THE LEBRON JAMES GAME IS OVER, THE HEAT IS ON!!! - NBA photo

SPORTS NOTES EXTRA Part 1 - THE LEBRON JAMES GAME IS OVER - THE HEAT IS ON!!!

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

After weeks of meetings and speculation LeBron made it known where he will play next season. To some it was a surprise and questioned his decision making to others it was a no brainer - South American's pissed & dissed - FIFA'S BAD CALLS SOLUTION

Friday July 9, 2010

THE THREE AMIGOS ARE TOGETHER

The what team will LeBron James sign with drama is finally over. It took a special telecast on ESPN to get the job done as the King of the hoops did it in fashion OR as some fans feel he's getting as much as he can out of it. James intends to sign with the Miami Heat.

Of the six teams to meet with James including his Cleveland Cavaliers as well as the Los Angeles Clippers, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets and the Heat they are the one winner and in the LeBron James sweepstakes.

Several weeks ago James formed a pact with fellow free agents Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh which we deemed the THREE AMIGOS that they wanted to play together. Wade signed a new deal with the Heat and Bosh opted to join him and sign with the team prior to James announcement today. At that point it conjured up the thought of the three really playing together now James' decision made that a reality.

Wade is 28-years-old, Bosh 26 and James only 25. Unlike the Boston Celtics big three of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce who are all over 30 the three amigos can be a fixture for some time to come and could be the dominate force in the NBA.

There was so much interest in what James would and should do that even US President Barrack Obama expressed his desire for James to suit up in a Chicago Bulls uniform. Chicago is Obama's adopted home.

After seven seasons with the Cavaliers James was burned out after reaching the NBA finals only once in 2007 only to be swept by the San Antonio Spurs. At his announcement press conference he noted, "The greatest challenge for me is to move on. I don't have any doubts about my decision. I know it was the right decision."

James decision involved having to take a pay cut. Some are questioning his move since playing in the New York are would enhance his financial situation by being in a city rubbing shoulder with the players in the advertising industry and power brokers. His move to the Heat indicates James is more focused on winning an NBA title and not making money.

James wanting to be with a team that could win the title and have a marquee coach eliminated the Clippers who recently signed Vinnie DelNegro to coach the Clips after their meeting with James. The Nets tried to use the influence of singer Jay Z who is also a friend of James and owns a small share of the team. The Nets are not settled since they have a new owner and have tried to solidify their coaching situation with their hiring Avery Johnson but he lacks a track record with a team in transition that had the worst record in the league last season.

The Knicks are not settled though they signed NBA All-Star Amare Stoudemire. They are known to lack defensive skills and no D equates to no NBA title. The Bulls have a team with nice young talent but are going through a coaching change since the conclusion of last season when after the payoffs they fired Del Negro.

Cleveland tried to improve their hopes to retain James by hiring Byron Scott as their coach. Scott took the New Jersey Nets to the finals in 2003 but the Spurs walked away with the title winning the series 4-2. As a player Scott was a member of three LA Lakers title winning teams 1985, 1987 & 1988 but has yet to win it as a coach.

The bottom line is there are only two marquee NBA title wining coaches in the league the Lakers Phil Jackson with six NBA titles, and the San Antonio Spurs Greg Popovich (4). Neither team was in the James game hunt so his decision was down to where and who he wanted to play with and the winner is the MIAMI HEAT. And now you know the rest of the story.

FIFA... LISTEN UP... BAD CALLS by REFEREES SOLUTION

FIFA is adamant about not employing instant replay or goal line technology to the game. The reason being is that Adidas has the one technology that is the closest to being acceptable. FIFA president Sepp Blatter notes that even with that technology it can't detect the ball when it is surrounded by a group of players.

SEPP HERE'S THE SOLUTION!!! Have a referee in the press booth with TV monitors. Use a microphone and head sets that are now very small that can fit into their ear so they can easily communicate with the referee on the pitch. The referee in the booth makes the final decision on all questionable calls. The system is almost instantaneous and can save a team that works for four years to be a part of the event four years for something rather than four years for nothing as was the fate of Ireland..

SOUTH AMERICAN QUIPS

Much is being said of Argentina's exceptional start in the competition and their disastrous 4-0 elimination to the hands of Germany in the quarterfinal. Pundits are attributing that the five South American teams faced the weaker European competition during the Group stages but faced the cream of the crop when the round of 16 began.

Part 2 MORE WORLD CUP