(Reported) ROY possibly to Cleveland? (Reportedly)

This image might look familiar! That's right! It's right below this post! Except now it's all Cavalier-ed!

That's right! THe Cleveland Cavaliers got another part of their LeBron James severance package from the totally fair and not at all fixed National Basketball Association in the form of the first overall pick. The Philadelphia 76ers sold their fan base on the idea that "the 3rd pick is good enough, plus we got that 10th pick too so we'll be just fine."

Well apparently the Sixers don't feel as fine as they let on, because they are reportedly trying to get that first round pick that they had so heinously stolen from them.

There has also been talk ever since the end of the regular season about the possibility of trading ROY and teen-heart throb, Michael Carter-Williams. Is this the time where it happens?

Conflicted Love: NBA Superstars

If you've followed this blog since the beginning, you know that there is one athlete on this planet that I love more than any other. More than Roy Halladay. More than RG3. It's Lebron James. You can see examples of this love here and here.

I've lived a very comfortable and happy life with the idea of Lebron. He's always been there when I've needed him most. He's been a perfect role model for me no matter what-don't-you-try-to-tell-me-different-I-can't-hear-you-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA!

Anyway, things have been pretty good. I could have went through life with Lebron being my favorite player forever.

And then I watched Game 2 of the OKC Thunder vs. the Memphis Grizzlies. And I saw a basketball player there who wowed me. Who made me say "woah." That player, of course, was Kevin Durant.

Beasts from the East: SPAB NBA Playoff Preview

The NBA season is over, so lets take a look at the SPAB NBA Playoff Preview!

Milwaukee Bucks - The Bucks got the #1 seed with a 25% chance at the number 1 overall pick in the draft. The Bucks actually set out to be a playoff team this year which makes it pretty embarrassing that they finished with the league’s worst record. Bad news for the Bucks is it has been 9 years since the team with the best chance has actually landed the first overall selection in the draft.

Philadelphia 76ers - The #2 seeded Sixers have a 19.9% chance at the number 1 pick. Its no secret that the number 1 pick is what they have planned on getting ever since GM Sam Hinkie took over last year and traded away Jrue Holiday. The Sixers brought in and ended the season with wins against the Miami Heat. The real story in what was sandwiched in between those wins, 63 losses (including an NBA record tying 26 game losing streak), acquiring almost all of the second round in the draft, and putting a team on the court that had about 8 guys who belong in the D-League.

 Huh?

Are you sure?

I’ve just been informed that the NBA Playoffs is not the race for the #1 overall pick in the draft. I guess after a year of watching the Sixers I lost sight of what basketball is played for.

Well, I guess I’ll get into the ACTUAL Playoff Preview.

9 to 5 Between the Lines

Once their greatest passions, are athletes starting to look at their jobs as...jobs?

Fun Fact Time!

When I was about nine years old, I played right field for Dig'm Installers at Levittown Pacific Little League. I was on the team with my little brother and some friends and it was fun to be apart of the team. We ended up winning the championship and, as a reward, the coach took us to a Phillies game (my first Phillies game that I've written about before). I thought I was pretty good and had nothing but potential to get better. It was right around this time that I read in our class "Weekly Reader" that A-Rod became the highest paid baseball player ever. He was even making more money than the president! At this point I thought to myself:

 "Hey Lil' Average Bro! I bet you could play baseball for a living!"

And that was it. I would be a pro baseball player when I grew up. Done. Deal!

I thought it through completely. Everything from the position I would play to my number was all hashed out and ready to go. But there was one thing I was concerned about.

Lil' Average Bro: Hey Mom.

Mom: Yes Average Bro.

Lil' Average Bro: Do pro baseball players have to practice every day?

Mom: Yes, definitely.

And in that moment, my dreams were dashed.

Did I hear Bracket Battle? YOU SURE DID!!!

THAT'S RIGHT!

Hey there Sports Pros and Average Bros out there! It's that magical time of the year again! The NCAA Tournament!

"But Average Bro! That tournament is so long and I don't go to (enter college with a good basketball team here)! Why should I watch and have a rooting interest?"

Well Mr. Question pants! I have an answer for you!

The NCAA Tournament ALSO means it's time for the 3rd Annual Sports Pro and the Average Bro Bracket Battle!

Patooooo! Patoooo!

That's right! Selection Sunday is coming up and that means its time to fill out your brackets and put them into the running with other similarly minded sports pros and average bros alike!

Click here and you'll be directed to the awesome page on ESPN where you can enter your bracket! The password is: Prosandbros




What? You're still here?

"Yeah Average Bro! I'm not sure if I want to enter your Bracket Battle even though it only takes a minute and I'd be totally lame not to! Why do you think I should enter?"

What kinda question is that!? You got some nerve you know that?! You're asking for it question guy!

So anyway, you want some reasons for joining into this battle? (other than it being super awesome and competitive and ohmygoodnessgracious just do it!). Here are a few:

1. PRIZES!!!

That's right boys and girls! Prizes! Do you like Prizes? Of course you do!!! What kind of prizes you ask? ALL KINDS! Who know's what they will be!? T-Shirts? Maybe! Trophies? Could be! Cash? Probably not, but whatever makes you join! You could get prizes for winning or losing or even...

2. TWEET WARS!!!

YEP! New to this years Bracket Battle is the TWEET WAR! Got something funny to say about the tournament? Got some awesome stat that we've never heard before? Got a picture of you putting Duke Coach Mike Sha-Shev-ski (I refuse to google how to spell it) in a headlock? Tweet it with the hashtag #SPABMadness! If we like it better than anyone else's you'll earn a point for that round! Will the winner of the Tweet War get a prize too!? Maybe! Only one way to find out!!!

3. BECOME A VERY-VERY-SUPER-MINOR SPORTS BLOG CELEBRITY!

Winning a Bracket Battle of this magnitude is not easy. It takes time and effort and great know how. Actually it just takes an internet connection and some clickin' fingers...BUT STILL! If you win, that must mean that you're life is super terribly interesting! The Sports Blog world should know about you! That's why the winner of the Battle (in addition to fabulous prizes beyond your most below average dreams) will get a sit down/email/skype/carrier pigeon interview with the Sports Pro and the Average Bro themselves! It's the perfect time for you to promote your business or tell the world how awesome you are or propose to your girlfriend! If you get your story told by this mediocre not very highly trafficked sports blog...the possibilities are literally ENDLESS*!

*(Possibilities subject to change.)

Join now: http://games.espn.go.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/en/group?groupID=15621&entryID=186434 Password: Prosandbros

If you've gotten this far and you still haven't submitted your Bracket then I don't know what to tell you. If none of this entices you then you must be a zombie with limited interest in college basketball or minor stardom. (Also, if a zombie submits their bracket, they get a prize automatically) If you still need a push here are some awesome celebrity testimonies!

LeBron gives it the "thumbs up"!

Finally something they can agree on!

The real reason behind the signing!

Leave it to A-Rod to find the silver Lining!

We didn't want to use him but he just kept on calling!

There you have it pros and bros! Now join! Here's the link if you forgot! (or you can only scroll down):

AWESOME BRACKET BATTLE COMPETITION OHEMGEEE! PASSWORD: PROSANDBROS !

Dear Peyton Manning, We Need You!

Dear Peyton Manning,

My condolences on your recent release from the Colts. I know how hard you played for them and I can't believe they would turn their nose-up at you like that.You deserve better....Much better!

Well I'm here to tell you just how much better you can have it! There is only one place that can facilitate you the perfect way.  A place that can meet you're every need. A place so great, you are the only thing that could make it better.

That place is:

WASHINGTON D.C. !

That's right! Washington D.C. ! To play for the storied Washington R*dsk*ns! I can imagine your excitement at hearing their interest but don't go signing with them on just name recognition alone! Wait until you hear the great things Washington can provide you!

An open letter to the media. RE: Lebron James

Dear sports journalists, sports casters, game reporters, radio show hosts, and other media outlets,

Isn't Lebron James awful!

I mean look at the guy. He came out of high school in a blitz of fame and glory. We were told he was going to be the greatest player of the new era. He was dubbed "King James" and we were told we would "Witness". He dove right into the NBA. To his credit he remained in a struggling Cleveland for seven years, hogging all the credit and the ball. He went with the Cavaliers to four playoff games including the finals against San Antonio. He received the NBA MVP award back to back years. He made the Cleveland Cavaliers (and essentially the city of Cleveland) dependent on him. Little did they know he was about to flip everything around.

He became a free agent. He visited other teams during the course of the off season and at least 5 other organizations were in serious consideration. He spent the whole summer in decision of where he would go. America was beat over the head with where he was at every particular day. He was visiting New York. He just left New York. I wonder what he was talking about with New York. This went on for 2 months. Sports center had nothing but Lebron coverage.

Then he made his decision. In a glamorous fashion. He went on television to stab Cleveland in the back and take a short cut to get a ring, by joining with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in South Beach. And long story short, he lost in the big finals. He just couldn't cut it.

Now he'll never be the same player and he doesn't deserve any of our respect. Or so the media has so told us.

My Underdog Affections

Throughout the NBA Finals, I convinced myself I wanted the Miami Heat to win it all (after they beat out the Sixers of course). I, however, am a minority, along with the city of Miami. A couple of things have led to this decision.

• I like Lebron James. I don't know what it is about him. It's not like he's ever been described as a likable guy. Lebron James hate tops even that of Bernie Madoff in many places. I just think he carries himself very well and is a very articulate and intelligent speaker. He seems like he really thinks his thoughts through in press conferences. After Miami's win in game 3, a CBS reporter asked Lebron about "shrinking" in big moments of the fourth quarter. Lebron, calmly and intellectually proceeded to tell the reporter that his cohort, Dwayne Wade, had a hot night so they got the ball to him. He also informed him that he had a great night defensively and instructed the reporter to rewatch the game tape and "ask a better question tomorrow". I even find myself cheering for Lebron at press conferences!

• Another reason I've become an interim Miami fan is because of the legacy i think it could lead to. My uncle is a Chicago Bulls fan. He got to witness his team 3-peat...twice! He is one of those guys who knows Michael Jordan is the best player in history and no player will ever compare. I don't completely disagree (because disagreeing with that fact is punishable by a pair of cement shoes and a dip in the Chicago River). The problem is, I'm jealous of this. I want to see a legacy like this. The closest thing I have seen in any sport would be the Lakers 3-peat and follow up repeat. But the teams of Michael's and Kobe's are far different. Kobe was his team. He had Shaq and Fisher for his first run and then added Gasol, Bynum and Odom for his second. No player can be great without a supporting cast but Kobe was the only common denominator (aside from Phil Jackson) and the only way they got to their title. And in either run, he couldn't compare with the dream team of the Bulls. Some people may say this is an unfair and erroneous argument. I only have one other point. It was Kobe's team. Kobe's legacy. And for whatever reason, I don't like Kobe. I feel like Lebron and D Wade (and even Bosh if he doesn't end up getting traded) have made the Heat great and therefore it will be their legacy. And I will witness it.

• My final reason is a little simpler than my others. The Heat struggled in the regular season against good teams. They were highly criticized for coming together in such an extravagant manner and getting pummeled in big games. People said they weren't ready and that they would be great but it was going to take some time playing together before they could be actual contenders. They were booed in every major arena they entered. No one wanted them to succeed. They became underdogs. And there is nothing I love more in sports, than a good underdog story.