Lebron James on The Huffington Post

Shaq Buys LeBron Rolls Royce Phantom For Birthday (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

2009-12-31T14:37:22Z

LeBron James turned 25 yesterday (he has the same birthday as Tiger Woods), and from all appearances he's enjoying several nice gifts. For starters, he scored 48 points in an exciting five-point victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Afterwards, though, he got even better birthday news. Shaq told reporters that he bought James a Rolls Royce Phantom. How fancy of a gift did Shaq get his teammate? AOL Autos says a 2009 Phantom VI is usually priced between $380,000 and $450,000. Perhaps LeBron can repay the favor by getting Shaq one more NBA championship ring this spring. Scroll down to see photos of Phantoms and video of Shaq's remarks.

WATCH:

Get HuffPost Sports on Facebook and Twitter!

Most Dominant Sports Performances Of The Decade (PHOTOS)

2009-12-28T03:00:13Z

With the decade coming to a close, we've looked back at the most dominant sports performances since 2000. Check out our top contenders below, and email us with people we missed: sports@huffingtonpost.com.

Get HuffPost Sports on Facebook and Twitter!

Fans Throw Foam On Court In Lakers' Loss To Cavaliers

2009-12-25T23:07:35Z

LOS ANGELES — After the Cleveland Cavaliers made the defending NBA champions look ordinary, the Los Angeles Lakers' fans threw up their foam hands in frustration.

Mo Williams scored 28 points, LeBron James added 26 and the Cavaliers beat Los Angeles 102-87 Friday in a game that ended with angry Lakers fans throwing dozens of giveaway foam hands onto the court.

Fans Throw Foam On Court In Lakers' Loss To Cavaliers

2009-12-25T23:07:35Z

LeBron James Eats French Fries During Game (VIDEO)

2009-12-14T12:23:53Z

LeBron James did more than did more than just score a season-high 44 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night. King James showed that if he gets hungry during a game, he doesn't need to go far -- or even leave the game. After one of his four steals led to two points and a foul, LeBron grabbed a couple of french fries from a fan who was sitting at court side. He took a short break to eat, thanked the fan and took his time as he walked to the free throw line. All this on top of a reverse two-handed jam the same night. Scroll down for video.

WATCH:

Get HuffPost Sports on Facebook and Twitter!

LeBron James Dunk VIDEO: Reverse Jam Dooms Thunder

2009-12-14T04:37:33Z

LeBron James put on a dominating performance last night against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He scored a season-high 44 points and added seven rebounds and six assists for good measure. Two of his most memorable points occurred late in the second quarter. Trailing the Thunder by five points, the Cavs took advantage of an Oklahoma City turnover. James streaked down the court and, despite having two defenders on him, capitalized on the fast break by executing a beautiful reverse two-handed dunk. The Cavs went on to open up a big lead in the second half, thanks in part to a stunning 48-foot shot by Mo Williams. The Cavs won, 102-89.

WATCH:

Get HuffPost Sports on Facebook and Twitter!

Cavs Vs. Thunder: Cavaliers Surge Late, Win 102-89

2009-12-14T04:09:25Z

OKLAHOMA CITY — LeBron James scored a season-high 44 points and Mo Williams hit a backbreaking halfcourt shot in the fourth quarter to help the Cleveland Cavaliers close out a 102-89 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night.

Williams tracked down the ball after Thabo Sefolosha had tipped it into the backcourt, then turned and fired a 48-footer with coach Mike Brown yelling to him as the shot clock ran down. The shot earned him a look of disbelief and a congratulatory hand slap from James, and it gave Cleveland its largest lead to that point at 94-87.

LeBron James Blocks Brandon Roy (VIDEO)

2009-12-12T17:48:12Z

During last night's game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland Trail Blazers, Cleveland was trying to protect a five-point lead with 30 seconds left in the contest. Portland's Brandon Roy drove towards the basket to try to narrow the gap to three points. Roy looked to get off a clean shot, but LeBron James had other plans. He swooped in, seemingly out of nowhere, and rejected the shot, sending the ball flying into the stands. James scored 33 points in the Cavs' 104-99 win.

WATCH:

Get HuffPost Sports on Facebook and Twitter!

Timothy Cooper: Nick Cannon's HALO Shines Bright

2009-12-11T19:22:29Z

Nick Cannon and The Halo Awards from Timothy Cooper on Vimeo.

"So how's the chairman position coming along, man?"

This was my first question to Nick Cannon as he warmly greeted me and my partner for an interview leading up to the screening of the Teen Nick HALO Awards at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. As we piled into a reserved room at the tony Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Mr. Cannon accurately looked the part of his position of chairman at Teen Nick. Standing behind a desk in front of a window-view that overlooked the nation's capital as the peak of dusk coated the sky--and dressed nattily in a tailor-made suit that was accompanied by the blinding diamond wedding band he has on his finger at all times--Nick came off as a humble and down- to- earth guy. If you haven't followed his career for the last 17 years, you would never know that his success in television, film and music has made him a multi-faceted human conglomerate. But it seems that's just the kind of guy Nick Cannon is, and this balmy night in D.C. would prove no different.

When my partner and I started to ask questions about Nick and his relationship with his mega-star wife Mariah Carey during the interview--specifically when he came to his wife's aid when rapper Eminem started name-dropping Mariah in his songs--his publicist nearly started to shut our operation down. But she was right to do so, because tonight wasn't about Nick's relationship or his success in the entertainment business; tonight was about his concept to connect inspiring teenagers making a difference in other people's lives with the superstars who felt the need to acknowledge them. Hence we have the creation of the first-ever HALO (Helping And Leading Others) Awards, a unique awards show that forgoes fashion designers getting free advertising from the celebrities wearing their designs on the red carpet. This ceremony instead recognizes extraordinary young people using their specific gifts to change the world.

The screening room in the Newseum was filled to capacity with young people beaming with pride and showing support to four of their own. Even though Justin Timberlake, LeBron James, Hayden Panettiere and Alicia Keys graced the screen as presenters at the awards ceremony, the young people in the audience were just as excited to see the recipients of the awards. The soul-stirring chronicles of Leah Stoltz, Darrius Snow, Megan Kilroy and Brryan Jackson should really put all of our priorities in perspective. To witness the goals that these young people have been blessed to accomplish before the age of 20 is truly remarkable. Take the story of Ms. Stoltz, a 17-year-old young woman from Long Island, NY who turned her condition of scoliosis--a severe lateral curve in her spine--into a foundation called Curvy Girls of Long Island. With the creation of Curvy Girls, Leah has established an essential support system for young girls going through the condition of scoliosis at a time when their awareness of body image is at its peak. You can also look at the life of Darrius Snow, a 19-year-old young man who was reared in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Atlanta, GA. Mr. Snow is the president of BTEAM (Bankhead Teens Encouraging Action by Motivating others), an organization of teens devoted to transforming drug and violence-laden environments into hopeful havens where kids can thrive and live actively. Then there's 17-year-old Megan Kilroy, a marine advocate from Santa Monica, CA who is the captain of an environmental organization called Team Marine. Along with raising money for causes in her hometown and abroad, Ms. Kilroy's main focus is the protection of the ocean.

But the most heart-tugging story might have come from Bryan Jackson; an 18-year-old young man from St. Charles, MO. Mr. Jackson was injected with HIV-tainted blood by his father at the age of 11 months. It was an attempt by his father to avoid paying child support in the midst of a divorce from Brryan's mother-- a crime for which he is now serving life in prison for. Brryan has founded Hope Is Vital (HIV), an organization devoted to the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS. Even though all of these stories are diverse, the common thread of determination serves as the critical piece to the ever-evolving puzzle of the change, hope and leadership we need from the young people of this generation to lead us into a fruitful future.

This program was near and dear to Nick's heart, as he also volunteered his time to the Boys and Girls Club as a youth. And the end results of the HALO Awards--which features closing remarks from First Lady Michelle Obama--is what has made Nick such a success today, thinking outside of the box to bridge the gap between real life issues and the world of entertainment. He even had some help with hosting the event, with his beautiful wife greeting him on stage in an elegant red gown. With a kiss on the cheek, the power couple officially kicked off the night's festivities. So as Nick continues his various ventures in the field of media, he'll also be looking around the globe to find the next teenager looking to be the mechanism of change in their own community by using the influences of dedication and perseverance. I guess multi-tasking just goes with the territory when you're the chairman of the board.

The HALO AWARDS will air on Teen Nick on Friday, December 11th at 8pm (ET).

LeBron James, Joakim Noah Argument (VIDEO)

2009-12-05T18:50:27Z

(SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO)

LeBron James and Chicago center Joakim Noah quarreled last night during the Cavs' 101-87 win agains the Bulls. When Cleveland took a 84-65 lead in the fourth quarter, James began dancing to celebrate, according to the AP:

James, who was on the bench resting at the time, bounced out of his chair and hopped onto the floor. He continued to rock out during the timeout, mugging for the crowd and dancing along with teammate Danny Green to House of Pain's anthemic rap hit "Jump Around."

When he was back in the game a few minutes later, James did another shoulder shake after being fouled.

At this point, Noah began yelling at James. According to Ric Bucher, Noah said, "This is so fucking old" and "you're a bitch."

James approached Noah and received a technical foul for the confrontation.

WATCH:

Get HuffPost Sports on Facebook and Twitter!

Cleveland Cavaliers' Pass-Filled Fast Break (VIDEO)

2009-12-03T10:15:36Z

The Cleveland Cavaliers handed the Phoenix Suns their second straight loss by a comfortable margin last night. Among Cleveland's 107 points was a superbly executed basket late in the first half. With just over five minutes remaining in the second quarter last night, Cavs guard Mo Williams stole the ball from Phoenix and began a beautiful series of passes that included every Cleveland player on the floor. Williams flipped the ball to Delonte West, who fired it up the court to LeBron James, who passed it to Anderson Varejao, who tossed it to J.J. Hickson for the basket. The Cavs won the game, 107-90.

WATCH:

Get HuffPost Sports on Facebook and Twitter!

Cavs Down Suns 107-90, Shaq Beats Former Team

2009-12-03T04:00:08Z

CLEVELAND — Shaquille O'Neal scored 12 points, LeBron James just missed a triple-double and the Cleveland Cavaliers opened a 30-point lead in the third quarter and dismantled Shaq's former team with a 107-90 win over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night.

O'Neal added nine rebounds in 21 minutes, and Cleveland center Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 14 points while setting the club record for games played.

LeBron James' Dunk Contest Waffling: "I'm Like 50-50 Right Now"

2009-12-03T03:34:46Z

CLEVELAND — LeBron James flying high during All-Star weekend is no longer a slam dunk.

After saying at last year's event in Phoenix that he planned to dunk in the 2010 festivities in Dallas, James now says he's "50-50" about taking part.

LeBron James' Full Court Shot (VIDEO)

2009-12-02T14:46:38Z

The Cleveland Cavaliers finished their Monday practice with some touch football, making for what would be an uneventful video clip were it not for the footage of LeBron James sinking a full-court football shot. 15 seconds into the below video, LeBron heaves the ball across the court for a perfect, nothing-but-net basket. It is reminiscent of an old Powerade ad, which shows James nailing shot after full-court shot. Check out both clips below.

WATCH:

Get HuffPost Sports on Facebook and Twitter!

Dr. Jim Taylor: What Makes the Great Ones Great?

2009-12-02T10:50:37Z

So what do Tom Brady, LeBron James, Serena Williams, Tiger Woods, Usain Bolt, Annika Sorenstam, Michael Phelps, Lance Armstrong, and Lisa Leslie have that you don't?

This question has been on the minds of many people of late with the recent publication of Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers and Daniel Coyle's The Talent Code. If you have read these books, you might conclude that greatness has little to do with innate abilities -- intelligence or inborn physical capabilities -- and everything to do with motivation and circumstance. However, both authors are missing the obvious, particularly as it relates to sports: all of the mental strength and opportunity in the world won't help if you're not physically capable of performing at the highest level of sport. A teenage boy may have the best hook shot on Earth, but if he has only 5' 10" genes, he will not be posting up in the NBA. As the former Utah Jazz coach Frank Layden noted, "You can't teach height."

But, of course, innate physical ability isn't enough either. History is littered with "can't miss" kids who, well, missed -- "Did someone say Ryan Leaf?" Yes, you can get pretty far without it, but to be truly great, you must have it all: physiological gifts, opportunity, and finally, the psychological capabilities to take full advantage of them. If you look at these three contributors to performance, you really only have control over the last one: your mind.

In my work with athletes, I've been able to identify the five most important psychological qualities that distinguish the Wayne Gretzkys and the Candace Parkers from the rest of us.

Drive

The problem with superstar athletes is that you see the final result -- greatness -- but not all of the hours they put in on the court, field, track, or road. Whether you call it motivation, determination, or commitment, the great ones have it in spades. They just work as hard as they possibly can. And that drive is usually propelled by intense passion for their sport; they just love playing the game. Maria Sharapova, for all her seemingly natural talent, was the first on the court and the last off when she was a kid.

Confidence

I'm not talking arrogance, cockiness, or 'tude (Do you hear me, TO?). I'm talking about a deep and resilient belief in the great ones' ability to achieve their goals. They just know they will succeed even though they don't always. Back in the '80s, there was a poster of Michael Jordan taking a last second shot. The caption read something like: "I was given the ball 27 times with ten seconds left in the game and the winning shot in my hands...and I missed." That didn't stop him from wanting the ball and taking the shot. MJ believed he would make the next shot.

Calm

It's obvious, the great ones know how to handle pressure; they stay cool, calm, and collected when others around them are freaking out. Imagine taking an exam or giving a work presentation in front of 80,000 people who are letting you know in no uncertain terms they want you to fail. Remember "The Drive" by the 49ers against the Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII in 1989? The Niners, down 16-13, had 3:10 to move the ball 92 yards to win the game. Quarterback Joe Montana looked at his teammates in the huddle, smiled, and asked if anyone had noticed John Candy in the stands, ESPN reported. Everyone laughed, the pressure was taken down a notch, and Montana completed what was perhaps the most famous of his 31 fourth-quarter comebacks in an NFL game. Montana definitely earned his nickname, Joe Cool.

Focus

You can see it in eyes of great athletes, like laser beams locked onto whatever they need to concentrate on to get the job done. They are totally focused, blocking out distractions, whether competitors, expectations, fans, nerves, conditions, past mistakes, or future results. Can anyone focus better than Tiger? In big tournament after tournament, against the best golfers in the world, when everyone expects him to win, Tiger puts his head down, his eyes on the ball and the ball in the cup.

Emotions

Ah, emotions: the last and most misunderstood piece of the athletic greatness puzzle. Emotions impact the great ones in obvious and surprising ways. First, what emotions come to mind when you think of Peyton Manning? Probably none. Ahead or behind, the guy is as stoic as Socrates. It's as if he's had his emotions (and his personality; sorry Peyton) surgically removed. He is an emotional master.

Then, there's John McEnroe. Now wait a minute, I know what you're thinking: "You can't be serious!!" He seems like the antithesis of Peyton Manning - and an emotional basket case. Yet, he too mastered his emotions on the tennis court, using them to fire himself up and unnerve his opponent. Remember all of those times when he seemed to emotionally lose it over a bad call or raged against an umpire or himself. Did you ever notice what happened after he settled down? He usually won.

Sports Plays We're Thankful For This Year (VIDEO)

2009-11-26T12:53:51Z

We're thankful for many things this Thanksgiving, and among them are these ten amazing plays from 2009. May there be many more to come.

Get HuffPost Sports on Facebook and Twitter!

Len Berman: Top 5 Sports Stories

2009-11-19T10:46:48Z

Happy Thursday everyone, here's my Top 5 for November 19, 2009 from
Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.

1. Quick Hits

Mike Scioscia is named the American League manager of the year. Jim
Tracy of Colorado wins the NL award. The Rockies immediately announce
a new 3 year contract for Tracy.

LeBron James says (he says a lot of things) that he could make it in
the NFL. Browns Coach Eric Mangini says "C'mon down." Why not, nothing
else has worked in Cleveland.

South African runner Caster Semenya will be allowed to keep her
800-meter gold medal from the world track and field championships, and
her gender test will be kept confidential by South African officials.

The incredible shrinking golf tour. The LPGA will stage only 24
events next year, only 13 of them in the U.S. Down from 34 in 2008. It
will be cold turkey on lots of weekends for fans of ladies golf.

2. Yeah, but can he Score?

When the Kansas City Chiefs cut running back Larry Johnson, a K.C.
radio station asked me if I thought anyone would pick him up? I
immediately answered "yes." And Cincinnati has. That despite all of
Johnson's baggage. Assaults on women, disparaging comments about gays.
Personal problems? Who cares if you can score touchdowns. Reminds me
of Jim Bouton's line, "Hey Charlie Manson, sure you've had a few bumps
in the road, but you batted .327 last year....."

3. Performance Enhancers

As if sports isn't complicated enough. Drugs, gender testing, how
about artificial limbs? Double amputee Oscar Pistorius runs on metal
legs. They call him the "Blade Runner." He's been ruled eligible to
compete with able bodied runners, but he failed to qualify for the
Beijing Olympics. Now, a new study claims Pistorius has an unfair
advantage, as much as 10 seconds in a 400 meter race. The findings are
being published today in the Journal of Applied Physiology.
Pistorius is aiming for the 2012 London Olympics. I can see it now.
Lawsuits, restraining orders. A feel good story about overcoming
handicaps turning into an Olympic-sized headache.

4. Bad News Good News

The Wall Street Journal took a hard look at all the drug policies in
sports. Of the 4 major sports leagues, Major League baseball came out
the worst, and that seems to be the league everyone talks about the
most. (It's all about home runs.) The good news for Major League
Baseball is they rank better than bowling. The Professional Bowlers
Association doesn't test for drugs, but drinking and bowling is not
allowed. If that applied to amateur bowling, bowling would have to
close up shop.

5. The Final Words

As we continue the debate on PC or Un-PC sports names. Subscriber
D.R. writes: "Concerning the item about the St. John's Redmen
(changed to Red Storm), I am always puzzled that the critics avoid the
Fighting Irish, or the Penn Quakers. Why are those names not a
problem, but Redmen is?" Subscriber A.V. is fed up, he wonders "Will
all super tall individuals now go after the NY Giants?"

Happy Birthday: That little gymnast who helped the U.S. women win the
Olympic gold in Atlanta in 1996 on a bad ankle, Kerri Strug. 32.
Bonus Birthday: The king of talk, Larry King. 76.

Today in Sports: Dodger great Sandy Koufax hangs 'em up. He was just
30. 1966.

Bonus Event: Abe started out by saying at Gettysburg "Four score and
7 years ago...." 1863.

I'll be appearing on NBC's Today Show tomorrow morning to talk about
my new kids book, The Greatest Moments in Sports.
You can vote for your greatest sports moment at my web site
ThatsSports.com

LeBron James-Jamario Moon Alley-Oop (VIDEO)

2009-11-19T09:13:11Z

Last night's game against the Wizards did not go too well for LeBron James. Although he scored 34 points and had nine assists on the night, the Cleveland Cavs lost by 17, 108-91, in Washington. One positive moment occurred with just more than a minute remaining in the third quarter. With Cleveland trailing by five points, LeBron began driving towards the basket before pausing and firing a strike to teammate Jamario Moon, who caught the pass while airborne for the dramatic alley-oop.

WATCH:

Here are highlights of the rest of Washington's victory over the Cavs.

WATCH:

The AP has more:

(AP)

WASHINGTON -- LeBron James was stymied down the stretch by DeShawn Stevenson, Antawn Jamison delivered 31 points and 10 rebounds in his season debut, and the Washington Wizards beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 108-91 Wednesday night to end a six-game losing streak.

Wearing a white protective sleeve over the right shoulder that sidelined him since October, Jamison looked in midseason form from the start, scoring 13 points in the first quarter.

James finished with 34 points and nine assists, but he scored only six points in the fourth quarter while shooting 3 for 7. No one else scored more than 10 points for Cleveland, which was without the injured Shaquille O'Neal and Anderson Varejao.

The Cavaliers had been figuring out how to play short-handed, winning five consecutive games heading into Wednesday. But after racing to a 17-point lead in the second quarter, they allowed the Wizards to come back, led mainly by Jamison.

He did have help. Gilbert Arenas began 3 of 16 - and finished 6 for 22 - but wound up with 18 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and Caron Butler had 19 points. The Wizards finally got to put all three of their past All-Stars on the court at the same time.

Jamison injured his shoulder during an exhibition game last month against Cleveland, coincidentally, and after that healed, he was sidelined with the flu.

After Jamison's jumper put Washington ahead 60-57 midway through the third quarter, James went into take-over-the-game mode for the next 1 1/2 minutes. He made three consecutive 3-pointers, a personal 9-0 run that gave the Cavaliers a 66-60 lead.

But Butler and Andray Blatche combined for 11 points during a 16-2 run that put the Wizards ahead 95-78 with a little more than 6 minutes remaining. Much of that stretch came with James taking a breather on the sideline.

When he returned to the court, instead of leading a comeback, James became part of the problem. He turned the ball over with an errant pass. He shot an airball on a jumper. He fouled Stevenson, his old pseudo-rival from postseasons past. He missed another jumper, with Stevenson in his face. And then James was whistled for a technical for arguing that a foul - and not a jump ball - should have been called when Stevenson's hand stopped the reigning league MVP on a drive to the basket.

NOTES: James had seven assists in the first quarter. ... The Wizards were without F Fabricio Oberto (left hamstring). ... Cleveland didn't have O'Neal (strained shoulder) or Varejao (bruised hip), but Jamario Moon did play despite spraining his left ankle in Tuesday's victory over Golden State. Moon had 10 points and five rebounds. Local sports stars Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green of the Capitals, and Ryan Zimmerman of the Nationals were in the sellout crowd of 20,173.

Mangini: "I Think" LeBron "Should Come On Down" To Play Football

2009-11-18T14:08:41Z

BEREA, Ohio — If LeBron James truly believes he can help the Cleveland Browns, coach Eric Mangini has an orange helmet waiting for him.

"I think he should come on down," Mangini said, smiling. "I know he's pretty busy right now, but if he wants to give it a shot, the guy is gifted. He's competitive and tough. I'm sure whatever he applied himself to, he'd probably be good in baseball or soccer or swimming."

LeBron James' Dunks VIDEO: LeBron Slams Two Mighty Dunks Against Warriors

2009-11-18T04:52:31Z

LeBron James was a human highlight reel in last night's game against the Golden State Warriors, and he accentuated his offensive performance with two beautiful dunks. The first occurred with just over 6:30 left in the third quarter, when LeBron found an open lane and took it to the hoop. His second dunk, also down the middle, occurred with 4.6 seconds remaining in the third quarter. The two dunks weren't James' only highlights of the night. Late in the first quarter he seemingly came out of nowhere to forcefully block what looked to be a sure-fire Monta Ellis layup. James finished with 31 points and 12 assists in a 114-108 Cavs win.

WATCH THE DUNKS:

Get HuffPost Sports on Facebook and Twitter!

LeBron James' Block Rejects Monta Ellis (VIDEO)

2009-11-18T02:05:06Z

Late in the first quarter of Cleveland's game against Golden State tonight, Warriors guard Monta Ellis streaked down the court and appeared ready to score two points to pull Golden State within three of the Cavs. But LeBron James appeared out of nowhere to record a devastating block on the potential layup. (See video below.) The Cavs went on to win, 114-108, and James finished with 31 points and 12 assists. Monta Ellis led Warriors scorers with 23 points.

WATCH:

Get HuffPost Sports on Facebook and Twitter!

LeBron James: "I Could Be Really Good" At Football

2009-11-18T01:39:13Z

CLEVELAND — LeBron James watched the Cleveland Browns get shut out by Baltimore on Monday night and came to one simple conclusion: He could help.

"If I put all my time and commitment into it, if I dedicated myself to the game of football, I could be really good," the Cavaliers superstar said before facing the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night. "No matter what team I was on."

Len Berman: Top 5 Sports Stories

2009-11-16T13:03:20Z

Happy Monday everyone, here's my Top 5 for November 16, 2009 from Len
Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.

1. Quick Hits

Thanks to a strange gamble by Patriots coach Bill Belichick, the
Indianapolis Colts staged an improbable comeback to beat New England
35-34 and run their record to 9-0.

While USC and Notre Dame hit the skids, Ohio State will hit the road
for the Rose Bowl for the first time in 13 years.

They were celebrating in the Phillipines, as Manny Pacquiao stopped
Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas in the 12th round. Pacquiao won the WBO
welterweight crown, his 7th title in 7 different weight classes.

On the undercard Yuri Foreman won the WBA Super welterweight
championship. He's studying to become a rabbi. A boxing rabbi. Is that
kosher?

20-year old Michelle Wie wins her first LPGA tournament, the Lorena
Ochoa Invitational in Mexico.

Way to go Knicks. They passed over Brandon Jennings in the draft. He
scored 55 points for Milwaukee Saturday night. Maybe the Knicks should
just turn off the lights.

2. The Numbers Game

Wow. LeBron James says he wants to stop wearing # 23 and wants the
number retired league-wide in honor of Michael Jordan. He will switch
to #6 next season. Let the conspiracy theories begin. Is he going to
play for Chicago? Does he hope to sell more jerseys? The only players
retired league-wide in sports are Jackie Robinson's # 42 in baseball.
(When Mariano Rivera retires, nobody will wear it.) And Wayne
Gretzky's #99 in hockey. But Michael Jordan? Why not Wilt Chamberlain?
How about Babe Ruth? Retired numbers are getting like the Hall of
Fame. Watered down.

3. Crime and Punishment

You've probably heard that the NFL fined Chad Ochocinco of Cincinnati
$20-thousand. Ochocinco had a dollar bill in his hand and was thinking
about offering it to the refs while they were reviewing a replay. The
league cited the rulebook, in part the rule that prohibits abusive,
threatening or insulting language or gestures toward officials. They
also have this thing about players carrying props. OK, I get it. But
you have to admit what Ochocinco did was amusing. There's a reason the
NFL stands for No Fun League.

4. Wardrobe

Tiger Woods won the Australian Masters golf tournament, so he got the
coveted "Golden Jacket." His winning share was $252-thousand. Pocket
change for him. Then again his appearance fee was $3-million. So not a
bad haul down under, $3.25 million AND a sport coat. At least if you
hit a homer off the Abe Stark sign at the old Ebbets field, you won
the entire suit.

5. Fore or Two?

Here's the perfect gift for the golfing lady in your life. A bra that
turns into a putting green. Leave it to the Japanese. The bra is
adorned with a golf ball, tee, and miniature flag. You unroll it
(stretches to 5 feet), lay it on the floor and putt away to your
heart's content. You have two cups to aim at. It also comes with a
cute little skirt that has the words "Be Quiet" written on the rear.
Oh, when you sink your putt, you hear "nice shot" from a built in
speaker, in Japanese. By the way the same company brings you the Solar
Power Bra, and the Chopsticks Bra. Don't ask.

Happy Birthday: Dr. K, former Met and Yankee pitcher Dwight Gooden.
45.
Bonus Birthday: Cosby Show actress Lisa Bonet. 42.

Today in Sports: Bill Russell sets an NBA record with 49 rebounds
against the Philadelphia Warriors. His record was broken (Wilt, 55),
but his 32 rebounds in one half that night is a mark that still
stands. 1957.

Bonus Event: LSD is first created in a lab in Switzerland. It took 5
years to realize that LSD was hallucinogenic. What were they smoking?
1938.

Len Berman: Top 5 Sports Stories

2009-11-13T10:59:07Z

TGIF everyone, here's my Top 5 for November 13, 2009 from
www.ThatsSports.com.

1. Quick Hits

That didn't take long. The first NBA coach gets fired, Byron Scott
in New Orleans. The Hornets are 3 and 6.

In Thursday night football, The 49ers beat the Bears 10-6.

If you're wondering why in the world Tiger Woods is playing a golf
tournament in Australia this week (he leads by 3 shots after 2
rounds), he's getting a $3-million appearance fee.

Tommy can you hear me? Word is The Who will perform at halftime of
the Super Bowl.

2. Glimmer of Hope

I was at a sports/business conference yesterday and shared a panel
with MSG President Scott O'Neil. The audience didn't care about the
business of sports, they wanted to know if the Knicks will sign LeBron
James. O'Neill couldn't comment specifically for fear of tampering.
But he emphatically said Knick fans are going to be very very happy
for the next decade. Take from that, what you will. Here's another
tidbit to make Knick fans drool. The other night in Orlando, James
wore Nike basketball shoes with "New York" stitched on one, and "27"
on the other. To commemorate the Yankees 27th world championship.

3. Helmet Heads

The Wall Street Journal ran an interesting article the other day. It
suggested one way to cut down on head injuries in football is to do
away with helmets. Counter-intuitive eh? The theory is without
helmets, the players aren't so reckless. And the helmets don't do much
to protect the brain in the first place Phil Esposito once told me,
the way to eliminate stick swinging in hockey is to get rid of hockey
helmets. Same theory. Players will make nice without all that
protective gear. But football without helmets? They wouldn't all
appear to be gladiators. We would be able to tell the players apart.
They'd actually look human. Is that what we really want?

4. Friday Mailbag

When I suggested by altering the color of his skin, Sammy Sosa, who
also doctored his bat and flunked a drug test might have won the
"alteration triple crown" B.B. wrote: "I think he actually got a
"golden sombrero".... isn't he the same guy who somehow forgot how to
speak/understand English during the 2 1/2 hour flight from Miami to
D.C. for the congressional hearings on steroids?"

M.P. is really annoyed by the Giants losing streak. She writes " The
Giants are so predictable in their play calling it's as if they are
telegraphing their plays. I have season tickets to the Giants for over
35 years and the disappointments far outweigh their three Super Bowl
wins."

Editor's Note: Wow M.P. Be glad you're not a Jets fan.

From New York sports fan J.W. "The Giants suck, the Jets suck, the
Knicks suck , the Nets suck and I cannot watch hockey."
Editor's Note: I'm guessing you're kinda looking ahead to the next
baseball season.

And when I mentioned a certain man on the flying trapeze from 1859,
D.P. wrote: "Jules Leotard? What's next, Jacques Strapp?"

5. Line of the Week

The Bonus event the other day was the 40th anniversary of Sesame
Street. Sportswriter Dwight Perry in the Seattle Times noted the
occasion with: "Today's sports column is brought to you by the letters
P-E-D (performance enhancing drugs) and the symbol $."

Happy Birthday: Former Yankee pitcher and pitching coach Mel
Stottlemyre. 68.
Bonus Birthday: Comedian/Actress Whoopi Goldberg. 54.

Today in Sports: Harvard and Yale play the first college football
game wearing uniforms. I guess before that they didn't wear anything.
1875.

Bonus Event: A guy named Benjamin Franklin wrote a letter that said,
"In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and
taxes." 1789.

I'll have a book signing tonight in Clinton, New Jersey. Clinton Book
Shop. 6:30pm.

LeBron James' New Number: Change To 6 Honors Michael Jordan

2009-11-13T04:50:08Z

*** SCROLL DOWN TO SEE LEBRON EXPLAIN THE DECISION ***

(AP) CLEVELAND -- LeBron James wants NBA players to give up their No. 23s to honor Michael Jordan.

The Cavaliers superstar, who has worn 23 since he was a high school sophomore, believes players should pay tribute to Jordan for the Hall of Famer's impact on the game.

"I just think what Michael Jordan has done for the game has to be recognized in some way – soon," James said. "There would be no LeBron James, no Kobe Bryant, no Dwyane Wade, you name all the best players in the league right now and the last 10 years, there would be none of us without Michael Jordan."

James made the comments following the Cavs' win in Miami on Thursday night. The news was first reported by The Plain Dealer.

James said he has been considering the change for some time. He's willing to switch to No. 6 – his U.S. Olympic team number – and wants to start a petition to get every player in the league wearing 23 to give up the number.

"It's time," James said. "He's the best basketball player we've ever seen. Mike does it on the court and off the court. If you see 23, you think about Michael Jordan. You see guys flying through the air, you think about Michael Jordan. You see game-winning shots, you think about Michael Jordan. You see fly kicks, you think about Michael Jordan. He did so much, it has to be recognized, and not just by putting him in the Hall of Fame."

Jordan sat courtside on Thursday when James scored 34 points to lead the Cavs to their sixth win in seven games.

"He can't get the logo, and if he can't, something has to be done," James said, referring to the NBA logo that's modeled on a silhouette of Jerry West. "I feel like no NBA player should wear 23. Nobody. If I'm not going to wear No. 23, then nobody else should be able to wear it."

James must formally notify the NBA by early March if he plans to change numbers. He has not done so yet. Players generally must wear a number five years before they can apply to switch.

The reigning MVP frequently wears No. 6 as a practice jersey with the Cavaliers. He wears that number because his second-favorite player is Julius "Dr. J" Erving and it holds other special meaning.

"I wore 32 back in high school because Dr. J wore it at first," he said. "My first child was born on Oct. 6, my second child was born in June. If I'm not going to wear 23, I'm going to wear 6."

WATCH: