LeBron James: Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Honestly, what exactly have the Cleveland Cavaliers been doing this offseason? Because I can tell you what they have not been doing…getting star forward LeBron James an ounce, a bit, an iota of help.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again…What the hell is wrong with this franchise? Absolutely horrendous for a decade, lady luck finally strikes the Cavs in the form of Akron-born King James in the 2003 NBA Draft. Aside from being arguably the best player in the league right now, James is a hometown guy and as much a star away from the court as he is on it.

He took a downtrodden franchise to the top, barely missing the Eastern Conference Finals in 2005-06, barely losing the NBA Finals in 2006-07 and again barely missing the Eastern Conference Finals and losing to the eventual champion Boston Celtics this year.

And he has done it…alone. All by himself.

Do the Cavs want him to be impressed by their endless list of third- and fourth-rate support players? Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Damon Jones, Donyell Marshall, Drew Gooden, Daniel Gibson, Wally Szczerbiak, Anderson Varejao, Delonte West…? It’s pathetic.

You have a franchise player who has the ability to take you to the title game every single season. Give him a little help getting to that point, and he will finish the job.

And what do you do with perhaps the best player we’ve seen since Michael Jordan? You waste your opportunity and sit Indian-style watching as he gets disgusted with the franchise—his franchise. You wait and expect him to do it on his own while his contract slowly expires; you leave him no other choice but to head to New York (Knicks or Nets) for greener pastures and championships without so much as trying.

So you’re going to take the 2003-04 Rooke if the Year, annual All-Star (four appearances, two MVPs), four-time All-NBA player, league scoring champion in 2007-08 with career averages of 27.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 6.6 apg and 1.8 spg (17 triple-doubles) and let him sit in Cleveland and fester?

Smart move. But you’ll be kicking yourselves when he’s putting up those numbers for a franchise that cares and will help him win titles.

Steinbrenner placates to media about Bonds

Let me start by saying that I hope I don’t lose what few readers I have by posting two New York Yankees columns in a row. Some “news” stories hit me a certain way that I feel the need to comment and with the Yankees, well, what could be bigger?

Anyway, back to topic. Now that we’re over 100 games into the 2008 MLB season and former San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds is still unsigned by any club, just the mention of his name is sure to grab headlines. And, like him or not, Hank Steinbrenner has already learned the media-suaveness of his father and is using it to his and his team’s advantage.

Chances are every team at one point or another has had someone in their front office make a mention of Bonds. Whether it was in passing, a serious discussion or what-have-you, his name has been brought up in every front office around the league. The only stories we have heard about Bonds up until this point have been, “Nobody is going to sign him” even though everyone has discussed him. And nobody will sign him.

Following their normal annual meeting after the All-Star break at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa to discuss franchise and personnel decisions through the end of the season, A reporter asked Steinbrenner what issues were covered. His response?

"We covered everything, including Bonds."

Genius. Five words that in reality meant nothing but for sports writers meant an article with a headline of “Yankees may bring in Barry Bonds,” “Yankees talk about Bonds,” “Yankees to add Bonds?”

It is the non-story of all non-stories. Instead, they should be writing about how the Yankees are interested in trading for San Francisco Giants catcher Bengie Molina, Seattle Mariners pitcher Jarrod Washburn or Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Xavier Nady. But no, those are reserved for the last two paragraphs, with the prior being about a story that doesn’t exist.

At some point the media changed. It switched from reporting news stories about facts and rumors to reporting and inferring stories from quotes. Steinbrenner easily could have said, ‘We covered everything including trades and free agents.” But he didn’t, because he knew how to get the story, and it only took five words to do so.

Jorge Posada done behind the plate?

Love or hate them, the New York Yankees are never void of interesting news stories. In an offseason met with a lot of questions, the Yankees decided to keep a number of their veterans signing Andy Pettite for a season and Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada to multi-year deals.

As is often the case with older players signing these types of deals, Posada has been injured all season. The most recent diagnosis is that his right labrum is deteriorating and will require surgery. A catcher without a labrum is useless.

During spring training and in rare bouts this year, new manager Joe Girardi had Posada practicing and playing at first base, giving him another option to contribute aside from staying behind the plate. While not his natural position, Posada played well, but nevertheless fought the move:

"I want to catch. I'm a catcher; I'm not a first baseman," Posada said.

Now, with the only two options being to play first and DH or sit out the remainder of the season, Posada has thankfully changed his tune.

"It's not about me. It's about the team now," Posada said. "How can I help the team? That's why I'm going to go through the rehab. If I'm able to hit, I'm going to try to do that. If I'm not able to hit, I'm going to have surgery."

I love Jorge, let’s not get it twisted. He had a career season last year. Nevertheless, the quote disturbs me. “It’s about the team now.” Now? What about before? If Girardi, your manager, former teammate and catcher-in-arms thinks it is best for you to play first, you do it.

Considering the Yankees haven’t had an everyday first baseman since Tino Martinez, Posada should see this as a welcome move and a way of making his career in pinstripes last longer. On the other hand, the Yankees now need to find Posada’s replacement and find it before next season. Jose Molina is great defensively, but a Yankees catcher needs a strong bat.

On a seven-game win streak and now only 3.5 games out of first while missing both Posada and Hideki Matsui, perhaps the Yankees have finally righted the ship. Now if Posada can start hitting the ball like he did last year, he can fuel them back to the top.

Army orders Caleb Campbell to withdraw from Lions, fulfill obligations

I am sure there are plenty of you who remember the story from the 2008 NFL Draft of Army safety Caleb Campbell. He was drafted to the Detroit Lions and, therefore, avoided military service due to a new rule giving those with a chance to play for a professional sports team the ability to serve their term of duty in the United States as a recruiter instead of on active duty.

Well, it should come as no suprise to you that the inspiring story has changed course.

Caleb Campbell, the Detroit Lions' seventh-round pick, will not be playing for the team this year. According to a Lions press release, the U.S. Army reversed its stance that would have allowed the safety to fulfill his military obligations in Michigan had he made the Lions' roster.

What a crock! In a time where the Army is trying to recruit new members and increase military service in this country, they do something to once again hurt their image. It is not like there are hundreds of soldiers that this affects at the present time, just one. They allowed the kid to get drafted, earn a roster spot and sign a three-year contract and then they take that all away from him?

The fact of the matter is this: Campbell is an Army guy and will never mention a word about how hurt, upset and dejected he probably is right now. That doesn’t change the fact that this is the wrong decision. If I was the Lions, I’d consider suing to get the signing bonus that I’ve already laid out back. This is wrong in every way and, unfortunately, these things aren’t even a surprise anymore. Big mistake, Army, big mistake.

Childress signs with Greek club team Olympiakos

Josh Childress signing a three-year $20 million deal is not that outrageous—except for the fact that it is for a non-NBA team. Leaving the NBA and the United States behind, Childress is really the first of his kind to spurn NBA offers to play in Europe.

In Olympiakos, he is going to a title-contending club that finished second to Panathinaikos in the Greek basketball league last season. They also just signed another big-name player, Greek star Theodoros Papaloukas, completing a solid roster overhaul that should bring them close to the title.

So let me get this straight... Childress went from being an Atlanta Hawks reserve to possibly the premiere player in the Greek league. He will play fewer games, get paid more money and be a star? Sounds like a good deal to me.

The best part about the contract is after each season, he has an opt-out clause to return to the NBA. So all Childress really needs to do is have one great season in Greece to hopefully raise his value even more than the $5.6 million he was set to receive from the Hawks’ rumored offer. Atlanta will retain his rights as a restricted free agent as long as they provide him with qualifying offers each season.

While I can see this as a bit of a hit to Atlanta, who is in the middle of a resurgence and just made their first playoff appearance in years, Childress definitely made the right decision for his life and career. Aside from the notoriety he will gain abroad, if all goes well he will be an even bigger commodity here. Besides, he’s making $6.66 million after taxes as opposed to $5.6 million before taxes…big difference!

The only question I really have is: Where did Olympiakos get the money?

Carson Palmer speaks his mind, the truth

That’s it. Game over. Carson Palmer is my favorite NFL quarterback.

Not because he won me a fantasy football championship (he didn’t), plays for my favorite team (he doesn’t) or is even the best at his position in the league (he’s not.) It only took one long quote, one radio interview, one beautifully phrased piece of truth to turn me into a Carson Palmer fan.

I don't watch what I say. I cannot stand the Buckeyes and having to live in Ohio and hear those people talk about their team, it drives me absolutely nuts. We got Keith Rivers out there and we got Frostee Rucker, we finally got a couple other 'SC guys. It's amazing to hear what those guys think about that university and what they think about that football program and (Ohio State coach Jim) Tressel and all the crap I gotta put up with being back there. I just can't wait for two years from now when 'SC comes to the 'Shoe and I get to, hopefully we'll have a home game that weekend and I can go up there and watch us, pound on them in their own turf and kind of put all the talk to rest. Because I'm really getting sick of it and I just can't wait for this game to get here so they can come out to the Coliseum and experience LA and get an old-fashioned Pac-10 butt-whoopin' and go back to the Big Ten . . . I can't wait.

Have I converted you, too? No? You must be an Ohio State fan.

Let’s put aside the cojones it takes to say these words while playing for the Cincinnati Bengals in Buckeye country. Especially because the fans that pack your stadium and buy your jersey care 10 times more about OSU than they ever will about the Bengals.

The fact of the matter is Palmer did two things I love and respect: (1) He spoke the truth without regard for backlash and (2) He still has pride and loyalty to his school and conference.

To a lot of NFL players, college football is a stepping stone to the pros. But there are always those select few that bleed (in this case) cardinal and gold through-and-through, even when their playing career is over. It is even better when those players are solid pros as opposed to your fourth-stringers that hardly see the field.

Aside from having pride in his former accomplishments, Palmer points out a painstakingly obvious fact: the Big Ten is a joke. It has been a joke, and it will continue to be a joke until one more team is added and there is a conference championship game. As if their last two BCS Championship games are not proof enough, they have missed the boat on how the game is played these days while the powerhouse SEC schools like LSU, Florida and Georgia and major programs like the Pac-10’s USC and Big 12’s Texas have it easily figured out.

Yet fans of the Big Ten and, more importantly, Ohio State, continue to carry on like their stool don’t stink while they slowly become the Buffalo Bills of college football—always the bridesmaid, never the bride.

Taylor's acting desire a finely orchestrated deception

For my conspiracy theorists and pessimists out there, I bring you the following: A commentary on my own suggestion that Jason Taylor’s recent and sudden desire to escape to Hollywood was nothing more than a finely orchestrated deception by his agents and management.

Seemingly content as a Miami Dolphin for a decade, things began to unravel for the All-Pro early during the 2007 season. Noticing the Dolphins falling to an inconceivable level with a boob (Cam Cameron) as a head coach and no prospects of success in the near future, Taylor began to turn. His power in the organization was legitimate—from having owner H. Wayne Huizenga’s ear to being the vocal locker room leader. When Taylor spoke, people listened.

It was during the ’08 season that Taylor dropped the ball—he gave up. He realized the worthless, day-to-day struggle he faced as a member of the Dolphins. His attitude and disposition permeated throughout the locker room. Once Cameron lost Taylor, he lost every remaining player, the season and his head coaching career with the Dolphins. No wonder Bill Parcells was put-off by Taylor; he realized Taylor’s contributions on the field would be less significant than the detriment he would do to the team in the locker room. In a Parcells system, the coaches (and specifically chosen players) have the voice, not just sour veterans.

With the season over and an offer on the table from ABC to compete in “Dancing With the Stars,” Taylor finally had his out. And as any agent worth his 10% would, Gary Wichard started putting together a plan. Perhaps not the perfect plan, but nevertheless a good one.

Taylor performed on DWTS for two reasons: to be more noticeable in Hollywood and to begin the deception—the deception that his goal all along was to be an actor. Once again, any agent worth his 10% should have a plan ready for his client’s post-playing career. Taylor is not unique in wanting to go Hollywood and keep himself in the spotlight. He is, however, unique in using that desire to deceive his team into trading him.

Go on DWTS, refuse to commit to the Dolphins and then publicly state you are only going to play for one more season (and you want it to be with a contender) because of your desire to act. Refuse to attend any mini camps or OTAs, making up excuses that, while sounding legitimate, are obviously bogus. Then, continuously placate to the media and your fans that you are not doing this because you WANT to leave but because with such limited time left you have to leave. Why would any team accept a player doing those things? They would not, and Gary Wichard knew that from the start.

And now that the deception is completed and a trade has been made, everyone will begin to see it unravel. It started with Washington’s executive vice president Vinny Cerrato being "100 percent positive he'll play longer than one year." Of course he will; he was always going to.

Let’s face it--Taylor’s prospects in Hollywood are slim-to-none. Meeting with Denzel Washington, studio executives and reading offers in La-La-Land? They may have happened but none were approached with much seriousness. Taylor probably made his rounds to learn more about the industry for when he actually retires in 2011 or 2012. Yes, you heard it here first—2011 or 2012.

Taylor will play out the remainder of his contract (two years) with the Redskins, and he will be happy to do so because he NEVER truly considered retiring. When the Redskins have not provided Taylor with his shot at contention for a Super Bowl ring, he will do what so many two-faced athletes (read: Junior Seau) have done and sign a one- or two-year deal with a team (read: New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys) for that last shot at glory. Then, he will ride off into that Hollywood sunset that will look eerily like an ESPN (owned by ABC who produces DWTS), NBC or FOX studio.

In the end, he may win his ring, get his Hall of Fame bust and win back some fans, but one thing will never change: This was a farce, a sham, a finely orchestrated deception.