- CBS Miami is reporting that the NBA lockout could cost the city $200 million if it continues. Color me skeptical. Not just because the report doesn't name the "economists" who made this dire prediction, but also because the 1998-99 NBA lockout led to an uptick in spending in Miami. You read that right. From an earlier report by Slate.com that looks at the effects of the recent NBA and NHL lockouts: "In Miami, the disappearance of the Heat during the 1998-99 NBA lockout showed an extremely weak 0.00987 correlation with sales tax figures; the 2004-05 lockout of the Florida Panthers has an even slighter effect, at 0.00739 ... if anything, people in Miami appeared to be spending more as a result of the Panthers being on the shelf." Why might this be the case? People will always find alternatives with their time and cash. If I've learned anything in my year in Miami, it's that South Floridians never cease to discover new ways to spend their money.
- Blaming LeBron James for everything has become the NBA fan's favorite pastime. Eric Fisher, a meteorologist from The Weather Channel who describes himself as a Boston Celtics fan, shares his view on the NBA lockout on Twitter: "LeBron James will lose (1) paycheck today...worth over 667k. More than I've made in my entire life. Why are they holding out again?" You know who was set to make $5 million more than LeBron in 2011-12? Kevin Garnett.
- Kid challenges LeBron James to one-on-one and LeBron James dunks on said kid.
- Ethan Skolnick of the Palm Beach Post shares some excerpts from Shaq's new book (hits stores Wednesday!) that talk about Miami's Big Three. The Big Diesel has some interesting opinions on who's better between LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant. And it's becoming a trend at this point, but Shaq seems to have his facts wrong, this time talking about Chris Bosh.
- Over at Fox Sports, wide receiver Dez Bryant calls Ohio native LeBron James a "true Dallas Cowboys fan." Prediction: many people have an opinion about this.
- Danny Martinez at Hot Hot Hoops offers a pick-me-up for Heat fans: a slew of videos featuring Dwyane Wade dunking on people.
- Within this terrific column on the NBA lockout, SB Nation's Andrew Sharp argues that the owners should want nothing to do with the courtroom. "What about when an independent economic expert weighs in on LeBron James' free market value?"
- ESPN.com NBA contributor since 2010
- Started at ESPN in 2008
- 2008 graduate of Wake Forest University
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