The LeBron-O-Meter: Pat Riley brings the bling

Who should LeBron listen to? Pat Riley, the ringmaster? Or Dorothy Gale from "The Wizard of Oz?"

Well, it doesn't look like we have anything to fear from LA Clippers as far as competition for the services LeBron James. Their bare-bones presentation to the superstar -- no limo, no luggage, no owner -- isn't likely to make the King move his court to La-La Land.

No, what worries us is the Heat. Not only do they have more salary cap space than the other suitors for LeBron's hand, but they have a team president with more championship rings than he can fit on one hand. It seems Pat Riley brought only one of them to show LeBron, but I'm sure that was enough to show he'd be working with someone who knows how to win.

After Riley's flashy display of jewelry, we were feeling pretty gloomy about the  prospects of keeping LeBron in Cleveland. We were thinking of moving the 'Meter an unprecendented two full spots. But a couple of hours later new coach Byron Scott met the media and had this to say:
 
"There's nothing like winning at home," Scott said. "I won three titles in my hometown and there's not a better feeling."

Hear that, Mr. King?

It makes sense, doesn't it? And Dorothy put it even better:

There's no place like home.

Today's reading: Keep 'em Guessing



Like everyone else in Cleveland, we wonder what LeBron James will do when his contract is up this summer. Will he stay home, or follow the bright lights to Broadway? Until he decides to talk, we have to rely on hunches, instincts and educated guesswork. We'll report our findings, more or less daily, using the LeBron-O-Meter.