Here we go again.  Right when it seemed like LeBron (formerly Le-BRONZE, but now he has a gold medal) James started to get me to eat my critical words about him, he goes and does another unprofessional and childish thing.  The latest chapter in the life of the NBA's most pampered and hyped superstar is his refusal to shake hands with the Orlando Magic after they were thoroughly destroyed by them in the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals, and also skipping out on the post game press conference.

Now don't get me wrong.  I can be as sore as a loser as they come, but playing Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2009 on the Playstation 3 and playing in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals are two different things.  I think athletes often forget that it is PART OF THEIR JOB to address the media after wins AND losses.  That doesn't even address the classlessness and lack of sportsmanship he displayed by not acknowledging the Magic after their win.  I've got three words for you: MAN UP, LEBRON!

With that being said almost everyone I've heard of  who has ever had contact with LeBron James says he is a wonderful person. That has teammates love for him in genuine not manufactured (like say Kobe Bryant). So this isn't a knock on him personally this is more of a professional critique.

In the heat of the moment, I can understand Lebron's frustration and even his actions at the time, but the fact that he had a chance to reflect on his actions the next day and he still tried to justify the unsportsmanlike conduct from the day before just shows me he is still immature and not fully ready to take the baton from Kobe Bryant just yet.  And if he's not careful, Dwyane Wade might just snatch the baton instead.

He quoted himself as "being a winner" and how he's "not going to congratulate someone after they beat you up", but what has LeBron really won?  He wouldn't have his gold medal without Kobe and Dwayne, and the last time he was in the NBA Finals, he got swept under the rug by the Spurs.  LeBron is an exceptional talent and a team leader.  But a winner?  I beg to differ.  With his accomplishments in the NBA, he is just as much of a winner as Dirk Nowitski (who, ironically is the last NBA MVP to not make it to the NBA Finals the year he won MVP).  I know it sounds harsh, but it's as true as true can get.

Here is what LeBron should do in the future to make sure this never happens again.  Whenever he does something, just think of five random all-time great NBA players and what you believe they would do in the situation.  If at least four out of five would not take said action, then don't do it.  He'll get through most situations looking really good if he does that.

All the great ones lose sometimes.  It's in the way an individual handles adversity which shows true character.  Magic, Karl Malone, Tim Duncan, & even Kobe Bryant faced the media when they lost in title games.  Do you think you're better than them?  I hope not. 

Once again, MAN UP, LeBron!  Please don't cry in the car.

Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune had a very good article discussing this point.  Here is an excerpt from that article:

Did the Bears pay fair value for Cutler? History says they did.

And history also says the Cutler deal was one of the biggest in NFL annals involving veterans.

Here is a look at similar trades since the 1970 merger.

•1972: The Vikings get then six-time Pro Bowl quarterback Fran Tarkenton back from the Giants at age 32 for a 1972 first-round pick, a 1973 second-round pick, Norm Snead, Bob Grim and Vince Clements.

•1973: The Eagles acquire then 33-year-old quarterback Roman Gabriel from the Rams for two first-round picks and a third-rounder.

•1974: The Eagles trade with the Bengals for linebacker Bill Bergey, giving up three first-round picks, a second-rounder and a third-rounder.

•1974: After losing his starting job with the Rams, quarterback John Hadl is dealt to the Packers for two first-round picks, two second-rounders and a third-rounder. At 34, his best football was behind him.

•1976: Then-29-year-old quarterback Jim Plunkett goes to the 49ers from the Patriots for three first-round picks, a second-rounder and Tom Owen.

•1978: The 49ers acquire running back O.J. Simpson from the Bills for first-, second-, third- and fourth-round picks.

•1981: A contract dispute forces the Chargers to trade wide receiver John Jefferson to the Packers for a 1983 first-round pick, two second-round picks, the option to swap first-round picks in 1982 and Aundra Thompson.

•1982: The Browns get linebacker Tom Cousineau from the Bills for two first-round picks.

•1987: Running back Eric Dickerson goes to the Colts from the Rams for two first-round picks, two seconds and Greg Bell.

•1990: In the most regrettable trade in NFL history, the Vikings acquire running back Herschel Walker and four draft picks from the Cowboys for five players, three first-round picks, three second-round picks, a third-round pick and a sixth-round pick.
*side note from ObliQ:  Those draft picks eventually turned into the Hall of Fame "Triplets" Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, & and Michael "Cocaine & Women" Irvin.

•1998: Defensive lineman Sean Gilbert goes to the Panthers from the Redskins for two first-round picks.

•2000: The Bucs get wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson from the Jets for two first-round picks.

dpompei@tribune.com

ObliQ's take:

It's amazing to me how most Lions' and even Packers' fans are saying that this was a trade that needed to happen, when most of the Vikings' fans I talk to act like the Bears got robbed.  That is ironic since the Vikings did what is the consensus "most regrettable trade in NFL history".  Also, they ended up grossly overpaying for wide receiver Bernard Berrian, giving him a $43 million contract with $16 million guaranteed.  His stats were no different from what he gave the Bears a year earlier for 1/10 the money, so who really overpaid?

To me, draft picks are like poker chips at a casino.  They are worth absolutely nothing until you cash them in.  Since 1995, the only Bears 1st round draft picks to amount to anything are Brian Urlacher, Tommie Harris, & Greg Olsen.  The jury is still out on Chris Williams.  The busts include the likes of Cedric Benson, Michael Haynes, David Terrell, Cade McNown, Curtis Enis and, the biggest bust of them all, Rashaan Salaam. 

As for the draft, based on history the Bears' chances of acquiring an impact wide receiver in the second round are not very good.

In the last 10 years, there have been 42 receivers taken in the second round. In their rookie seasons, they have averaged 26.8 catches for 345.7 yards. Or 1.6 catches and 21.6 yards per game.

Only one of them - Boldin - had a 1,000 yard season or made the Pro Bowl as a rookie. Only eight caught passes for more than 600 yards as rookies. Only two of them - 4 percent - have made the Pro Bowl in any year of their careers.

So the lesson is second-round receivers don't always become what they are supposed to become.  The Bears know what they are getting in Jay Cutler.  In that situation, draft picks are for the birds, or in this case, Broncos.

This is just another instance where the NFL is over stepping its boundaries and is simply trying to be "Massa" and control its players. People can have their opinions on whether they agree or disagree with Ocho Cinco's name change, but the fact of the matter is that he has legally changed his name and his new last name is "OCHO CINCO", like it or not.

The fact that the NFL is not recognizing a legal name change just lets you know that they are all about control.

If a player changes his name for religious or other reasons, the league would have no problem and they are now being hypocrites.

Back in 2006, then Eagles cornerback William Peterson changed his name to William James, and there was no issue. The No Fun League needs recognize the law before they have a lawsuit on their hands based on precedence.

What if people didn't recognize Cassius Clay's name change? What about Lou Alcinder? Or Chris Jackson (Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf )? The reason for the name change is none of the league's business!!!

It's just really funny to me that since the retirement of Sid Lukman, the most popular Bears quarterback is always the guy holding the clipboard.  I mean, really.  Stop it people.  Seriously.  If you guys really want to chalk the 2008 season as a loss and start the rebuilding process,  AND waste the potentially great defense they have, then by all means, start Caleb Hanie.  I want you guys to look Tommie Harris, Brian Urlacher, Mike Brown, and Lance Briggs in the eyes and tell them they won't be competing for a Super Bowl this year because you think Caleb Hanie is the next Tony Romo.

The numbers don't lie, people.  No rookie starting quarterback has EVER reached the Super Bowl.  EVER.  Since the AFL/NFL merger in 1970, only two rookie starting quarterbacks in NFL history have even won a single playoff game (Shaun King in 1999 & Ben Roethlisberger in 2004).  Do you really want to waste one more year of our dominant defense grooming a quarterback?  I think not.

Kyle Orton went 11-5 as a rookie starter in 2005 and people couldn't wait to pull the plug on him as soon as Grossman was healthy.  How many rookies win 11 games?  Not too many. 

Rex Grossman is 19-11 as a starter and led the Bears to the Super Bowl in HIS FIRST FULL SEASON AS A STARTER.  Not too many people do that either.  Contrary to popular belief (haters are everywhere), the Bears' quarterback situation is not as bad as the "experts" say it is. 

The Bears have two WINNERS on their roster, and last year's horrible season is more a product of injuries on defense that it was anything else.  I mean they basically signed Toeina and Jimmy Kennedy off the street to play for them last season because of injuries.  I'm not sure of the exact number, but I believe the Bears defense lost about 60 starts due to injuries.  They went from a top 5 defense in 2006 to the 28th ranked defense in 2007.  That has nothing to do with "Good Rex, Bad Rex" or "Checkdown Charlie" (Orton).

I guess the Redskins should start Colt Brennan over Jason Campbell based on one preseason game too, huh?  Ridiculous!

People need to stop drinking the "Caleb Hanie is the next Tony Romo" Kool-Aid, because the last time I checked, Dallas has a very good defense, and they still haven't won a playoff game since 1995, and that is including the two years Romo has started.

I'd rather my quarterback throw a pick in the Super Bowl than botch a snap and not get there at all.  Rex will win the qb battle and the Bears defense will dominate and give them a chance to go far in the playoffs.

Enough with the Caleb Hanie for President campaign, already!!

I believe the Bears need to figure a way how to pay Hester based on the production he's had as a Bear, and not his position.  You gotta think about it, the guy lead the team in total touchdowns!  And he's done it with way less time on the field than other players.  He had more total touchdowns last year than Muhammad and Clark combined!  And many of the touchdowns and field goals the Bears scored where a direct result of the field position Hester gives the Bears, even when teams kick away from him.  When you look at the production on most special teams, you can probably hope  you get maybe 2-3 touchdowns a year, AS A TEAM.  Hester did six by HIMSELF, and the next closest TEAM was the Texans with four.  That's still a 50% increase on their TEAM special teams' touchdown production.  That number is insane!

Let's forget all this talk about Hester not being a proven #1 wide receiver and he shouldn't be paid as such.  The whole purpose of having a #1 wide receiver is so that the guy can go out and score TOUCHDOWNS, which Hester did more of than any member of the Bears team, including the $42 million man Bernard Berrian, who only scored five touchdowns.  If that's worth $42 million, then what are Hester's eight touchdowns worth?

Hester scored as many total touchdowns last year as Chad Johnson, Wes Welker, Chris Cooley, & Santonio Holmes, who are all FULL TIME PLAYERS, who ALL make more money than Hester.  Now that Hester will become a full time player, he should be paid accordingly, and who out there doubts that with more time on the field will come more touchdowns for Devin Hester?

One more stat for you Bears Junkies to chew on:  There were 30 total kick and punt return touchdowns scored in the entire NFL last season, and Hester had six of them, meaning 1 in 5 special team touchdowns was scored by Hester, and that's lopsided, especially since there are 30 NFL teams.  Just pay Hester and get on with camp, people!!