General

Shanoff’s WUC: Why LeBron Should Go To Miami

Jun 29, 2010, 12:13 PM UTC

Today’s Calls: LeBron James vs. Dwyane Wade, Stephen Strasburg vs. Expectations, Spain vs. Portugal, Netherlands vs. Brazil, Adrian Peterson vs. the Vikings, South Carolina vs. CWS, Sepp Blatter vs. Technology and More.â†µâ†µThe Opening Pitch: Here is why I’m rooting for LeBron to join Dwyane Wade (and Chris Bosh) in Miami:â†µ

â†µ

â†µWinning.â†µ

â†µâ†µI have never bought into this whole “alpha dog” thing -- that LeBron and Wade couldn’t get along on the same team because both need to be the alpha dog.â†µ

â†µâ†µI think LeBron gets it: Only championships matter. Oh, sure, LeBron wants to be a billion-dollar global icon. But he knows that without rings, that will never happen. And the clearest path to rings is in Miami.â†µ

â†µâ†µAnd I have never bought into this idea that somehow, a ring is worth less if you don’t go through other superstars to get it. Last time I checked, the shorthand for NBA glory was “how many rings,” not “oh, and who did you beat?”â†µ

â†µâ†µWhat never made sense to me is how all of these conspicuously ring-less NBA legends -- Barkley, Ewing, basically everyone on the Dream Team except MJ, Pippen, Magic and Bird -- never joined up with MJ in Chicago, if only to win that ring.â†µ

â†µâ†µBut LeBron considers himself an evolutionary step beyond the legends of the 1980s and 1990s. And so the unprecedented cross-over is to discard mere rivalry -- Lakers-Celtics? So quarter-century ago -- and focus on absolute excellence. To seemingly subjugate his stardom while, obviously, taking it supernova.â†µ

â†µâ†µFor my money -- or for the Heat’s money -- I want to see this unprecedented collection of talent. I want to see them rack up titles. I want the next decade to be boring with dynasticism, to shatter the myth of stars colliding. Let’s try colluding. â†µ

â†µâ†µI want the Heat to become a villain that every other fan can desperately roots against. I want mid-level free agents to be willing to take a “ring-finger discount” to join them. Let’s push the yearly win total past 72 ... to 75 ... hell, to 80.â†µ

â†µâ†µOf course, the only win total that matters is the 16 annually it takes to win a ring.â†µ

â†µâ†µIf that’s what LeBron really cares about -- even if winning is only an incidental step toward grander personal ambitions -- he should sign up with Wade and Bosh in Miami.â†µ

â†µâ†µThis has been Day 2 of LeBron Week. Come back tomorrow for a little schadenfreude at New York’s expense.â†µ

â†µ

â†µStrasburg: Whoops! It was "only" 3 ER in 6.1 IP with 7 Ks, but it felt like Strasburg was constantly being battered around. It didn't help that the Nats gave him zero run support ... again. (It's like they are so in awe that they lose their focus when it comes time to hit.)â†µ

â†µâ†µWill this hurt Strasburg’s All-Star chances? Probably, although he definitely should be part of the game. Here is my solution: Leave him off the initial roster, but put him on the “Extra Man” ballot, where the fans can vote him in if they really want to see him. (And I’m sure they do.)â†µ

â†µâ†µWorld Cup Mania: There won’t be a more anticipated quarterfinal than Netherlands-Brazil.â†µ

â†µâ†µToday: Paraguay-Japan in the 10 a.m. ET appetizer (can Paraguay continue South America’s run of dominance?), with the Spain-Portugal border war as the main event at 2:30 p.m. ET.â†µ

â†µâ†µMLB Talking Points:â†µ

â†µâ†µ• Good news for Detroit: Back in 1st.â†µ

â†µâ†µ• Bad news for Detroit: Zumaya’s injured elbow.â†µ

â†µâ†µ• Ubaldomania: 14th W (No-No thru 5).â†µ

â†µâ†µ• Big Z, Cont’d: Banished to restricted list.â†µ

â†µâ†µ• Mark Prior Watch: Kinda sad, but rooting for him.â†µ

â†µâ†µ• Today’s Best: Rays-Red Sox.â†µ

â†µâ†µ• No Pujols at HR Derby? Booâ†µ

â†µâ†µCWS: Carolina so closeâ†µ

â†µâ†µNFL Offseason: Adrian Peterson to hold out? Like Chris Johnson (but not nearly as egregiously), Peterson is underpaid and has earned a new deal. Then again, he fumbles in big games. Then again, again, the team wouldn’t be in big games if it wasn’t for Peterson’s overall contributions. The bottom line: Just pay the guy, Zygi.â†µ

â†µâ†µCamp Countdown: If the Falcons knew what was good for them, they would model themselves on the Jets.â†µ

â†µâ†µCFB Offseason: The “Rooney Rule” for college football in Florida? I’m with Andy Hutchins: It sounds like a very good idea worth exploring further.â†µ

â†µâ†µCountdown: No. 67 SMU. Raise your hand if, five years ago, you thought SMU would be ranked 5 spots ahead of Michigan. Anyone?â†µ

â†µâ†µNCAA Tournament Expansion: I’m not sure why this has to be so complicated -- take the 8 at-large teams considered “last in” and pair them up to play 4 games to determine the 13-seed in each region.â†µ

â†µâ†µFashion: As someone who almost exclusively wears basketball shorts around the house, I appreciate UNDRCRWN’s new line, which allows you to wear them outside the house, too -- without the social awkwardness. Win a pair from First Cuts here.â†µ

â†µâ†µThe Last Word: “It would be a nonsense to not reopen the file of technology.” -- Sepp Blatter, FIFA President, in the wake of the Frank Lampard goal/non-goal.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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This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.

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