Endurance

"Watching me ball is like LeBron playing..."

Fabolous - Throw It In the Bag (Remix)

I have long said that once Kobe Bryant retires...the league is in good hands with LeBron James...

Respect

My friend Jordan is home on leave for the holidays, and the other night we had a conversation about...Kobe and LeBron. The world over knows that I'm pro Kobe, and I don't have much of a platform other than the fact that I believe Bryant is the better individual player in my opinion.

Jordan feels that KB is the 2nd coming of MJ, and that LeBron James is an anomaly...the type of player that we've never witnessed before.

With that stance, he made me think...what I like most about LeBron is that he was able to make it to the top, starting from less than zero. His upbringing was a difficult one, and he was able to use basketball as a means to a successful end.

Last but not least I've always admired the tight bond between James and his mother, as it is Gloria James that he credits for making him the person he is today, and with that...I can not only relate to him...I can also appreciate all that he has done, and will continue to do.

Photo: Webster Riddick

Southern Comfort

Vision of the future

"You can catch me skatin' through your town, putting it down..."

Jay-Z - Politics As Usual

When I heard that the Cleveland Cavilers had acquired Mo Williams from the Milwaukee Bucks this past summer, I thought to myself, that he wasn't the answer to the needs of the Cavs. However after watching him in the preseason, and again last night against the Philadelphia 76ers...I drove home with a changed mind.

Total Recall

Williams is listed in the Cavs media guide standing at 6'1", and weighing 190lbs, but trust me when I say, that this man plays on a much bigger scale than his frame would let on. The way he plays along side LeBron James, while posing his own threat against the opposition makes him one of the more important free agent signings of 2008. 

He was drafted by Utah in the 2nd-round of the 2003 draft, and Wednesday night against the Sixers he showed the promise that he flashed coming out of Alabama after 2 seasons. I must admit, that I went to the game so I could catch up with LeBron, but by the end of the 1st quarter, Williams had shown the national ESPN audience as well as the Philly faithful, that he is worthy of attention, finishing with 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. 

I caught up with Williams and James after the game. Here is the score on our conversation:

GAME TIME: Talk about your game and what you bring to the team?

Mo Williams: "My game is being aggressive. You know my quickness, and being a

playmaker...I'm just trying to do things on the floor to help the team...whatever that is. I think 

collectively as a group we're doing all of the necessary things to win."

GAME TIME: Can you talk about the team defense of the Cavs?

Mo Williams: "Oh yeah, we're doing a great job on the defensive end, especially when we set 

our mind to it...when we're focused. There is nobody in our opinion that can score on us. 

Obviously you're going to have your times where you're not focused as you should, but you 

pick it up, especially days like this...but for the most part we're focused."

GAME TIME: You played college ball, what are the main differences between the college and 

pro game?

Mo Williams: "Aw man...it's different, it's different...you can't prepare yourself for this league,

you just have to get here and kind of take the bumps and bruises...and you know feel your way.

Some will adjust quicker than others, but there's no preparing for this game...not the NBA."

GAME TIME: What does Mo Williams bring to this team?

LeBron James: "He brings another guy that you can rely on down the stretch. A guy that can create for 

himself, create for others...and also a leader that can handle the ball, and make plays for myself, and

make plays for other people. Tonight was a prime example that offensively we didn't look too well

at times but Mo took it upon him self to make things happen, and that's where he's good, that's why

we got him."

GAME TIME: What does this win mean for the team's big picture?

LeBron James: "We have to continue to improve every game, every night, because we're gearing

towards something that's bigger than just winning 10 games in a row, or winning back to backs. 

We want to...we're gearing to win an NBA championship, so we got to continue to play better."

GAME TIME: Talk about the fun you have on the court and the interaction you have with the fans:

LeBron James: "Well for me, I always try to keep the game fun...you may look at my face, and 

I have a game face, but I'm very focused in the game, but I'm always having fun. And the interaction

I have with the fans...they're part of the reason why this league is as good as it is because the fans

come out every night, and no matter if you're on the road or at home they show their support, so

you always want to interact with the fans."

Photo: Shim Hyun-chul/Korea Times

Witness Protection

Superbad

AG. and LeBron in DC

NYC

Nike from day 1

High School Musical

"How could you falter, when you're the Rock of Gibraltar...I had to get off the boat so I could walk on water...this ain't no tall order, this is nothing to me...difficult takes a day...impossible takes a week..."

Jay-Z - Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)

Friday, December 20, 2002, was the day that I first witnessed LeBron James in living color. His team made the trek from Akron, OH to my beloved West Philadelphia, to play against Philly basketball power, Strawberry Mansion. I charged up the batteries for my camera and I was off to the venue. I took my seat on the far baseline across from the visiting bench and the rest would be history, or shall I say, his-story.

I had first heard about him during his junior year at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, which was around the time the moniker of KING was bestowed upon him.

Before I started writing professionally...I was looking for a job all the while, staying insanely hungry for my "moment". In fact I used to shine shoes for small money and write short stories just for fun. Nowadays, I’m as ambitious as ever, but it’s the people that I’ve meet throughout my life, that have gotten me to this point.

I recently caught up with Bron, when the Cavaliers played against the 76ers during the preseason in October. I walked over to his locker and he says, "what's up man...how you've been?" I stuck out my hand and he game me a firm "soul brother" shake. I told him that I had to interview Mo Williams, and that I'd be right back. After my brief chat with Williams I spoke with LeBron at length on everything from his family to his Olympic gold. He is a great person to interview, as I can truly say he has a great respect for the game, and my job as a writer.

This past summer, I interviewed the Olympic team for BET News, and when I walked into the room to sit with LeBron, his time with the media was over and he was leaving for the day. I informed him that I really needed some time with him and he agreed. We walked out of the room and down the hallway, to which we were greeted by security guards, Nike employees, hotel staffers, and a cameraman. I didn't think much of the camera, but I was walking in plain view, so I figured that whenever this footage airs, I'll be on it with my guys, Bron and Flash. Turns out, it was for ESPN, and the first few times it aired I missed it, however everyone else saw it, because I was getting emails, phone calls, and text messages for a good 2-weeks.

ROC BOYS

My very first official sit down with LeBron James was during the 2007 NBA Playoffs. The Washington Wizards drew a first-round match-up with the James Gang, I called my friend and photographer Daryl and told him we were going to interview LeBron. Nevertheless, I digress…now since I have never sat with LeBron, I asked a few people from the Cleveland media how easy or difficult it would be to interview him and what he was like. After everyone shut me down and dashed my hopes, saying that it was mission impossible, I decided to build a better mousetrap and get resourceful like I would normally do.

In 2002, at that high school game in Philly...I met the 3 other members of the James 4-horsemen. I leaned on that connection, and ran courtside during halftime of game 3. It was there I asked Randy (1 of the 4-horsemen, and he works for the team) if I could get 5 minutes with the King. He gave me a look that said, it's halftime of the playoffs, but he insured me that we would talk afterward.

I have to be honest with you. No matter what NBA city I’m in…I always secretly cheer for the team with the person I need to speak with. It is in my experience, that the players always are in a better mood when they get a W. My photographer and I waited patiently once the Cavs won, and then we decided to split up like Tre' and Ricky in the movie Boyz n the Hood.

I loitered outside the locker room and when Randy turned a corner and strolled down the hall, I knew it was a good look. He greeted me and took me into the locker room which had been closed to the media for 40-minutes already. We continued our conversation and I then noticed a presence amongst us and Randy started walking away. I turned and there was LeBron slipping past me like he does defenders on a 94-foot court. He wore a nice suit and he had those ubiquitous headphones on. I started walking with them, and Randy looks up and says, "you remember AG right?" LeBron turns my way and says to him, ‘yeah. From there I asked if I could get a few minutes before practice the next morning and he said it wasn’t a problem.

The next day, I sat with LeBron for a spell, and we've been working together ever since.