For the second straight year, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is the highest paid athlete in the United States.

The boxer, who calls his closest associates “The Money Team,” is projected to make about $90 million this year. That’s $30 million more than runner-up LeBron James who will earn about $56.5 million this year.

Unlike Mayweather, the majority of James’ money will come from endorsements. The NBA star is regarded by most as the game’s best current player but he isn’t the highest paid. James took a reduced contract when he joined the Miami Heat in order to allow the team to employ fellow super-stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

James told USA Today earlier this year: “I have not had a full max deal yet in my career — that’s a story untold … I don’t get (credit) for it. That doesn’t matter to me; playing the game is what matters to me. Financially, I’ll sacrifice for the team. It shows for some of the top guys, it isn’t all about money. That’s the genuine side of this, it’s about winning. I understand that. If you want the truth, if this was baseball, (my salary would) be up. I mean way up there.”

MLB players do have some pretty high salaries. Alex Rodriguez and Zach Greinke both made the list with a $29 million salary. The two baseball players finished 9th and 10th on the list, however, as neither player has any major endorsement deals.

Drew Brees, on the other hand, combined his $40 million salary and nearly $20 million in endorsements to land the third place spot on the highest paid athlete list.

Kobe Bryant finished in fourth ahead of golfers Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

The 7th person on the list earned $33 million despite the fact that he never played this season. Yep, Derrick Rose is one of the highest paid athletes on the planet at the moment.

From just 2 bouts this year, @floydmayweather will earn at least $90MM. Making him No. 1 on this year’s #Fortunate50: on.si.com/15Mo0ML

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) May 15, 2013

[Image Via Sports Illustrated]

Highest Paid Athlete: Floyd Mayweather Jr. Beats Out Tiger Woods, LeBron James is a post from: The Inquisitr

LeBron James has responded to the Chicago Bulls’ flopping accusations and he isn’t too pleased with having to deal with the situation in the first place. James spoke with the media during practice on Sunday and he revealed that he’s not a “flopper” at all.

“I don’t need to flop,” James said. “I play an aggressive game. I don’t flop. I’ve never been one of those guys.”

James’ response comes just days after the controversial play in Game 3 against the Bulls on Friday. In the first quarter, he got into a scuffle with Bulls’ center Nazr Mohammed that ended with a technical foul and an ejection.

Mohammed pushed James to the ground during the heat of the moment and the Bulls believe the Heat’s superstar exaggerated in his fall. The 28-year-old slid across the court in a dramatic scene though Mohammed’s shove wasn’t as harmful as it looked.

“From my angle, I just saw a guy flop,” Bulls’ coach Tom Thibodeau said after the game, which led to a $35,000 fine from the NBA.

LeBron James received the technical foul on the play while Nazr Mohammed was ejected from the game. Mohammed left the court to a stading ovation from the fans at the United Center.

The controversial play was critical for the Bulls, who were already without Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich due to injury. The Heat went on to win Game 3 by a score of 104-94 to take a 2-1 series lead as James finished with 25 points.

The talk remains focused on the “flop,” but James won’t let it get the best of him as the series moves on to game 4 in Chicago on Monday.

“What I said is what I said, but I don’t want to get involved too much with what everybody else says about us, about me,” James added on Sunday. “It’s nothing I haven’t heard before in my career. It’s nothing. … I’m here to play basketball and do whatever it takes for our team to win. So what a coach and players say to me and about me, I don’t really care.”

The dispute will come to a rest on Monday night, or possibly get worse if the physical play keeps up. The series has been extremely aggressive and tensions are sure to rise again as the Bulls look to even the series at two games apiece.

Do you believe LeBron James flopped on purpose in Game 3?

[Image via Keith Allison]

LeBron James: ‘I Don’t Need To Flop’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

LeBron James took a dramatic flop against the Chicago Bulls on Friday night and now Chicago is going after the Heat star for what they call a badly choreographed acting job.

Following the game Nate Robinson told Yahoo Sports:

“You see LeBron in a lot of commercials, a lot of good acting.”

NBA fans have long known that LeBron for all his skill on the court also loves to gain an edge wherever possible. Push him the wrong way and his giant frame goes flying, knock into him and suddenly its the worst offense in the history of professional basketball.

On Friday night LeBron James threw Nazr Mohammed to the ground as he attempted to stop a fast break. In response to his obvious attack James was handed a technical foul. Not believing he got all he deserved Mohammed Nazr quickly threw LeBron to the ground.

As James slide to the court he then appears to keep sliding backward for an infinite amount of time. On video the slide was an obvious embellishment but it was also enough to get Nazr ejected from the game.

After the game even Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau attacked the obvious LeBron James flop:

“From my angle, I just saw a guy flop.”

Bulls power forward Taj Gibson then compared LeBron to Michael Jordan, noting, ”MJ would get fouled and he would just keep playing. That’s old-school basketball.”

The Miami Heat in the meantime might get the last laugh, they continue play against the Chicago Bulls on Monday night and they do so with a 2-1 lead over Chitown.

Check out the LeBron James flop video and let us know if you think LeBron was engaging in a bit of overacting:

Seems like a pretty obvious flop from where I’m sitting.

Chicago Bulls Mock LeBron James’ Thespian Skills After Dramatic Flop is a post from: The Inquisitr

If you’ve been paying attention to the NBA playoffs this year, you’re probably aware of one resounding fact: The Chicago Bulls have no chance against the Miami Heat. Well, you might want to re-evaluate your playoff expectations. The Bulls beat the Heat during the first game of the series tonight in Miami.

It was a huge win for the Bulls who played once again without Loul Deng, Kirk Hinrich, and, of course, Derrick Rose. Oh, and Nate Robinson had to leave the game to get six stitches in his lip after a collision with LeBron James.

The little man came back for the second half and he came back big. Robinson scored 27 points and was huge for the Bulls down the stretch. The Bulls went on a 10-0 run to end the game with Robinson adding 7 of those ten points.

Coach Tom Thibodeau said: “He’s about as confident as they come and that’s the thing that makes him good. He always thinks he’s hot. He’s never afraid. He has the courage to take and make.”

The Bulls were undermanned for game one and will be for the remainder of the playoffs, but they managed to stifle Miami’s offensive weapons. The Heat were held to just 37 points in the first half, the team’s lowest total for the season, and just 86 points for the game. The league’s MVP LeBron James was the only Miami Heat player to show some offensive power but that wasn’t until the second half.

James was held to just two points in the first half. He would end up with 24 for the night but it was too little and too late.

Dwyane Wade was the only other Heat player to score more than 10 points. Wade ended with 14 while Bosh, Chalmers and Haslem were all held to nine points or less.

The Bulls, on the other hand, had five guys with a double digit scoring night. Nate Robbinson led the way with 27 while Jimmy Butler, who was tasked with guarding James all night, added 21. Taj Gibson added 13 and Marco Bilinelli added 10. Joakim Noah gave the Bulls 13 points as well as 11 rebounds. It was an off night for Carlos Boozer who only added 6 points but Bulls big man took down 14 rebounds.

The Bulls were able to steal one tonight in Miami but they’re going to have to play better if they want a chance to beat the Heat.

Thibs added: “This is just one game. We’re going to have to play a lot better in the next one.”

Are you surprised that the Chicago Bulls won tonight? Do you think they have a chance to knock out the Miami Heat?

Bulls Beat The Heat In Game 1 is a post from: The Inquisitr

LeBron James came within one vote of history. He’ll have to settle for his fourth MVP award, putting him in rare company.

For nearly the entire 2013 NBA season, it seemed a foregone conclusion that James would be taking the MVP award. He perfected a deadly low-post game, upping his field goal percentage north of 50 percent and scoring nearly at will from all parts of the floor.

James was also a major reason the Heat had a near-record 27-game winning streak, and for a long stretch of the streak he had both 25 points and 60 percent or better shooting from from the field.

For the season James 26.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.3 assists this season,shooting 56 percent and leading Miami to the NBA’s best record at 66-16.

“He’s a total team guy,” teammate and friend Dwyane Wade said. “He’s humble. … He’s special. He understands the gift God gave him and he understands not many have it and it doesn’t last for too long and he wants to make sure he maximizes it.”

LeBron James ended one vote shy of a unanimous MVP, with Carmelo Anthony also netting one first-place vote. The Most Valuable Player Award is voted on by a panel of broadcasters and writers who cover the NBA.

Shaquille O’Neal was the only other player to come so close to a unanimous MVP award, as he he also took 120 of 121 possible votes in the 1999-2000 balloting.

One four other players have won the NBA MVP award four times. LeBron James joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. James has won his four in a five-year span, a feat matched only by Russell.

“I’m a historian of the game. I know these guys paved the way for myself and the rest of us who are now active. It’s very humbling,” LeBron James said on Saturday.

LeBron James now will attempt to add another NBA championship to his fourth MVP award. The Miami Heat swept the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round and are favored over the Chicago Bulls in round two.

LeBron James Misses Unanimous MVP By One Vote is a post from: The Inquisitr

LeBron James is off to a hot start in the NBA playoffs and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player on Friday, but that isn’t all he’s up to these days. The NBA superstar is taking generosity to a new level by funding his high school’s gym renovations.

James is donating $1 million to his alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary’s School in Akron, Ohio, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. The school’s gym has needed an upgrade for some time and the hometown star was more than willing to make it happen.

During the process, James will have a say in the redesign which reportedly includes a new playing surface, upgraded locker rooms, and more seating for guests. The 28-year-old will be right in the mix and plans on helping during renovations.

“I’m a hands-on guy and this is going to be more hands-on because it’s something that means a lot to me,” James told the Beacon-Journal about the renovation plans. “I’ll try to be hands on with Coach Dru, with the school, with the floor, the locker rooms, the bleachers. … I have a good sense of what stadiums or arenas or schools or gyms should look like.”

His heart will always have a place for Akron, no matter where he is or who he’s “posterizing” on the court. James became a worldwide superstar coming out of St. Vincent-St. Mary’s when he was drafted No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers of his home-state in the 2003 NBA Draft.

As the most electrifying player in the NBA, James shocked the world off the court in 2010 when he decided to “take his talents” to South Beach and join the Miami Heat. Many who once called him a hero were suddenly burning his jerseys and thrashing him all over social media.

Nevertheless, LeBron James continued to return home and hold charity events, fundraisers, and the occasional shootaround at a local park. Since leaving for Miami, he’s become the most influential athlete in the NBA next to Kobe Bryant and has widely been considered the rightful heir to Michael Jordan.

He’s well on his way to defending the NBA Championship after a quick sweep of the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round and once the playoffs are over he will regularly return home to help out at his old high school. Outside of the gym renovations, James is also supplying the entire athletic department with new Nike jerseys for the 2013-14 season.

Is LeBron James the most generous athlete in sports? What other athletes have gone above and beyond to help those in need?

[Image via Keith Allison]

LeBron James’ Generosity: Funding Alma Mater’s $1 Million Gym Renovation is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Miami Heat are looking like the team to beat after sweeping the Milwaukee Bucks out of the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

The defending league champions have actually looked an awful lot like the team to beat all season. Returning the same players that won the team its first NBA title last season is just one of the reasons so many prognosticators have them winning it all.

This is also the team that reeled off an impressive win streak in the middle of the season and if the team can refuse to lose for that length of time, you have to wonder how daunting the playoffs really look to them.

This was the first time that the team has managed a playoff sweep since the “Big 3″ era began. That era is marked by the convergence of Chris Bosh, Lebron James and Dwyane Wade in moves that were designed to make the team exactly as good as its looking right now.

The Miami Heat were led tonight by James who had 30 points on 12 of 20 shooting from the field. King James added eight rebounds and seven assists to dominate the game in several facets.

Coming off the bench, Ray Allen again showed why the team felt he was an important asset to acquire this season. Allen scored 16 points against his former team and averaged 16.5 points per game in the series against the Bucks.

Milwaukee looked every bit of the eighth seed going up against the number one seed in the east, as they lost all four games in the series by at least 11 points.

Now James and Wade will get a couple of days to rest, thanks to finishing off their first opponent so quickly. The team will next face off against the winner of the Chicago Bulls-Brooklyn Nets series. The Bulls lead that series 3-1 with game five coming on Monday night.

The sweep marked a team record eighth straight playoff victory for the Miami Heat dating back to last season.

Miami Heat Sweep Milwaukee Bucks Out Of The Playoffs is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Miami Heat jumped all over the Milwaukee Bucks in the second half Thursday night and went on to win Game 3 104-91. LeBron James was pivotal down the stretch once again as the Heat are now in position to close out the Bucks on Sunday afternoon at the Bradley Center.

James finished with 22 points, six assists, and five rebounds before spending most of the fourth quarter resting on the bench. Dwyane Wade couldn’t find a rhythm and went 1-for-12 shooting, but his teammates picked up the slack.

Chris Bosh finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds for a double-double while Chris Anderson pitched in 11 points and six rebounds in just under 14 minutes of game time. Ray Allen was lights out from behind the arc and finished five-for-eight from three-point land with 23 points off the bench.

Allen’s five three-pointers on the night gives him 322 in his playoff career, the most of all-time ahead of Reggie Miller by two. The 13-point win is the Heat’s 10th straight win dating back to the regular season.

Brandon Jennings made it known before the series that he believed his Bucks would take out the defending NBA champions in six games in the first round. Losses in the first two games on the road didn’t change Jennings’ outlook, but a series win in Game 6 is statistically impossible after the Heat held on to win Thursday.

The Bucks jumped out to an early lead after shooting 57 percent from the floor in the first quarter. A string of three-pointers extended the Bucks lead to 10-points, their biggest lead of the series, but the Heat stormed back just before the half.

Allen hit three of his five three-pointers in the last four minutes of the half to cut the Bucks lead to two going into the break. The third quarter was all Miami as Udonis Haslem started a 24-7 run that gave the Heat a 78-68 lead going into the fourth.

The Heat then began pulling away as Ray Allen hit his record-breaking three-pointer with 8:38 to play for a 17-point lead. The Bucks once again struggled to fend off any run the Heat had to offer and will now try to avoid a first-round sweep, much less win the series.

Dwyane Wade struggling shooting in Game 3, but insists he’ll be ready to go on Sunday as the Heat look to finish off the Bucks.

“It’s over now,” Wade said about his performance. “Now we have to focus on closing the series out.”

A quick sweep of the Bucks looks to be in the Heat’s near future as they have yet to play their best basketball and have still managed to win each of the first three games by double-digits.

Will the Miami Heat sweep the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center on Sunday? Can anyone slow down the Heat as they continue their quest for back-to-back NBA Championships?

[Image via Keith Allison]

Heat Hold Off Bucks 104-91 To Take 3-0 Series Lead is a post from: The Inquisitr

The adorable LeBron fan kiss caught on video after the Miami Heat beat the Boston Celtics 109-101 is just another reason why the fans love LeBron James. He isn’t just a great player. He seems to really interact with people.

In the video clip, he takes the time to give a wide-eyed little girl his headband and a kiss. She’ll be telling that story for the rest of her life.

It’s somewhat reminiscent of the scene in a February home game against the Los Angeles clippers. The ball went into the sidelines, and a fan lobbed it back to James. The playful LeBron James then used an “NBA-level chest pass” to zip it right back, and there was a confused moment of playing catch before the fan returned the ball for the final time.

“This is the most exciting thing I ever lived in my life,” the effusive fan told an ESPN reporter — even though he didn’t get to keep the ball.

After missing three games due to a strained hamstring, LeBron James returned to play on April 6 in the 106-87 game against the Philadelphia 76ers. He scored 27 points and helped set a franchise record of 60 victories.

In the Friday night victory against the Celtics, the so-called Miami Heat “big three” of Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade played together for the first time since March 29. It was an exciting game, as Corey Mann previously reported, with the 41-point second quarter becoming their highest scoring quarter this year.

But life isn’t all basketball all the time for LeBron James.

According to the National Weather Service, LeBron James is also a concerned citizen who doesn’t sit back and let somebody else call in a street flooding report. He wanted to make sure that the public was aware of Miami street flooding he observed during Saturday’s stormy weather.

Useful storm reports can come from anyone! MT @nwsmiami: Even #LeBron James reports the weather! twitter.com/NWSMiami/statu…

— NWS Wilmington OH (@NWSILN) April 14, 2013

LeBron kisses fan after Heat sink Celtics by FOX_Sports_Interactive

Awwww.  Isn’t the LeBron fan kiss just too cute?

[LeBron James photo by Domenic Gareri / Shutterstock.com]

LeBron Fan Kiss Has Viewers Going “Awwww” [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Miami Heat’s “Big Three” in Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade have not played together since March 29th, but they returned to action Friday night as the Heat rolled past the Boston Celtics 109-101. LeBron James led the way with 20 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.

James went 8-for-10 from the floor as the Heat went on to win their 35th home game of the season. Bosh finished with 17 points and seven rebounds in his return while Wade added 11 points and seven rebounds.

The Celtics jumped out to a 10-point lead after the first quarter, but the Heat went on a tear in the second and jumped out to an 8-point lead at the half. The Heat’s 41-point second quarter was their highest scoring effort in a quarter this year.

The Celtics got within five points of the Heat in the third quarter, but the Heat’s bench stepped up and brought the lead to 12 points before the final frame. Rashard Lewis had a big night and finished with 19 points off the bench as the Heat have now won five straight.

Ray Allen and Norris Cole were also effective off the bench and combined to shoot six-for-seven from behind the arc. The Heat broke a franchise record with their 62nd win of the season against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday and now have three games left before the playoffs.

The Heat’s “Big Three” will more than likely play Sunday against the Chicago Bulls before resting over the final two games in preparation for the playoffs. The Celtics have now lost two straight but have clinched the seventh playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Celtics beat out the Milwaukee Bucks for the seventh spot, as the Bucks will now face the Heat in the first round. Miami has already clinched home-court advantage throughout the entirety of the playoffs and are expected to defend their NBA title.

With home-court advantage, the Heat will surely be tough to beat as they are second in the NBA this season with a 35-4 record at home. The Denver Nuggets are the only team with a better home record at 36-3.

The Heat look for revenge against the Bulls Sunday, as Chicago ended Miami’s historical 27-game winning streak in March. Miami’s focus will soon change to the Milwaukee Bucks for their first-round match-up.

The Heat finish the regular season this coming Wednesday against the Orlando Magic in their last tune-up before the playoffs. Can the Miami Heat ease their way through the final week and cruise past the Bucks in the first round?

[Image via Steve Jurvetson]

Heat Top Celtics 109-101 As ‘Big Three’ Return is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Miami Heat tied a franchise record for the most wins a season with their 61st win Tuesday night as they topped the Milwaukee Bucks 94-83. LeBron James led the way with 28 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists while throwing down one of his best dunks of the year.

Dwayne Wade missed his fifth straight game with an ankle and knee injury, but the Heat still came out on top after a run early in the second half. Chris Bosh also sat out against the Bucks due to flu-like symptoms, missing his second straight game.

Udonis Haslem finished with his first double-double of the season in the Heat’s big win, while Ray Allen and Norris Cole added 11 points apiece off the bench. Chris Anderson also contributed off the bench and attacked the paint, finishing with nine points and nine rebounds.

The Heat took a one point lead into halftime before Brandon Jennings opened up the second half with a jumper that gave the Bucks the lead. The Bucks lead wouldn’t last long as the Heat went on to outscore the Bucks by 13 points throughout the rest of the third quarter.

Miami never gave back the lead and held on for their third straight win and have tied the 1996-97 Heat’s record with 61 wins on the season. The Heat have five games left to break the record, and there’s a good chance it will happen Wednesday night against the Washington Wizards.

LeBron James will surely be a factor against the Wizards and will do his best to put on a show on the road in Washignton, D.C. The reigning MVP is already known for his athletic dunks and “posterizing” anyone who gets in his way.

James was at it again Tuesday and threw an alley-oop to himself off the backboard in the first quarter against the Bucks for one of the best dunks of the year.

Here’s a video of the dunk as the number one highlight in last night’s top 10 plays from NBA.com. You have to wait until the end of the video to see James’ dunk, but it is well worth it:

With one more win or a San Antonio Spurs’ loss, the Heat will clinch home court advantage throughout the entire playoffs including the NBA championship. As the teams stand right now in the East, the Heat will more than likely face the Bucks again in the first round of the playoffs.

The Bucks clinched the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference after beating the Toronto Raptors last Saturday. Milwaukee is only three points behind the Boston Celtics for seventh place, but only have five games left to make a move.

Jumping the Celtics for seventh place is highly unlikely, but it won’t hurt trying as no one wants to face the Heat in the first round. The Bucks beat the Heat 104-85 back in December, but the Heat have since went on a 27-game winning streak and won the final two meetings between the two teams.

The Miami Heat are the overwhelming favorite to repeat as NBA champions this season, and with LeBron James on his way to another MVP it’s hard to see anyone beating them.

Will the Miami Heat cruise into the playoffs and win their second straight NBA title? Can the Milwaukee Bucks make things interesting in the first round if they match-up with the Heat?
[Image via Keith Allison]

Heat Tie Franchise Record, Beat Bucks 94-83 [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Pat Riley has a pretty simple message for Boston Celtics manager Danny Ainge: “Shut the f— up.”

And that came from the Miami Heat’s official PR team.

Ainge criticized LeBron James this week after the Heat star complained that the Chicago Bulls should have been called for flagrant fouls during their game on Wednesday night.

James said: ‘Those are not basketball plays … And it’s been happening all year. It’s getting to me a little bit, because every time I try to defend myself, I’ve got to face the consequences of a flagrant for me or a technical foul or whatever the case may be.”

James was called for a flagrant foul after he lowered his shoulder into Carlos Boozer but Kirk Hinrich and Taj Gibson both got away with physical fouls on LeBron. After the game, Ainge stuck his nose into the controversy and said that James should be embarrassed for complaining about the calls.

Ainge said: “I think the referees got the calls right. I don’t think it was a hard foul. I think the one involving LeBron against Boozer, that was flagrant. I think the officials got it right … I think that it’s almost embarrassing that LeBron would complain about officiating.”

Pat Riley did not appreciate Ainge making fun of his star player so he did what any well-mannered NBA owner would do: He released a statement telling Ainge to shut the f—k up.

Riley said: “He needs to STFU and manage his own team. He was the biggest whiner going when he was playing. I know that because I coached against him.”

Message from Pat Riley: ” Danny Ainge needs to STFU.”Yes, this is real. Delivered by Heat spokesman Tim Donovan.

— Joseph Goodman (@JoeGoodmanJr) March 29, 2013

Pat Riley: Danny Ainge Needs To STFU And Worry About His Own Team is a post from: The Inquisitr

LeBron James said that he was upset about the physical play of the Chicago Bulls last night after the Miami Heat’s winning streak ended in the windy city.

But James didn’t have to say it. You could see it on the court.

In the fourth quarter, James showed his frustrations when he lowered his shoulder into Carlos Boozer and drew a flagrant 1 foul.

That was not a basketball play. That was a hockey check.

But that wasn’t the only play of the night that blurred the line between basketball and football and wrestling. During the postgame press conference, James said that he was upset about two hard Chicago fouls.

The first came from Kirk Hinrich during the first quarter. James was driving down the lane and Hinrich stepped up to take a charge… And then he wrapped his arms around James and tackled him.

Hinrich said: “With his speed and strength, you can’t take anything for granted … I still think I got the worst of it, obviously … I was trying to stop a 3 point play … I was just holding on for dear life.”

Here’s the video of Hinrich’s foul on James. Do you think this was a dirty play?

The second foul came later in the game when Taj Gibson knocked James to the ground while the Heat star was putting up a shot. The foul was originally called a flagrant but the refs downgraded the call to a personal foul after review.

Here’s the video of Taj Gibson’s foul on James.

James said: “I’m not sitting here crying about anything. I play the game at a high level, I play with a lot of aggression, I understand that some of the plays are on the borderline of a basketball play or not. But sometimes, you know, I don’t know … it’s frustrating…

“… I believe, and I know, that a lot of my fouls are not basketball plays. First of all, Kirk Hinrich in the first quarter basically grabbed me with two hands and brought me to the ground. And the last one, Taj Gibson was able to collar me around my shoulder and bring me to the ground.”

Do you think Lebron has a reason to be upset?

Should someone tell him that between Gibson, Hinrich and James, the Miami Heat player was the only one to be called for a flagrant foul? Carlos Boozer is the one who should be upset about non-basketball plays.

LeBron James Upset With Fouls After Bulls End Streak is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Miami Heat’s 27-game winning streak has come to an end after a devastating, 101-97 loss to the Chicago Bulls Wednesday night. The Bulls stepped up defensively and held off the Heat in the second half, ending their chase of the 1970-71 Los Angeles Lakers’ record 33 consecutive wins.

The Heat’s loss comes in Dwyane Wade’s return to the floor after missing two games due to a sore right knee. Wade finished with 18 points and seven rebounds while LeBron James led all scorers with 32 points.

The Bulls were without Joakim Noah for the third straight game due to a foot injury and star point guard Derrick Rose, who has been out the whole season and isn’t sure when he will return. Rose looked good in shootaround at the United Center early Wednesday but has yet to announce his comeback.

Luol Deng led the way for the Bulls, finishing with 28 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. The key moment of the game came late in the third quarter after the Heat erased the Bulls nine point halftime lead.

With the Heat losing 62-61, LeBron James threw up an airball, which turned into a Bulls fastbreak and ended when Jimmy Butler dunked over Chris Bosh off an alley-oop from Deng.

Here is a video of the dunk, though Lebron James’ airball is cut out:

Butler’s dunk brought the crowd to its feet as momentum shifted back into the Bulls favor going into the fourth quarter. Late in the fourth, LeBron James threw an elbow into Carlos Boozer’s chest and received a flagrant foul as frustration started to set in for the NBA’s leading MVP candidate.

Boozer attacked the boards all night and finished with a whopping 17 rebounds along with 21 points while Nate Robinson added 14 points off the bench. The Bulls have now won three straight games and have the next two days off before a meeting with the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday.

The Miami Heat’s 27-game win streak will go down as the second longest in NBA history, though the way they were playing made 33 games look very reachable. The Heat will look to start fresh in a meeting with the New Orleans Hornets on Friday before facing the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.

The game in San Antonio had been targeted as a possible streak-killer for the Heat, but the Bulls beat the Spurs to the punch and rattled LeBron James in the process. The Miami Heat’s streak ends at 27 straight wins, and the focus now turns to the playoffs as they look to defend their NBA title.

[Image via Keith Allison]

Miami Heat’s Win Streak Ends At 27 After 101-97 Loss To Chicago Bulls is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Miami Heat didn’t have Dwyane Wade, but it didn’t seem to matter.

The Heat easily handled the Orlando Magic on Monday 108-94 to push their season-best winning streak to 27 games, inching closer to the NBA all-time record. For the second consecutive night LeBron James flirted with a triple double, ending with 24 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds.

The Heat won the game with Dwyane Wade still out with a sore right knee.

The game was close through halftime, until the Heat went on a 13-o run that spanned the end of the third and beginning of the fourth quarter to seize control. The Miami lead reached as high as 20 points before Erik Spoelstra pulled his starters, bringing a look of feigned frustration from LeBron as he narrowly missed a triple-double.

Monday’s contest was a rare blowout between the two teams when they’ve faced this season. In two other meetings this year, the lowly Magic took the Heat to the wire before Miami pulled through in both games.

The Heat are now six games away from the all-time winning streak of 33 set by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1971-72. The steak seems to have captivated the country, even those who see the Heat as the villains of the NBA.

Even Lakers legend Jerry West — who played on the record-setting team — is on board.

West said he loves to watch the team play and is pulling for them to break the record. He had praise for LeBron in particular.

“He’s an amazing player,” West said last week. “And, frankly, I’m thrilled for him because of all the negative things said about him as a player. He’s improved as a player, but more importantly as a person.”

The win gives the Miami Heat the second-longest winning streak in all of American major sports. The baseball New York Giants won 26 straight games in 1916 and the New England Patriots won 21 straight over the span of 2003 and 2004.

Miami Heat Cruise To 27th Straight Victory With Dwyane Wade Still Out is a post from: The Inquisitr

Marshall Henderson didn’t have the greatest game of his career today but he did earn some attention from LeBron James.

Henderson went 1 for 11 during the first half but Ole Miss continued to give their shooter the green light. Henderson kept shooting and eventually started to connect. He hit a couple of big threes and ended the game with 19 points as Ole Miss upset the Wisconsin Badgers 57-46.

Henderson has a lot of critics for his “I’m going to shoot the ball no matter what” approach to the game but he also has some big name fans.

You know, people like LeBron James.

James on his Twitter account: “Man that dude Henderson from Ole Miss got the greenest light in basketball history!! Hahaha.”

Or, is that an insult?

Henderson definitely had the green light today and in the end it paid off but his play probably won’t get Ole Miss to the Final Four.

After the game, Charles Barkley said: “I have never had a problem with a guy having supreme confidence … Some guys fold under the spotlight when things aren’t going good. I agree with Lebron, too. He’s got the greenest light in the world, but he has to back it up. He didn’t back it up in the first half, backed it up in the second half.”

Are you a fan of Marshall Henderson?

Henderson admitted that today wasn’t his best game but that isn’t hurting his confidence.

I SUCK AND GET A LEBRON TWEET!!! HAHAHAHA I DONT WANNA HEAR NOBODY SAY NOTHIN, IVE MADE IT!!!

— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) March 22, 2013

LeBron James Tweets About Marshall Henderson After Ole Miss Victory [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Miami Heat won their 24th straight game Wednesday after rallying from 27-points down to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-95. The Heat matched the NBA’s biggest comeback this season and are within nine games of the Los Angeles Lakers win streak record, which sits at 33 straight wins.

LeBron James was stellar in Cleveland Wednesday, where he played his first seven seasons in the NBA before signing with the Heat in 2010. James finished the game with a triple-double including 25 points, 10 assists, and 12 rebounds.

The Cavaliers held a 67-40 lead with just under eight minutes left in the third quarter, but the Heat stormed back, closing the gap before taking the lead late in the fourth. James scored 14 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter alone including two free throws in the final seconds that held off the Cavaliers.

C.J. Miles had a chance to tie it at the buzzer with a three-pointer but missed long, allowing the Heat to sneak out of Cleveland with a win. Dwyane Wade finished with 11 points, six rebounds, and five assists while Mario Chalmers added 17 points.

The Cavaliers have now lost five straight games and were without star point guard Kyrie Irving Wednesday against the Heat due to a left shoulder injury. Wayne Ellington and Tyler Zeller, both products of the University of North Carolina, led the Cavaliers in the loss. Ellington finished with a team-high 20 points while Zeller added a double-double, ending with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

The Heat have now clinched the Southeast Division title, and they still have 15 games left to play. Their next three games are against teams at the bottom of the Eastern Conference as they take on the Detroit Pistons Friday, the Charlotte Bobcats on Sunday, and the Orlando Magic on Monday.

With the win at Cleveland, the Heat now have the best home and road records in the NBA. Miami is now 23-11 on the road, just ahead of the San Antonio Spurs for the best in the league. The Heat face-off with the Spurs on March 31, and, if their streak holds up, they will be at 30-games by the time they face the best team in the Western Conference.

All signs are pointing towards another title run for the Heat, no matter when their record streak ends. With the way Miami is capable of playing defense, there’s no way of telling if they will lose again this season. If LeBron James has anything to do with it, the odds are in the Heat’s favor.

Do the Heat have what it takes to pass the Lakers for the longest winning streak of all-time at 33-games?

Heat Win 24th Straight, Rally Past Cavaliers 98-95 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Celtics guard Jason Terry became the latest “dunk victim” when he was posterized by LeBron James on Monday night.

During the second quarter of the game between Miami and Boston, with the Heat trailing 48 to 35 at the time, Dwyane Wade picked Terry’s pocket in the backcourt, setting up a 3-on-1 fast break opportunity.

After the steal, Wade tossed the ball to teammate Mario Chalmers, who pushed it ahead to Norris Cole. Cole then threw up a lob to reigning MVP LeBron James, who took off from the middle of the paint and proceeded to throw down a vicious one-handed slam that sent Terry spiraling to the hardwood.

Adding insult to injury, Terry was whistled for a foul on the play. James picked up a technical for standing over Terry’s body after the dunk.

Following the throwdown, several hoops fans quickly took to Twitter, comparing the slam to DeAndre Jordan’s vicious dunk on Brandon Knight a week earlier.

Marc J. Spears from Yahoo! Sports asked:

“Most brutal to the little man? LeBron James over Jason Terry or DeAndre Jordan over Brandon Knight?”

ESPN’s Skip Bayless added:

“Apparently, LeBron still hasn’t gotten over the way Jason Terry trash-talked him into freezing up in the NBA Finals loss to Dallas.”

DeAndre Jordan eventually chimed in on LeBron’s dunk, writing:

hmmm touché sir…touché. lol

— DeAndre Jordan (@deandrejordan) March 19, 2013

When asked after the game if he regretted his decision to stop LeBron’s dunk, Terry said:

“No, I love it. I wish he could have taken him down before he got to the dunk. And I said the same thing about Brandon Knight. Listen, you should have fun, it was a great dunk.”

Check out each of LeBron and DeAndre’s dunks below and let us know which one you think is better in the comment section:

Jordan’s dunk on Knight:

James’ dunk on Jason Terry:

LeBron James Dunk: Jason Terry Gets Posterized In Celtics Loss [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Miami Heat beat the Boston Celtics 105-103 at the TD Bank Garden on Monday night to extend their NBA winning streak to a whopping 23 games.

Lebron James led the charge with 37 points for the Heat and scored the go-ahead basket with just over 1o seconds left to ensure the visitors left with the victory in front of a raucous crowd in Boston.

Miami now holds the second-longest winning streak in NBA history, surpassing the 2007-08 Houston Rockets who strung together 22 straight victories.

The Heat’s unbeaten run looked to be in serious jeopardy, as they were down 13 points with just over eight minutes to play in the fourth quarter but mounted a furious rally to record their first regular-season win in Boston in 11 tries.

Miami coach Erik Spoelstra was delighted with his team’s effort after the game and believes his players are ready to make history.

“It’s a special opportunity that we have with this group and you don’t want to take it for granted,” he said. “You want to treat every day as a special opportunity to be with this group, share these moments together, but more importantly to take a step closer to going after our goal.”

The Heat beat the Celtics despite a heroic effort from Jeff Green who poured in 43 points for the hosts in a losing effort. Boston was without the services of Kevin Garnett who was out with the flu and almost pulled out the win but Paul Pierce missed a three pointer with three seconds remaining.

Miami is now chasing the record set by the 1971-72 LA Lakers who won 33 games in a row and James realizes the Heat are in position to challenge that streak.

“It means a lot, I know the history of the game,” James stated. “To be sitting in second place right now… for us to be there and doing it the way we want to do it, it means a lot.”

The Miami Heat will now face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night at the Quicken Loans Arena.

Heat Beat Celtics To Extend Winning Streak To 23 Games is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Miami Heat beat the Toronto Raptors 108-91 Sunday for their 22nd straight win, dating back to a loss in Indiana against the Pacers Feb. 1. LeBron James led the Heat with a double-double, finishing with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists.

The Heat went on a 8-2 run to end the first quarter in Toronto and led by 12 at the half. The Raptors came alive in the third quarter and came within three points of the Heat after DeMar DeRozan’s jumper with nine seconds left.

Toronto made it a one-point game when Amir Johnson dunked on the Raptors first possession of the fourth quarter. Any momentum gained disappeared quickly as the Heat went on a 8-0 run just after the dunk, highlighted by a Dwyane Wade alley-oop from half-court.

Wade finished with 24 points and nine assists while Chris Bosh added 18 points including going 2-for-3 from behind the arc. With the win Sunday, the Miami Heat tied the second-longest winning streak in NBA history with the 2007-08 Houston Rockets at 22 straight games.

Rudy Gay, who was traded to the Raptors earlier this season from the Memphis Grizzlies, led all scorers Sunday with 27 points. Gay grabbed eight rebounds and Amir Johnson was great in the paint, finishing with 18 points and 18 rebounds in the loss.

The Raptors have now lost seven of their last 10 gamesbut face the worst team in the NBA Wednesday in the Charlotte Bobcats. The Raptors beat the Bobcats 92-78 Friday.

The Miami Heat face off with Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics on Monday in hopes of winning their 11th straight road game. Ray Allen signed with the Heat this past offseason after playing for the Celtics for five seasons. Allen is playing his best basketball during the Heat’s win streak, and scored 20 points off the bench Sunday.

The Heat have already clinched a playoff spot and hold the best record in all of the NBA, making this winning streak even sweeter. The defending NBA champions are the favorites again this year, and that’s a pretty good pick considering the Heat have beaten every team in the NBA at least once this season.

The Raptors are now eight games behind the Milwaukee Bucks for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference due to running into the Heat. The Miami Heat beat the Raptors Sunday after pulling away in the fourth quarter and show no signs of slowing down in their quest to repeat as the NBA champions.

Heat Beat Raptors, Extend Winning Streak To 22 Games is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Miami Heat won their 21st straight game in the NBA thanks to a convincing 107-94 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on Friday night.

Lebron James and Chris Bosh led the way with 28 points each, as Miami continued its impressive streak at the expense of everyone else in the league.

Bosh, who was 12-0f-16 in Friday’s triumph will return to his old stomping grounds in Toronto, where Miami’s winning streak began on February 3 with a 100-85 victory on Super Bowl Sunday.

Bosh revealed that it was Shane Battier who gave a passionate speech on that night and whose words still resonate deeply within the team.

“It was after that Super Bowl,” he said. “I guess the main focus was that you’re going to miss me when I am gone. He tied in everything in life to the Super Bowl.”

After trailing by one after the first quarter the Heat turned it on and took a nine-point lead into the half-time break and never looked back, despite a brief run in the fourth quarter by the Bucks.

Miami did receive a scare though early on when Dwayne Wade went down hard and had to leave the court with what team officials said was a neck strain. He was put through some concussion tests and passed and re-entered the game in the second quarter looking no worse for wear.

The 1971-72 LA Lakers hold the NBA record for the most consecutive wins in a season when they went 33 games without a loss and the Heat will face a tough stretch of three road games in the next week, including a marquee matchup against the Boston Celtics on Monday.

With another Miami Heat win on Sunday afternoon against the Toronto Raptors, they will equal the mark set by the Houston Rockets in 2007-08 when they posted 22 straight victories.

Miami Heat Win 21st Straight Game is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Miami Heat won 98-94 over the Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday for their 20th straight win. LeBron James scored 27 points for the Heat and added seven rebounds and eight assists in the win.

The Heat took a 12-point lead into the half before the 76ers went on 16-8 run to start the third quarter. The 76ers had cut the Heat’s lead to just five points going into the fourth.

Dwyane Wade  scored off a tip-in from a LeBron James miss with 30 seconds left in the game to preserve the victory for the Heat. Wade finished the game with 21 points, eight rebounds, and three assists.

Ray Allen contributed 12 points off the bench and shot 50 percent from behind the arc. Allen drained a 3-pointer with about five minutes remaining in the game to give the Heat an 89-86 lead.

The 76ers stuck with the Heat all night, and it took everything to put them away in the fourth quarter. Thaddeus Young led the 76ers with 24 points and 15 rebounds in the loss.

Jrue Holiday finished with 21 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists for the 76ers while Evan Turner added 15 points on 7-for-13 shooting. Dorell Wright scored 13 points off the bench for Philadelphia and helped the team close on Miami in the fourth quarter.

The 76ers have lost three games to the Heat during Miami’s 20-game win streak. Philadelphia will take on the Indiana Pacers Saturday and hope to get back on track after losing their last seven games of February and 6-of-8 games to start March.

LeBron James is the NBA’s reigning MVP, and he looks to be the front-runner again after posting great numbers to start the season. James has never been apart of a win streak like this and recognized his team after the game.

“We’ve just been resilient,” James said about his team. “This is another gutty win for us being the second out of a back-to-back.”

The Heat played the night before in a 98-81 win over the Atlanta Hawks, which may shed some light on why they never were able to put away the 76ers. Philadelphia stuck with the Heat down to the final minutes of the game as fatigue set in for the Heat who played their third game in four days Wednesday.

The Heat have a much needed day-off Thursday before a meeting with the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. The Heat’s 20-game winning streak in one season is tied for the third best ever. The Houston Rockets won 22 straight in 2007-08, and the Los Angeles Lakers won 33 straight in 1971-72.

Having the most talent in the NBA is one thing, but taking that talent and getting better every night on the court is another. The Miami Heat win a tight one over the Philadelphia 76ers and have practically walked away with the Eastern Conference.

Miami Heat Win 98-94 Over 76ers, Streak Now At 20 is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Miami Heat soundly beat the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night. The Heat have now won 19 straight games and look as if they are going to be cruising into the playoffs as the number one seed in the Eastern conference of the NBA.

The 98-81 victory comes just two days after the Heat won their 18th straight game over the Indiana Pacers by a 14 point margin (105-91). During the streak, the Heat have been putting teams away more often than not as this was the 12th time in 19 games that Miami has won by double digits.

Perhaps for the first time, some of the players in Miami are acknowledging that this streak is something to take notice of. Lebron James was perhaps the first to acknowledge that fact after the game.

Standing at his locker his team’s latest victory, James said, “‘Let’s be honest, guys, we’re not sitting here and saying this is not something special. This is an unbelievable streak that we’re on.”

The Miami Heat were lead on Tuesday by Dwyane Wade’s 23 points, six assists, and four rebounds. James contributed 15 points with seven assists and seven rebounds.

Wade made the comment that while their offense has been top notch during the streak, “leading with our defense has been the key for us.” Tonight the team will hope that their defense can continue to lead as they look for their 20th straight win.

Only three teams have won 20 straight games in a season in NBA history, and Miami is slowly creeping towards the all time record for consecutive wins. The 1970-1971 Milwaukee Bucks won 20, the 2007-2008 Houston Rockets won 22 straight, and the 1971-1972 Los Angeles Lakers hold the league record for consecutive wins in a season with 33 straight.

The Miami Heat are now just 14 games away from tieing the NBA record and, should they get to that mark, would be in line to attempt to set the record on April 9th against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Miami Heat Beat Atlanta Hawks For 19th Straight Victory is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Miami Heat beat the Indiana Pacers 105-91 Sunday to win their 18th straight game this season. LeBron James scored just 13 points in the game as Mario Chalmers and Chris bosh picked up the pace for the Heat.

Mario Chalmers led all scorers with 26 points and seven rebounds. Chris Bosh finished with 24 points, and Ray Allen added 11 points off the bench.

Dwyane Wade and LeBron James are usually the center of attention when Miami takes the court, but not Sunday. Dwyane Wade finished with 23 points, two rebounds, and three assists while James added six rebounds and seven assists to go along with his 13 points.

Head coach Erik Spoelstra liked his team’s response to a tough Pacers defense early in the game and was excited about the win. Spoelstra recognized the 18-game win streak during a press conference after the game, but focused more on LeBron James’ supporting cast.

“We feel that we have the depth,” Spoelstra said about his team after the game. “It helps our versatility and we’re able to manage the minutes like we’ve been doing.”

The Indiana Pacers have been the best team in the Central Division all year but were unable to stick with the defending NBA Champions Sunday night. The Pacers were led by David West, who finished with 24 points and five rebounds in the loss.

Pacers star Paul George was just 2-for-11 from the field with 10 points, five assists, and six rebounds. George also turned the ball over five times, more than any other player on the court Sunday.

Roy Hibbert shot 50 percent from the field and added 16 points in the losing effort. Guard D.J. Augustin was the only other Pacers’ player to score in double figures, finishing with 14 points off the bench.

The Indiana Pacers take on the Minnesota Timberwolves Wednesday before a match up with the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday. The Miami Heat play again at home Tuesday against the Atlanta hawks who have lost two straight games. The Heat follow up Tuesday’s game with a contest against the 76ers in Philadelphia Wednesday.

The Miami Heat are without a doubt the hottest team in the NBA right now and will more than likely lock up the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs in early April.  The Heat beat the Pacers and continue to roll on, looking for another win Tuesday to match the fifth-longest winning streak in NBA history.

Heat Beat Pacers 105-91 For 18th Straight Win is a post from: The Inquisitr

NBA superstar LeBron James and his long-time girlfriend Savannah Brinson have officially set a date for their wedding.

According to People magazine, King James and his sweetheart are set to marry sometime between September 13-15 in San Diego, California.

James proposed to Brinson on New Year’s Eve in 2011.

The happy couple, which has two children (LeBron Jr., 8, and Bryce, 5), issued “Save the Weekend” pre-invitations in lieu of Save-the-dates.

TMZ, which got its hands on a copy of the pre-invite, described the artwork as a caricature of the family flying into California in a plane.

The celeb gossip site also pointed out a potential problem with King James’ wedding weekend — it clashes with the start of Yom Kippur, a holy day of fasting and prayer that many of LeBron’s Jewish friends are certain to observe.

In addition to planning a wedding, LeBron James has had his hands full on the basketball court with the Miami Heat, who are currently sitting atop the Eastern Conference with a 45-14 record.

King James, a three-time NBA MVP, hit the game winning shot against the Orlando Magic Wednesday night to extend the Heat’s current winning streak to 16 straight, the second-longest by a team this season.

When asked after the game if Miami was capable of matching the Los Angeles Lakers ridiculous 33-game win-streak record set during the 1971-72 season, LeBron said:

“It’s not really in the back of my head or anything like what number we’d like to hit. If it hit a league record, I mean that’s crazy if we did at some point. We don’t want to lose, but we’re going to play each and every game and not worry about it.”

Check out LeBron James and Savannah Brinson’s “Save The Date” cards below:

LeBron James Wedding Date Set For September is a post from: The Inquisitr

Lebron James hits the game winner over the Miami Heat’s  in-state rival, the Orlando Magic on Wednesday Night. James scored on a layup with just 3.2 seconds left.

The Miami Heat have now won 16 straight games, the longest streak in James career with Miami. The Orlando Magic are in the middle of their worst season in recent years due to the loss of Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason.

LeBron James finished the contest with 26 points and just three rebounds and two assists. Dwyane Wade added 24 points and six rebounds in the winning effort.

Chris Bosh had the only double-double for the Heat, finishing with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Nikola Vucevic of the Magic had a whopping 21 rebounds to go along with 25 points. Vucevic is currently fourth in the NBA in rebounds with an average of 11.4 a game.

Point guard Jameer Nelson had a double-double for the Magic with 16 points and 14 assists in the loss. The Magic now hold a 17-45 record, the worst in the league outside of the Charlotte Bobcats.

The Orlando Magic take on the Indiana Pacers Friday before a contest with the Philadelphia 76ers Sunday. The Heat have the exact opposite schedule, facing off with the 76ers on Friday and the Pacers on Sunday.

LeBron James has made a career out of big moments, whether he ended up on the right side of the win or not. Coming off an NBA Championship and a Gold medal at the Olympics, James and his Heat teammates are once again the favorites to win the NBA title.

LeBron James is currently fourth in the league in scoring at 27 points a game, but has been the Heat’s most valuable player all season long. James has played in every Heat game this year, and averages four more minutes a game than any of his teammates.

The Miami Heat’s last loss came on Feb. 1 against the Pacers, who they will see again Sunday. The Heat are followed by the Atlanta Hawks in the Southeast Division, but hold an 11.5 game lead which is going to be nearly impossible for the Hawks to erase.

The Heat will seemingly cruise into the playoffs riding the momentum of a great finish to the season. With just over a month left before the playoffs, the Heat will play 13 of their final 23 games against teams below .500. LeBron James hits the game winner as the Heat continue to roll-on towards the playoffs. Anything less than a ring will be considered a failure in Miami and you can believe LeBron James is up to the challenge.

LeBron James Hits Winner, Heat Win Thriller 97-96 is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Miami Heat beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 97-81 Monday, a Heat record 15th straight win. Lebron James and Dwyane Wade have combined for two NBA Championship appearances and one ring but have never won 15 straight games until now.

Lebron James finished the game with just 20 points due to a sore knee but also added 10 rebounds for a double-double. Dwyane Wade led all scorers with 32 points and 10 assists as the Heat hold a commanding 11.5 game lead over the Atlanta Hawks in the Southeast Division.

Dwyane Wade crashed the boards Monday night as well, finishing the game with seven rebounds.  The Heat have only lost one game against a southeast division opponent and currently lead the Eastern Conference at 103.6 points a game. The Minnesota Timberwolves have lost six straight games, falling back to 12th in the Western Conference, 17 games below .500 basketball.

Dwyane Wade was very excited with the win but more pleased with his teams play down the stretch.

“Hopefully we can continue to win,” Wade said after the game. “If we don’t, hopefully we can get right back on it. That’s what we’ve done all year. We in a groove. We’re playing well and finding ways to win.”

The Heat record 15th straight win comes as no surprise to the NBA community, as Lebron James has been as good as ever over the past few weeks. James was the first player ever to record 30 points in six straight games while shooting 60 percent from the field. The record ended on a win against the Thunder; James had 39 points in the win.

Chris Bosh has quietly been playing well all season, with 16.8 points and seven rebounds a game. Ray Allen made the move from the Boston Celtics to South Beach this summer and has filled in perfectly. Allen currently averages 10.9 points a game, good enough for fourth on the team.

The Minnesota Timbewolves take their struggles to the nations capital Wednesday to take on the Wizards before a match-up in Denver with the Nuggets on Saturday. The Miami Heat will take on in-state rival, the Orlando magic, Wednesday night in search of their 45th win of the season.

Finding a way to match up with the Miami Heat has been a struggle for most teams over the past few seasons, and you can guarantee their current play is making things that much worse. The Heat record 15 straight wins is not just another record added to the list but a warning for teams across the NBA to steer clear of the best team in basketball.

Heat Record 15th Straight Win, Beat Minnesota 97-81 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Lebron James is still considering the million dollar offer made to him by Magic Johnson. Johnson has offered up the money to James as a way to try and entice the Miami Heat star to join next year’s NBA Dunk Contest.

While James hasn’t said yes, he also hasn’t said no. ESPN reports that James talked to Lisa Salters before his game against the New York Knicks. James told Salters that he “didn’t have an answer yet” he added fuel to the fire by saying that he would get back to Johnson.

James has never attended the NBA Dunk Contest during his 10 year career and apparently Magic Johnson and a few others are anxious to see him give it a go. The issue came up during ESPN’s Kia NBA Countdown show when Johnson and Jalen Rose talked about the need for NBA stars to compete in the contest.

During this discussion, Magic Johnson offered up the $1 million bounty. Johnson says that he will pay Lebron the money, or he will pay it to whoever wins the contest next year, should Lebron take place and be one of those who are defeated.

USA Today is reporting that the issue is even getting traction with other active players in the NBA. Kevin Durant recently said that he would put up $1,000 if Lebron participated next year. The prize for the contest’s winner is usually $100,000 with the runner-up getting $50,000.

Lebron James is getting so much press these days, he gets attention even when it has nothing to do with basketball. After Notre Dame star linebacker and serial fake girl friend dater Manti Teo ran a rather slow 40 yard dash, James announced that he was the faster of the two.

Teo ran a 4.82 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. Lebron James claims that during his training for the NBA season he ran a 4.6 40 time.

Lebron James Still Considering Magic Johnson’s $1M Offer is a post from: The Inquisitr

Magic Johnson has a $1M offer to Miami Heat star LeBron James, and, to cash in, all King James needs to do is participate in the next dunk contest.

NBA fans have long tried to persuade James to join the NBA Dunk Contest, Reuters noted. He’s known as one of the league’s highest-flying players, and he’s taken the time to give fans a peak at his arsenal of dunks as well.

In fact, LeBron showed some of his aerial creativity with a recent dunk session during warmups for the Heat. James demonstrated his leaping ability on these dunks, with one in particular standing out — LeBron stood at the top of the key, slung the ball behind his back off the backboard, and caught it high above the rim, slamming it down.

But LeBron has always rebuffed the advances of his fans, saying he wants to stay out of the dunk contest.

Now one NBA Hall of Famer and ESPN analyst is joining those trying to get LeBron to take his talents to the dunk contest. Magic Johnson made a $1M offer to LeBron to join the competition, Yard Barker noted.

Magic Johnson made the $1M offer during a pregame telecast on ESPN, and his tone bordered on pleading.

“Please, LeBron, get in the dunk contest. I’m going to put up a million dollars,” Johnson said. “A million dollars from Magic to LeBron. Please get in the dunk contest. I go every year. I want to see you out there. A million to the winner.”

Though he backed off a bit, if Magic is offering $1M to the winner, he might as well draft up the check to LeBron now.

Now that Magic Johnson made a $1M offer, it’s going to get harder for LeBron James to keep letting fans see dunks like this for free:

Magic Johnson $1M Offer To LeBron James: Join The Dunk Contest is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Harlem Shake has been done by just about everyone with an internet connection. The video has been done by puppies, models, and lego pieces. It has caused riots, suspensions, and arrests. (You can see a complete guide to the internet craze here.) The latest video of the viral dance comes from the Miami Heat locker room and features King James, Dwyane WOW Wade, and Chris Bosh.

And in case you didn’t know, yes, Wade is seriously trying to get people to call him WOW.

The Miami Heat’s version isn’t particularly special, but it does include some noticeable sights. Chris Birdman Andersen starts the video by slowly walking around the locker room as the rest of the players stretch. Soon, Birdman starts flapping his wings, and then all hell breaks loose.

And, like all Harlem Shake videos, it is a perfect opportunity to play eye spy.

• Can you find Lebron James’ alter ego King James dancing shirtless?
• How about a man in a pedo bear mask? Could that be WOW himself?
• Chris Bosh’s magical golden boombox also makes an appearance.
• The Miami Heat also enlisted the help of The Phantom of the Opera, Mario, and a fireman stripper.

Here’s the Miami Heat Harlem Shake video.

As a Chicago Bulls fan, I couldn’t help but think about the ceremonies before the All-Star game last year, you know, when LeBron James acted like a fool next to a stone cold D-Rose.

But, as Mario Chalmers says, you’ve got to find a way to have fun in life.

Go check out the Miami heat edition Harlem shake on YouTube. In life u gotta figure out how to have fun and enjoy it. Hope y’all enjoy it.

— Mario Chalmers (@mchalmers15) March 1, 2013

What do you think of the Miami Heat’s Harlem Shake video?

Miami Heat Do The Harlem Shake [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

NFL prospect Manti Te’o has been having a rough time at the NFL Combine. The former Notre Dame linebacker has been repeatedly asked about his fake girlfriend, he failed to live up to expectations during his 40-yard sprint, and now he’s getting teased by a player from a different sport.

LeBron James jumped on the insult Manti Te’o bandwagon today saying that he was faster than the Notre Dame linebacker.

James, when asked about his 40 time, said: “It’s better than Manti Te’o, I’ll tell you that.”

According to USA Today, James really is faster than Manti Te’o. The Miami Heat star ran a 4.6 during training last Summer. James added that his 4.6 time, which was .2 seconds faster than Te’o's 4.82 time, was without training.

The Inquisitr reported earlier that Te’o was expected to complete his 40-yard dash under 4.75 seconds. Missouri’s Zaviar Gooden was the fastest linebacker at the combine with a 4.47 time.

So, in case you were wondering if Lebron James is faster than Zaviar Gooden, he’s not. The Miami Heat star would place somewhere in the middle of the pack if he was trying out for the NFL as a linebacker.

LeBron James: I’m Faster Than Manti Te’o is a post from: The Inquisitr

LeBron James didn’t partake in this year’s NBA All-Star Dunk contest. In fact, he’s never entered the annual slam fest. But that doesn’t mean that King James isn’t the best dunker in the NBA.

King James threw down several big dunks before the Heat took the floor to face the Cleveland Cavaliers.

James did a simple but impressive two handed reverse before he really dazzled the crowd with a one-handed alley-oop.

James has been playing on another level this season and is more focused on defending an NBA title than winning a dunk contest.

James said: “I’m not a dunk contest type of guy. I’m an in-game dunker. I kind of improvise during the game.”

Still, the All-Star dunk contest could use a few, you know, All-stars. Unfortunately, that isn’t likely to happen.

And besides, how else is James ever going to live up to all of those “Michael Jordan comparisons” if he doesn’t win a dunk contest here or there.

What do you think? Should LeBron James enter the All-Star dunk contest?

Here’s the video of LeBron during warm-ups last night.

LeBron James Holds Impromptu Dunk Contest During Warm-Ups [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Lebron James has, surprisingly, never participated in the NBA’s slam dunk competition. One fan is hoping to change that by crowdfunding $1 million to donate to the King’s charity if he participates this year.

James entered the NBA in 2003 and quickly became one of the league’s most popular players.

In 2010, James made what became known as “The Decision,” in which he chose to sign with the Miami Heat as a free agent following a nationally televised reveal.

Last year James told CBS Sports:

“I’m not a dunk contest type of guy. I’m an in-game dunker. I kind of improvise during the game.”

When asked if he’d do it for $1 million James replied:

“Then I’d reconsider. Wouldn’t you?”

According to Mashable, one fan has taken Lebron James seriously. Chris Thomas has started a crowdfunding campaign to raise $1 million to persuade James to dunk. The money would go to the LeBron James Family Foundation.

Thomas spoke with Mashable about his campaign. He tells the blog why he chose crowdfunding:

“I started thinking about how to execute the idea. Prior to a few years ago, a mechanism to do something like this didn’t even exist.”

With the growth of crowdfunding sites over the last few years, Thomas says the choice was easy. His campaign has started slowly though. To date, he has only raised $2,500, but he remains optimistic:

“We’ll raise as much as possible, whether that’s $50,000, $500,000 or $5 million. Whatever aggregate amount is raised, I’ll contact the foundation and anyone else associated with LeBron, say ‘take or leave it’ and see what happens.”

To check out Thomas’ campaign page, you can go to gofundme.com/helplebrondunk.

As one of the NBA’s more enthusiastic athletes, perhaps James would participate in the slam dunk competition for a good cause. Last week, the star bear-hugged a fan after making a half court shot for $75,000.

Would you like to see Lebron James participate in the slam dunk competition?

[image via Domenic Gareri / Shutterstock.com]

Lebron James Fan Trying To Raise One Million Dollars To Get Star In Slam Dunk Competition is a post from: The Inquisitr

Michael Drysch had the night of his night last night. After hitting a half court shot at the Miami Heat game to win $75,000, Drysch got up close and personal with one of his favorite players: Lebron James.

After hitting the shot, Drysch raises his arm in triumph. His facial expression then changes to a mix of awe and horror as LeBron James came sprinting down the court to tackle the Heat fan in front of 20,000 fans.

Drysch is undoubtedly happy about taking home a $75,000 check but he’ll also be telling the story about how LeBron James hugged him during the middle of a game for the rest ofhis life.

After the game Drysch said:

“Ecstatic. Euphoric. Wonderful …  ’Nice way to meet somebody. I can’t believe it.”

James said:

“That was awesome, man … I was excited for him. When he wound up like that, I was like, ‘Oh no, there’s no way.’ And then when I saw it in the air, I was like, ‘Oh, that’s got a chance.’ I was happy to be a part of that.”

James also took to Twitter to compliment his man Michael Drysch.

How bout my man Michael with the sky hook from half court for 75k large!!! #wow #awesomeness

— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 26, 2013

Here’s the video of LeBron James tackling, hugging, and celebrating with Drysch during the Miami Heat game.

LeBron James Tackles, Hugs Miami Heat Fan After $75,000 Shot [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

LeBron James is about to add another record to his already impressive resume. James is about to own the youngest player to score 20,000 points record. LeBron became the youngest player to ever score 10,000 points and the youngest player to record a triple-double, and his accolades and awards show no signs of slowing down.

LeBron needs only 18 points to become the 38th NBA player in history to break the 20,000 career points milestone, and that feat will likely occur on Wednesday when the Miami Heat take on the Golden State Warriors. James has scored at least 18 points in 74 of his last 75 games including the playoffs.

What might be most amazing is that Lebron James will be nearly a year younger than anyone else who has reached the 20,000 points milestone.

Speaking of his upcoming 20,000 points milestone, James said:

”You look at how many players have come through this league, the history of the game. That 20K mark is very limited. How many guys have done that? It’s very, very limited.

‘It’ll be big-time. I’m not going to shy away from that. I’m not a big stats guy as far as individual, but that’ll be pretty cool.”

To put LeBron James’ scoring record in perspective, he will likely score 20,000 points at just 28 years and 17 days old. Kobe Bryant was 29 years and 122 days old, and Michael Jordan was 29 years, 326 days old.

James, a fan of passing off the ball when he sees a fellow player in better scoring position, could have reached the goal even faster had he perhaps held onto the ball and took more selfish shots. In fact, LeBron James has only taken 25 shots in a single outing during one game this season.

LeBron James About To Become Youngest NBA Player To Score 20,000 Points is a post from: The Inquisitr

Dwyane Wade scored 26 points during the Miami Heat’s victory over the Atlanta Hawks the other night and that can only mean one thing. Charles Barkley needs to shut up.

Barkley has criticized Wade recently for losing some of his athletic ability recently. Barkley says that Wade, who will turn 31 in January, doesn’t have the ability to “explode” anymore.

Barkley said:

“The toughest thing when you’re a great player or very athletic, when you can’t jump over a building anymore, you have to learn how to play … He’s starting to lose his athletic ability. He’s not the same guy. I got a look at him in person. He doesn’t explode anymore, and he’s shooting a lot of fadeaway jumpers.”

Wade may have lost a step in recent years but that doesn’t mean he’s still not an effective player on the court. After Wade’s 26 point performance against the Hawks, Wade’s teammate Lebron James said:

”It means Charles Barkley needs to shut up. I mean, the man’s shooting 80 percent from the floor in the last couple games. Come on, man. That’s like crazy, right? That’s why he is who he is. Unbelievable.”

Do you think Dwyane Wade has lost a little athletic ability? Does Charles Barkley need to shut up?

‘Charles Barkley Needs To Shut Up,’ Says Lebron James is a post from: The Inquisitr

Miami Heat superstar LeBron James has been named Sports Illustrated‘s 2012 Sportsmen of the Year.

James’ biographers will likely remember 2012 as a watershed year for LBJ. The year saw LeBron win an Olympic gold medal and NBA Championship while claiming both regular season and NBA Finals MVP awards. Despite the success, ESPN reports that James was surprised to find out he’d won the honor, believing that he was still viewed negatively as a result of his decision to leave Cleveland via a contrived live television special.

“I remember just like yesterday when I signed here and basically, like the roof caved in,” James said. “To see that I and my team and everyone around me was able to patch that roof up, to come to this point, to come to this point and receive such a prestigious award, it’s huge.”

Sports Illustrated notes that James, averaged 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.9 steals last season as he led the Heat to an NBA Championship. His teammate with the Heat, Dwayne Wade, was also named Sports Illustrated‘s Sportsman of the Year in 2006.

“Welcome to the club,” Wade tweeted. “We have been expecting you… Congrats to my brother from another.”

LeBron James’ bringing home a Sportsman of the Year award puts him in elite company. A selection of previous winners of the award include Muhammad Ali, Jack Nicklaus, Wayne Gretzky, Arthur Ashe, Tom Brady, Derek Jeter, and Michael Phelps. Duke men’s basketball coach (who also coached the men’s Olympic team) Mike Krzyzewski and former Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt shared award last year.

LeBron James Named Sportsman Of The Year is a post from: The Inquisitr

Lebron James Jr. is taking his talents to the balcony.

The Miami Heat star put his 8-year-old son in the spotlight this week after he posted a video of Lebron James Jr. hitting a basketball shot from the balcony. It takes the 8-year-old a few attempts to hit the shot but eventually “Brony” sinks one from deep.

LeBron wrote on Twitter: “I’ve seen alot of highlights the last couple of days but none better than this one.”

LeBron Jr. has a long way to go to accumulate all of the accolades bestowed upon his father but apparently there is a bit of a H-O-R-S-E rivalry brewing in the James’ household.

James wrote on LeBronJames.com:

“Nice trick shot here from LeBron Jr, it must be the genes! He goes 1 for 4 from the balcony. You don’t want it with this kid in H-O-R-S-E.”

If this was just about any other kid in the country this wouldn’t be news at all. But since its LeBron James Jr. you have to wonder if the 8-year-old boy will follow in his daddy’s footsteps.

Here’s a video of the James’ son hitting a shot from the balcony.

Impressed? LeBron James Jr. has been working on his game since he was at least 4 years old. And, yes, he has a pretty good coach.

LeBron James Jr. Impresses With Balcony Trick Shot [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kevin McHale’s daughter, Alexandra “Sasha” McHale, has died at 23 after a battle with the autoimmune disease lupus, and the world of basketball is extending its condolences to the Houston Rockets coach through means such as Twitter.

Kevin McHale took leave on November 10 to tend to Sasha as she fought to get well, and, as recently as last week, Sasha McHale’s condition was said to be improving. Kelvin Sampson, who took over for Kevin McHale while he dealt with his daughter’s illness, said then of Sasha McHale’s prognosis:

“It’s not out of the woods yet. There’s still a lot of concern, but it is improving.”

Sasha McHale herself was a basketball player, and her former coach Shannon Hartinger lamented the passing of a player she said was talented and passionate about the sport:

“She was an outstanding basketball player and the life of the locker room… She was a joy to be around. You could tell she loved to play basketball.”

After the sad news that Sasha McHale had died of lupus was reported, celebrities and family members alike took to Twitter to express grief and offer up condolences to the family of Kevin McHale in their time of mourning.

One Twitter user says he is a cousin of Sasha McHale, and urged users who wished to do something for the family to donate to lupus research. (The enigmatic disease currently has no known cure.)

Sasha McHale was my cousin. We are heartbroken now. If you’d like to make a donation in her honor here is the site donate.lupus.org

— Jon Merckle (@thevikingpig) November 26, 2012

Others simply offered a kind word to Kevin McHale and family as they coped with the loss of Sasha McHale:

Sorry to hear about Kevin McHale daughter passing away. My prayers goes out to the entire family. Tough times i bet. #NBAFamily

— LeBron James (@KingJames) November 26, 2012

So sad! @houstonrockets head coach Kevin McHale and his wife, Lynn, are mourning the loss of their daughter, Sasha, who died yesterday.

— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) November 25, 2012

Thoughts and prayers go out to coach Kevin Mchale and his family….@houstonrockets

— Vince Carter (@mrvincecarter15) November 26, 2012

The Celtics organization extends its deepest condolences to Kevin McHale and his family on the loss of his daughter.

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) November 25, 2012

My deepest condolences to Kevin McHale and his family for the loss of their daughter. May God give you comfort and strength.

— Leandro Barbosa (@TheBlur_Barbosa) November 25, 2012

Kevin McHale is a former Boston Celtics player and Hall of Fame athlete, and Sasha McHale adopted his number, 32, in her time playing basketball.

Kevin McHale’s Daughter Dies, Sasha McHale Remembered On Twitter is a post from: The Inquisitr

LeBron James names Sir Jack,  giving a nickname to the suddenly legendary Division III hoopster who poured in 138 points in a game this week.

Jack Taylor obliterated the college basketball scoring record this week in a game for Grinnell College, scoring 138 points in just 36 minutes of playing time against Faith Baptist Bible. He immediately gained national attention, earning an interview with ESPN and the game’s highlights splashed around countless media outlets.

Jack Taylor’s performance also caught the attention of one of the NBA’s biggest stars, The Associated Press noted. When LeBron James heard about it, he decided the player should now be named Sir Jack.

LeBron even brought up Taylor during his team’s shootaround practice on Wednesday, calling the designated shooter during a defensive drill — one of the Miami Heat’s interns — “Taylor.”

“It’s unbelievable, honestly,” James said of Sir Jack’s performance. “I would like to see the game. I want to see the game.”

After LeBron names the player Sir Jack — a play off of his own nickname, Sir James — the NBA star shares even more praise for the Grinnell player.

“I watched Kobe’s game when he had 81,” James said. “I watched some of the greatest games ever played when guys scored big numbers. There’s two games that I would love to see: One was Wilt, when he had 100, and this kid, I want to see him too. Sir Jack.”

Taylor’s 138 points smashed the previous record by Rio Grande’s Bevo Francis of 113 points, USA Today noted. Though Grinnell’s high-powered offense calls for a multitude of three-pointers, it’s unlikely any player soon will break the record set by Jack Taylor — or as LeBron names him, Sir Jack.

LeBron Names Sir Jack: NBA Star Gives Nickname To 138-Point Scorer is a post from: The Inquisitr

LeBron James finally won his first NBA ring this past season, but the dynamic forward doesn’t want to stop there.

After a season in which he won the title, MVP, and Finals MVP, LeBron James told The Associated Press that he still wants more, and plans to become the best player of all time.

“I want to be the best of all time,” James said. “It’s that simple.”

LeBron James said that has been his goal all along, and winning a championship with the Miami Heat hasn’t changed that.

“Not really, honestly,” James said. “I haven’t had much time to really just think about what actually happened. At the end of the day, there’s still going to be people that say, well, he’s not going to be able to win two. He’s not going to be able to do it again.”

But even given the high expectations LeBron James has faced from an often-critical media, the star decided to do something a bit out of character this summer, The Associated Press noted:

“So this summer — partly because of the desire to win another ring, partly because of his incessant need to silence doubters, partly because it’s just who he is — James took very little time off. He went straight from the finals to the Olympics, then rested briefly before getting back in the gym. James arrived at camp in essentially the same shape as he ended last season.”

The time off could be as much for mental recharging as physical. Since joining the Heat in 2010, LeBron James has been viewed as one of the league’s biggest villains. His decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for Miami on a nationally televised broadcast didn’t sit well with many fans, and throughout his two seasons with the heat LeBron has faced vocal opposition.

As the team failed to win in his first season, pressure mounted on LeBron, but that all ended with his win last year.

“The best thing about last year is we got all the way to the mountaintop and then we crossed over,” LeBron James said. “So now I know what it takes to get there and actually get over the top of that mountain.”

LeBron James could have a chance to cement his legacy as the greatest player of all time on one of the NBA’s biggest stages. ESPN has reported that he could join the Los Angeles Lakers in 2014, after he can become a free agent.

LeBron James Said He Wants To Be ‘Best Of All Time’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Lebron James already has his ring but if he’s looking to start a dynasty, well, what better place than Los Angeles? Several sources reported today that The King could find himself in a Los Angeles Lakers jersey in 2014.

The Lakers’ star, Kobe Bryant, has said that he only has a few years left in the NBA . When Kobe hangs it up the Lakers could find some room for King James.

ESPN writes:

“Several teams’ executives have told ESPN.com they believe the Lakers are positioning themselves to make a run at LeBron James in 2014, when the Miami Heat star can choose to become a free agent.”

The Lakers will have a lot of money available to use to sign some superstar talent in 2014. In addition to Kobe Bryan’t s $30 million contact ending in July 2013, the Lakers will also be done paying million dollar contracts for Pau Gasol, Metta World Peace, Steve Blake and Jordan Hill.

An anonymous NBA GM told ESPN:

“It’s not a mistake that all those deals end the same year Kobe’s does. They have probably been planning for their next phase for a while. The Busses and [Lakers GM] Mitch [Kupchak] are always thinking about the next big deal.”

Of course, 2014 is a long way away. Kobe’s contract is ending soon but the Lakers’ star may decide to stick around another year or two. James has also won a championship in Miami and he may decide to build his dynasty in South Beach.

What do you think? Will Lebron James his talents to Los Angeles?

Lebron James To Play For The Lakers? With Kobe’s Retirement Looming, The King Could Come To L.A. is a post from: The Inquisitr

Tony Romo had a rough night on Monday. The Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback threw five interceptions, matching a career high, and the scorn of Cowboys’ fans everywhere was expressed by a different sport’s star player.

USA Today reported that LeBron James, a well known Cowboys’ fan, tweeted multiple times during Dallas’ 34-18 beating at the hands of the Chicago Bears, with the first comment calling Romo out by name immediately after a slightly misspelled expletive that takes the Lord’s name in vain.

LeBron’s twitter account kept the hits coming with, “We gone need a BIG 4th quarter!”

The scorn LeBron James notwithstanding, Romo’s performance did take a toll on the Cowboys’ season. Shutdown Corner reported that Romo did complete 31 of 43 passes for 307 yards and one touchdown, but the Cowboys’ had no running game. Dallas ran the ball just 14 times which put the bulk of the workload on  quarterback Tony Romo’s shoulders.

“Well, you have to get over it — it’s just going to suck for a few days now, obviously,” Romo said. “It’s going to sit there in your stomach and just eat at you. In different situations out there where you’re trying to do too much and help out different areas, I think that it’s going to catch up to you at some point in the National Football League. I’m going to have to reassess a couple of things that are happening and make sure that they don’t happen again.”

Romo was replaced by Kyle Orton in garbage time, and Orton made the most of his snaps by throwing a late touchdown pass with 34 seconds remaining in the game.

Tony Romo’s five interceptions went to Major Wright (2), Charles Tillman, Lance Briggs, and D.J. Moore.

If any other Cowboy fans are looking for something to watch other than Romo and the now 2-2 Cowboys, James has announced what he’ll be doing.

“Well at least i can always fall back and watch SpongeBob Squarepants,” he tweeted.

Tony Romo Throws 5 Interceptions, Criticized By LeBron James is a post from: The Inquisitr

Miami Heat star LeBron James may be the reigning MVP champion in the NBA but that doesn’t mean he is going to play like one when the preseason gets underway.

LeBron announced on Sunday that he would likely take it easy when the Heat begin the preseason on October 7 against the Atlanta Hawks.

James is concerned that over exerting himself could wear down his body before the start of the regular season. James has been playing basketball non-stop for 10 months and following the Hawks game the Miami Heat will head to China for two exhibition games against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Speaking of the Hawks game James told reporters:

“I don’t even know if I’ll play much at all in that game.”

The Heat are constantly monitoring LeBron James’ workout times and strength to ensure that he remains in peak physical condition for the 2012-2013 NBA season.

When asked how it felt to be ahead of the physical curve at the moment James said:

“It does feel different. I’m in better shape right now than I’ve been, because I’ve played so much basketball. Usually, it takes me a week, a week-and-a-half of camp to kind of get back into it. But at the same time, I’ve still got to be cautious. I’ve played a lot of basketball and I’ve got to be cautious and not allow myself to be out there too much. We’ll monitor that.”

LeBron is joined in his limited play regime by fellow Miami Heat Star Dwyane Wade who is recovering from knee surgery in July.

The biggest challenge for LeBron? Trying not to jump into the teams competitive scrimmage drills.

LeBron James May Not Play Much During Preseason Opener is a post from: The Inquisitr

LeBron made a bin Laden translator angry, but it’s not for the reason you may think.

The former translator to Osama bin Laden isn’t striking out against American excesses or the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq when he calls out NBA world champion and Olympic gold medalist LeBron James. Instead the Lebron/bin Laden translator feud boils down to something more simple, USA Today reported — a beef over basketball.

The translator, Muhammed Rahim, is working through lawyer Carlos Warner to complain about conditions he live in under US custody. His primary complaint is that certain prisoners were given cats as pets and that he was passed over for a kitty, but Rahim also channeled his Akron, Ohio-based lawyer in taking a dig at LeBron.

“Dear Mr. Warner!” he wrote in a letter which was recently declassified. “Lebron James is very bad man. He should apologize to the city of Cleveland.”

Warner says the Lebron/bin Laden translator comments stem from the Afghan man’s deep tribal roots. In the Afghan culture, loyalty is prized  and “betrayals are not tolerated or forgiven, although an honest apology from an offending peer is valued,” Warner said. So for the bin Laden translator, LeBron’s decision to bolt Cleveland and play with the Miami Heat in 2010 was seen as the ultimate betrayal.

Rahim is seen by American intelligence agencies as an important asset because of his willingness to testify against 9/11 conspirators, New York Magazine reported. That might allow his LeBron James digs and cat complaints to slide a bit.

For LeBron, the bin Laden translator’s comments probably don’t sting too much. In the span of just a little less than two months the superstar finally made it over the hump in earning his first NBA championship, then led the US men’s Olympic basketball team to a gold medal.

LeBron, Bin Laden Translator In An Usual Spat Over Angry Comments is a post from: The Inquisitr

It wasn’t easy, but the Men’s USA Basketball Team beat Spain today to claim gold at the 2012 London Olympics.

The Americans were the favorites heading into the Gold Medal Game but Pau Gasol and the Spanish Team made Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, and Chris Paul fight for their 107-100 victory.

The Americans led by just one at the end of the first half and they couldn’t build their lead at all during the third quarter. The Americans found their stride in the fourth however and were able to build a small lead thanks to the 3-point shooting of Durant, Paul, and James.

Durant added 30, James scored 19, and Bryant added 17 for the Americans. Pau Gasol kept the Spanish team in the game with 24 points. Juan Carlos Navarro added another 21.

It is the second straight Gold medal for the American team and for Lebron James, it caps one of the greatest individual years in basketball history. USA Today reports that James became just the second person to win an NBA Championship, a regular season MVP award, a finals MVP award, and a Gold Medal in the same year. (Michael Jordan is the only other player to accomplish the same feat.)

But the individual accomplishments were lost, at least for the moment, on James.

The reigning MVP said: “It’s all about the three letters on the front.”

Men’s Olympic Basketball: USA Beats Spain, Claims Gold Medal is a post from: The Inquisitr

Team USA powered past Australia for a 119 to 86 victory on Wednesday night on the power of strong performances from Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. The Americans now move into the semifinal round.

Bryant hit six 3-pointers on 10 attempts in the second half which led Kevin Durant to proclaim after the match:

“Somebody got him mad. I could see it in his eyes. I wanted him to kind of turn it on and that’s what he did.”

Bryant scored all 20 of his points after halftime.

On the same night LeBron James pulled off a triple-double just ahead of the “Dream Team’s” 20th anniversary gold medal win. Before the Olympics began Kobe Bryant declared that his 2012 London Olympics team

LeBron James finished the Australia match with 11 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists.

Adding to Team USA’s win was Deron Williams with 18 points, Carmelo Anthony with 17 points and Kevin Durant with 14 points.

Team USA and Argentina will now meet for their third straight Olympic semifinal match.

Australia had several strong performance from Patty Mills with 26 points and Joe Ingles with 19.

After the game Australia’s Mills said:

“The difference in the game was their transition buckets and 3-pointers, and Kobe got a little bit sniff. And for great teams, that’s all they need and they stretch it out.”

The winner of the USA-Argentina semifinal will go on to play either Russia or Spain for the gold medal.

Do you think Team USA has what it takes to win the gold medal at the 2010 London Olympics?

Kobe Bryant, LeBron James Push Team USA Past Australia is a post from: The Inquisitr

After an incredibly dominant performance against Nigeria, the U.S. Men’s Basketball team looked unbeatable. But last night the Lithuanian Olympic team gave the Americans a reality check with a thrilling game that came down to the final minutes.

The Lithuanian Team kept pace with the Americans for the entire game. The two Olympic teams traded the lead several times during the game and with less than six minutes left in the game it looked like Lithuania would be able to serve up an incredible upset. But the U.S. Men’s Basketball team was able to pull it together in the final minutes to beat Lithuania 99-94.

ESPN reports that Lebron James put in eight of his 20 points in the final four minutes of the game. Carmelo Anthony also put in 20 points against Lithuania and Kevin Durant added 16.

So what happened? How did the U.S. Men’s Basketball team go from beating Nigeria by 83 points with a record setting 156 points to barely squeezing by Lithuania?

Kevin Negandhi of ESPN put the blame on the shoulders of a player who wasn’t even there: Dwight Howard. The USA Team had several NBA players who had to pull out of the Olympics due to injury, but the absence of Dwight Howard is leaving the biggest hole in the American’s roster.

I know one team that misses Dwight Howard right now.. No inside presence hurting Team USA on both ends..

— Kevin Negandhi (@KNegandhiESPN) August 4, 2012

Matt Moore, a sports blogger with CBS, writes that the game was close solely because of an extraordinary effort by the Lithuanian team.

That was the best game played by a non-US team in Olympic play. No kidding. They literally gave their best.

— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) August 4, 2012

Did you watch the U.S. Men’s Basketball game against Lithuania? Do you think Team USA is destined for gold at the 2012 London Olympics?

U.S. Men’s Basketball: Team USA Escapes Upset, Beats Lithuania 99-94 is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Olympics gives athletes a chance to show the world their talents. It also gives athletes the perfect opportunity to mingle. Lebron James was looking forward to getting to know Lauren Perdue a little better but the Olympic Swimmer declined his dinner date offer.

Perdue, who will be swimming the first leg of the women’s 4×200 freestyle relay, said that James asked her out to dinner last week.

Thankfully for the United States Olympic Swim Team, Perdue has her mind set on Olympic glory and not dinner dates.

Perdue wrote on Twitter:

“Lebron James just invited me to dinner…Um wuuuutttt?!?”

So where did the NBA’s star player invite her to go? According to Perdue, James was ready to go big by dining at the Olympic cafeteria.

Perdue told the Charlotte Observer:

“He was kind of joking… But he was basically like, ‘Would you like to come eat with me at the dining hall?’ And I said, ‘Um, I’m sorry, I have a curfew.’”

Lebron James is currently engaged to his high school sweetheart, Savannah Brinson, and despite the stories about Olympic Village, he was probably just trying to meet a fellow Olympian.

Would you turn down dinner with Lebron James?

James isn’t the only NBA star mingling with his fellow Olympians. Kobe Bryant recently started some marital trouble when he hung out with some female Olympians without his shirt on. 

Lauren Perdue Turns Down Lebron James For Dinner is a post from: The Inquisitr

The 2012 Team USA Men’s Basketball squad will never be able to prove whether or not it could beat the 1992 Dream Team, but it can handle its business on the court. Team USA got its quest for the gold underway on Sunday, defeating France easily, 98-71 in both teams opening contest of the London 2012 Olympics.

Kevin Durant led Team USA with 22 point and nine rebounds in his Olympic debut. Yahoo Sports reported that six Durant made 6 of his 13 shots, including 3 of his 5 3-pointers as Team USA effortlessly moved the ball, racking up 27 assists as a team.

France, who’s best player Tony Parker has seen only limited practice time, was unable to seriously challenge the Americans. Parker finished with just 10 points.

The French team included a handful of players with NBA experience, but few teams in the games are expected to be able to hang with Team USA. The roster includes NBA all-stars (or potential all-stars) from the starting five all the way to the last man on the bench, allowing coach Mike Krzyzewski to make frequent substitutions to keep players fresh.

Kevin Love scored 14 points and Kobe Bryant added 10. LeBron James scored nine points with eight assists and five rebounds in 25 minutes of play.

Yahoo Sports Blog Fourth Place Medal reported that after the win, each member of Team USA got a hug from First Lady Michelle Obama, who NBC play-by-play man Bob Fitzgerald called the “first fan.”

Team USA continues its journey toward hopefully an Olympic basketball gold medal on Tuesday when Durant and company will face Tunisia. Tunisia lost its opening contest to Nigeria, 60-56. Along with France, Tunisia and Nigeria, Team USA is in Pool A with Argentina and Lithuania.

Kevin Durant Leads Team USA Over France In Olympic Opener is a post from: The Inquisitr