General

Shanoff’s W.U.C.: LeBron, Magic, Nadal, Zack

Jun 1, 2009, 12:15 PM UTC

Today’s Calls: LeBron vs. Dwight Howard, Magic vs. Lakers, Nadal vs. Soderling, Zack Greinke vs. Jamie Moyer, Pens vs. Wings, Strasburg vs. Seminoles, Vick vs. Rams, Harvin vs. Wildcat and More.â†µâ†µThe Opening Pitch: LeBron turned into LeBaby.â†µ

â†µâ†µThe lasting image of the best playoff series ever by a player and LeBron’s best season ever as a pro (not to mention the Cavs’ best season ever as a team) was LeBron stalking off the court after being eliminated.â†µ

â†µâ†µNo handshakes, no interviews. We are all witnesses ... to epic pouting.â†µ

â†µâ†µHe was less channeling Michael Jordan’s early-career disappointment than the Pistons’ bitterness in 1991 after they were eliminated by MJ’s ascendant Bulls.â†µ

â†µâ†µThat is hardly the way to act for the King of a league in a so-called Renaissance. LeBron claims it is simply because he is so competitive. I wasn’t aware that being competitive was mutually exclusive from sportsmanship. (Just ask the NHL.)â†µ

â†µâ†µLeBron’s post-game display of immaturity shows that, despite his gaudy numbers and choking supporting cast (and, BTW, let’s not forget to credit that the Magic were clearly the superior team), the MVP really isn’t much of a leader. No wonder his teammates folded on him.â†µ

â†µâ†µMaybe he thought he was modeling Jordan’s competitiveness, but by leaving his dazed teammates to explain away the series defeat in its immediate aftermath, he was just proving he doesn’t have that champion’s mettle yet to deal with adversity.â†µ

â†µâ†µI’m no Baylessian prude — all I wanted was a handshake and a few words from LeBron to prove he was as much of an MVP in defeat as in success. â†µ

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â†µâ†µWhat next for Cleveland? All sorts of hand-wringing — mostly by people OUTSIDE of Cleveland, which makes it all the more paternalistic — and frustrating for Cavs fans. â†µ

â†µâ†µBut let’s get real: Will LeBron have a better shot in Cleveland of winning an NBA title than he had this season? Best record, home-court advantage, an All-Star running mate. No, he won’t. His next-best chance will come in New York, with an all-new cast around him.â†µ

â†µâ†µMeanwhile, the Magic’s win was an affirmation:â†µ

â†µâ†µ— For building your team around a super big: Howardâ†µ

â†µâ†µ— For max spending on a complimentary player: Lewisâ†µ

â†µâ†µ— For the Euro invasion of NBA: Hedo > Dirk.â†µ

â†µâ†µ— For streetball: Skip To My Lou had a great series.â†µ

â†µâ†µ— For Otis Smith: Signing (Lewis); drafting (Lee); trading (Alston).â†µ

â†µâ†µ— For the Magic, not the Cavs, as the NBA’s rising power.â†µ

â†µâ†µPre-Finals story line: Will Jameer Nelson be back for the Finals? No, this feels like mere off-day speculation. (But here is something to consider: As good as Orlando is playing right now, imagine them with their All-Star-caliber PG?)â†µ

â†µâ†µFinals pick coming Wednesday. But let’s just remember who picked the Magic over the Cavs in 6. (Yes, I get these things correct rarely enough to point it out.)â†µ

â†µâ†µRafael Nadal shocked at French Open: You will not get a bigger upset this year — perhaps this decade — than Nadal losing in the 4th round of the French Open to a virtual nobody. It would have been shocking enough for Nadal to lose in the French finals — say, to Roger Federer. But now? To the previously low-radar Robin Soderling? Jaw-dropping.â†µ

â†µâ†µMLB Talking Points: Zack’s ERA now 1.10â†µ

â†µâ†µ— Greinke Watch: ND! 3 ER, most in ‘09 (7 K, 0 BB)â†µ

â†µâ†µ— MLB’s Hottest: Brewers sweep Reds, 1st in NL Centralâ†µ

â†µâ†µ— Red Sox regain pop: 4 HRs in new lineup, Lester Ks 12â†µ

â†µâ†µ— Milestones: Ageless Moyer wins No. 250â†µ

â†µâ†µ— Injury Watch: Grady Sizemore to DLâ†µ

â†µâ†µ— Fantasy Stud: Edwin Jackson (8 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 7 K)â†µ

â†µâ†µNCAA Baseball: 37! Ohio State gives up 37 runs in arguably the most humiliating baseball postseason loss ever. Money stat: “Florida State set NCAA postseason records with 37 runs, 38 hits and 66 total bases.”â†µ

â†µâ†µMLB Draft: Stephen Strasburg may have lost some bargaining leverage on Friday night. Sure, he had 15 strikeouts against Virginia, but he also lost the game, the biggest of his college career. If Strasburg can’t beat the Hoos, how is he going to beat the Phillies?â†µ

â†µâ†µStanley Cup: Evgeni Malkin’s scuffling last night may have had some symbolic power, but the Pens are still down 2-0 to the Red Wings. (Eric McErlain has a must-read on how the Pens can come back.)â†µ

â†µâ†µMike Vick Watch: Rams? With Vick out of prison and coming closer to NFL reinstatement, watch as teams float their interest in him — both to manage public perception and to woo Vick, in the event that multiple teams will recruit him (and you can bet there will be). The Rams have very little to lose in pursuing him, given their record over the past few seasons.â†µ

â†µâ†µMore NFL: The most exciting NFL news of the weekend? The Vikings were practicing the Wildcat formation — with Percy Harvin.â†µ

â†µâ†µNBA Draft: Length will be back in vogue, especially after the way the Magic’s long, versatile frontcourt dismantled the Cavs. That is good news for PG Jrue Holiday, now looking at the Top 5, and PF Austin Daye, now looking at Top 10. (BTW: Blake Griffin is NOT long.)â†µ

â†µâ†µThe Last Word: “I’m a winner. It’s not being a poor sport or anything like that. If somebody beats you up, you’re not going to congratulate them. That doesn’t make sense to me. I’m a competitor. That’s what I do. It doesn’t make sense for me to go over and shake somebody’s hand.” â†µ
â†µ— LeBron Jamesâ†µ

â†µâ†µDan Shanoff writes The Wake-Up Call every weekday morning for SportingNews.com and blogs daily at DanShanoff.com. Got any comments, questions or feedback? Email Dan at shanofftsn-[at]-gmail-[dot]-com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/danshanoff. â†µ

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This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.

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