There's a number of moves or transactions I could point to in order to demonstrate the craziness of the NBA this summer, but perhaps this one takes the cake: Darko Milicic will receive $20 million over the next four years from the Timberwolves. If you're not sick after reading that, then you haven't been paying attention.

In recent memory, we've never seen a summer like this one, with the huge free agency deals, multiple multi-player trades, and..shall we say...questionable personnel moves by nearly every team. There were so many rumors floating around this summer that it was nearly impossible to track who was going where and for how much. At one point, I believe there was a sign-and-trade involving David Lee,  Hank Aaron, the late Ted Kennedy and three members of Phish, although it fell through because the band members refused to relinquish the rights to their hit song "Gin & Juice" (that's for you Smooth).

With that in mind, here's a look at each team's off-season, including trades, free agency signings and the draft. For these lists, I've only included new additions to the roster, not players who resigned (you'll also notice I took some liberties with the use of the word "significant"). As I write this, there's still some pieces yet to fall into place, but the majority of the player movement should be completed. Too bad we only have to wait another three months for the actual games.

Here's a look at the Southeast. Be sure to check out the Atlantic and Central also. Coming up tomorrow - the Western Conference's Northwest Division.

Southeast Division

Atlanta Hawks

Significant additions: Jordan Crawford

Significant losses: None

Outlook: The Hawks, last seen mailing in a second-round series against Orlando, still appear to be a step below the league's elite. They return virtually intact, and the addition of Jordan Crawford gives them another scorer off the bench, but they still don't have the overall talent of the Magic, Celtics or Heat. Jeff Teague is expected to take over at the point, and his athleticism should give the team a boost, but they're still thin up front and Joe Johnson hasn't yet shown he's the type of player who can close out big games. If Al Horford and Josh Smith continue to get better, this is still a team capable of 50+ wins in the regular season. But barring any other moves, they appear to be a team with a second-round ceiling.

Charlotte Bobcats

Significant additions: Erick Dampier

Significant losses: Raymond Felton, Tyson Chandler

Outlook: The feel-good vibe of finally making the playoffs last season will probably come to an end this year, as the Bobcats will try to compete in one of the toughest divisions with a very limited roster. Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson are talented wings, and Boris Diaw can be a tough matchup when he's motivated, but there are way too many questions to feel good about this team. Can DJ Augustin handle the point? Will any of the aging centers (Dampier, DeSagana Diop, Nazr Mohammed) be able to stay healthy? Will Gerald Henderson or Derrick Brown contribute anything in their second year? How soon before Larry Brown starts looking elsewhere for another job? On the plus side, at least the Bobcats won't have to worry about losing in the playoffs this year.

Miami Heat

Significant additions: LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Mike Miller, Zydrunas Ilgauskas

Significant losses: Michael Beasley

Outlook: You may have heard a little about Miami's off-season. When LeBron and Bosh decided to join Dwyane Wade in Miami, the Heat instantly vaulted on to the contenders list, and they've managed to continue to add pieces around them. Rugged post players Joel Anthony and Udonis Haslem will help up front, while Miller's shooting will spread the floor and give the three stars room to operate. The Heat still could use some more depth in the backcourt, and they'll have to battle outrageous scrutiny and expectations all year, but it's hard to bet against a team with this much talent.

Orlando Magic

Significant additions: Chris Duhon, Quentin Richardson

Significant losses: Matt Barnes (pending)

Outlook: By mostly staying put, the Magic have flown under the radar this summer. But don't be fooled - this is still a team that can win a title this year, with virtually everyone back from last year's 59-win team. They still have plenty of shooters to surround Dwight Howard, and the addition of Richardson just gives them one more veteran sniper who can make defenses pay. Duhon is a solid backup for Jameer Nelson, and the entire team should be motivated after losing in the Eastern Conference Finals last year. Look for forward Brandon Bass to get some more minutes this year as the Magic try to keep Howard fresh, and if Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis play to their potential, this is a dangerous team. The Heat are getting all the headlines, but don't be surprised to see the Magic making noise deep in the postseason as well.

Washington Wizards

Significant additions: John Wall, Kirk Hinrich, Yi Jianlian, Trevor Booker

Significant losses: Mike Miller, Randy Foye

Outlook: The Wizards are hoping Wall can usher in a new era after last season's disastrous showing. Wall has all the physcial abilities to be a superstar, and his leadership and basketball IQ earned rave reviews during the summer league. He'll join a talented young core that includes athletic big man  Al Thornton, Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee, who should benefit greatly from Wall's speed and passing. The addition of Kirk Hinrich gives the Wizards a veteran combo guard who adds toughness, and rookie Trevor Booker should be able to carve out a spot in the rotation with his rebounding and energy. The biggest question mark is obviously the return of Gilbert Arenas, who in addition to his gun-related suspension last year, has also been dealing with major knee injuries the last few seasons. If he's able to stay focused and healthy, he could team with Wall to form a dynamic backcourt. The Wizards aren't contending yet, but with Wall as their future, they're certainly on the right track.

Predicted finish: Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, Washington, Charlotte

There's a number of moves or transactions I could point to in order to demonstrate the craziness of the NBA this summer, but perhaps this one takes the cake: Darko Milicic will receive $20 million over the next four years from the Timberwolves. If you're not sick after reading that, then you haven't been paying attention.

In recent memory, we've never seen a summer like this one, with the huge free agency deals, multiple multi-player trades, and..shall we say...questionable personnel moves by nearly every team. There were so many rumors floating around this summer that it was nearly impossible to track who was going where and for how much. At one point, I believe there was a sign-and-trade involving David Lee,  Hank Aaron, the late Ted Kennedy and three members of Phish, although it fell through because the band members refused to relinquish the rights to their hit song "Gin & Juice" (that's for you Smooth).

With that in mind, here's a look at each team's off-season, including trades, free agency signings and the draft. For these lists, I've only included new additions to the roster, not players who resigned (you'll also notice I took some liberties with the use of the word "significant"). As I write this, there's still some pieces yet to fall into place, but the majority of the player movement should be completed. Too bad we only have to wait another three months for the actual games.

Yesterday we looked at the Atlantic. Today, we'll examine the Central. Tomorrow, we'll look at the Southeast.

Central Divison

Chicago Bulls

Significant additions: Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer

Significant losses: Kirk Hinrich, Hakim Warrick, Brad Miller

Outlook: With Boozer joining Derrick Rose, Luol Deng and Joakim Noah, the Bulls are the clear-cut favorites in the Central. Rose is one of the best young point guards in the game, and Boozer gives them a solid offensive threat in the post. The addition of Korver will help the Bulls spread the floor, and Noah should once again anchor the defense from the paint. Brewer could also be a solid pick-up, as he can guard three positions and should be able to run the floor nicely with Rose. If Rose continues his improvement, and Boozer has the impact expected of him, this is a team that could find themselves playing deep into June.

 Cleveland Cavaliers

Significant additions: None

Significant losses: Zydrunas Ilgauskas, LeBron James

Outlook: I think it's safe to say the Cavs will not be defending their division title this year. The loss of LeBron leaves a gaping hole in the lineup, and there's no reason to think it will be filled anytime soon. Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison are solid, but hardly go-to players, as we've seen in the playoffs. Role players like Anderson Varejao and Anthony Parker benefitted greatly from the attention paid to LeBron, and the holes in their games will be exposed this year. The only real hope for the Cavs is that bouncy forward JJ Hickson blossoms with more touches, giving them some semblance of an offense. Even then, there's just not enough here to get excited about. It could be a long year in Cleveland.

 Detroit Pistons

Significant additions: Greg Monroe

Significant losses: None

Outlook: The Pistons appear to be caught in limbo as far as their long-term plans as a franchise. On one hand, they still have veterans Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Ben Wallace, the remnants of their title team in 2004. On the other hand, they have young guns like Rodney Stuckey, Jonas Jerebko and now Greg Monroe. In between are guys like Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva. Add it all up, and you have a team that's not good enough to contend, but not bad enough to get a superstar in the draft lottery. There's certainly some good pieces here, but overall, it's just not enough to get excited about. Look for the Pistons to make some deals this year once they're out of contention, Until then, they'll remain in limbo.

 Indiana Pacers

Significant additions: Paul George, Lance Stephenson

Significant losses: None

Outlook: Who's excited for Pacers' basketball?? Hello? Anyone out there? That may be cruel, but let's be honest. This is just not a good team. George and Stephenson are talented wings who can play next to Danny Granger, but who gets them the ball? Troy Murphy is a solid forward, but he's not exactly headed for Springfield. Mike Dunleavy is..well...Mike Dunleavy. Beyond that, there's just nothing there. If the Pacers manage to get fans excited about this team this year, they deserve some sort of medal. Because on paper, I see no reason the Pacers venture out of the cellar.

Milwaukee Bucks

Significant additions: Corey Maggette, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Larry Sanders, Drew Gooden

Significant losses: Luke Ridnour

Outlook: Flying a little under the radar, the Bucks have put together a very solid team that could be a threat in the East. Gooden and Sanders provide some much-needed depth in the post behind Andrew Bogut, whole Maggette and CDR will give rising point guard Brandon Jennings some options on the wing. Bringing back John Salmons is also big for the Bucks, and if Michael Redd can stay healthy, this is a team that all of a sudden has a lot of options on the perimeter. They'll need a healthy Bogut to reach their potential, but don't be surprised to see the Bucks make some noise this year.

 Predicted finish: Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleveland, Indiana

There's a number of moves or transactions I could point to in order to demonstrate the craziness of the NBA this summer, but perhaps this one takes the cake: Darko Milicic will receive $20 million over the next four years from the Timberwolves. If you're not sick after reading that, then you haven't been paying attention.

In recent memory, we've never seen a summer like this one, with the huge free agency deals, multiple multi-player trades, and..shall we say...questionable personnel moves by nearly every team. There were so many rumors floating around this summer that it was nearly impossible to track who was going where and for how much. At one point, I believe there was a sign-and-trade involving David Lee,  Hank Aaron, the late Ted Kennedy and three members of Phish, although it fell through because the band members refused to relinquish the rights to their hit song "Gin & Juice" (that's for you Smooth).

With that in mind, here's a look at each team's off-season, including trades, free agency signings and the draft. For these lists, I've only included new additions to the roster, not players who resigned (you'll also notice I took some liberties with the use of the word "significant"). As I write this, there's still some pieces yet to fall into place, but the majority of the player movement should be completed. Too bad we only have to wait another three months for the actual games.

First up - the Atlantic. Coming tomorrow, the Central.

Atlantic Division

Boston Celtics

Significant additions: Avery Bradley, Jermaine O'Neal

Significant losses: Tony Allen, Rasheed Wallace

Outlook: The Celtics' biggest moves were bringing back Paul Pierce and Ray Allen for one final run at a title. They'll likely lose 'Sheed to retirement, but O'Neal could be a capable replacement off the bench. Bradley has a world of ability, and could prove to be a solid defender who could fill Tony Allen's role. With Rajon Rondo blossoming into a star, and the Big 3 of Pierce, Allen and Kevin Garnett anxious for one final ring, this should be an inspired team, and barring injuries, they should be in contention all season.

New Jersey Nets

Significant additions: Derrick Favors, Damion James, Jordan Farmar, Travis Outlaw, Anthony Morrow

Significant losses: Yi Jianlian

Outlook: The Nets certainly can't get much worse than they were last year, when they won only 12 games and became a punchline throughout the league. The addition of the high-flying Favors will help, but he's probably too raw to contribute much this year. Outlaw, Morrow, James and Farmar could be nice rotation guys around Brook Lopez, Devin Harris and Terrence Williams, but overall this roster still lacks a lot of punch. They'll probably be better than last year, but not by much. Another last-place finish wouldn't be surprising.

New York Knicks

 Significant additions: Amare Stoudemire, Raymond Felton, Kelenna Azubuike, Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf

Significant losses: David Lee, Al Harrington, Chris Duhon

Outlook: The Knicks missed out on LeBron James, but all things considered, you have to think they got better this summer. Felton and Stoudemire aren't exactly Stockton and Malone, but both guys should put up good numbers in Mike D'Antoni's up-tempo system. Randolph is brimming with talent, and a change of venue may be just what he needs to flourish after his up-and-down tenure in Golden State. With Danilo Gallinari's versatility on the wing, and some solid depth in Azubuike, Turiaf, Toney Douglas and Bill Walker, this is a team that should be in the playoff mix. They're still a couple pieces away from being a real contender, but for the first time ina  few years, things appear to be looking up.

 Philadelphia 76ers

Significant additions: Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes, Andres Nocioni

Significant losses: Samuel Dalembert

Outlook: The Sixers are a hard team to figure out. They have some nice young pieces in Hawes, Mareese Speights, Jrue Holiday, Lou Williams and Thaddeous Young, and the addition of the versatile Turner on the wings gives them another playmaker. They also have a couple veterans in Elton Brand and Andre Iguodala who are both capable of big nights, although the team would love to unload one, or both, or their contracts. The problem is trying to figure out how this roster fits. They still lack a true point guard, and there's too many question marks surrounding the young guys to have any real confidence in them. Unless they make some moves during the year to shake up the roster, it could be another disappointing year in Philly.

Toronto Raptors

Significant additions: Ed Davis, Solomon Alabi, Leandro Barbosa, Linas Kleiza

Significant losses: Chris Bosh, Hedo Turkoglu

Outlook: Hmm...where to start? The Raptors lost Chris Bosh and inexplicably decided to give Amir Johnson a $34 million contract. They drafted two young college bigs with lots of upside in Davis and Alabi, but both will need time to develop. The addition of Barbosa should help the backcourt, but he's a career reserve who played in only 44 games last year. They have a solid forward in Andrea Bargnani and wings Sonny Weems and Demar DeRozan are highlight-reel athletes, but overall, there's just not a whole lot here. Even worse, who does this team market to sell tickets? This was a team that missed the playoffs with Bosh last year. How on Earth will they compete without him? It looks like another rough year for the Raptors.

Predicted finish: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Toronto

Dear Cleveland, All of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;

As you now know, our former hero, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who grew up nowhere near this region he deserted tonight, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.

This was announced with a couple day, humble, non-self-promotional build-up culminating with some ESPN reporters breaking the news on Twitter. This "decision" was like many other things we have "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to a few of us.

The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the not so hard-working, not very loyal and rarely driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you. Unless you decide to stop supporting us. By the way, can I borrow $100k from any of you?

There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. You think Kyle Lowry is exciting? If so, over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating a four year deal with him! (Nevermind, Lowry is sticking with the Rockets...damn.)

You simply deserve this kind of betrayal from a guy we traded to Washington less than three months ago.

You haven't given an iota to this organization compared to what Big Z gave and you don't deserve anything.

In the meantime, I want to make one outlandish statement that will never come true to you tonight:

"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER 'BIG Z' WINS ONE"

You can take it to your mortgage broker... if you got your mortgage with Quicken Loans.

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you this non-shameful display of a free agent just going to a better team hasn't really shifted our "motivation." You did hear about the offer sheet to Kyle Lowry, though, right? (Ugh, damn you, Darryl Morey.)

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.

Sorry, but that's simply not how it works. Actually, I have no idea what that means, so it may actually be how it works.

This is a lesson our children should want to learn. Someone is choosing to go play for a better organization than ours. Can I really blame him? No. Hell, I hope my kids grow up to be like "Big Z."

But the bad news is that this well thought out action cannot and will not serve as the antidote to the so-called "curse" on Cleveland, Ohio. Honestly, the Cavs, Indians and Browns all blow. We can't win dick around here.

The self-declared former "Big Z" won't be taking any "curse" with him. He doesn't need to do "right" by Cleveland or Ohio. We did trade him to get Jamison, who absolutely sucked in the playoffs. Not to mention, "Big Z" wanted to play in the 2008 Olympics and we wouldn't let him. We probably have worse karma now.

Just watch us get worse.

Sleep well, Cleveland. About half of you still have jobs.

Tomorrow is a new, but not much brighter day... unless you like Kyle Lowry! (Don't worry, surely there is another mediocre guard out there that we can overpay.)

I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:

PAYING BACK THE NBA the $100k I got fined for the other letter I wrote...

Dan Gilbert
Majority Owner
Cleveland Cavaliers

(In case you couldn't tell, this letter is completely fake. Dan Gilbert, please don't sue me. If you haven't seen the letter Gilbert wrote after LeBron decided he was going to the Heat, click here. This will hopefully be funnier after you read that.)

We're almost a week removed from "The Decision", yet it still is eliciting strong (i.e  irrational and unintelligible) reactions from people who apparently were unfamiliar with the concept of free agency. I mean, from what I know, LeBron James decided to leave the Cavaliers and join the Heat to play alongside two of his friends for a better chance at a title. I missed the part where he beheaded some puppies, burned down an orphanage and professed his admiration for Hitler.

Anyone who has been around sports long enough knows that fans are prone to emotional reactions. But in this case, the illogical hyperbole has spread throughout the media and basketball world as well. Following are the top 10 most ridiculous, head-scratching, absurd things that have been said by analysts, journalists, radio jockeys, basketball officials and so-called experts since last Thursday. Sadly, none of this is made up. These gems all come from people who are either getting paychecks to give their opinions and thoughts on sports, or people who work in the basketball world.

10). "LeBron took the easy way out" Interesting. Apparently joining a team with two other stars and thus putting the entire franchise under an enormous amount of pressure is considered easy. I guess it also stands to reason that leaving your home town and subjecting yourself to a boatload of criticism from talking heads is also now easy. Leaving nearly $15 million on the table over the next six years must also be easy. Hmm...knowing all that, I wonder why LeBron said this was a difficult decision?

9). "Cleveland fans deserved better" Personally, I love this one. I've always enjoyed the fan/entitlement perspective. I'm not sure exactly what fans feel they deserve from athletes, other than their best effort when they step on the floor, which they got from LeBron for seven years (see point #6 for more on this). I understand Cleveland has had a rough sports history, between the Browns' ineptitude, the Indians choke in the 1997 World Series, or the Cavs woeful existence until 2003. But does that mean LeBron is required to stay with the team for his entire career? Is it really his fault that Earnest Byner fumbled in the 1988 AFC Championship Game?  Does he owe it to the fans to play out his career with a less-than-stellar supporting cast in Cleveland just because Michael Jordan rose over Craig Ehlo to hit a game-winning jumper in the 1989 playoffs? Look - LeBron played his tail off for seven years and made the franchise more nationally relevant than its ever been. He owes the fans nothing else. Get over it.

In case you hadn't heard, LeBron James will be playing with the Heat next season. Yesterday, I tried to defend LeBron as most of the world was ripping him apart. Last night, LeBron made his decision, but the LeBron hate hasn't stopped. I didn't use bullet points yesterday, so here are some thoughts in bullet point form about LeBron the day after the decision.

• If LeBron was arrogant and cocky before his decision last night, he must be less so today. All I heard was how self-aggrandizing LeBron was all day yesterday. If that's the case, why did he go and play on a team with two other NBA stars? If he is so cocky and arrogant, why didn't he go to the Knicks where he would have become a bigger global icon in the biggest sports city in the world?
• People always say, "It's all about the money," for athletes. Well, it's obviously not all about the money for LeBron and he's still not getting any credit for taking less money.
• LeBron did what I would have done.  If I had a chance to move to Florida (a state with no state income tax) and work with two of my really good friends, I would do it in a second. Think about it... you would to. Don't deny it.
• LeBron didn't hurt his image as badly as some would lead you to believe. I guarantee you that he will still be in the top 3 of jerseys sold next year. Because kids buy jerseys, and kids loved the LeBron show last night. They don't care if he might be cocky, they care about him being able to put a ball in a basket. All indications now are that Michael Jordan wasn't the nicest guy in the world when he played in the NBA. Did kids in the 90s know or care? No, no they didn't. And we all had his jersey. Or, if your parents were poor like mine, you had the t-shirt jersey.
• People who say that LeBron, Wade and Bosh can't play together are morons. Obviously, these people didn't watch the 2008 Olympics. I watched every minute that team played and I can assure this team will be just fine.
• Dan Gilbert is the biggest moron in America. Seriously, just read this.
• Joey Votto got lost in the shuffle. Way to go, Reds fans! You got your precious little first baseman in the All-Star game. I assure you, it's all downhill from here.
• Dan Gilbert made Tennessee fans look rational. I had never seen anything like Tennessee fans after Lane Kiffin left. Dan Gilbert took things to a whole new level. He said that LeBron tanked in the playoffs? If LeBron tanked in the playoffs, WHY THE HELL DID YOU WANT HIM TO PLAY FOR YOUR TEAM SO BADLY???
• Saying that any rings LeBron might win will be tainted is inane. Rings are rings. Magic won with Kareem. Larry won with McHale. Jordan had Pippen. Kobe had Shaq/Pau. It really doesn't matter who you play with. No single player has ever won an NBA Championship.
• Who the hell will ever want to play for Dan Gilbert again? Apparently, if you are a FREE agent and leave his team, he will completely throw you under the bus. I really hope the NBA Players Association supports a boycott of the Cavs until he retracts his idiotic statement.
• Mike Miller is going to be shooting a lot of open jumpers for the foreseeable future. He's a really, really good guy to add to this mix. When Wade and LeBron attack the basket, defenses will be forced to collapse on them, which will leave Miller wide open on the perimeter.
• Dan Gilbert sounds like a middle schooler whose girlfriend just broke up with him. And the font he used for that letter is the same one that was used in a lot of AOL chatrooms back in 1997.
• More players will want to play in Miami. Guys will take pay-cuts to play with LeBron, Wade and Bosh. This roster isn't going to be as depleted as some would want you to believe.
• Cleveland and New York, grow up. A basketball player chose to not come play in your city. You are rioting because of it? Chanting, "Queen James" because of it? Look in the mirror, maybe that's why he chose not to come. You think anyone in South Beach would have been upset if LeBron hadn't gone there? No, they would have walked outside, seen the 2.4 million models that live there and been okay with their lives. If you mouthbreathers have jobs, you're still getting paid today. Be grateful.
• Two last words for Dan Gilbert. Be better.
• Love it or hate it, the Heat are going to be very good. Get ready. These three guys are all right in the primes of their careers and the NBA just got a lot more interesting.

LeBron James is going to announce where he's going to play the next part of his career tonight at 9PM on ESPN. He is getting absolutely slaughtered by the media, people on Twitter/Facebook and random people I just happen to talk to. The thing I can't figure out is... why?

LeBron is a 25 year-old guy, who just might be the best basketball player on the planet. He was anointed as the "next Jordan" when he was a sophomore in high school. He was the NBA Rookie of the Year, he's been to the NBA Finals, he won a gold medal in the 2008 Olympics and he's been the NBA MVP the last two seasons. That's a hell of a resume for a 25 year-old.

Now, a guy in his mid-twenties is about to make the biggest decision of his life. LeBron's been criticized for how he's handled his free agency. First, when he was going to take tours of all the cities he might go to, he was getting killed. "He just wants free trips! He just wants to be wined and dined!" is what people were saying. Then, when he chose to have teams come to Cleveland instead, he still got killed. People complained he wasn't taking it serious enough. People said he wasn't dressed appropriately. LeBron couldn't win.

Then, reports came out that LeBron was going to have a one hour special on ESPN to declare where he was going to sign. People flipped out. LeBron became Public Enemy #1. Message board commenters, sportswriters and some of my friends have all referred to LeBron as cocky and arrogant. Are some of those people cocky and arrogant? Yes. Are any of them even close to as good at what they do as LeBron is at basketball? Not even close. Would they be cocky and arrogant (or even more so) if they were? Yes they would.

Most of those people fail to mention that LeBron is selling ad time during his special and all the proceeds will go to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The few people that do mention it say that he can, "Just write a check!" People don't say that when athletes have celebrity golf/bowling/basketball events, probably because those athletes aren't as famous as LeBron. The Boys & Girls Clubs of America are going to get an hour of publicity on ESPN in front of millions of people they would NEVER get otherwise tonight. I think it's pretty cool that a random guy watching might be intrigued and want to get involved with that charity. Hell, someone might even write them a check based on tonight.

It's not like the hate for LeBron will stop after he picks a team, either. People have built in reasons why he shouldn't go to every possible team. I don't agree with most of them, and I really don't care where he plays. He's one of the two best basketball players in the world, whatever team he goes to is going to win a whole bunch of games next year.

Basically, there's not a decision that LeBron can make tonight that will make most people happy. People say he's "ripping Cleveland's heart out" if he leaves. He's one basketball player! I'm pretty sure the city will still function on Friday, even if LeBron chooses to play elsewhere. Just a further example of people taking the sports world way too seriously.

Maybe LeBron is cocky and arrogant. But, is that the worst thing we can say about him? That he's cocky and arrogant? It appears so. He's never been accused of rape like Kobe Bryant and Ben Roethlisberger. He's never killed someone like Rae Carruth or Leonard Little. He's never been arrested for alcohol/drugs like JaMarcus Russell, Tank Johnson and many others. Being cocky or arrogant doesn't look so bad compared to those things, right?

No matter what, I'm sure LeBron will continue to be ridiculed and "hated on" by a lot of people. I still can't figure out why. He's just a 25 year-old guy living out everyone's dream.

(Props to Brubaker for some help with this one, he made all the good points.)

(Also, "Defending LeBron" has always been one of my worst nightmares. I'm pretty sure he'd drop 100 on me.)

Send your gift ideas and complaints to @StadiumDrives on Twitter

Yes, I know the calendar just ticked over to July... but this is a (Sometimes) College (Mostly) Sports Blog!  And we're about to turn 1 years old!  There will be some sort of contest announced soon, but as for the prize, well, it's here.  We'll be giving away a copy of Blue Ribbon's 2010 College Football Guide... as soon as our writers stop arguing over who gets paid more.

You can get your copy here, if you simply can't wait.

Derek Dooley, ya'll!

I'm into the World Cup.  I'm not afraid to say it.  And, no, I'm not one of those bleeding heart patriots yelling "USA! USA!" after every goal to be sure.  Actually, I've watched more foreign soccer matches over the last week than U.S. games I've seen in my entire life.  It's the spectacle that has me hooked.  The fact that the entire world is watching the same tournament at the same time.  Do I enjoy it as much as the World Series or the NCAA Tourney?  No.  But you'd be hard pressed to find data saying the World Cup isn't bigger than both of those combined.

Hell, against the better judgement of my family and friends, I went out and joined the local rec soccer league.  That shit is harder than it looks.  And tiring.  But it has garnered my respect.  (Except for the flopping.  I hate the dives.  I have a hard time believing you are so very injured, right up until the whistle blows and you steal a call, and the go back to frolicking around the pitch for the next hour.  Get up, fairy.)

So here's a newbies look at the first two rounds of the 2010 World Cup.

Lionel Messi is the best player in the world. He may not have a goal, but he's had a hand (foot?) in damn near every Argentinian goal scored.  And look at the numbers, La Albiceleste (the sky blue and white) are torching teams, and playing very little defense in the process.  But it doesn't seem to matter.  Which brings me to my next point.

I want to hang out with Diego Maradona. Aside from just looking like he knows what to do with a bag of cash and time to kill, the guy is a former Argentinian national team player, regarded as one of the best players of all time, and employs one simple strategy as coach:  Just go score.  Maradona isn't wasting time working up sets and defensive trapping tactics.  He's putting a fun group of hard workers on the lawn and just asking them to play.  And it is fun to watch.  I just wonder what he does the 5 nights between matches...

Here's a list of people I had no idea existed in May, but now want to see get punched in the face. Tim Howard, Clint Dempsey, Wayne Rooney (could not be located in June), Anelka (take your gloves off, you look like a butler), Carlos Queiroz (put a tie on, it's the goddam Catalina Wine Mixer, I mean World Cup!), and last but certainly not least, Joseph S. Blatter.  You are simply awful.

Completely uninformed picks! Ghana knocks out Uruguay 1-0.  Brazil eeks by the Netherlands in a battle of smoking hot national team fans 2-1 with a late finisher.  In easily the most anticipated match of the quarterfinals, Argentina bests Die Mannschaft 22-18 Saturday morning.   And I'll take Spain over Paraguay because, well, Paraguay had a pretty tough time with Japan.  And I don't even think they play soccer in Japan.

In the semis I'll take Brazil over Ghana in a blowout, to match up with Maradona's Argentinians, who eek by Spain on PKs.

In the final:  Argentina over Brazil.  And looting.  Lots and lots of looting.