To RUN or not to RUN?

That sounds like a political reference. Inadvertent. I am not running for any office. Although, that one day might be on the agenda. For today I am talking about the "putting one foot in front of the other" type of running. For some strange reason, I have this intriguing bug in my head about running. I might blame it on my pops, who was a marathoner, back in his heyday, or the fact that my sister is relentlessly busting through her running goals. I am a competitor. The problem is though, that me and the road just aren't getting along as well as I would have hoped we would. My shins hurt. My feet don't enjoy it. Worse still is that the little bug in my head still hasn't burst into a "I HAVE to run to feel better today" inexplicable joy that so many often talk about, but have a hard time describing.

Enter Trail Running. This, my friends, is the answer. I like hiking. (Wow I just wrote 3 different forms of kinky while attempting to spell hiking. Awesome.) I like mountains, I want to like running. Why not run...in the mountains...on a hiking trail?!?! Problem solved. So much solved, that I signed up for my first race...in a month. I'll keep you posted. Now I need to get some shoes...

This might just work...

I might have gotten a little excited today. I watched the "Three Kings" of South Beach interview in its entirety and for the first time since LBJmania hit full swing I had a visual of this craziness actually having a chance at success. At first, I was (maybe still am, a little) skeptical, for obvious reasons:

LeBron bailing on Cleveland kinda puts a bad taste in my mouth, not gonna lie. Part of me wanted him to be loyal, badly. After "The Letter" though I rescind my need for loyalty.

All the "Chris Bosh" and "superstar" in the same sentence talk. (Bosh is good, but superstar status?). I mean how many playoff appearances in HOW many years in Toronto?

Lastly, D-Wade v. LBJ v. Bosh...oh wait, on the same court, on the SAME team?

All in all it just seemed like way too ridiculous of an idea.

Now though? I am on board. If nothing else I just want to see what actually happens when all three, wearing the same Heat logo'd jersey, step on the court and play 48 mins of hoops. Together.

The reasons it works?

1. DWade is a killa. I always thought so. Behind Kobe, he's second best at closing games. 3.4 seconds left, down 2?...The ball is in DWade's hands. No question.

2. LeBron might not have as killer as an instinct as many of us would like to believe he does. I feel like the man just likes to ball. Period. He just happens to be really, really, ridiculously good at playing. So the world then adds this unnecessary weight to those broad shoulders and has the nerve to judge him by how well he carries it. You know its true. You've done it, I've done it. He draws it to himself because he is that good. That being said, if DWade is allowed to close, LeBron will then be allowed to ball. Ball to the tune of 25, 12 and 10 night in and night out.

3. Then we come to Bosh. I look at Bosh like a Gasol/Odom mixture. (Sorry about the double Laker reference). With the right pieces, i.e: LBJ, DWade, Bosh will do nothing but excel.


So for those of you that are still walking the line of *like* or *dislike* think about it.

It wasn't Jordan and a bunch of scrubs. Bird had a full cast of characters to work with. Magic, Kareem and Worthy. Hell, I'll even throw a KG, Pierce and Allen bone in there. It has worked. It will work. I'm excited to see it work.

Dan Gilbert the hater.

I really can't believe this guy. A PERSONAL GUARANTEE. It's amazing that the thought, when it was forming in his "puffed up 'cause my pride hurts" head, even vaguely seemed like a good idea. The best part about the "letter" is when Mr. Gilbert, so wisely says, "It's time for people to hold these athletes accountable for their actions. Is this the way you raise your children? I've been holding this all in for a long time." First of all, since when do we hold 20-something, multi-million-dollar contracted, superstar-athletes accountable for ANYTHING? You, the owner, Mr. Gilbert are as much to blame as anyone in the "Hold these athletes accountable" situation. The question I have...why in the world do we pay these dudes SO MUCH MONEY? And how do we think they will act after they live the life of the rich and famous, that each one of us who even remotely enjoys a sporting event pay for through tickets sales, enormously overbuilt stadiums, tv contracts, shoes, jerseys and other miscellaneous paraphernalia?

To the King: Props to you. Go to Miami, smile in South Beach, and win. I'm not sold on the idea of a new Big 3 down south, but LBJ had to leave Cleveland. All I want now is to see Mr. Gilbert's face when a trophy is hoisted in anywhere-but-Cleveland.