off. Pogba has a brilliant side-volley, but hit it right at the keeper.

The two games going to penalties yesterday shows one of the core structural flaws of the rules. Just take off one man when it goes to extra time, and another man every five minutes. That will guarantee a winner and reduce the overall time it takes.

UPDATE: France wins and deservedly so. They’ve hit the post or the crossbar six times in four games!

UPDATE 2: Giorgio Chiellini accepts Luis Suarez’s apology in an admirably gracious manner:

Giorgio Chiellini @chiellini
@luis16suarez It’s all forgotten. I hope FIFA will reduce your suspension. 

GERMANY 2 ALGERIA 1: Really impressed with the Algerians, particularly the keeper. He probably earned himself $20 million+ tonight and a move to Seria A or La Liga. The German quality is too much in the end, but Algeria played harder than any team in the tournament to date.

I’m really looking forward to this one, which is the most interesting matchup of the first round of the Knockout Stage. Holland should win, but Mexico is playing very hard for Herrara and the Mexican keeper was easily the best in the Group Stage. A very good test for the Oranje if they are to flatter themselves with the idea that they are serious contenders for the title.

Costa Rica v Greece should actually be worth watching. Greece is, as always, an old, untalented, defensive-minded team, but they have a crazy ability to give much better teams a difficult time. Costa Rica was the shock winners of a group that literally no one gave them a chance to win, so one has to consider them the favorite here.

HOLLAND 2 MEXICO 1: Ugh. Great game and down to the wire, but even so, ugh. I was supporting Holland, but seeing Robben dive three times in the box, and on the third one draw the penalty that won the game, was truly ugly. Ochoa was awesome, but there was no stopping the cannon blast from Wesley Schneider that tied the game in the 88th minute.

FIFA is really going to have to give serious thought to replay on penalties.

FIRST HALF 1-1: The Brazilian goal was clearly an own goal. The Chilean goal, on the other hand, was the combination of laziness by the Brazilian midfielder and an opportunistic Chilean jumping on the chance. Brazil doesn’t seem to be fully in gear, but Neymar is blowing by the central defense at will, so I would think Brazil will score two more and put the game away without too much trouble.

SECOND HALF 1-1: Brazil will be crying about it, but there was no question that Hulk controlled the ball with his forearm. Good call by the official. The goalies are keeping both teams in the game; both had excellent saves. Chile is attacking more and actually looks the better team despite their obvious lack of quality in comparison with Brazil. Extra time!

EXTRA TIME 1-1: WOW! Chile hits the crossbar in the last two minutes of injury time after a desultory 30 minutes where Chile ran out of steam and wisely switched to a defensive orientation. Brazil then counterattacks, but Neymar unwisely passes right instead of left on a 3-on-2 break. And it’s penalties.

PENALTIES: 3-2 Brazil. Great game. Neymar coolly fires home, the Chilean 5th penalty taker hits the post, and Neymar visibly falls apart with the relief. I can’t even imagine the amount of pressure he must have been feeling. But, as Ender says, I’m going to miss the Chilean coach. He’s awesome, both in terms of his tactics and the way he stalks the sideline like a pitbull, which he rather resembles. I think he is now my third favorite manager after Arsene “please to enjoy my impromptu 30-minute lecture on subjects unrelated to football” Wenger and The Special One.

The Brazilians seem to like him too. Several of them go out of their way to pay their respects. Interesting, too, to see a number of apparent Christians among the Brazilian players, including Neymar and Willian.

That seems about right to me. Suarez is out of all football for the next four months, which means he’ll miss nine Premiership matches with Liverpool as well as nine international matches with Uruguay, including the remainder of the current World Cup. He was also fined about $110,000.

Luis Suarez has been banned from all football for four months and an additional nine Fifa international matches after biting an Italian defender. Fifa made the ruling after footage emerged of Uruguay striker Suarez biting down on the shoulder of Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini in the 80th minute of their World Cup clash.

The ban will mean Suarez misses the rest of the international tournament, including Uruguay’s last 16 match against Colombia on Saturday, and the start of the Premier League next season.

I don’t see how anyone can complain that FIFA was soft on this one. A fast and fair decision.