NBA Finals 2014: LeBron James has mastered the game, now has to master his emotions

Photo via Wikipedia

There's a reason why LeBron James is one of the most controversial players in all of sports, and it's got nothing to do with the talent he displays on the court. There is one way that he'll never match some of the game's best stars unless he grows up.

Despite everything that James can do to win a game for the Miami Heat, not many players handle the spotlight worse. Despite all that James has done to prove all his haters wrong, he stills feels like he has to scream, yell, and holler all over the court when he goes on a hot streak.

Don't act like James doesn't get the respect he deserves. He does, except the voice of idiocy and trollism, Skip Bayless, acts like thousands of people that still criticize his game. People can't figure out that it's just a persona ESPN puts out there. First Take is more of a puppet show than anything Jim Henson has ever created and it draws all the ratings in the world. Over 1.3 million people follow a fake personality and take it seriously.

Even the biggest haters on James have to admit how great his game is. That's not the problem and that's not the argument we have. Don't preach on social media telling people to shut up and watch greatness. Greatness isn't acting like a bitch 24/7.

There's a lot of people that have basketball talent. James can turn it up to the next level and he can play some of the best basketball we've ever seen this generation. The problem is that we can't focus solely on that because he's spending more time flopping all over the place and yelling and screaming all over the court.

One of the most talked about things on Twitter after Game 1 was when everybody played doctor and said that no one's ever had cramps if they expected James to play through it. Of course, we all recognize when we take a step back and process everything, James cramping up was one of the those crappy moments that was a real bummer for the Heat.

But do you know what James could have done when he was cramping up? Not throw tantrums all over the sideline, throwing his towel, and acting like he was actually shot on the court when having a cramp. You want to make a comparison to Michael Jordan's "flu game," just think of how James would have reacted with that. Lobbing up and down the sideline, wincing in pain, drinking all the water in the world with an agonizing look of despair on his face.

James said in a sitdown with Michael Wilbon in an ESPN interview that he is the easiest target in all of sports. That's because he brings it all on himself.

For some reason, James can't handle success with dignity. He always feels like he needs to have the last word or has some self-serving garbage in post-game interviews when he wins. How about you make shots, celebrate with your team, not antagonize the crowd, having a post-game interview without fluff, and do the same thing again the next night.

There's still time for James to grow up, and I have a feeling that he'll meet his moment in life that will force him to grow up. It's happened to all the greats that have played the game. Perhaps that will finally get him to clean up his act, but until then, he's going to receive the same criticism over and over again.

LeBron James is one of the most disliked players in sports and it's nothing to do with the typical fans' jealousy towards greatness. It's that we've seen great players handle the moment so much better than James ever has.

WSD Sports Page: Spurs outlast Heat in heat at Game 1 of NBA Finals

We cover #Crampgate, #Lebroning, where the NFL Draft could be held next year, and the best answer in Family Feud ever in today's sports page.

NBA: Spurs take 1-0 lead in Finals after dominant 4th quarter

San Antonio outscored Miami 31-9 in the final period, outdoing the Heat in the sweltering heat of AT&T Center without the air conditioning. LeBron James was helped off the court in the 4th quarter after cramping, leading to a predictable mess on Twitter that involved discussions of San Antonio fixing the game, everybody getting huffy about how serious cramps are, and everything else that was predictable and stupid that Twitter usually consists of.

What wasn't talked about was the disappearance of Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in the final period. The Spurs committed a boatload of turnovers during the game, but they made a six 3-pointers attempted and missed just two baskets in the fourth compared to Miami's nine. Talk about cramps all you want, all Miami had to do was hold on to the lead and that was the worst attempt ever at doing so.

NBA: President Rod Thorn says conditions were playable, even on both ends

It wasn't that long ago that NBA arenas weren't air conditioned, and Thorn played in those conditions. Temperatures eventually reached 90 degrees inside the arena, but it wasn't enough to deem it unplayable.

NBA: Gatorade trolls James and his sponsor, Powerade

Because Powerade is the sponsor of LeBron James, Gatorade decided to poke the bear in the Twitter meltdown and responded with hilarious quips. In replying to somebody that thought James was their client, Gatorade responded with: "The person cramping wasn't our client. Our athletes can take the heat." That's been retweeted nearly 7.5 thousand times.

That's the right way to use Twitter, not one to tell people how they're so wrong about cramps or coming up with a conspiracy theory.

NFL: League could move draft to Chicago or Los Angeles

Since Radio City Music Hall "will not be available next year" for some reason, the NFL is exploring other places that the draft can be held in. They also plan on extending the number days that the draft will take place, but it will happen earlier than it did this year. I, for one, will miss the New York Jets fans' loud boos.

NBA: Kevin Love has received interest from 16 teams

Quote from new head coach Flip Saunders: “We probably have 16 teams that have called us,” Saunders said, regarding interest in Love around the league. “We haven’t called anybody.”

NFL: Sam Bradford never doubted he was Rams' starter

Despite wide speculation that the Rams may move on in this year's draft, they didn't draft a QB. Bradford told ESPN yesterday that he was actively talking to the staff and they weren't ever looking in a different direction than Bradford as the starter next year. So again, much discussion over nothing happened.

Game Shows: Man gives "myself" as "fully loaded" answer, receives "my willing weiner"

The question: "Name something that might be fully loaded." The answer: "Myself." When asked to clarify, he said "my man region." The answer on the board: "My willing weiner." At least the game show didn't skip around the word! For those that think the show sunk to a new low, it only did when the next person gave an atrocious answer after the events that transpired.

Today's Slate
(Central times listed)

FRENCH OPEN (Men's Semifinals)
Djokovic/Gulbis (Semi 1) - 6:00a ESPN2
Nadal/Murray (Semi 2) - 9:00a ESPN2

CBB - SUPER REGIONALS
-Houston at Texas (Game 1) - 3:00 ESPN2
UC Irvine at Oklahoma St (Game 1) - 8:30 ESPNU

STANLEY CUP FINAL - Game 2 Saturday
Rangers at Kings (LA 1-0)

NBA FINALS - Game 2 Sunday
Heat at Spurs (SA 1-0)

MLL
Cannons at Machine - 7:00 CBSS

MLB (NL West)
Dodgers at Rockies - 7:40 SNLA/RSRM
Braves at D'backs - 8:40 FSS/FSAZ
Nationals at Padres - 9:10 MASN2/FSSD
-Mets at Giants - 9:15 SNY/NBCBA

NBA Finals 2014: Why TNT has lapped ESPN in coverage

Photo from Wikimedia

Now that the conference finals are over, TNT has closed up shop and now ESPN/ABC will have insufferable coverage for the next month. It's already missed.

By now, it's obvious how much better the TNT studio is compared to ESPN. The firm hosting by Ernie Johnson along with great analysis by Kenny "The Jet" Smith, uncensored insight from Charles Barkley, and entertainment relief from Shaq has perfect chemistry in NBA coverage. Sure, it doesn't mesh that well when Turner Sports picks up NCAA Basketball coverage, but it's at its height during the playoffs.

They roll with coverage nightly until ESPN/ABC picks it up over the weekend, and the sheer contrast can easily be seen in studio coverage, announcing crews, and just overall feel. TNT knows how to keep things fresh, fun, and enjoyable.

ESPN is an absolute mess of a studio show that can't keep continuity because they can't find a crew that works. At least there's a host this year, and Sage Steele is probably the best part of the entire crew. Pairing up Bill Simmons and Jalen Rose as best buds is close to nauseating. Simmons has degressed in his second year on the set and should put more focus on Grantland where he shines.

It's actually better in terms of content without Michael Wilbon or Magic Johnson, but the chemistry is way off. It doesn't feel like anything is fun when watching ESPN's studio or game coverage. It's all serious business, LeBron James, hard takes, LeBron James, LeBron James, "BANG!", LeBron James, Halftime music video, promoting the newest cell phone, LeBron James, "MAMA THERE GOES THAT MAN," LeBron James, LeBron James.

ESPN coverage is so bad they have to bring in Jimmy Kimmel for the first half hour on ABC just to keep it entertaining, because the studio can't do an hour-long show before the biggest games of the season.

TNT does spit out advertising just as much, but it doesn't feel forced or manufactured as ESPN. The worst part of their coverage is probably Kevin Hart getting too much airtime. The best part of ESPN is Jeff Van Gundy, but he's basically Shaq in the booth -- entertainment relief.

From end to end, TNT coverage not only beats, but laps ESPN coverage in every way. Those that follow hockey know that they can find premier coverage of their sport without even glancing at the four-letter network. The NBA product may also improve if even more coverage was found on NBATV and TNT, perhaps if Turner Sports ever got the whole NBA package themselves.

No, it'll never happen, because the money ESPN reels in can't be passed up. But maybe TNT can just take over the ESPN studio for the Finals.

It could be worse though. I wouldn't put it past the four-letter suits to smack in a little First Take with Jimmy Kimmel, and we may be a year from that if they can't find a studio show that works. That, and LeBron going to the Lakers, would really make stop watching the NBA for good and becoming a full-time NHL fan.