01/30 Morning Minute: Movin’ On Up!

Today’s morning minute is up and ready for your reading pleasure.  But to see what I have going on, you’ll have to head over to WaitingForNextYear– a collaborative effort from three of the finer Cleveland-based bloggers around.

I have teamed up with Rick from HalftimeAdjustments and RockKing from the Cleveland Sports Authority to bring you (what we hope is) the finest blog of all things Cleveland Sports.  Original content, game previews/reviews, and gambling tips – if they were legal – are just a click away. 

We hope you’ll join us – you won’t be disappointed.

Ch-ch-ch changes

While this blog is still in its baby stage, I come to you with the news that something new will be unfolding in the near future.

I cannot get into details, but stay tuned as a new URL will be coming your way.

Until then…

01/19 Minute: Jakeless, But We Have A Damon/Romeo

You know it is a slow sports night in Cleveland when the biggest news is the physical removal of the “Jacobs Field” sign.  While this may mean a lot to those within the organization or even those that are employed by Progressive Insurance, I refuse to exude emotion towards something when it will make the slightest of difference.  Those that have recently lost their jobs are obviously going to feel bitter towards this whole situation.  I feel for them more than anything as being a Clevelander always comes along with the fact that whatever business you work for may not be there a year from now – let alone your position.  So I get that.  But those that either hate corporate involvement or just feel like they need to voice their opinion simply need to stop.

Isn’t it crazy how Damon Jones went from not even being in the rotation to being a main part of this latest slew of wins?  Maybe his whining to the media had a point.  Either way, he’s supporting his arguments on the floor, and that is what is most important.  Let’s just hope this isn’t a showcase for him to go somewhere else, only to nail a buzzer-beater against us.

01/18 Morning Minute: A Good Night For Cleveland Hoops

I admit that when I entered in the URL for Pounding the Rock this morning, I was expecting to see some one-sided whining about the officiating in last night’s game between the Cavs and Spurs.  Instead, they were understandably unhappy with the way that the Spurs left timeouts on the table while Manu Ginobili took a last second shot to tie the game – but missed front iron.

The Cavaliers have been bitten by this before, think Utah Jazz earlier this season thanks to Deron Williams.  Greg Popovich likely took this into consideration before letting Ginobili take the shot – after all, he did have a game high 31 points.  Credit this team for not assuming anything and getting back on defense after LeBron James missed a shot to seal the game with about five seconds left on the clock.

The game ended in a 90-88 win for the team from Cleveland, and while it will not make up for getting swept by this same team a few months back in the NBA Finals, the win shows that this team is playing excellent ball right now – just as James said in the post-game interview.

01/17 Afternoon Minute: Kicks to the Junk

While I’m on the side of the argument that the whole “LeBron James-Yankees Hat” ordeal was a bit overblown, I’m sure that this won’t make matters much better.

Via TheSportingBlog’s relatively new piece called Fresh Cuts, we see that the new version of LeBron James’ Zoom V will have a “Yankees Edition.”  The pictures were apparently posted at X-Kicks.com, but it is a Chinese site, and I’m not about to install various languages on my work computer.  Have at it.

And while I typically do not post pictures on the site, here’s a peak at what the likely limited edition shoes will look like…

01/17 Morning Minute: Which Team Show Up?

The month of January has already welcomed the Cleveland Cavaliers with six wins on the season. The one loss was the second game of a back-to-back, on the road. A combination that never seems to bode well for the Cavs.

Excuses aside, tonight’s game against the San Antonio Spurs will be very telling. Will we see the Cavs team that is a defensive unit that has held the Atlanta Hawks (twice), Sacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors, and Seattle Supersonics under 95 points each? Or will we see the Cavaliers team that has given up over 100 to the Charlotte Bobcats and Memphis Grizzlies?

Granted, these were overtime games, but these are also opponents that should have been finished off handedly in regulation.

01/16 Afternoon Minute: May I Direct You To…

There’s nothing I can say this afternoon that will be more intriguing than The Big Lead’s interview with Brian Windhorst. 

Check it out here.  You won’t be disappointed.

01/16 Morning Minute: 51 > 101

In yesterday’s Basketball Jones podcast, it was mentioned that a Kobe Bryant 50-point game should be on the horizon now that their center Andrew Bynum is out for the next eight weeks with a knee injury. Not that he’s overlooked, but the fact that LeBron James does not have an Andrew Bynum makes last night’s game of little surprise.

James dropped 51 points in a 132-124 overtime win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night. The fact that this output tied Allen Iverson for the top night year-to-date in the NBA is one thing. The fact that James put up 50+ and the Cavaliers still won the game is another. Don’t forget that the Cavs have twice dropped games where #23 has put up at least 50 points, so it is not far-fetched by any means.

01/15 Morning Minute: Birds of a Feather

Well, I have to admit that I’m pretty shocked to read today’s news that All-American linebacker James Laurinaitis will be returning to Ohio State for his senior season.  While Vernon Gholston has locked himself in to a top-10 selection this spring, Laurinaitis was one that was more of a question mark – despite his gaudy tackle totals.  Top 15 most likely, but the way he would produce at the next level was not for certain.

Laurinaitis admits that the decisions made by his teammates several days earlier impacted his decision, and while it was a tough move to pass up the NFL, the All-American thinks that the experience will do him well.

“Money can’t give you this experience, especially your senior season with the way this season could go,” Laurinaitis said. “I’m excited about my choice to come back.”

Another guide for Laurinaitis’ decision?  Former Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk.

01/04 Afternoon Minute: Party Over Here…

No word on if LeBron James was rocking a scarf when he was pulled over doing triple-digits, but with these pictures that have been dug up from his 23rd birthday party, he definitely was in New York City.  Note that these were taken on December 18th, a few days before the speeding incident.

Some names that were on the guest list included hip-hop artists Jadakiss, DJ Clue, and Fabolous.  Teammates Drew Gooden and Donyell Marshall were also in attendance.  

Here are some thumbnails from the evening: