LeBron's Legendary Season Wasted By Cavs

CLEVELAND - In NBA history, what LeBron James just experienced is old hat. His breathtaking, dominant and iconic accomplishments during the 2008-09 season was all wasted.

He is on summer vacation.

The Orlando Magic eliminated the Cleveland Cavaliers last night with a 103-90 drubbing of the team that boasted the best record in the league at 66-16 and the top seed in the playoffs. The Magic's 4-2 series victory put an end to what had been a storybook season for the 24-year old James as he earned MVP honors and greatly improved his defense and overall game. In the Cavs' 14-game postseason, he averaged 35 points per contest after a 28.4 ppg average during the season.

But LeBron was clearly stunned and infuriated with the loss; he walked off the court at the final horn, dressed silently in the locker room and after a terse statement to his teammates, he disregarded any media interviews or chats with anyone, and disappeared from the arena into the Florida night.

He owes no one anything.

James was abandoned in this Eastern Conference Finals by his formerly sharp and talent-laden team. His sizzling 49 points in Game 1 mattered little as the other Cavs did nothing to support his effort. They shockingly loss that game at home, a place where they had been nearly unbeatable in 45 previous games this season. It took a miracle of a last second shot from James for the Cavs to escape Game 2 with a one-point victory and even though Cleveland headed to Orlando tied 1-1, their former dominance had clearly eroded at the hands of the far superior Magic team.

LeBron's 41 points in Game 3 was offset by a balanced Magic effort led by Dwight Howard's 24 points. By now, the Cavs were a team of one.

In Game 4, Cleveland was assaulted by Orlando's deadeye marksmanship as they nailed an unreal 17 baskets from the 3-point line. What's worst is the fact that Howard punished the Cavs inside the paint to the tune of 27 points and 14 rebounds. In spite of it all, Cleveland nearly won the game in regulation before Rashard Lewis hit a huge 3-pointer that led to overtime. Howard had 10 huge points in the extra session, but LeBron barely missed on a 35-foot 3-point attempt at the buzzer.

All he did was get 44 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists.

Game 5 back in Cleveland was a must-win for the Cavs, who trailed 3-1 heading in. When the dust settled on that game, LeBron had played arguably his greatest game as a pro as he scored or assisted on his team's final 32 points. The Cavs turned back the Magic, winning 112-102 by virtue of the colossal excellence of James; 37 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists for his 4th career playoff triple-double.

This guy was beyond belief.

LeBron was clearly spent in last night's game. He tried valiantly to get his teammates involved and was mildly successful at it. In the end, he mustered his least impressive effort of the series with 25 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. But given the load he carried for the previous 5 games, his Game 6 performance may have actually been his strongest.

Orlando is headed to their 1st NBA Finals since 1995. They will be matched against the L.A. Lakers, a team coached by Phil Jackson -- who knows a little something about super dominant players having their top notch seasons wasted. Jackson coached Michael Jordan when the former Bulls megastar did it all only to have his team leave him hanging. Of course, Jordan led his team to an unreal 6 NBA titles after those seasons of crushing defeats had come and gone.

James will be 25 next season at playoff time and in his 7th NBA campaign. He will be even better and more focused and hopefully, his team will be too. His time will come just as it did for Jordan and others throughout history.

Still though, he had one hell of a season!

Lethal Weapon 5

CLEVELAND - LeBron James is having perhaps the best playoff series of his stunningly brilliant NBA career, and it is perilously close to going to waste.

Or maybe not.

James used every ounce of his surreal talent, focus, intensity and desire last night to will his needy Cleveland Cavaliers to a rousing victory in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals over the pesky Orlando Magic, 112-102.

The Cavs still trail, 3-2 heading into Game 6 in Orlando.

LeBron has been nothing short of legendary in this series. He rolled to his 4th career playoff triple-double with 37 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists and completely controlled the 4th quarter with sharp playmaking, ambitious treks to the basket and deadeye shooting. He either scored or assisted on Cleveland's final 32 points.

Wow.

Without question, Saturday night's Game 6 in Orlando will be an enormous mountain to climb. The triumvirate of Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu will continue their unstoppability for the Magic. Last night, they steered a huge Orlando rally after Cleveland took a 22-point first quarter lead, then let it melt into an eight-point 3rd quarter deficit.

But if LeBron gets consistent help from his team in Orlando, this seemingly lost-cause series for the Cavs could actually get very intriguing.

Maybe.

James Feeling Same Frustration As Jordan Did

CLEVELAND - LeBron James scored 44 points in last night's crucial Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

His team still lost, 116-114 in OT and now trails the Orlando Magic 3-1 in their best-of-7 series.

This playoff series has been a stunning wake-up call to anyone who hastily awarded the Cleveland Cavaliers their 1st ever NBA championship after they dispatched their first two postseason opponents. It has also been a series that has proven the Magic to be a highly underrated team with a super dominant star player in Dwight Howard.

James has been stupendous this entire series, but his teammates have largely disappeared. Even when they perform well, they still vanish in crunch time. Last night, Mo Williams had an active and much needed 18 points through three quarters, but was a no-show in the fourth quarter and overtime.

LeBron scored a playoff career high 49 points in Cleveland's stunning Game 1 loss, then hit for a smooth 35 in their narrow 96-95 Game 2 win. That was the game in which James miraculously drilled a fadeaway 3-pointer at the buzzer after catching an inbounds pass with just one second left. He was unstoppable in Orlando as well, scoring 41 in that Game 3 defeat. For the series, LeBron is averaging an alien-like 42.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists, numbers that are so overwhelmingly epic that he should be forced to take a DNA test to see exactly what he's made of.

Barring a major miracle, the Cavs will lose this series. They would need to win three straight games over the Magic to advance to the NBA Finals, something that only about 4% of teams in this same hole has ever done in league history. With such scintillating excellence, James has to be majorly frustrated. His boyhood hero, basketball icon Michael Jordan endured similar set-backs during the early part of his storybook career.

Jordan led his Chicago Bulls to a shocking upset of the Cavs in 1989 when he hit "The Shot," a legendary jumper at the buzzer to send Cleveland to a series defeat. The Cavs were expected to sweep Chicago, and were superior to them all season, especially talent-wise. That seminal moment in MJ's career sparked the upstart Bulls and they blew past New York in six games to face the rowdy but great Bad Boy Detroit Pistons in the East Finals. 

On the strength of Jordan's remarkable Game 3, in which he scored 46 points and hit the game winner, the Bulls held an unlikely 2-1 lead. That's when the Pistons locked in on MJ and won the next three straight to oust Chicago in six games. The Bulls weren't expected to make it past the first round that season, but they came within two victories of the '89 NBA Finals, which was frustrating to the hyper competitive Jordan.

The following season ended in much the same way for Jordan as he dominated on offense and defense but his teammates disappeared at key times. Chicago took the defending champion Pistons to 7 games, but were shellacked in Game 7. MJ was bottled up by three defenders at all times, but still managed 31 points. Detroit won in a rout, 93-74.

That's how Jordan's 1989-90 season ended. A Game 7 loss on the road after an outstanding 55-27 season. Jordan averaged 36.7 points in 16 playoff games. James is at 36.0 in 12 games so far. Of course, the biggest difference between Jordan's Bulls then and James' Cavs now is the expectations factor. The 1990 Bulls were never considered true contenders, not with Detroit having beat them in both the 1988 and 1989 playoffs, and having a better team and sophisticated defensive scheme against Jordan. This year's Cavs rolled to a league-best 66-16 record and the number one overall seed.

They were one of the favorites.

Bottom line, LeBron is traveling a road that even the great Jordan struggled with. It should give him optimism for the future, but it won't dull his anguish in the present. He's going through all this at 24. MJ was 27 in 1990 when he limped off the court and cried in the post game locker room. For the rest of the decade, he led the Bulls to a whopping six NBA championships.

Greatness takes time. Championships take patience.

Game 4 Will Make Or Break Cavs Season

CLEVELAND - The players and the coaches probably won't say it, but I will. The Cleveland Cavaliers must win tonight's Game 4 in Orlando...or else.

Or else what?

Put it this way; if the Orlando Magic win again on their own home court tonight and go up, 3-1 in the Eastern Conference Finals, they will absolutely win this surprising series. No way do they win tonight and then drop the next three consecutive games it would take for Cleveland to pull it out. The odds are against that happening no matter how you slice it, but even more so when the greatness of Dwight Howard and the sharpshooting of Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu are taken into consideration.

If the Cavs win tonight, the series will be tied 2-2 heading back home to Cleveland and their vaunted Quicken Loans Arena. Granted, Orlando won Game 1 in the seemingly impossible-to-win-in building (and came within one second of winning Game 2), but the way this series has played out, the Cavs won't allow another game on their turf to get away from them (I think). Assuming the Cavs have that mindset (and with LeBron James instilling confidence in his suddenly lackluster teammates), then Game 5 in Cleveland will be theirs as well as a 3-2 series lead.

That's a whole lot of what if's.

The Cavs will be one win from advancing with two cracks at clinching. Game 6 would be in Orlando where the Magic will surely come out on fire. A couple things that the Cavs have in their favor is knowing how easy it is to get Howard in foul trouble. He spent nearly half of Game 3 on the bench because of just that and even though he hit a ton of free throws in the fourth quarter, that belied his career-long awfulness at the stripe. In other words, that accuracy is unlikely to happen again in this series.

Even if the Cavs lose Game 6 in Orlando, their 66-16 regular season record earned them the right to have Game 7 on their home court in Cleveland, in any series they play in -- if they can make it to a Game 7. In spite of it all, they would have a major advantage in that potential game and be favored to win and advance to the NBA Finals for the second time in three years.

Of course, none of this will happen if they lose tonight.

Killers And Coasters

CLEVELAND - Entertainer Deante Young has interviewed people from every walk of life you can imagine.

But a homeless killer would be a first.

Today marks the release of the 30th installment of a Date with Deante, an episode that, among other things takes us on a journey to nationally revered amusement park Cedar Point.  In the clip, entitled "Over the Cliff And To The Point," Laura discusses a murder that she claims to not have committed, but something doesn't ring true about her words. She doesn't see herself as a train wreck, but rather -- a princess.

Yeah, um ... okay.

Look for a hilarious exchange between Young and a few farm animals in yet another brilliant offering.

Impact of LeBron's Shot Is Yet To Be Determined

CLEVELAND - Everyone on the planet knows that pro basketball star LeBron James is immensely talented.

Last night, that talent took a back seat to his sheer force of will.

James, the league's recently crowned Most Valuable Player faked a cut to the basket before breaking free from the defense of Hedo Turkoglu to catch the most critical inbounds pass of his career. This all took place with only a single second on the game clock and the Orlando Magic holding a seemingly etched-in-stone 95-93 lead. Once James stepped behind the top of the three-point arc to catch the pass, he squared his body, jumped and hit a dramatic, fadeaway 3-pointer at the buzzer.

James reacted with stunned excitement as did his delirious teammates, who stormed onto the court and mobbed the basketball hero. Everyone else inside Quicken Loans Arena exploded with unbridled jubilation as the suddenly mortal-looking Cleveland Cavaliers escaped with a 96-95 victory and a 1-1 series tie against the Magic.

Game 3 is tomorrow night in Orlando.

Though the shot earned instant legendary status both for its degree of difficulty and the circumstances surrounding both teams, it should be noted that the Cavs displayed major flaws for the second straight game. They held a 23-point lead in the first half over Orlando, only to watch it evaporate gradually the rest of the game. Turkoglu, who scored at will against the limp defense of Sasha Pavlovic hit a game-tying 3-pointer with 48.7 seconds left as a precursor to the pull-up jumper he nailed with one second left in the game to seemingly win it for the Magic.

For whatever reason, the Cavs defense was mediocre and their offense was often inept.

Orlando superstar center Dwight Howard (10 points, 18 rebounds) was hampered by foul trouble all game and never got on track offensively. Rashard Lewis however, proved to be a major threat, nailing four pivotal 3-pointers and scoring 23 points to supplement Turkoglu's 21.

LeBron finished with a giant 35 points and according to him, "the biggest shot of [his] career." The incredible play is indisputably his best ever moment on a basketball court. I believe that it even eclipses his virtuoso performance in Game 5 of the 2007 East Finals in Detroit, when he scored 29 of the Cavs final 30 on an array of stunning shots to earn the unlikely road win.

With endless praise by teammates, fans and the media, the shot has been widely discussed and fawned over. Where it ranks in NBA history or even Cavs history is still an open case. Consider this: if the Cavs lose this series to Orlando, then the shot suddenly suffers a reduction in impact and magnitude. If they beat the Magic and advance to the NBA Finals, it becomes the biggest reason why. If the Cavs win the NBA championship, then James' legacy expands greatly and the shot would have to be placed very high on the list of epic moments in NBA annals.

LeBron's brilliance has long been a given, but it was his resolute drive, staggering confidence and ultra intensity that made this monumental shot a reality. It has the potential to have a greater impact than anything Kobe Bryant ever did in the postseason and rivals all but a couple of Michael Jordan's most transcendent hoops moments.

At the end of the day, LeBron is a special sports icon that is still amazingly a couple years from entering his prime. His historic basket saved the season from being a bust after their 74-16 record (66-16 in the regular season, 8-0 in the postseason) entering this Eastern Conference Finals matchup.

We'll always remember this LeBron James masterpiece. But how the Cavs' season ends will determine just how indelible it will be in the history books.

We'll soon find out.

Bryant v.s. Anthony: A Delicious Hoops Battle

CLEVELAND - While the sports world eagerly awaits (and humbly prays for) a possible LeBron James/Kobe Bryant NBA Finals matchup, another tantalizing star battle is taking place on the west coast.

Kobe Bryant versus Carmelo Anthony.

A generation ago, Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins staged a years-long battle complete with high-octane offense and high-wire flourishes to the basket. Nowadays, the 30-year old Bryant is the biggest gunslinger in the game, but Anthony, 25 next week is right there with him.

The NBA Western Conference Finals between the Denver Nuggets and L.A. Lakers have showcased these two scoring machines at their point-gobbling best -- and we're only two games in. No matter, in the Lakers' slim 105-103 Game 1 victory, L.A.'s Bryant went on a scoring rampage down the stretch, scoring 15 in the final 6:48 of the game to finish with a gargantuan 40 points. Denver superstar Anthony had been equally unstoppable all night, and eventually wound up nailing 4-of-5 3-pointers en route to 39 points of his own.

A classic Western shootout won by 13-year star Bryant.

In last night's Game 2, the storyline ended up being a sequel to the first offering -- except the ending had a twist; the Nuggets won, 106-103 behind Anthony's 34 points. Of course, Bryant nailed 32 points himself which put their two-game averages at 36.5 ppg for Anthony and 36.0 ppg for Bryant.

Sheeesh!

The high degree of offensive brilliance has been evidenced in the way both men score the ball. They both have enormous offensive repertoires and consistently make tough baskets under great duress. Often, both score against double and triple teams and Bryant has made a career out of making impossible shots in crunch time with defenders draped all over him.

The series now shifts from Hollywood to Denver for the next two games. The Nuggets have a great chance to dominate at home, but then again, L.A. has the mettle to rise to a road victory (or two) if they need to. With Bryant at the controls, anything can happen.

And nowadays, the same can be said for Anthony as well.

Magic Over Cavs: Surprisingly Expected

CLEVELAND - For all of the hubbub surrounding this season's Cleveland Cavaliers, their 66-16 regular season record and 8-0 mark in the ongoing 2009 NBA Playoffs prior to yesterday, they were never going to cakewalk to an NBA championship.

The Orlando Magic proved that last night.

Despite a sterling playoff career high 49 points from league MVP LeBron James, the Cavs fell victim to the Magic on their own home court, 107-106 in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals. Prior to this loss (which stunned Cavs fans everywhere), Cleveland had been flawless at Quicken Loans Arena in this postseason at 4-0 after a mega dominant 39-2 march through the season.

On the strength of solid-as-stone Dwight Howard's 30 points and 13 rebounds, Orlando erased a 16-point first half deficit with a 30-19 3rd quarter romp. Their vaunted three-point shooting re-emerged in the 2nd half after being non-existent in the 1st. Foward Rashard Lewis hit the jumper that eventually won the game for the Magic.

While it is very understandable that many people were stunned at the home loss for Cleveland, it was actually quite normal. In spite of my season long praise for this team, I was very aware of the pitfalls that could come upon them. After decades of watching stunning wins and losses by some of the greatest teams in NBA history, this game wasn't a shock at all...especially considering that the Magic are actually an excellent squad.

Howard is one of the top 5 players in the game and guys like Hedo Turkoglu and Lewis are outstanding. They have been well coached by Stan Van Gundy and they are battle-tested. They also just beat the defending champion Boston Celtics in the previous round even though Kevin Garnett wasn't around. The Magic's Jameer Nelson hasn't played since February, so that too needs to be considered.

All in all, I still believe the Cavs will win the series. But hopefully, the fans that were seduced by their earlier dominance have finally gotten their wake up call.

The Cavs surely did.

'Relapse' Proves Eminem To Be A Tortured Genius

CLEVELAND - Marshall Mathers exploded onto the music scene 10 years ago armed with a twisted sense of humor, unflinching honesty and self-deprecation and a boatload of raw lyrical ability.

In other words, he came to us as a conflicted prodigy.

Mathers, 36 is the man behind Eminem, the hip-hop artist and icon that has sold tens of millions of records and stirred up controversy at a dizzying pace with each album release. Today, the Detroit-based superstar returns to CD players and iPods everywhere after a four and a half year absence with the release of his fifth major-label solo album Relapse.

Talk about a return.

Relapse has gotten largely mixed reviews in the two weeks since it leaked online. Some say it is a true classic, others cite it as tangible proof of Eminem's supposed decline. I must say, it took me a while to get used to it, but after a series of careful listening sessions, I have concluded that the album borders on potential classic material. For all of the criticisms levied against it, I am fascinated at Eminem's lyrical dexterity, but I am blown away at the brutal honesty he displays in bringing listeners into the dark, haunting world that was his life as a shameless drug addict.

That addiction nearly cost him his career and life.

It is easy to dismiss cuts such as "3AM" and "Same Song and Dance" as weak attempts at shock horror, but the deeper truth to those songs is simple; his raging addiction gave him a predilection to harm and destroy and he couldn't help it. Thankfully, he never acted on those fantasies but he did harm and torture himself as evidenced by "Deja Vu," a brilliantly wove confessional about the horrifying depths that his addiction took him.

"My Mom" and "Insane" appears to be (at first sound) just more rantings about Eminem's harrowing upbringing with a little Slim Shady schtick thrown in for effect. Turns out, the songs offer a deeper glimpse into Mathers the person, not Eminem the artist. Both tracks essentially fill out the puzzle he started in 1999 when he began informing the public of the dysfunctional parenting that has led him to be "the way he is."

"We Made You" is an anomaly, albeit a catchy one...in my book. Eminem rails on a plethora of celebrities and takes no prisoners. Love it or hate it, the incredible assonance and complex rhyme patterns in the song eclipse the skills of most of today's rap artists by a country mile.

The legendary Dr. Dre produced all but one of the record's 15 tracks (five skits are mixed in) and his appearance on "Old Time's Sake" is a welcome return for Dre the rapper. His two verses are sharp and cocky, not stale and uninspired like some folks have stated. Throughout the entire album, his trademark sound and thumping baselines augment Eminem's already scintillating rhymes and delivery. This is particularly true on the track "Underground" which features Eminem at his tongue-twisting, mind bending lyrical best.

"Crack a Bottle," released months ago is an Em, Dre and 50 Cent vehicle. It is a bit drab for my taste, but it grows on you. The lone Eminem produced track, "Beautiful" is a Marshall Mathers masterpiece. Written while Eminem was still on drugs (he's been sober for an entire year), it is the perfect blend of mood, subject, beat, hook and delivery. It may be this album's tour-de-force and will certainly be one of Em's most transcendent records.

Eminem's last album, Encore was considered by many to be the start of his descent from his high-profile brilliance. It debuted in November 2004 and sold 5 million copies, only half of what his two previous LP's sold. With all of the tribulations that came his way since he disappeared, none hurt more than his friend Proof's murder in 2006. Relapse is dedicated to him, the man whom Eminem cites as being the number one reason he is where he is now.

In my final estimation, I admire Eminem for revealing such personal demons with us. He is clearly a major talent, but is also a tortured genius. Marshall Mathers is Elvis Presley and Bob Marley. He's Marvin Gaye and Michael Jackson. 

Relapse is on point. Let's hope Marshall stays on track.

Jordan's Sequel To Famous Shot Ended Cavs Era

CLEVELAND - Every pro basketball fan over the age of 25 knows about Michael Jordan's amazing buzzer beating, series clinching jumper over Craig Ehlo in the 1989 NBA Playoffs.

Most don't know about the sequel on the same court four years later.

That's right, Jordan struck again and this time, ended an outstanding era in Cleveland Cavaliers basketball 16 years ago today in the 1993 Eastern Conference Semifinals. The two-time defending champion Bulls won the game 103-101 and went on to face New York in the Conference Finals.

Jordan's shot made the inevitable happen.

After MJ's incredible shot in '89, the Cavs went in a tailspin for the following two seasons, but had a rebirth of sorts in the 1991-92 season. Jordan spearheaded a 4-2 series victory in the 1992 East Finals vs Cleveland, so during the offseason, the Cavs acquired swingman Gerald Wilkins in an effort to improve and defeat Chicago in a possible future rematch by utilizing Wilkins' size, athleticism and notable defense to curtail Jordan's incredible offensive abilities.

Uh oh.

The 1992-93 NBA season unfolded a bit surprisingly. Chicago was sluggish most of the way and seemed far off the pace of their two previous championship seasons. In their meetings with Cleveland, Jordan "struggled" his way to a 27.4 ppg average in five games, well below his NBA-leading 32.6 ppg for the season. An early January contest, in which the Cavs routed the Bulls by 22 points fueled talk that Wilkins was "The Jordan Stopper" as he "held" the basketball icon to just 23 points in the blowout.

When it was time for the teams to do battle in the semifinals, the "Jordan Stopper" talk was all the rage. Jordan was fired up from Game 1 as he blitzed Wilkins for 43 points and continuously put incredible moves on the foolish Cavs guard. Going into Game four, Chicago led the series 3-0 and had just won a pivotal game three in Richfield. Game four was competitive and the Cavs actually owned a 10-point 4th quarter lead.

Then Jordan took over.

MJ knocked in two huge three-pointers in the fourth and rallied Chicago in much the same way he'd done in that legendary '89 game. With Ehlo missing the potential go-ahead jumper with 17 seconds left in this game, the Bulls controlled the rebound and called timeout. When play resumed, Jordan got the ball on a post-up with Wilkins who battled him tough, even knocking the ball away at one point. Jordan retrieved the ball, backed his "defensive roadblock" down, turned, faded and fired the ball at the basket.

All net.

The ball dropped through the hoop at the buzzer as his coaches and teammates stormed the court and mobbed him. Dubbed "The Shot II," it was was a near mimicry of the one four years earlier. This one came from 18-feet out, to the right of the key. In a post game interview, Jordan noted the other key difference: "The [one from '89] was, if I miss, we go home. This one, even if I missed, we go into overtime. So the pressure wasn't the same, but the gratification is."

After Jordan's shot ended the Cavs season (for the 4th time in 6 years), Cleveland head coach Lenny Wilkens resigned (ahem, was fired) and the team began to loose its identity. Mike Fratello replaced Wilkens, and by his 2nd season, had slowed down the offense to a crawl. The '93-'94 campaign also saw all-star center Brad Daughtery sustain a career-ending injury and Larry Nance miss 49 games to injury.

And Jordan? Well, after The Shot II, he led the Bulls to a 4-2 victory over the Knicks, then averaged a record 41 points per game in the NBA Finals and lead Chicago to their 3rd straight NBA Championship. His stunning retirement that following autumn predated the Cavs makeover even though he was the catalyst in their downfall (which actually began with the '89 shot).

I salute MJ on yet another anniversary of excellence. His greatness never knew when to quit.

Trailer Park Strip Show

CLEVELAND - There's something to be said for a group of people, male and female that are unafraid to bare their private parts to total strangers in public.

What that "something" is is another story.

The racy factor and the shock quotient of a Date with Deante took very steep climbs in its recent "Whites Gone Wild, Part 1" episode. Multiply that times a hundred for the conclusion to that stunner. "Whites Gone Wild, Part 2" debuts today, the 29th installment of the controversial web series and continues host Deante Young's journey to a trailer park, his encounter with a homeless drunk with a racist tongue and a slow-to-develop amateur porn shoot that looks uninspired.

Check out this Cinemax-eligible clip. It's a real doozy.

Family Ties: A Personal All-Time Classic

CLEVELAND - Television has always been a part of my life, especially during my formative years. 

Count Family Ties as one of my all-time favorites.

The popular NBC sitcom ended its run 20 years ago today with Alex P. Keaton leaving Ohio to pursue a political career. The fictional Keaton, played expertly by Michael J. Fox was an enormous supporter of President Ronald Reagan's policies during the show's tenure. Coincidentally, Reagan's two terms in the White House (1981-89) closely spanned the life of Family Ties, which ran from 1982 to 1989.

I remember watching the show on Thursday nights at 8:30 PM EST, right after the runaway hit The Cosby Show. I believe that lasted until 1987, when Cosby himself created a spin-off vehicle entitled, A Different World for his on screen daughter Lisa Bonet.  Then, the Keatons moved to Sunday nights where they stayed until their '89 exit.

The cast of Family Ties weren't previously well-known, though Michael Gross and Meredith Baxter had been actors before being cast in this series. Baxter was the very attractive, albeit sharp blonde mother Elyse and Gross was the hilarious Steven, both had been Woodstock-era young adults and were originally intended to be the show's focal point. Justine Bateman's Mallory was the typical airheaded teenaged shopaholic and Tina Yothers' Jennifer was the resident awkward youngest child (until Brian Bonsall arrived in 1986).

Fox was the obvious headliner.

It is a misconception that the 1985 film Back to the Future made Fox a star. While that movie became both a box office smash and cultural icon, it was Family Ties that made the Canadian-born actor a household name. Back to the Future only extended his celebrity wattage, but he was still quintessentially Conservative Alex P. Keaton more than he was Marty McFly.

I greatly miss that incredible series and i remember being choked up while watching the finale on Sunday, May 14, 1989. It will always be in my personal stash box of favorite TV shows and of course, forever be the place where I first discovered the awesome Michael J. Fox.

Now if I could just find it on TV Land.

Bring on the Next Victim

CLEVELAND - With the magnificent LeBron James displaying his MVP credentials all series long, the Cleveland Cavaliers were never in danger of losing to the Atlanta Hawks.

Last night, the Cleveland boys put the ATL out of their misery.

With last night's 84-74 victory over Atlanta, James and his mates earned their second straight series sweep and the right to face either Orlando or defending champion Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Celtics and Magic are tied, 2-2.

So thorough was the Cavs and their megastar James in their four-game romp that last night's 10-point victory seemed paltry by comparison to earlier routs in this series. LeBron of course sliced and murdered the Hawks' defense and is now averaging a sick and twisted 32.9 points, 9.8 rebounds and 6.8 assists in eight playoff games this year thus far.

Sheeesh!

I feel bad for whomever emerges from the Celtics-Magic series. These Cavs are clearly on a mission and can't be stopped. Of course, having an alien like LeBron helps their cause a little.

Kind of.

Another Outrageous Classic

CLEVELAND - Entertainer Deante Young is at it again. The 28th episode of his classic series a Date with Deante has hit the Internet with a bang.

As always.

In the new clip entitled, "Whites Gone Wild, Part 1," Young visits a local trailer park and practically walks right into a real-life soap opera. He also encounters Tony Train Wreck, who reappears from his iconic appearance in episode 23. The drunken vagabond spews racial slurs at Young with no regard for anything.

It's hilarious.

There's also a show-some-skin treat that is almost too hot for the airwaves. As always, Young stirs up curiosity and controversy at every stop.

Especially this one.

Jordan's Historic Shot Cursed Cavs For 20 Years

CLEVELAND - Michael Jordan didn't know it at the time, but he put an awful spell on the Cleveland Cavaliers one Sunday afternoon that would cripple them for decades to come.

That spell seems to have finally ended.

Today marks the 20th anniversary of Jordan's legendary 18-foot jump shot that became immortalized as simply "The Shot." The buzzer-beater eliminated the Cavs from the 1989 NBA Playoffs and earned the upstart Chicago Bulls a 3-2 first round series victory.

And Jordan was the author.

The Cavs had just wrapped up their best ever regular season; a 57-25 record (including a league best 37-4 at home) and were favored to not only beat Chicago, but possibly sweep them. Indeed, with the Cavs' 6-0 record vs Chicago during the season, all bets were on Cleveland to thrash their Windy City rivals.

The series started on the Cavs' homecourt in Richfield Coliseum. The Bulls stunned Cleveland by winning game one on the road and by the end of game three, Chicago held a 2-1 series lead with the potential clincher (game 4) being played in Chicago Stadium. 

Jordan scored an amazing 50 points in game 4 but missed critical foul shots and a corner jumper in the closing seconds of regulation that could have clinched the series. Instead, the teams went into overtime and the Cavs came away with a rousing 108-105 victory. Jordan blamed himself for the loss and vowed to seek revenge in Cleveland during the deciding game 5.

That he did.

After an epic second half battle, the teams traded the lead nine times in the final three minutes and Jordan seemed to grow more determined with each passing minute. After the 26-year old superstar drilled a jumper with six seconds left, the Bulls looked victorious as they led, 99-98.

Timeout, Cavs.

When play resumed, Cavs guard Craig Ehlo scored a driving layup off an amazing give and go with Larry Nance to give the hometown guys a 100-99 lead with three seconds left. The team and the crowd cheered as though the game were over.

It wasn't.

After the Bulls' timeout, Jordan escaped a double-team and caught the inbounds pass, lost Nance with a crossover, then dribbled to the foul circle with Ehlo heavily guarding him. He rose, double-pumped the ball to avoid Ehlo's block attempt, then released the ball. It dropped through the basket as time expired giving the Bulls a stunning 101-100 victory and the series upset. Jordan jumped high into the air, pumped his fist repeatedly in jubilation and was then mobbed by his teammates and coaches. His contributions? Try 44 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and one gigantic statement.

Neither team was the same for many years.

Chicago marched to the Eastern Conference Finals and came within two wins of an NBA Finals berth before losing to eventual champion Detroit. Two years later, the Bulls won their first NBA title and became a decade-long unstoppable juggernaut. The Cavs traded star guard Ron Harper and ended up with Duke standout forward Danny Ferry. Jordan, seemingly just for kicks torched the Cavs again the following season with an opening night 54-point explosion and late in the season, career bests of 69 points and 18 rebounds in an overtime victory. 

Cleveland began a downward spiral of injuries to stars Mark Price and Brad Daughtery in 1990 and 1991. They returned to prominence in '92 as they matched their best season with another 57 wins. They ended up losing to defending champion Chicago in the Eastern Finals and again in '93 in the East semifinals. In the '93 series, Jordan hit a near mimicry of his famous '89 shot, again at the buzzer to finish off a 4-0 sweep. They wound up winning their third consecutive NBA championship while Cleveland fired Coach Lenny Wilkens.

Jordan retired in the fall of '93 and by the time he made his surprising return in 1995, the Cavs were in a new arena and now played a very slow tempo style of basketball that still left them in the middle of the pack. A 1994 back injury ended star center Brad Daughtery's career and Mark Price was in decline, now coming off the bench for Terrell Brandon. The Bulls endured an early playoff exit in '95 with a rusty Jordan, but returned to dominate the league with a record setting 72-10 mark in 1995-96 and their 4th championship.

Cleveland then traded Price and continued to be hamstrung by Ferry's colossal 10-year contract and career-long underachieving. As the Cavs grew increasingly irrelevant and mediocre, the Bulls continued to make history, Jordan in particular. He led Chicago to two more championships in 1997 and 1998, capping off an historic career with a title-winning jump shot in the 1998 NBA Finals vs Utah. 

The Cavs had remade themselves with their acquisition of Sonics star Shawn Kemp which appeared promising after he led them to a playoff victory in '98. That hope was short-lived as he became less effective and more problematic starting in the lockout-shortened 1999 season. By now, Jordan had retired seemingly for good and ten years after his iconic shot against the Cavs, was widely acclaimed as the greatest hoopster in history. Cleveland had, by contrast endured one setback and false start after another.

The Cavs were a largely downtrodden team at the turn of the century. With castoffs and misfits now occupying the team (and unattractive powder blue uniforms), the team was lackluster and almost forgotten during 2000 and 2001. Jordan made a shocking decision to return to the pros at age 38, this time as a member of the team that hired him as V.P. of basketball operations; the Washington Wizards. He took to the court in the fall of 2001 and had clearly lost much of his athleticism and super hangtime. Nonetheless, his brilliance as a player was still evident in many sterling performances that proved to be vintage MJ.

The Cavs finally received good news when they won the NBA draft lottery in 2003, ironically one month after Jordan retired from pro hoops forever. Their pick was obvious; 18-year old prep star LeBron James.

James, a spectacular 6'8" 240 pound wonder from St. Vincent-St. Mary in nearby Akron, Ohio had began to garner national praise for his plethora of hoops skills and pro potential in late 2001 and by early '03, the national fixation of him had reached a fever pitch. There were many skeptics that questioned his readiness for the drastic change of NBA ball straight from high school with no college to ease the transition.

James crushed the skeptics.

After leading the Cavs to an 18-game improvement, LeBron was rewarded as he was named the 2003-04 NBA Rookie of the Year. In his third season, he led the Cavs to their first playoff berth in years and began to amass historical moments on the court himself. His amazing game 5 in the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals against Detroit is among the greatest playoff games in history. He even led the team to their first ever NBA Finals that year against the San Antonio Spurs.

The Cavs were swept.

The following season was less successful as Cleveland lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Boston. Each season, James had improved his game to stunning degrees of excellence and was arguably the NBA's best player.

This season, the Cavs wowed the entire league as they rolled to a franchise-best 66-16 record (and an eye-popping 39-2 at home). They earned the number one seed overall and swept rival Detroit with ease in the first round. Two nights ago, they dispatched Atlanta by 27 points in game one of the semifinals. This came a day after James, now in his 6th pro season earned his first-ever NBA Most Valuable Player award, the first Cavs player in history to be named NBA MVP.

The way the team has played this entire season has been truly a sight to behold. Their killer instinct, focus, resilience and camaraderie have made them the odds on favorite to capture the 2009 NBA championship which would be a franchise first. Of course, James is the quintessential basketball superhero in much the same way Jordan was. LeBron is still a tender 24 years old, but his game is already almost as good as any icon that has ever played the game.

As a fan of Michael Jordan, I celebrate his legendary shot from 20 years ago. As a current fan of the Cavs, I respect their ascent to the ranks of the NBA elite. It is an absolute fact that MJ's crushing shot sent the Bulls to unmatched prosperity and success and augmented his legacy to an enormous degree. It is also fact that the Cavs fell apart and couldn't fully regain their mojo until this season and these playoffs; they look like they have the inside track on this year's title. That is why I believe that it has taken all the way until this season to exorcise the demon that was the curse of Michael Jordan.

This is one time where we can finally say congratulations to both MJ and the Cavs.

LeBron Proves His MVP Worth in Decisive Victory

CLEVELAND - For a guy to nail his first five baskets en route to a 34 point, 10 rebound output is incredible by any measure. When the guy does it in the NBA playoffs moments after winning his first MVP award is stupendous.

That is LeBron James in a nutshell; stupendous.

James, named the 2008-09 NBA Most Valuable Player on Monday received the actual award prior to last night's shellacking of the visiting Atlanta Hawks in game one of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Cleveland Cavaliers' 99-72 victory was more proof of their dominance after a more than decisive first round sweep of former rival Detroit. James as always was the catalyst without peer as he sliced and diced through the Hawks defense.

His outstanding performance came on the heels of NBA commissioner David Stern presenting the 24-year old hoops superstar with the league's highest individual honor at center court of Quicken Loans Arena. It has been very common in years past for an MVP to have a sluggish game on their big night. LeBron had no such problems as his searing precision made the honor seem even more apropos, even though his epic brilliance has spanned the entire season.

This storyline is guaranteed to continue for the rest of the postseason.

LeBron's First MVP Will Be Precursor To NBA Title

CLEVELAND - After a superlative regular season that saw his team set a franchise record for team victories, LeBron James' historic accomplishments have culminated in his being named the 2008-09 NBA Most Valuable Player.

It's what I've been saying for months.

James, 24 becomes the youngest pro basketball MVP in over thirty years after amassing all-pro statistics (28.4ppg, 7.6rpg, 7.2apg), and undergoing an eye-popping metamorphosis as a defensive stopper. He received 109 of a possible 121 first place votes and also became the first-ever Cleveland Cavaliers player to win the award. 

"Individual accolades come when team success happens," said James as he stood at a podium in the gymnasium of his alma mater St. Vincent St. Mary. "You look at those 14 guys over there, I got the award because of them. They put in the work." The scintillating star consistently thanked what he called his "intermediate family" and appeared genuinely humbled by this honor.

In addition to his phenomenal offense, his signature chase downs and shot blocking from behind transformed him into an elite defender and catapulted him to a second place finish for Defensive Player of the Year after several seasons of notoriously lackluster D.

James entered the NBA in the autumn of 2003 as a super heralded prep star from Akron, Ohio's St. Vincent St. Mary. The tough luck Cleveland Cavaliers won the rights to draft the local wunderkind and enjoyed an 18-game improvement during James' rookie season. The team made the playoffs in his third season, the NBA Finals (where they were swept by the Spurs) in his fourth season and in this, his sixth season rolled to a league best 66-16 record and top seed during the ongoing NBA playoffs. So far, they have swept the Detroit Pistons in round one.

The Cavs begin their semifinals series v.s. Atlanta tomorrow.

I have been saying all season that LeBron was the hands-down MVP. True, he had great competition from the Lakers' resident star Kobe Bryant (who finished a distant second in MVP voting after winning last season) as well as Miami guard Dwyane Wade and Orlando's Dwight Howard. But no one has been as indomitable on both offense and defense, nor been a better leader and closer for a title contender this season than James. This was his award to win from the early stages of winter onward.

Given his laser-tuned focus and surreal talent, James will lead his much improved team to the franchise's first ever NBA championship. It is an absolute certainty and as he stated in his news conference today, the reason he plays the game.

Another celebration awaits in June.

It's Official: New Eminem Video is 'A Real Killer'

CLEVELAND - A couple days ago, I wrote about the amazing trailer for Eminem's new music video. The thirty-four second teaser was designed to build anticipation for the actual video.

The actual video is pure genius.

The third single from the returning rap music icon's upcoming LP, Relapse is entitled "3 A.M.," which is also the title of the video. In the new clip, Eminem is a very psychotic, drug addicted maniac that gets lit on various prescription drugs only to go on seemingly involuntary murderous rampages at three o'clock in the morning.

When he's done killing, the memory of it seems to escape him.

Eminem has crafted a chilling, cinematic-style masterpiece that actually surpasses anything that is currently being done in hip-hop in terms of innovation and scope. And if the killing of a portly

black security guard in the video is a cunning "stab" at rap artist Rick Ross (who used to be a security guard pre-rap career and has recently "dissed" Eminem), then the video gains even more points.

It proves that Eminem hasn't lost his razor sharp sense of humor and amazing ability to respond to rivals and critics in his own subtle way.

The mastermind is back!

Eminem Clip Builds On Brilliant Music Video Legacy

CLEVELAND - The world has long known about Eminem's amazing lyrical ability thanks largely to his ascension to the top of the music industry during the early stages of this decade.

His music videos however, have been very underrated.

Eminem, the professional alter ego of 36-year old Marshall Mathers has crafted a wondrously creative body of work in the world of music videos. Beginning in 1999, the Detroit native released elaborate, often satirical clips with many locations and costume changes. In the "My Name Is..." video, Mathers hilariously spoofs then-U.S. President Bill Clinton during the aftermath of the Monica Lewinsky debacle. He's also made fun of a litany of pop culture icons past and present including two of the biggest in history; Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson.

Mathers created what I feel to be his tour-de-force in videos in 2000 with the release of the highly detailed clip for "Stan" from the acclaimed The Marshall Mathers LP. It shows in unflinching detail how a fan's obsession can turn deadly. It is one of the best clips I have ever seen.

Em's new album, Relapse will be released on May 19 and has already spawned a wildly "spoofy" video for the single, "We Made You." That clip takes aim at more than a dozen celebrities and sparked the expected controversy that Mathers has endured for years. The next clip is for the single, "3 A.M." which, based on its just released trailer is an ominous and sinister visual aid to the dark and psychotic lyrics of the song itself.

The video appears to be shot in a more cinematic mode than Eminem's previous work and its frenetic pacing just adds to the eerie feel of the disturbing imagery. It debuts tomorrow night on the cable network Cinemax.

Bottom line, I salute Eminem's creative genius and attention to detail in his video endeavors. No other hip-hop artist in history can match either his video legacy or cutting edge concepts.