Lebron's Acting in game 4 is a joke

Lebron James usually manhandles other players but during these NBA finals, he's decided to portray some acting skills than that of doing what he needs to the most... playing the game of basketball at the top level he can play.  What is up with Lebron???  Has he decided to remove himself from the biggest stage of his career?  Is he ready for this stage to be a champion?

I'm not a fan of the Miami Heat but I'm shocked by Lebron's recent play.  Had he been checked in these playoffs, these games could be of epic level.  But instead he's off in some other land(Reminds me a little of the Tiger Woods saga... but no story yet on Lebron's social life), and he's trying to act to receive fouls that aren't to get his points at the line.  After you watch this play, if I was coaching the Mavs, I'd probably had got more than just a technical...

http://youtu.be/foaPMZxtzx4

Playoff Tickets or A McDonald's Value Meal?

And they say the economy is getting better...

I just went to http://www.ticketsnow.com/ and was checking prices on NBA playoffs tickets, not that I am going or anything but does San Antonio really not care that Spurs are playing in the playoffs or do they just despise the Memphis Grizzlies that much.  Spurs might have trouble winning because the lack of fan support they are getting in these playoffs.  A ticket to tonights game, actually several tickets are available for $6.00, with several others costing $7, $8, $9 and lots more under $15.00/each.

http://www.ticketsnow.com/InventoryBrowse/San-Antonio-Spurs-Tickets-at-AT-T-Center-in-San-Antonio?PID=1106304

By the time you click on the link above, they could vary depending on the start of the game or the link may be acutally gone, but yes, there was plenty of tickets for about the same price as a value meal at McDonald's.  Actually going thru the drive-thru at Wendy's fast food would cost more than a single ticket to the Spurs playoff game.  How is that?  Maybe its just the state of the NBA.  There's plenty of basketball fans out there but I can tell you that there are many others that just don't care for the NBA game.  I prefer the NBA much better during the playoffs, as the season sometimes just seems like a drag unless there is a major hype on a game.  Sometimes watching the highlights on http://www.espn.com/ just seems more interesting than sitting on the couch watching a regular season NBA game of two of the "lesser" winning teams in the NBA.  Some games I do enjoy, but I feel that sometimes there is not much "team" or "coaching" aspect to the NBA game.  I prefer college basketball as it just seems that the passion by the players is there all season long, while the NBA players appear to get up for only "big-time" matchups or when the playoffs come, occasionally maybe when there is a battle for a last playoff spot.  The regular season, sometimes feels like the NFL's Pro-Bowl, where the game doesn't matter so much, but seeing the stars of the sports world matters most.

The Chicago Bulls matchup against the Indiana Pacers had a $67.00 price tag for a stading-room only ticket for game 1 in Chicago.  Thats $61.00 more than watching a playoff game in San Antonio, quite a jump.  I ventured over to http://www.stubhub.com/ and saw only 6 tickets left at $20.00 for the Spurs game and the Bulls cheapest ticket was again standing room only for $63.99.  Man how times have changed.  I can't remember the last time I could see any live professional major sporting event for the price of a value meal.

Has San Antonio just seen so much success in recent years of the Spurs, that this season isn't that special?  Wal-Mart today announced that their core-shoppers are becoming broke.  Maybe we should just realize that the economy isn't better, its that the majority of people are paying bills and living on less or paying higher insurance costs.  That's less disposable income to around for NBA playoff tickets, even if they are $6.00.  You have to include parking, gas, and food and drinks and the night goes from the price of a value meal to a sit-down meal at the Cheesecake Factory with getting cheesecake for dessert and having a specialty drink or two.  More people are passing on free tickets from give-aways, promotions, or friends because they figure the travel costs into their decision as well. 

While the NFL players and its owners bicker on the millions they want or aren't getting, the "average joe" is cooking smaller meals and budgeting their normal expenses and wondering if there will be anything left over at the end of the week for a "Netflix rental".  Maybe that's exaggerating a little, but for some its not.  While $6.00 may seem cheap for a playoff ticket, others may need that $6.00 to get by until their next paycheck.  It's different times, but its the world we live in right now, whether you like it or not, its becoming fairly common.  Unemployment rate may go down, but alot of peoples savings accounts need to get built back up before some will splurge, even if it's just for a $6.00 playoff ticket.  Times are tight, I definitely get it.

Kobe's Fine: Excessive or Not?

I've included a link at the bottom to watch the clip if you missed it of NBA player Kobe Bryant of the L.A. Lakers getting a technical fan and than later yelling at the referee and than making an alleged "anit-gay slur" in front of the tv cameras.  Kobe's comment at the referee in which he allegedly called the referee "a f---ing f-gg-t".  The NBA came down with no suspension but targeted Kobe with a fine of a $100,000.  Was this appropriate?  Was it enough?

Let's go back to April of 2007 when Don Imus of a CBS radio talk show was fired for using a "racial slur" in his comment of "Nappy Headed Hos".   A few months later in June of 2007, Isaiah Washington of ABC's hit show Grey's Anatomy was fired(contract not renewed) for using an anti-gay slur back in January of 2007.

In the past year we have seen that a Georgia Senator's staffer and WWII Vet fired over using "gay slurs".  Alot of people and companies will not stand behind their employees and staff when they use these slurs that degrade races, sexual orientations, religions, etc. 

Kobe Bryant, the usual leader in NBA's jersey sales, fell to second in this years sales but is still a fan-favorite of many basketball fans and is arguably one of the best overall talents in the NBA game.  So by the NBA fining Kobe Bryant a 100k, which is lots of money to people like you and I but not so much Kobe, does this look good or bad for the Company perception of the NBA?  I understand the heat of the moment, but Kobe should of been suspended as well, even if it meant he missed a playoff game.  He needs to understand he is being watched by many people and that whether he wants to be or not, he is a role model out there for young aspiring basketball players. 

I wouldn't be suprised really if the referee hands a lawsuit over to Kobe Bryant as well.  I believe this would fall in the terms of defamation of character.  My opinion is that almost any company out there would of did "more" than fine, but the NBA stopped short for Kobe Bryant.  They fined him and that was supposed to "show" the public perception that they didn't agree but to me, it wasn't enough.  A suspension should have taken place immediately and by allowing Kobe to get away with this, they have made the statement that Kobe helps determine the "NBA rules" in my opinion.  Kobe, nor any NBA player, should be above an unwritten rule to degrade other people by namecalling. 

One other thought to ponder is that if a white referee called Kobe Bryant a "racial slur", would that referee still have a job the next day?  Would Kobe and the L.A. Lakers and the general public go-to-bat for Kobe and ask for the ref to lose his job?  The answer is most likely, yes.  If you disagree, I personally think you should rethink your stance but you are entitled to your opinion.

So was Kobe's fine the right call?  In my opinon, more should of been done even if it was just a one game playoff suspension.  What is your thoughts? 

To view the video, please click below...

http://youtu.be/t84p7mcK2Pk