Damn. For the first time, LeBron disappoints . . .

Well, hell. That wasn't supposed to happen. All was well just a couple of weeks ago. I'd completely bought into the LeBron vs. Kobe hype and fully expected a Lakers-Cavs final. You did too, and don't say you didn't. I have one friend who told me this was going to happen and he lives 5-minutes from Amway Arena in Orlando. By the way, Amway Arena really sucks as an arena name, doesn't it? I liked it better when it was the Orlando Arena, or O-Rena. Naming rights sucks balls. But back to the point - we all fell for it hookshot, line and sinker.

In retrospect it's obvious what we were all ignoring. Mo Williams is not Scottie Pippin and Anderson Varejao sure as hell ain't Dennis Rodman. Aside from LeBron's "supporting cast" being rather lacking, there's another crucial point we were all forgetting - the playoffs are all about matchups. Sure, the regular season can show you're a good team, but the playoffs expose every weakness on your team. The Cavs simply couldn't match up with Orlando and had no answer for Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewsis, and Dwight Howard. Hell, when Skip to My Lou drops 26 on you you know you're in trouble, kids.


Still, I think the Cavs are only one player away from getting to the finals next year. Let's face it, they need a big man who can score. This summer Carlos Boozer, Rasheed Wallace, Ron Artest, and Shawn Marion all become free agents. Kobe too, but that ain't happening. Next summer the list is even more impressive - Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Yao Ming, Tyson Chandler, Dirk Nowitzki, and Joe Johnson (another slacker from Houston is on the list, rhymes with Big Mac, but I refuse to type the name in fear of jinxing it and the Cavs actually signing him). My point is that the Cavs are close, LeBron is only 24, and in spite of what the east coast media is pining for, I don't think Mr. James is going anywhere.

Now, to the title of this post. I don't know how many of you watched the post game interviews after the game last night, but LeBron was nowhere to be found. He walked off the court without shaking hands and refused interviews. He even left without speaking to Nike executives Gasp! It reminded me of when Jordan's Bulls knocked Isiah's 2-time defending champion Pistons out of the playoffs and the Bad Boys walked off the court without shaking hands. It seemed small then, and it seems small now with LeBron. Hey, you got your ass whipped. Take it like a man, especially when you insist on doing this kind of stuff before the game. I hope this was just an aberration and not a small crack in the damn that's going to lead to something bigger and uglier, I really do. Still, I worry. It was not LeBron's finest moment.

So, let's review. The Cavs need a player, LeBron still needs to grow up a little, and Cleveland is still waiting for that title. Patience, Cav fans, patience. I still believe it'll happen within 2 or 3-years, I really do.

If I keep telling myself that maybe I'll believe it.