THE THREE WISE MEN OF THE NBA

LeBron James,  Dwyane Wade & Mario Chambers bike ride once a month in Miami's Critical Mass Ride.  The route takes them through Omni, Edgewater, Upper East Side, North Bay Village, Miami Beach, Venetian Islands, ending Downtown.   An event that bring respect for the bike rider in Miami.  Thousands ride every month.  What better way to bond with the people of Miami?

The three ride on Christmas Day, after their game with the Thunder.  It is a special ride.

"Hey, guys," says LeBron.  "A little different tonight.  A detour.  We're going to stop in to the Fontainebleau Hotel.  They're having a Christmas Toy Drive.  Whole bunch of little kids'll be there."

"Toy drive?"  says Dwyane."

"Yeah," says Mario.  "They have it every years, give kids toys during Christmas.  Real nice thing."

"But, LeBron", says Dwyane.  "I don't have any presents to give any kids. Only place open now, 7-11?"

"Got it covered," says LeBron."  He shakes a paper bag.  "We'll give these.  They're gift cards. Got a couple hundred or so.  Magic Johnson's Theaters.  Each gives you a year's worth of movies.  Just pass them out.  Kids'll love them." 

"But," says Mario, looking into the bag.  "They must have cost you...?"

LeBron looks over at Mario.  "Come on.  It's Christmas.  Let's go.  It'll take about an hour to get over there." 

North on Biscayne Blvd, twenty minutes, they slow down.  They're lost.  The Fontainebleau is west of the AA Arena, but aren't they traveling North?

"We're lost, I think," says Mario. "Sure this is right?" 

"You might be right.  Let see,"  says LeBron. "We know it's west of the Arena."  He looks into the sky.  "I got it.  We'll follow the lights of the planes landing at MIA. That's west of here. Just follow the lights, and we'll get there."

And they do.  The Lights in the sky show them the way.

Half hour later, relieved, they sail into the parking lot at the Fontainebleau.
  
Inside, a lady stands at the hotel's reservation desk.  She has no bags.  She's pregnant.

"I'm sorry ma'am.  This place's full.  There's absolutely nothing available."  His voice is grim.  "You must have a reservation.  I'm real sorry, but you'll have to leave..." 

The lady moves back, a tear in her eye, but goes into the hotel instead.  She needs a place to sit down.

"Ma'am, you can't go back there," he says.  He taps the bell for security.

Outside, our Three Wise Men park their bicycles and plow through the glass doors.  There is a red and green sign pointing toward a large room full of screaming children.
   
"This must be the place," says Dwyane.  He waves to children going in.  They stop and wave back, their mouths hanging open.  They wave back, fun in their eyes.
 
As the three moves toward the room, LeBron look down a long corridor, and sees a woman sitting on the floor.  She holds her head.

"This isn't right," says LeBron.  He walks down the corridor.  "Are you okay, Miss?" 

"Hello.  Well, I tried to get a room...there are no rooms...I'm having a baby.  I didn't think it was going to be so soon..."

"Your kidding?  A baby?  Right now?" says LeBron.   He scoops her up in his arms.  "We gotta get you to a hospital."

On the run, "Hey, Dywane.  Mario. Another detour. We're not staying.  We gotta get this lady to a hospital."

The man at the reservation desk points.  "There.  Get her. There she is."  Two security guards move from the shadows.

"But...it's LeBron James?" says one of the guards.

"Dwyane Wade...and Mario Chambers?" says the other.  "We can't..."

"But she isn't supposed to be in here?  Arrest her."

"But..."

The Three...well, actually it's The Four now...rush by the open door of the Toy Drive.  There are hundreds of kids and presents inside.  Pandemonium.

"Here," says LeBron to the guards.  "We brought gifts.  Pass these out to as many kids as you can."  He tosses them the paper bag.  "There's a couple hundred in there.  We gotta go."


Out they fly, piling into a cab.  And they're off, with all four, in unison, yelling, "Jackson Memorial Hospital."

"And step on it." says LeBron. "It's Christmas Day.  And we're going to have a baby."
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HELP COME FROM:

nbcmiami.com/news/LeBron-Says-Bike-Riding-Helps-His-Conditioning-184198681.html
huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/29/dwyane-wade-critical-mass-gabrielle-union_n_1925176.html
dltk-bible.com/cv/the_wise_men.htm
readabilityformulas.com   -   Google/Images   -  

MICHAEL AND LeBRON TALK SHOES

"Hey," says LeBron.  "Like to talk to Michael."

"This is Michael,"  says Michael.  "You sound familiar.
 Who's this?"

"Who's this?  Come on.  It's me."

"Okay," says Michael.

"L. J.  Gold Medalist.  L. J.  NBA World Championship Ring,  L.J. MVP.  Who'd you think.  See me in the papers this morning?"

"You?" says Michael.  "If this is LeBron then yeah, I saw you.  With the Shoes?  And by the way, I got a Gold Medal too.  And World Championship Rings, if you forgot."

"So," says LeBron.  "What do you think about My Shoes.  LeBron James Nike Plus X."

"Hey, if you forgot, I got shoes too."

"Well, of course.  I know.  You started this whole Shoe Thing.  Air Jordans.  But mine are more expensive than yours."

"Yeah, so," says Michael.

"Kinda makes me a bigger deal, don't you think?  No way I'm selling them cheap.  People'll think I'm a real loser."

"Why don't you just sell them at $1,000 a pair.  Go crazy?"

"Come on, that's too much.  Guys buy my shoes can't do that, but they say we can squeeze $300 maybe $350 out of them.  They're buying a piece of me. What can I say.  They want cheaper shoes, they buy AJ's."

"Air Jordans sell just fine, LeBron, okay.  Wait. You want to talk shoes?  Hold on...make an international call.  Hello, is this Stephon?  Stephon Marbury?"

"I know that voice.  M.J. How you doing.  Calling to congratulate me?   Kinda late, we won back in March.  Beijing Ducks, Chinese Basketball Association Championship.  We beat Aaron Brooks and the Guangdong Hongyuan. I got my own ring now."

"Hello...Am I talking to Stephon Marbury?"

"LeBron?  That you?  Hey, the guy trying to muscle in on my shoe action."

"I'm worldwide," says LeBron.

"Yeah, I saw the shoes," says Stephon. "But you got it all wrong, my friend.  Priced yourself out of the market.  $315?  You kidding.  Kids around the world can get the same thing, Starburys, for $29.95.  How's your shoes selling in Cleveland, by the way?"

"Selling real good...real good.  They still love me there."

"Hold on,"  says Michael.  "Let's call Kobe.  He knows about shoes...Let's see if  I still have his number...Hello, like to talk with..."

"Michael, Zup man.  Been awhile."

"Kobe, I got somebody here..."

"Our man in L.A.," says LeBron.  "We're the Gold Medalists.  Showed the world, didn't we?   Me making those shots in the fourth quarter against Spain." 

"LeBron," says Michael. "It wasn't all that much in doubt.  Chris Paul, Kevin D., Carmelo..."

"Kobe, did you see me in the paper this morning, jumping in my new shoes?  Three time League MVP, and I got a ring, so I get the best shoes too.  It's the right thing for Nike to do."

"I saw," says Kobe.  "Shoes are okay,  but expensive.   I hate to say it, but those shoes are kinda...how can I say this?..."

"They're ugly, compared to my A.J's. "

"Pricewise, mine are the best of them all," says Stephon.

"Is that Stephon Marbury?" says Kobe.   " 喂，你好嗎 "

"非常好," says Stephon.

"What?" says LeBron.  "Did someone say my new shoes are Ugly?  Come on, you guys are just jealous.  Me, MVP, Gold medal.  My shoes have LeBron X Dynamic Flywire Technology, Hyperfuse Construction, and the first full-length visible Zoom Air unit.

"And I got Nike to set a good price.  Like a guy buying a car.  He wants the Bentley.  So everybody'll look up to him, not some $29.95 Ford Fiesta."

"Hey," says Stephon. "Kids want to be like me, over here in China.  So my deal is to give them shoes they can afford.  Kids might say you're the best basketball player..."

"What?" says Kobe...

"Say what?" says Michael.

"...But there isn't much respect.  Everybody over here knows I'm no Kobe, or LeBron, but they got my name on their feet.  They like me here.  Kobe...They sure like you."

"Everytime I'm over there, I get huge crowds.  It's surprising.  Pretty cool."

"Okay," says LeBron.  "I set the price.  It's a test price.  Come on, I...we...won the Olympics, so people should pay for what we did.  I'm worth it.  I won't get any respect selling cheap shoes.  I should get respect."

 "Hey, Come over here.  My Duck's aren't afraid.  You'll need more than some high priced shoes." 

"Price'll come down," says Michael.  "Like for my Air Jordans.  Base was like $90, then they did tests.  I got money up front, so I let the experts decide on price, and how they're marketed."

"Keds,"  says Kobe.  "That's what I played in back in the day.  Used pair matter of fact.  It's how people look at you.  How much you give back."

"I can't be selling shoes real cheap," says LeBron. "It's a reflection on me. It's a good deal.  I get a percentage of sales..."

"You're kidding,"  said Kobe.

"Mistake," says Michael.  "You forgot where you came from.  What kid can afford them?"

"Guys, they want my shoes.  Kids can't wait to buy them.  They want to be like me."

"I got no problem with $29.95.  I'm everywhere in China.  I don't have to advertise either.   How many would you sell without any advertising?"

"What's next L.J.," says Kobe.  "Now that you got your shoe deal, what's next?"

"I'm thinking of getting Corvette to come out in a limited LeBron edition.  Say $250 Grand."

"Live it up now, LeBron" says Kobe.  "Lakers got the team now.  Dwight Howard, Steve Nash, Gasol, Metta...Me."

"You guys just want to rain on my parade.  I deserve better..."

"LeBron," says Michael.  "I gotta go.  We'll have to see how fast the price comes down."

"It's what I'm worth now.  Highest price Nike's on B-Ball shoes."

"Okay, I gotta go," says Kobe.  "See you guys, I gotta this thing at Cedars Sinai Hospital, with  Blake Griffin, Chauncey Billups, and Dwight Howard...guys here in L.A."

"Yeah, me too," says Michael.  "There's this midnight B-Ball League I sponsor.  Gives young men something healthy to do at night."

"I'll see you guys," says Stephon. "I'm getting a metal from the local citizens group.  That's huge over here."

"If you getting that kind of respect," says LeBron.  "You gotta raise the price of your shoes."

"I don't need crazy expensive shoes," says Stephon.  "I just need me."
..........................

Help comes from:

probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/30/marbury,
blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2012/08/lebron_james_new_nike_shoe,
cbssports.com/columns/story/19868497/lebrons-pricey-shoes,
readabilityformulas.com,  -  Google/Images,

BUT LeBRON HAS NO RINGS

Linden and Edison park their bikes in front of  'Hoboken Hobbies.'

"See, nobody's gonna want a rookie card of J. R. Smith, when you can get Jeremy Lin.  He's hot, or Kobe Bryant, or LeBron James.  See what I'm saying?"

"How do you know which ones to buy?" says Linden.

"You want to get cards that you can sell later," says Edison.  "Rasheed Wallace, very good player, but not as good as a Chris Paul right now.  You have to be lucky.  Pick a player that'll be hot in the future.  You never know, some first draft picks, can't hack it in the pros.  Like Paul Davis or somebody like Guillermo Diaz."

"You really know all about this," says Linden."

"I'm spending twenty buck," says Edison.  "So I made a list."

They walk inside.  Edison unfolds a piece of paper.

"Hey, guys," says the Man Behind the Counter, 'Clark,' on his shirt.

"We're looking for NBA cards.  I made a list of the top NBA Players, ones I'm looking for."  says Edison.

He hands the paper to Clark.

The list reads:
1. Dwight Howard
2.Carmelo
3.LeBron
4. Durant 
5. Kobe

"And Chris Paul," says Edison.  "If they go deep in the playoffs, he'll be valuable."

"Is this your order of best in the league?  So you think Dwight Howard is the best?  Better than Kobe, or LeBron even?"

"Yup.  My top five.  And maybe Derrick Rose too. Do you have any of these guys, rookie cards maybe?"

"He's got twenty dollars and I got about fifteen." says Linden.

"Shshsh-ush," says Edison.  He elbows Linden.  "Look, we just want to see what you got.  Maybe we'll buy some."
 
A young lady wipes clay off her hands with a rag.  "Heard somebody say NBA.  Guys buying some cards?"  Her shirt says 'Elizabeth.'

"Liz, take a look at this, you know Basketball."

"Hmmm," says Elizabeth.  She looks at the boys, then at the list.  "You sure about this?  Usually LeBron's on top?"

"No," says Edison.  "I don't have LeBron first on my list.  I didn't think he is all that popular?"

"Well," says Elizabeth. "Everybody's heard of him.  But I wouldn't put him on top either.  He doesn't show up when it really matters, at the end of games.  Probably be MVP, but he still doesn't have a ring yet."

"Come on," says Clark.  "He's the complete player.  He's like a power forward on offense, and a center on Dee."

"Gotta win Championships," says Elizabeth.

"What are you saying, Liz?  How many rings you have's got nothing to do with how good a player you are."

"You got Dwight Howard on the top of your list?" says Elizabeth.

"I thought in the future he would be..." says Edison.

"Remember in Orlando," says Clark.  "They said there'd never be another Shaq.  Now they say there'll never be another Dwight Howard.  I have some Dwight Howard cards."
 
Dwight Howard might be one of the best centers of the last 20 years." says Elizabeth.

"We just came in to see what you've..." says Edison.

"But what does he do, really?" says Clark.  "With Howard, it's dunking and blocking, that's about it.  No, no.  He's no LeBron or a Kobe.  He's a good player, but off the court?   Too much controversy.  Remember Dennis Rodman?"

"How about this."  He pulls out a card from under the glass counter.  "Here's an Andrew Bynum?  With the Lakers.  Once he starts getting touches like Dwight gets, Lakers'll get 2 or 3 more championships before he retires.  Even though it's LA, if you're looking for a break out player."

"They don't want Bynum.  Take a Dwight Howard," says Elizabeth.

She stops.

"No,  you don't want a Dwight Howard.  All he can do is flex his muscles and smile.  Griffin's another, can't buy a free throw, like Shaq was."  She looks at the paper.  "No, this list?  Where'd you get this?"

"I was on the internet..."

"No way," says Elizabeth. "Here's how I'd do this list, best in the NBA would be Kobe, he's got the rings, LeBron, even though I don't like him, Durant, Wade, Dirk, Carmelo, Rose, Paul, Stoudamire ....then maybe,...maybe, Dwight Howard."

"Okay, okay, maybe not Howard first... " says Edison.

"Pound for pound it's Dwyane Wade," says Clark.

"Come on," says Elizabeth.  "Have you been watching these playoffs?  Wade's a flopper.  Never saw anything like it.  He gets brushed, he flops back, guy goes crazy."

"Are we going to buy any of these?" says Linden.  His voice low.

Edison shrugs, and scratches his head.

"There's no question.  It's Kobe," says Elizabeth.  "You gotta put Kobe higher on this list, come on. Game is on the line , who you want with the ball?  Kobe's the guy."

"Really?" says Clark.  "Kobe, he's your guy?"  He grabs the paper, and holds it up.  "Last three or four years, LeBron, Dwight Howard, and Chris Paul been the best players in the league.

"But, what about..." says Elizabeth.

"Let me finish." says Clark.  "Carmelo plays no Dee, takes way too many shots and is not a leader.  Same with Durant.  One man shows."

"This list is way out of whack," says Elizabeth.  "Guys, what were you thinking?  No way in the world Chris Paul is better than Derek Rose.  And where's Russell Westbrook?  He's not even on your list."  Her eyes are black.

Edison steps back.  "We just came in to get some cards..."  Then to Linden, "I'm sorry I brought you in here."

Linden looks at his iPhone.  "I gotta go soon.  My mom'll be waiting.  Supposed to come right home from school."

"Yeah, me too." says Edison.  "Maybe if we come back on  Saturday?"

"Liz, Come on."  Clark pokes at the paper.  "Where's Nowitzki on this list?  This is stupid.   Didn't the Mavericks win it all.  And wasn't he playing with the flu?"

"I'm not stupid, Clark."  She takes a pen and scratches out names on the list, and draws arrows.  "Here's how this should be."  She shoves the piece of paper back toward Clark.  "Toss up, LeBron, and Kobe, and Durrant, then I like Wade..."

"I think I'd like to buy a Chris..." says Edison.

She looks at Edison, glares, then back at the list.  "Okay, okay," she says.  "Who's got the most rings?"

"Forget rings," says Clark.  "LeBron had no team in Cleveland.   Best players want to play in LA, or Florida.  Who wants to play in Cleveland.  Too cold, and windy, and, trust me, there's absolutely nothing to do there."

"Ridiculous.  You know, you're actually laughable. What's your mighty King James really accomplished -other than some scoring titles?  Kobe Bryant is still the best player in the NBA. Crunch time, it's Kobe.  Tell me I'm wrong.  Go ahead."  Flames are in her eyes.

Edison puts his wallet back in his pocket.  He takes a deep breath.

"Clark, if you knew anything at all about the NBA, by the time Kobe was LeBron's age he already had 3 rings.  Still averaging the second most points in the league a 33.  You know I'm right.  This list is a complete joke."

"Liz, are you feeling okay?  How can you say that?"

Her voice is higher. "Doesn't matter, Kobe created a team that wins.  Basketball is more than just one guy. Rings, rings, rings.  That's what it's all about.  Kobe's looking for one more, beat Michael Jordan."

"Ridiculous," says Clark. "It's the player.  How can you be so ignorant?"

"Ignorant?"  Her hands are fists. Her voice cracks.  "Who're you calling ignorant?"  Here eyes are black and hard.

"You, Liz.  Even Carmelo is better than Kobe when it comes to..."

"What?"

"Come on," says Edison.
 
The two leave Hoboken Hobbies, jump on their bikes, and ride toward home. Neither looks back.

"I'm going online.  Gotta be better than that place. We'll buy something. Those people, over basketball cards, come on.  Like they were going crazy."

.........................

Help comes from:
sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?​page=Roundtable-KobeLeBron
sportschump.net/2011/02/23
Google/Images, WikiPedia/LeBron James/Kobe/