LeBron, You Look Like You're Throwing Games on Purpose

Yeah, it's unthinkable. The NBA's greatest player, two-time defending MVP LeBron James throwing a game. Ridiculous! Who would do such a thing? What would he have to gain? The most sought after free agent in NBA history - the guy who held sports fans (and Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert) captive for months before letting the world know where he was taking his talents - LeBron James on the take? Isn't that something you see in some old 1940's flick during a Cubs rain out?

Of course no one would be stupid enough to throw a game, especially in the championship round. Well come to think of it, it did happen at least once that we know of. Eight members of the 1919 Chicago White Sox were banned for life for throwing the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds. First baseman Arnold Gandil, who had connections to the mob, convinced his friend and professional gambler Joseph Sullivan that the Series could be fixed. The rest is history. Say it ain't so, Joe, but Joe knew better. And considering how big baseball was back then, it was unthinkable.


But basketball's different, right? No. No different. There was the college basketball point shaving scandal in the late 1940's and early 1950's. Several star players including a few on the CCNY team in 1951 took bribes from gamblers and in return saw to it that their teams didn't cover the spread. It also happened in 1981 at Boston College. And at Arizona State in 1997. And a year later at Northwestern. Oh yes, wasn't there an NBA ref named Tim Donaghy who worked NBA games for 13 seasons who bet on games he officiated from 2005 -2007 and made calls affecting the point spread in those games?

Having an off night in any sport is just part of the game. But there's something not right here with LeBron. Is he hiding an injury? Maybe. But I don't see it. No limp, no grimacing, no hobbling onto the court on one leg like Willis Reed did before game seven against the Lakers in May of 1970. Flu? In game four Dirk had a 102 degree fever and hacked and wheezed his way to a 21 point (10 in the fourth quarter) 11 rebound night. Are you telling me that all of a sudden in one week James goes from an Adonis/sharpshooting hybrid to an eight point South Beach talentless garbage-time scrub? Or that a guy with his drive and pride suddenly doesn't care?

Probably the most likely explanation for LeBron's new zombie style is that he's either physically and/or mentally drained. But that in itself is tough to swallow because Dwayne Wade has to be just as tired and he's on his way to the Finals MVP. He's driving hard to the basket while LBJ has the best seat in the house - to the right of the foul line.

I guess time will eventually tell and we'll find out the truth. I sure hope it doesn't involve a perp walk.