Yes, I know Valentine’s Day was yesterday, but it’s the middle of February for God’s sake. Pitchers and catchers are just reporting to camp, the NFL season just ended, the NBA has just about reached the All-Star break and the NHL, well, is the NHL. So here are a few people who need to get their acts together and show each other some love on Valentine’s Day 2012.
LeBron and Cleveland
This one’s pretty one sided when it comes to hatred. The way that LeBron left was terrible. No one’s disputing that. But Cleveland, give it a rest already. This past month is the perfect example of why he left. The talent around him was nonexistent. The Cavaliers just ended a 26-game losing streak with the same players that LeBron led to the second round of the playoffs and the best regular-season record last year. Other than the losses of James and Zydrunas Ilgauskus, it’s the same team. This is what you would have seen out of the Cleveland Cavaliers the last few years without Lebron James to lead them, unless you believe Big Z was the difference.
As we all know by now, he took his talents elsewhere. Now get over it.
Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather
Enough is enough. This is the one fight that would attract audiences all over the world. Two of the greatest and most exciting boxers of all time would be enough to make non-boxnig fans pay $50 to watch. Somebody needs to step it up. Either Mayweather allows Pacquiao to take the drug test after the fight, or Pacquiao takes it whenever it’s requested. Boxing needs this fight. They need it now. No one is going to pay the kind of money it takes to watch one of these fights live when the two are old men. Both are in their 30s and may not have a lot of fights left in them. In the words of boxing and MTV’s “Celebrity Death Match” referee Mills Lane, “Let’s get it on!”
Albert Haynesworth and everyone not Albert Haynesworth
Seriously, what’s wrong with this guy? My opinions about Mr. Haynesworth are well documented. He was asked to play a new position on defense and made a fuss, despite being paid more than any other defensive player to play where he’s told. He showed up to training camp out of shape. He refused to speak with his head coach and was consequently suspended for the final four games of the season. And now to top it all off he is apparently punching motorists.
Haynesworth was supposedly tailgating the accuser, who clearly took offense. The Redskins’ defensive tackle allegedly then proceeded to get out of his car and assaulted the other motorist. What a great guy. There’s got to be someone out there who can be friends with Fat Albert. What’s Barry Bonds up to these days?
Christina Aguilera and the national anthem
It wasn’t the first time someone had messed up the words to the national anthem. I can clearly remember in 2003 when Maurice Cheeks, the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers at the time, put his arm around a 13 year-old girl as she nervously forgot the words. But you’re Christina Aguilera. You’ve been on the big stage before. You’re supposed to be one of the best of your generation and you blew it.
You claim you got caught up in the moment trying to put your own spin on it. I’m going to let you in on a little secret. No one, and I mean no one wants you to put your own spin on it. It’s fine as it is. No one cares about you. People watch the Super Bowl to watch football and commercials. Hurry it up.
Blake Griffin and those guarding him
Take it easy young man. I’ll never forget seeing my former roommate, Frane Markusovic, then the center for AU’s men’s basketball team, featured in the number one play on SportsCenter … being dunked on by Blake Griffin. But now he’s doing it to the professionals, and I feel bad for them. Their look of shame after it happens pains me because I know the feeling. It’s the same look that appears on my face when someone catches me talking to Charlie Szold in public.
There you have it. If you need to, you can listen to the Black Eyed Peas’ “Where is the Love?” to gain some perspective. But I suggest avoiding the Super Bowl halftime version.
blasky@theeagleonline.com
