Next up for the Cavs: winning the city's lost affection after a night that should be remembered as The Group Hug, Bud Shaw writes in his Sunday Spin.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Another weekend turn through the Sports Spin.
They at least fought the urge to give him a chair massage during timeouts.
The Drive. The Fumble. The Shot. The Move. The Decision.
And now this ... The Group Hug.
Let's be clear. The modest early-season stakes attached to Cavs-Heat preclude it from a serious place on the list of all-time Cleveland sports stomach punches. But for pure emotional letdown? You bet it belongs.
That will no doubt come as a surprise to many Cavaliers. They didn't get it Thursday. And don't be fooled. No matter what they're saying now, they still don't.
Boobie Gibson says if only we could've heard his conversation with LeBron James during the game we'd know there was nothing friendly about it.
Do share. Leave out the expletives and tell us the rest. Because unless people hear differently, unless he's really a basketball hit man who disarms opponents with his killer smile, Boobie is Derek Anderson smiling during a lopsided loss and then blaming the media for asking what was so funny.
It would be equally instructive to hear from Anderson Varejao, who threw himself into James' arms before the tipoff. People went to see an intensely competitive basketball game. And a Times Square VJ-Day Day embrace broke out. Nice.
The really scary thought is the Cavs believe they did offer resistance to James. Gibson says his words jeopardized his friendship with James. Wow.
As much as Varejao stealing James' headband? You hope Varejao wasn't clowning, right? How bad would that be? Clowning while getting your butt kicked sideways.
But think of the alternative. That's Varejao's way of fighting back and trying to throw James off his game? Stealing a headband and keeping it?
Good God.
I saw this movie when it was called "Mean Girls."
Group Hug, Part II...
In case the Cavaliers need more help understanding the city's reaction, Spin is only too glad to belabor the point.
Look, the best thing the Cavs had going for them Thursday was the emotions of their fan base. The only thing they couldn't do if they wanted to win the game was let James feel comfortable.
Instead, they wasted the competitive fire of their fans, showed none of their own, and let James own the place. For James to feel any more comfortable as he stood in front of the Cavs bench talking, Jawad Williams would've had to run up to the club level and fetch him a Chardonnay and some tuna tartare.
The Cavs swear it wasn't as friendly as it looked. Really?
Where'd they draw the line?
No tongues?
SPINOFFS
I like the Browns to beat Miami Sunday ... as long as Shaun Rogers and Josh Cribbs don't forget to take their Cavs' jerseys off...
Give Gordon Gee credit for apologizing for comments made in which he dismissed Boise State and TCU as title game worthy even if they finished the regular season undefeated. Said Gee, "What do I know about college football? I look like Orville Redenbacher. I have no business talking about college football..."
For different reasons, I'm done talking about the Cavs-Heat...
Except to say, old-school Byron Scott should've told James to get away from his bench players...
And that after Thursday the Cavs better get ready to hear some laughs if they flash the slogan "All for one and one for all" on the scoreboard during pre-game introductions. ... Now, I'm done.
Cincinnati's Bearcat mascot was cited for disorderly conduct during Saturday's Pittsburgh game. OU's Rufus Bobcat is considering suing for copyright infringement...
If Auburn quarterback Cam Newton is eligible, according to the NCAA, even though his father shopped him around, well, that's a loophole that makes the Michigan defense look like a lock-down fortress...
Apparently his Celine Dion collection is still in West Virginia or he would've left them with the image of a head coach leaning into the breeze on the deck of the Titanic.
Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez told a banquet audience that he has found solace in the lyrics of the Josh Groban song "You Raise Me Up."
Rodriguez and team members held hands while the song played over ballroom speakers.
According to the report, Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon said he would wait until the conclusion of the team's bowl game before evaluating the football program.
Didn't he mean the conclusion of the song?
Our "What Could Go Wrong" Winner of the Week
Qatar, the tiny Gulf nation of 1.6 million, outbid the U.S. in landing the 2022 soccer World Cup. Aside from the volatile political climate of the region, Qatar faces other serious challenges.
Like what amounts to having to air condition the entire country. Temperatures soar to 118 degrees during the summer.
"Thank you for believing in change," Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, said in Zurich.Because you'll be changing your shirt, socks and underwear every three minutes.
HE SAID WHAT?
"We risk ourselves out there on the field each and every day also. When soldiers come home from Iraq you don't boo them. I look at it the same way. I take my job seriously." – Giants safety Antrel Rolle, objecting to New York fans booing for a lackluster performance against Jacksonville Sunday.
Rolle apologized later the same day, calling his words "inappropriate."
My guess is he meant to say Afghanistan, too.
YOU SAID IT
(The Slightly Expanded Sunday Edition)
"Bud:
"Who gave the Cavs' pep talk before the Miami game, Luke Witte or Brad Daugherty?" -- Jim H.
Wrong Rim Ricky Davis.
"Bud:
"Exactly at what age are athletes not young and prone to mistakes?" -- Vicki T
Brett Favre is 41, has thrown 17 interceptions and stands accused of sending pics of his private parts. So, 42?
"Bud:
"Do you think LeBron would have made The Decision if he had known the Heat would only be in Cleveland once while Snow Days was going on?" -- Dan Coughlin
After hearing him mention "the greatness of myself" Thursday at The Q, I believe he'd say he does not regret any decision he ever made, including creating the heavens and the earth.
"Bud:
"Were Nashville Predators coach Barry Trotz and actor Edward G. Robinson separated at birth?" -- Jeff Heldt, Westlake
I thought you were going to say Boobie Gibson and Derek Anderson. But that would be separated at mirth.
"Bud:
"Do you think when Michigan lets Rich Rodriguez go he can survive on his income from playing Kurt's father on 'Glee?'" -- Patrick McGinty, Bay Village
If you're a first-time winner, you receive a T-shirt from the Mental Floss collection.
"Bud:
"Was that an NBA game at the Q Thursday or some long-legged rerun of 'The Love Boat?'" -- Jim D., Richmond Heights
Repeat winners receive a stomach distress bag.
"Bud:
"Is it true there is a new Ohio lottery game out called 'The Jake?" You pick 6 numbers and if any of them are drawn you owe $7." -- John M. Ploenes
Or a shipment of the hot new product "Jake Delhomme's Whiplash Balm."