General

Shanoff’s WUC: For LeBron, Put Up or Shut Up

May 13, 2010, 11:56 AM UTC

Today’s Calls: LeBron vs. Game 6, Canadiens vs. Game 7 (again), Flyers vs. 3-0, Stephen Strasburg vs. Anyone, Phillies vs. Cheating, Mariners vs. the Media, Brian Cushing vs. Brian Cushing, Brett Favre vs. Surgery, Super Saver vs. the Preakness field, Tiger vs. His Neck Joint, Michigan State vs. Duke and More.â†µ

â†µThe Opening Pitch: So yesterday got interesting, didn't it?â†µ

â†µâ†µThe Cavs’ humiliation on Tuesday night turned into some kind of instant, knee-jerk referendum on LeBron: He’s a choker! He’s selfish! He’s leaving for New York! He’s no champion!â†µ

â†µâ†µCall it the “LeBacklash.”â†µ

â†µâ†µThen, of course, came the natural backlash to the LeBacklash: Look at his record! It’s his teammates! It’s only Game 5!â†µ

â†µâ†µThis last point is most salient: I have never seen such hysteria in the middle of a playoff series. LeBron lost, but it’s not like he LOST.â†µ

â†µâ†µThat, of course, could come tonight in Boston. Make no mistake: If he loses tonight, then let’s ramp the discussion about LeBron’s ultimate shortcomings, about his long-term future.â†µ

â†µâ†µIf he wins tonight (and I think he will), forcing an epic Game 7 back in Cleveland this weekend, all the criticism from yesterday falls somewhere between embarrassing hysterics and moot.â†µ

â†µâ†µFor one more day, at least.â†µ

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â†µNHL Playoffs: Habs miracle run continues, with a 2nd-straight Game 7 win on the road. First, they ousted the league's regular-season champ. Last night, they KO'ed the defending champs. Best hockey 8-seed ever?â†µ

â†µâ†µ(Incredibly, the Habs’ run can be topped by the Flyers, who have come back from being down 3-0 in their series with the Bruins to force a Game 7. Only two other teams in NHL playoff history have come back from being down 3 games. This is insane.)â†µ

â†µâ†µStrasburg Mania: Threw a no-hitter through 6 innings yesterday in AAA. It will be hard to think of a rookie that will command more attention when he finally comes up to make his 1st MLB start in a few weeks. (Did you see Curt Schilling say that Strasburg could be the best pitcher in MLB as of the day he enters the league? No pressure or anything.)â†µ

â†µâ†µMLB Talking Points: The Phillies are cheaters? Sign-stealing is one of those nebulous practices. As long as you aren’t using enhanced equipment to do it, I think it should be OK. (The Phils are accused of using binoculars.) For now, though, it’s not kosher; at the very least, it’s against the spirit of the fair play. The question is this: How is this any less cheating than taking PEDs?â†µ

â†µâ†µGriffey Sleep “Scandal”: Junior’s Mariners teammates need to lighten up. This could have been a fun story. Instead, their reaction is the story, turning a curious 1-day blog-ish item into a week-long referendum on Griffey and the media. And we’re all still talking about the thing.â†µ

â†µâ†µCushing Watch: All that hullabaloo ... only to have the AP NFL award voters give him another Defensive Rookie of the Year award. (Does it count as a 2nd one? Does it override the 1st one? Either way: What a waste of everyone’s energy. If the NFL reporters have this much time on their hands, they aren’t busy enough.)â†µ

â†µâ†µSurprise! Brett Favre can’t decide whether to have ankle surgery or not.â†µ

â†µâ†µCBB Offseason: DeCourcy is spot on in putting Michigan State on top of his revised post-draft-deadline preseason Top 25. (Duke is No. 2; Butler is No. 21.)â†µ

â†µâ†µTiger Update: It’s “only” an inflamed neck joint, which he can medicate and massage into submission. (Isn’t that what got him into trouble in the first place? Zing!)â†µ

â†µâ†µPreakness: Super Saver is the 5-2 favorite for Saturday’s race. The potential of seeing the Derby winner take the second leg of the Triple Crown has always been the big appeal of the Preakness. Why wouldn’t you want to see Super Saver win again?â†µ

â†µâ†µNBA Draft: With all due respect, Kareem is wrong. The NBA early-entry age limit shouldn’t be 21; it should be eliminated.â†µ

â†µâ†µThe Last Word: “They got me.” -- LeBron, on why Cavs fans should feel good about their team’s chances tonight.â†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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