LeBron”Allooza”

July 1, 2010

This week’s edition of Focus comes out on Thursday, July 1, the same day LeBron James officially becomes a free agent and free to sign with another team.

As you likely know, James has kept his feelings and thoughts to himself regarding his immediate future. That has led to an immense amount of media attention which has led to an equal amount of guessing whose uniform James will wear next season.

Popular opinions have come and gone on a weekly basis since James’ current team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, were eliminated from the playoffs.

Last week, everyone had James going to Chicago. This week’s favorite is Miami. Let me take a minute to promote Miami.

Popular wisdom, prior to this week, was that James would not want to play with Dwayne Wade. Supposedly, they play too much alike and would both have to be ‘the man.’ I am not buying into that theory. I believe they would be just fine. I think LeBron wants to win titles and he knows he could do so with Wade.

The NBA would flourish if James and Wade hooked up and challenged the Lakers (and Kobe) for some championships in the near future. And another rumor out there is that Chris Bosh may also join the Heat. I would like to see this unprecedented collection of talent rack up titles. I want the Heat to become a villain that every other fan can desperately root against.

Photo: LeBron James

ACC Football Could Open Some Eyes In 2010

I was getting tired of reading about conference expansion etc. last week so I decided to look at some 2010 college football schedules. I like to take a look at non-conference games because they often give us our best games. They also give us a chance to rank conferences.

Historically, the ACC has struggled when they play high-profile schools in non-conference affairs. Hence, the league gets a bad reputation on the playing field.

I found five games that could change all of that for the ACC this year. Five opportunities for the ACC to prove it can compete on the national level. To prove that it can win some tough nonconference games.  

Let me start out by saying that I don’t think the ACC will win all five of these games. But winning three or four would go a long way toward changing a reputation.

The Tar Heels start out my five games to watch list with a home game vs. LSU on Sept 4. I know the ACC rarely beats the SEC. But UNC has a chance here. Butch Davis may be ready to take the next step in his fourth season with what should be his best team since he’s been there?

Virginia Tech at home vs. Boise State on Sept 6. This game could get the Hokies and the ACC off to a good start. All eyes will be watching as Tech takes on a team that returns all but one starter from last year’s undefeated team, including a quarterback with Heisman potential.

Miami at Ohio State on Sept. 11 is a big game. If the Hurricanes knock off a national title contender on the road in the second week, this team is for real.
 Florida State at Oklahoma is also on Sept. 11. A road trip against what should be a preseason top-10 team gives new coach Jimbo Fisher a chance to make a splash early in his first season.

Game number five comes around Thanksgiving. We know a lot by this time but if host Florida State could beat Florida, the ACC would score some major points at the national level. The Seminoles haven’t won this rivalry game since 2003, but the expectations are for the Gators to remain a top-10 team despite the departure of Tim Tebow and eight others who were drafted.
 
Vick Is Back In The News

Michael Vick turned 30 years old last week and had a birthday party. Though word has it that Vick did nothing wrong, there was a shooting at the party. In fact, there are reports that Vick had already left the event when trouble broke out.

The problem arises from the fact the bullet hit Quanis Phillips, one of the co-defendants in the dogfighting case that landed Vick in federal prison.

Vick’s probation requires him to steer clear of convicted felons, and Phillips’ presence at the party calls into question whether Vick ran afoul of his probation and his NFL reinstatement.

Photo: Michael Vick

Not what the Philadelphia Eagles wanted to hear now that they traded Donovan McNabb and have tabbed Vick as their backup quarterback to unproven Kevin Kolb.