Forget about it!
No NBA settlement has been the basis for several rather strange stories. One of the more interesting, LeBron James and Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll tweeting each other. I didn't read the story I assume it probably hinted LeBron was considering playing in the NFL this year. I think most of us realize James played football in high school at 250 pounds. I sure he probably dominated the high school field in the same manner he did the basketball court. James was probably larger and more athletic than the majority of players he faced in both sports. If James thinks he can just walk out on an NFL field without any prior experience his head is much bigger than I thought! James at 265 pounds certainly weighs enough and is probably speedy enough however there is a huge difference. His weight classifies him as one of the larger players in the NBA not so in the NFL. He would sometimes face players who weigh more and might be just as fast as he. Driving down the lane in basketball players tend to "move" out of the way, he wouldn't have that luxury in the NFL. I will borrow a line from former Falcon's coach Jerry Glanville when arguing a call with a new official said; "this is the NFL and not for long." Glanville meant that official was not going to have a long NFL career and that will probably be James epitaph too, not for long!

To further explain

There is no animosity on my part against Oklahoma City and it's residents. In fact it never existed my problem was the manner this franchise was spirited out of Seattle. I will continue to believe Clay Bennett and team pulled an okeydoke on Sonic fans. For those unfamiliar with the term okeydoke it has several definitions. The Urban Dictionary provides us one; "something that is not acceptable." In any event my visits to the city have always been pleasant. I can say nothing negative about the city or it's residents as for Thunder owner Clay Bennett that's another story. I believe Bennett and his partners had no intent from the beginning for the team to remain in Seattle.

There is no middle ground
Either you love him or hate Dick Vitale or Dickey V. Any discussion of college basketball at some point the name Vitale might be included in the conversation. This former coach has now become far more famous as a broadcaster than a coach. His resume, consists of high school coach, collegiate coach and finally as coach of the Detroit Pistons. Vitale's NCAA record was 78-30 his NBA record 34-60. After being fired as coach of the Pistons he began his broadcast career at the time ESPN first began broadcasting in 1979. His enthusiasm for the game is quite evident although critics often accuse him of favoring Duke and Carolina basketball. His slang terms have become legend; "aircraft carrier, dapper dandy" and "time for a T.O. baby" are just a few of the pet phrases that have permeated the airwaves over the years. Once I was viewing a game and my wife walked through on her way to another room. Hearing Vitale for the first time she said to me; "what's wrong with that guy?" This guy was inducted in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008, I witnessed (on television) a 30 minute acceptance speech with no visible notes. His speech was eloquent, timely and filled with the excitement of one Richard J. Vitale.

How will it look in March
I'm looking at the Big 12 Conference finish for 2010-11 and have begin speculating on how it will look next March.  Below is the order of finish for the first six teams this past season:

Kansas 14-2
Texas 13-3
Texas A&M 10-6
Kansas State 10-6
Colorado 8-8
Mizzou 8-8

We can exclude Colorado and Nebraska (7-9) both no longer in the conference. Questions still remain for what's left of this conference for perhaps it's final run with this list of current teams. I have wrongly predicted the downfall of Kansas for the last two seasons and just like a vampire they just refuse to die. Bill Self seems to get the maximum effort out of his team till NCAA time and then that's another story. I could make the same statement regarding Coach Barnes at Texas, he always seems to reload however consider the wealth of basketball talent in the state. Who steps up, who slips Baylor slipped badly for a team that was loaded with talent. They finished 18-13 and 7-9 in the conference another similar run and Coach Scott Drew might be looking for employment elsewhere. Although Mizzou finished at 23-10 8-8 in the conference I can say my Tigers underachieved too! A new coach (if he stays) and the majority of their lineup returning they should be better running a more conventional offense. A&M in it's final Big 12 run will not be as good as the previous season. Improved play by Mizzou and Baylor should lower the sails of A&M just a bit. Movement will occur within the top six but all should finish with 20 or more wins, substitute Baylor for Colorado.

Unbelievable
Those of us who were able to see Magic Johnson play know he was really magic on the court. The Lakers certainly had great players but Magic provided the glue that made those teams great. Mike Trudell Lakers reporter wrote an article for NBA.com which points out a fact which was probably unknown to Johnson's many fans. "An example: since Johnson joined the team as the No. 1 overall draft pick prior to the 1979-80 season, theLakers had a winning record in every month of every season for the entirety of his career, lasting through 1990-91.* There was not a single losing month ... for 12 years. *Johnson did come out of retirement for a 40-game stretch in 1995-96, leading L.A. to a 29-11 record." Can you imagine a winning month every month for 12 consecutive years, that is totally amazing. (Mike Trudell, NBA.com/lakers)

"The road to success is always under construction!"

Lily Tomlin