>>Oh, this is good stuff. I just read the rest of the article and came across this passage ---
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>>The Cavaliers created opportunities for James by delivering him the ball at the top of the key, where it was hard to double-team him as he began his dribble. James went 15-for-19 from the foul line and is averaging 16.6 free-throw attempts in the series. "When you are getting close to 20 free-throw attempts every night, that's just going to make it tough,'' said Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy. "We've got to find a way to keep him from every single time he drives the ball, it is a foul. We've got to do something to keep him off the free-throw line.''
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>>But that's not all they need to fix. Dwight Howard (24 points and 10 rebounds) fouled out for the third time in the series on a three-point drive by James that made it 102-93 with 2:22 to go, and he clearly feels he is getting the raw end of the officiating compared to LeBron, who has been whistled for 15 personals overall compared to Howard's 27. "Can't worry about it, they are either going to call a foul or they are not going to call it,'' said Howard. "My main job is try to stay focused and not worry about some of the calls that tend not to go my way.''
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>>Now why is Janis Joplin singing "Cry, Cry Baby" popping into my head? <g> Obviously Van Gundy and Howard are trying to soften up the refs, without getting fined for it, but you can tell LeBron has gotten into their heads. I will flatly predict it now: the Cavs will win this series.
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>Hi Mike
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>I know you like football a bit as well. Did you catch the Barcelona v Manchester United game the other day. Barcelona where excellent.

I saw the score but that's about it.

Back home I have refereed for a few seasons with an Englishman who is a huge Chelsea supporter. (One of those subtle differences in our versions of English -- we say fans, you say supporters, describing the exact same entity). He's a muck a muck at Motorola now, lives in a house fit for a king at the age of about 40. But he's still out there with the kids most Saturdays and/or Sundays, passing on his love of the game. Anyway, whenever Chelsea is in a big match he goes to a bar catering to ex-pat Brits and watches it live, no matter what time of day. I like that.