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Without Promise, Izzo Should Avoid LBJ

Jun 10, 2010 – 2:40 AM
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Jay Mariotti

Jay Mariotti %BloggerTitle%

Tom IzzoBOSTON -- So now the strobe lights of the LeBron-a-thon shine on Tom Izzo, the charmingly triumphant basketball coach at Michigan State, who informed his players this week that he's talking to the Cleveland Cavaliers about becoming their next coach but may or may not actually take the job.

Why? Because Izzo is waiting on LeBron, of course, just as President Obama is waiting on LeBron, mayors of large cities are waiting on LeBron, barons of global commerce are waiting on LeBron, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are waiting on LeBron, Larry King and the scoop-dizzy media are waiting on LeBron, David Geffen is waiting on LeBron and, naturally, the Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, New Jersey Nets and Los Angeles Clippers are waiting on LeBron. Still 21 days before he can pursue his freedom and negotiate with the NBA teams of his deepest desires, James' self-promoting maneuvers have overshadowed not only a compelling Finals between the Lakers and Celtics but just about everything else happening in this country, including and not limited to the latest iPhone, the recall of Shrek glasses at McDonald's, the slur-triggered demise of reporter Helen Thomas, the haplessness of Rod Blagojevich, a very weird Tom Cruise slam-dancing at the MTV Awards and the cast of "The A-Team'' -- Jessica Biel and Liam Neeson included -- doing interviews by the hotel pool about 20 feet from where I filmed them before Biel's assistant blocked the view.

Not even they are creating the commotion of King James. "You're asking me if LeBron is going to New York?" Kobe Bryant said to a pesty New York reporter. "I'm trying to tell you in a polite way, I don't give a (bleep).''

LeBravo!
Filed under: NBA, NCAA Basketball, Sports

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