They're NOT Playing Basketball!

LeBron James Owes Fans a Refund
By Tim Povtak/nba.fanhouse.com

LeBron James today needs to take the $192,437 he is paid for each game he plays -- or doesn't play -- and divide it evenly among the 20,562 people who bought tickets to the Cavs-Magic game Sunday afternoon.

He owes them each a refund check for $9.35.

That's the least he should do for mocking every fan at the arena who paid to see him play. Cavs ownership that encouraged him should pay the rest of each ticket price, and mail those checks immediately.

James, with the blessing of coach Mike Brown, sat out his third consecutive game Sunday, not because he was hurt, but because he wanted to rest up for the playoffs.

Joe Hardhat, who paid a day's wage three months ago to buy two good seats so his son could see his first Cavs game Sunday, deserves better treatment than this.

It's arrogance at the NBA's worst.

It's why James never will earn the respect that was once given to Michael Jordan. Maybe James should think again about that number change to honor him.

It's why he just lost my vote for NBA Most Valuable Player. If he doesn't think it's important enough to play all 82 -- or at least try -- then he isn't good enough to be the MVP.

If stars like James think it's too taxing to play 82 games, then they should offer to reduce salaries during the upcoming collective bargaining talks, and ask to play fewer games. Or set up a refund system.

James wants to be treated like the game's best player, but he doesn't want to carry the responsibility that comes with it. Fans don't buy $100 tickets to watch him sit in a nice suit, chatting up Shaquille O'Neal on the sideline. O'Neal was recovering from a broken thumb. James was stealing money.

Forget that it's a nationally-televised game. Those people can just turn off the television, and tune in something else. Don't feel sorry for them. Feel sorry for the guy in section 118, row F, seat 6 who watched Jamario Moon get introduced in the starting lineup.

Let me be one of the first to say Tim Povtak is a dick and the only thing Lebron James owes the Cavaliers fan base and the city of Cleveland is his best attempt to win an NBA title. And I think that's exactly what he's giving them. And Povtak can eat my ass if he thinks anyone in Cleveland was dumb enough to buy tickets for this thing months ago just to see Lebron. People in Cleveland knew they had a contender this year and noone would have been dumb enough to sink good money into watching a game that wouldn't matter. I'm not surprised he had to use the blue collar monniker "Joe Hardhat" to represent the average Rust Belt fan because I doubt he could scare up anyone in Cleveland who would have a negative word to say about Lebron (at least until this summer when he leaves town).

You can read the rest of this douche's piece here if you like but the remainder reads like a romance novel about Michael Jordan. Spare me. MJ never needed to be fresh for the Bulls playoff runs. The titles were never in question. This is Lebron's last shot. I think it goes against his competitive instinct to sit but I think he'd do anything to win a title for Cleveland. I admire him for that. Plus Kobe just announced he's sitting out the Lakers' last two games so I understand.