It's not like Cleveland has never been the butt of jokes, but now the jokes have a James twist.
Comedian Denis Leary provided some humor with a LeBron James bite during his performance Tuesday night at Playhouse Square.(Chasing down rumors about LeBron James' basketball future could be a full-time job. Now it's my full-time job. Just call me The Rumor Monger. Every day we'll compile a list of the rumors we're hearing about James and his next contract. Just remember these are just rumors, not necessarily facts. It's going to be a long and rough ride, Cavs fans. Buckle up. -- Mary Schmitt Boyer)
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's not like Cleveland has never been the butt of jokes, but now the jokes have a James twist.
During Tuesday night's "Rescue Me" comedy tour at the State Theater, comedian Lenny Clarke pleaded "Don't let LeBron leave! Get a lawyer to find some language in his contract and say, 'Here, see!? You can't leave.'" Headliner Denis Leary, star of the FX series "Rescue Me," tweaked the crowd for a laugh saying, "You'll remember tonight's show. You'll remember this as the time you went to see that guy ... a week before LeBron James left."
David Letterman even made a reference to James during his opening monologue on Tuesday night:
"The New York Knicks are making big changes to start a new era with LeBron James. We've got the money to bring in the best supporting players to bring home the title. We're undertaking an $850 million renovation to the World's Greatest Arena. And we're changing our name to the Lakers.
"New York Lakers basketball. ... Catch the fever!"
• I know this is the James rumor mill, but they may have to start a Chris Paul version in New Orleans. Prompted by stories that a team with Paul has a better chance of signing James, the Hornets tried -- unconvincingly -- to convince people they weren't listening to offers for their All-Star point guard.
Owner George Shinn issued a statement that said, "Chris Paul is the cornerstone of our franchise and brings us unequaled support on and off the court. We will continue to build around Chris Paul, and we want to see him in a Hornets uniform for the remainder of his career. We have an exciting future, and with the leadership of our new head coach and players like Chris Paul, we know the best is yet to come. We plan to take advantage of any opportunities to improve our team."
New coach Monty Williams told the New Orleans Times Picayune, "Chris was the thing that excited me about this job. So many people are begging for a point guard. We're talking about the best one in the game. I couldn't envision being here without Chris."
Hornets General Manager Jeff Bower said he wouldn't comment on rumors, then told the Times Picayune, "We have the duty to listen and have dialogue with teams about all of our players. I've also always said we have a very high value and opinion of what Chris provides for us. Things really haven't changed.
"I can guarantee that we are very much aware of Chris's ability, skills, talents and what he provides to our community, and what he provides to our basketball team. We don't take that lightly. The ability to have a player like that is something that every team understands and appreciates."
Writes Jimmy Smith of the Times Picayune, "These days, anyone with an e-mail account and an iPhone can post a blurb on the Internet -- as someone did on Twitter a day or so ago saying the Hornets were jumping into the chase and had become the favorites to lure back-to-back league MVP James away from the Cleveland Cavaliers."
Meanwhile, Paul tells ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard, "My first choice is to be in New Orleans. I just want to make sure we're committed to winning. If we're not committed to winning and trying to get better so we can contend with the Lakers, the Celtics and all these other top teams, then I'm open to being traded.
"I'm fine with staying in New Orleans, but I want to make sure we're committed to winning. I don't want to rebuild. I want to win now. It's nothing personal against the city. I love that city. But my biggest thing is winning.
"I'm friends with D-Wade, LeBron, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson and all these other free agents," said Paul, who's in London promoting his Brand Jordan sneakers. "I'm watching them try to figure out what they're going to do to put themselves in a position to win championships. I'd love to be a part of that stuff."
Broussard reports that the feeling around the league is that if Shinn can't sell the team, the Hornets will move Paul to save money.
• From Tuesday's Chicago Tribune story on new coach Tom Thibodeau: "When asked about free agency in general (and LeBron James in particular), Thibodeau noted that it would be against league rules to comment on specific players, but said, 'I can't imagine why any free agent wouldn't seriously consider this team.'"
• From Jalen Rose, via Twitter on Tuesday: "#NBA breaking news (research/sources say) It is almost certain that LeBron James will not be returning to the Cavs! (Bulls/Heat/Clips)"
He also tweeted, "as of 2day the Bulls have the best chance of landing LBJ ... Miami would need to make more roster moves ... Clips have a punchers chance!''
• New odds on James' decision from sbrforum.com. Cavs, 1-to-2 favorites, followed by Bulls 5-to-2, Knicks 7-to-2, Nets 5-to-1, Heat 9-to-2 and Clippers 15-to-1.