Cleveland barbershop owner Tony Houston doesn't wear his opinion about LeBron James on his sleeve. It's on the floor of his barbershop in living color. New York Times reporter Jonathan Abrams writes how Houston moved a decal featuring LeBron James from its place of pride on his barbershop’s wall to the floor after James said he was leaving for the Miami...
Cleveland barbershop owner Tony Houston doesn't wear his opinion about LeBron James on his sleeve.
It's on the floor of his barbershop in living color.
New York Times reporter Jonathan Abrams writes how Houston moved a decal featuring LeBron James from its place of pride on his barbershop’s wall to the floor after James said he was leaving for the Miami Heat.
“So you can wipe your feet off,” Houston explained when asked why James’s sticker was now on the floor. “You can wipe them off on the way out, too.”
Abrams writes how there is a lingering resentment over the way James declared he was leaving — in a nationally televised announcement.
“It’s respect,” Rob Wilson said as he waited for his haircut. “It’s all about respect, and he didn’t show any.” The frequent analogy is that the broadcast amounted to someone publicly breaking up with his girlfriend.
Golden State is Smart
Former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant and head coach Keith Smart is now the coach of the Golden State Warriors.
Smart, who took over for John Lucas in 2002, was 9-31 with the Cavaliers. Smart will replace Don Nelson.
"He is as happy for me as I am for myself," Smart said of Nelson. "He really wanted me to be in this position. I had a head coach that wanted me to take over for him. You couldn't ask for a better situation than what I have right now. It doesn't happen like this."
Shaq Diesel
The Shaquille O'Neal circus has left Cleveland and it's now in Boston. Boston Herald reporter Steve Bulpett writes how O'Neal has taken his talents to Beantown and everyone is having fun.
“You know, Shaq is going to be Shaq,” captain Paul Pierce [stats] said. “All the publicity and all the circus that’s going to come with it, I mean, he’s one of the biggest stars that this game has ever seen, so you’ve got to expect that. I’m happy to say I have a chance to play with him. Just to be in the locker room with him for a year or two or however long he decides to play, it’s going to be a lot of fun. Hopefully I can learn some things from him. I’m just going to enjoy this ride.”
Tired of Heat
Like so many others, Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard has grown tired of the Miami Heat.
Fanhouse.com reporter Tim Povtak writes even after winning the division the last three years, reaching the conference final the last two, and expecting continued improvement this season, the Magic suddenly find themselves invisible when standing next to their ubiquitous, in-state rivals, the most celebrated non-championship team in league history.
"I got tired of the Heat as soon as LeBron James announced he was going to Miami,'' scoffed Magic center Dwight Howard Monday.
Magic coach Stan Van Gundy agrees.
"ESPN is like 'all Heat, all the time,' " remarked Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. "This isn't about us getting together for training camp and the theme is we have to beat the Heat. That's ridiculous. There are a lot of good teams. They aren't the standard bearer.''