It's an NBA Lottery Conspiracy! (Just not the right one)

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Well, well, what do we have here?

In the same spirit as the (in)famous Knicks "frozen envelope" which landed Patrick Ewing, conspiracy theories were rampant before the 2012 NBA Draft lottery last night. And what ended up happening? Let's just say that the NBA owns one franchise out of 30. And that team won the lottery. Not only that, but the soon-to-be-owner had to be negotiated into paying the NBA's asking price, only recently acquiescing to the purchase on David Stern's terms. What was the swaying factor? Yes, the New Orleans Hornets will be picking number one, and we apparently will be seeing the Unibrow on the Bayou. (Patent Pending)

Fear not, young Nick. #4 isn't that bad.
(AP/Jason DeCrow)

Uggh. All Cavaliers fans had their visions of Kyrie-to-Anthony-Davis lobs for the next 10 years. If not, then KI-to-MKG sounds like a great scoring punch. Unfortunately, with New Orleans jumping up to number one, that moved the Cavs down to #4. The world isn't falling--the #4 pick will can bring a great player to complement Irving and keep the Cavaliers on their rebuilding path.  But I was sure that the fix was in for Cleveland this time. Of course last year's #1 pick was the league's settlement with Dan Gilbert for the tampering charges that Gilbert eventually stopped investigating. But I had figured the settlement included two #1 picks. Oh well. Sometimes conspiracies have to battle each other, and this time Cleveland lost out.

I'm no college basketball Mel Kiper. I, like most NBA fans, will be focused on the draft a lot more the closer we get to June 28. But I know what my gut is telling me. I'm very nervous about Harrison Barnes. I've never got the "he's got it" feeling from him. Plus, does he not look a little soft? (The "he's got it feeling" I'm referring to is the one I got watching Trent Richardson run, even though I'd have much rather have RG3 in Brown and Orange this year.)  I'd be happy, of course, with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, or Bradley Beal, to give Irving the scoring help the Cavaliers desperately need. But I guess my hope is for Thomas Robinson from Kansas. Strong, athletic, hard working big man. Great rebounder. Not as much upside as some (see Drummond, Andre). But not as much risk either. Any way you slice it, there will be some prime talent for the Cavaliers to take at #4. All is not lost. (And I suppose there is a chance for a trade up--I just don't think that's very likely. Unless Charlotte or New Orleans is really in love with Tristan Thompson or Anderson Varajao.)

The Cleveland contingent did their best to sway the odds, bringing down the lucky charms in Nick Gilbert, Joe Haden, Bernie Kosar, Josh Cribbs, and even bow-tie aficionado Dhani Jones. It just hasn't been the luckiest week for Cleveland. Maybe next time the Cavaliers are in the lottery, Kenny Lofton can come along. I think he'd look pretty swell in a bow tie.

It's Justin vs. Justin in a lunchtime Indians special

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The Tribe and Tigers wrap up their early-season showdown today at noon at Progressive Field. I, for one, am loving this preponderance of weekday afternoon games this year. This is something like the seventh "businessman's special" (as they used to be called), and not much is better than passing a few hours of a workday listening to baseball. Unless, of course, it's playing hookie and having a couple beers and dogs down at the park.

Jason Kipnis slides in with the go-ahead run on
Wednesday (AP)

It's foolish to assign too much a value to a May series. Especially when looking through the lens of 2011, where the Indians also stood in first place at this part of the season and beyond, with the Tigers in a similar six game deficit on May 24. Of course, the Indians faltered in the second half of the season, particularly in their 10-game losing streak to the kitties, and the rest, as they say is history.

Ancient history, if you haven't noticed. And judging from the attendance you haven't. Chris Perez has gotten all the attention for his comments this week about the fan reaction (and lack thereof) to the team in general, and him in particular. Much has been written and said about Mr. Perez' comments, and what can I add? I'm sure the Indians brass and other players are secretly glad that someone did their dirty work--trying to light a fire underneath the supposed fanbase in Cleveland. No matter the facts about economics, salary caps, and blown saves, the Indians' attendance is embarrassing. Not just last place. Last place by a longshot.

All I can guess is that if the Indians keep winning, the fans will show up. This team seems to have great chemistry, as shown in their early season dustups with opponents and how they have closed ranks around Perez. And the fans, who could have easily reacted frostily to Perez, instead welcomed him with standing ovations on Tuesday and Wednesday.

This afternoon's game should be a doozy. Sure, the prospect of facing Justin Verlander will not give any team great confidence, but the fact it, this series is already won. Justin Masterson has scuffled a bit this year, but he can match up with the best of them if he is on his game.  This could be a low scoring, run-manufacturing game. Which happens to be the Indians' specialty.

The Tigers don't appear to be the juggernaut that they were billed as. The Indians have a good team, and win or lose today, it's been a good week overall  for Indians baseball. Sunshine and baseball. What could be better?

It's Beat Up Cleveland day at ESPN.com

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Well, when it rains, it pours I guess. And despite the beautiful weather in C-town today, the folks a few hundred miles east are trying to send rain clouds against the jetstream.

Mere hours after I read Craig's article on WFNY about the ESPN.com baseball page cover story featuring the Indians' attendence, I meandered over to the site myself to check out what Miami Heat players would be banished for their thuggery mere flagrant-1 fouls in last night's game.

And what greets me there, right smack on the very front page?  A "future power rankings" from 2015, (accessible via ESPN Insider only) projecting where each of the 32 NFL teams will be in three years. Thanks Trent Dilfer, Mel Kiper, Gary Horton, and Matt Williamson for being such clairvoyants.

Naturally, the Browns are in dead last place. Can't complain about the prediction, but the timing stinks.

And also for the "Sorry Cleveland" sentiment. I'm sure you are. (Not that we don't need the pity sometimes.)

Perez rant shines ugly light on Cleveland fans

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In Cleveland, perception is reality.

If you want a look into the mind of the petulantly angry Cleveland fan, at least as perceived by closer Chris Perez during his outburst to reporters over the weekend, look no further than the small table set up on the outdoor patio of Panini's Bar and Grill on E. 9th St. in downtown Cleveland.

There stands a young capitalist selling homemade t-shirts of the kind offered outside most every stadium in the nation. Invariably cheap-looking cotton shirts embroidered with swears or in the case of Wrigley Field,  gay slurs aimed at the top players of rival teams, i.e. "Albert takes it in the Pujols."

The table at the Cleveland Panini's contains similar wares, boasting the usual anti-Steelers slogans and the like. One shirt stands out from the lot due to its deep red coloring and mocking sentiment against the very franchise that most people have come downtown to root for. "What If" The Dolans Weren't So Cheap, the shirt reads, a not-so-subtle dig at the Tribe's nostalgia-laced ad campaign of the last two seasons. 

Kyrie Irving grows up before our eyes as "Uncle Drew"

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It didn't take a genius to realize that Cavs rookie (and until recently, teenaged) phenom Kyrie Irving had basketball skills and maturity beyond his years. But who knew how old a soul young master Irving truly had?

In this new video sponsored by Pepsi Max, Kyrie Irving writes, directs, and stars in a short entitled, and about, "Uncle Drew."  In the five minute video, Kyrie goofs on the current "rappity hippity hop" generation of ballers, and pays homage to street ball in Bloomfield, New Jersey, at Clark's Ponds Court. Quite hilariously, I might add.