“On a mid-May segment of the MLB Network chat showIntentional Talk, hosts Chris Rose and Kevin Millar attempted to stump outfielder Johnny Damon on past teammates. The duo asked the current Cleveland Indian and 18-year vet where, if at all, he had crossed paths with five other players. He batted 1.000, remembering not only the big-league clubs but also where they’d played together in the minors. “I pay attention to my teammates,” he said, laughing that big Johnny Damon laugh. “The tough thing would have been to ask me about my teammates I’m with now. This is the first time I’m actually with them.” Throughout the interview, he frequently glanced offscreen to smile and wave at Chicago White Sox players walking to batting practice. He knew every one of them as well. During the exchange, Damon and Millar only addressed each other as “pimp.” It was broish and stupid, but the subtext was clear: nothing had changed from when the pair were in the clubhouse together. For Damon, once someone’s a teammate, he’s always a teammate.” [Noah Davis/The Classical]
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I’ve long been a proponent of the Cavaliers throwing beucoup bucks at James Harden upon free agency. Having watched his painful collapse in the NBA Finals, I find myself second-guessing. I’ll expand on this later this off-season, but for now, this is a great start… [Sebastian Pruiti/Grantland]
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It’s admittedly tough to desire a player of this ilk in Cleveland: “Fab Melo finally spoke publicly Tuesday about the suspension that kept him from playing in the NCAA tournament last March, but the former Syracuse center’s responses probably didn’t win over any of his critics.
He didn’t detail what he failed to accomplish in the classroom that led to Syracuse declaring him ineligible. He didn’t shoulder any blame for not putting forth maximum effort in his studies. And he didn’t apologize for letting down his teammates and Syracuse fans.” [The Dagger]
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Could the 2012 Ohio State Buckeyes, now under the watch of Urban Meyer, actually go undefeated? [Eleven Warriors]
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“Over time, if [LeBron] James did indeed make good on all his promise, he would become something like landscape. James was to be a king rising, not the action-packed end times fantasy suggested by the Thunder. Inevitability has been his calling card all along. It was a thrilling possibility in 2003. By now, it has hardened into recognition of its practical implications. We’re getting what we asked for, finally, and in its own way, it’s awesome. The secret is, we prefer the Thunder’s far less stable brand of destiny, one ordained rather than engineered. There’s a reason why doomsday has more fans than the Second Coming.” [Shoals/The Q]
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And finally, a well-written piece on Sandusky, Ohio on coping with Sandusky, Jerry. [Eric Adelson]
