Tom Izzo to take coaching job for Cleveland Cavaliers

While Michigan State Basketball coach Tom Izzo has said he will not leave the college until his Spartans win another championship that is not stopping the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Cleveland is desperate to keep all-star LeBron James who is a free agent at the end of this season. So desperate the team has already fired coach Mike Brown and GM Danny Ferry, as they look for a more compatible front office to keep LeBron.

While Izzo has not been offered a contract yet, he is in contact with team owner Dan Gilbert. Gilbert is willing to give Izzo a five year deal for $6 million a season as well as use of his private jet. Currently, Izzo makes $3 million a season with Michigan State.

Other candidates for the Cleveland coaching job are Kentucky coach John Calipari and former Pistons coach Larry Brown. With Dan Gilbert a Michigan native and owner of Rock Financial it seems there is a Michigan connection.

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Ron Artest giving away NBA courtside NBA finals tickets

Two LA Laker fans got the gift of a lifetime when they were given two court side seats to Game 1 of the NBA Finals…. courtesy of Ron Artest.

According to TMZ, the tickets are valued at $9,000 a piece and were given away on Los Angeles’ Power 106 radio station.

“Most of my fans can’t afford the ticket prices to come to any of the games, let alone the Finals,” Artest told TMZ. “I wanted to treat a fan to something they would normally never have access to, so they could feel like one of the stars for the night. I wanted to be able to share my first Finals experience with one of my regular fans.”
Artest paid for the tickets out of his own pocket, which is pretty generous until you remember he makes $6.6 m a season!

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Look Smart: NBA Finals

Tonight is Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and LA Lakers. Both teams are the most recent NBA champions, with LA winning last season and Boston winning in 2008. Additionally, LA and Boston both have star players who are playing injured (Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnet).

With so many similarities, many experts predict the series will go to a Game 7. However, the series may be decided in Game 1. According to statistics 79% of teams who win Game 1 go onto win the series. Even more, Phil Jackson (the coach of the Lakers) is 47-0 when winning Game 1 and has done it 23 times with the Lakers (Jackson had a long coaching tenure with the Bulls). How’s that for Vegas odds?

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LeBron Watch: LeBron tells Larry King the Cavs have the edge

LBJ sat down with Larry King to discuss his highly coveted free agency. Right now, it is like a game of “Where in the World is Carmen San Diego” as to where LeBron will end up next season, but LBJ says despite all the rumors Cleveland still has the edge.

In an exclusive interview with Larry King Live, King asked LeBron if Cleveland had the edge, LeBron said: “Absolutely, because you know, this city, these fans, I mean, have given me a lot in these seven years. And you know, for me it’s comfortable. So I’ve got a lot of memories here. And so it does have an edge.”

Unfortunately, an NBA Championship in Cleveland is not one of James’ memories. The NBA free agency opens July 1, but in the meantime, watch the Larry King interview in its entirety this Friday at 9 on CNN.

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