TMZ has obtained the NFL star’s autopsy report, which shows that the 26-year-old’s heart, lungs, liver, spleen, pancreas and kidneys were donated in the wake of his death on December 16, 2009.
When I was 20 years old, my father had a heart attack helping me move out of my college dorm. I frantically drove him to the town’s hospital using a map in the back of my phone book. Apparently, the clinic had just received the clot busting medicine that they used to save my dad’s life.
After a triple bypass that didn’t work, my dad was lucky enough to receive a heart transplant two years later. It was from an 18-year-old kid who died on his birthday. Because of that transplant, he lived until this past January, or an extra 14 years. He saw me win a national championship, he was at my wedding and he got to know his grandson.
So if you haven’t already become an organ donor, please take a moment to think about what Chris Henry did for those patients lucky enough to receive his organs and what that 18-year-old kid did for my father and my family.
It’s an impressive group that tightly encircles James these days, mostly people who knew LeBron before he became royalty. Randy Mims handles logistics and travel. Richard Paul deals with image and publicity issues.
But the central figure is Maverick Carter, his older high school teammate, who returned from playing college basketball at Western Michigan to take up a main position in LeBron’s life. They have called themselves the “Four Horsemen” and quite some time ago formed LRMR Marketing to handle James’ many opportunities.
Carter’s known as one of the smartest players to ever emerge from the Akron hoops scene. When LeBron ended his relationship with agent Aaron Goodwin with a text message notice in 2005 and turned things over to Carter, there were immediate suggestions that Carter, just 23 at the time, was in over his head, that he would fall on his face.
That hasn’t happened, though. Carter has prospered in the role.
Lazenby also touches on William Wesley’s influence. Apparently, he moved into the same apartment complex that LeBron lived in as a rookie. Wesley was the one who introduced LeBron to Michael Jordan when he was still in high school.
Boozer was asked on ESPN 1050 if he was a better player than Lee.
“Absolutely I do. I think he’s a very good, young player though,” Boozer said. “I think he’s had a great season and he was the all star this year. I think he has a great upside to him I just think I’m better, but I mean that’s for you guys to debate about, I don’t worry about that kind of stuff.
“I just go out there and play all for my team and try everything I can to win games and win a ring. David Lee is a great young player, a good friend of mine, and of course I wish him the best of luck as well with whatever he does, if he stays in NY or if he also goes elsewhere.”
Lee just turned 27 while Boozer turns 29 in November, so Lee is about 1.5 years younger. I agree with Boozer that he’s (a little) better when he’s healthy, but that’s a big condition. Lee has missed three games in the last three years while Boozer missed 45 games during the 2008-07 season and another 80 games from 2004-2006.
Boozer is a better post up player, but the two are about the same on the glass and neither player is terribly good on the defensive end. Moreover, Boozer is (probably) going to command a starting salary of $14 million per season on his next contract while Lee will likely be $2 million – $3 million cheaper per year.
Bottom line — I’d rather have Lee because he’s younger, cheaper, more durable and almost as productive.
Ray Allen hit a Finals-record eight three-pointers last night, and went 7-for-7 in the first half. The following video is meant more for entertainment purposes rather than breaking down how and why he got open, but I’ll do my best.
Make #1: The Lakers played some bad perimeter defense last night (especially in transition) and this is a good example. Glen Davis set a ball screen on Derek FIsher as part of the Celtics’ secondary break and Fisher just stopped on the pick instead of fighting over the top of it. Also, Pau Gasol was playing way off of Davis instead coming up and jumping out on the screen.
Make #2: This one was in the half court and the defense was still bad. Fisher made the mistake of trying to go ball side of the screener (Kendrick Perkins) instead of chasing Allen on the screen. With a player like Allen, you always chase, chase, chase. He is so good at reading the defender that anytime the guy tries to cheat and go over the top, he’s just going to fade to the corner, creating some extra distance, and spot up for three.
Make #3: The Celtics killed the Lakers in transition. Shannon Brown did a terrible job on this play of locating Allen. You can see from the shot from above just how far he was away from Allen when he caught the ball. The #1 rule for the Lakers in transition should be to stop the ball, #2 should be find Ray Allen. This make was especially impressive because Rajon Rondo’s pass was off target.
Make #4: This is another secondary break that ends well for the C’s. This time, it’s Jordan Farmar who fails to pick up Allen in transition. Remember, Ray-Ray is looking to spot up all the time, even on the break.
Make #5: Three point shooters love it when their big guys get on the offensive glass and kick the ball out. It’s a great time to get open because the defender turns and watches the shot/rebound instead of locating the shooter. Essentially, they think their job is done, but once the offensive rebound is complete, it’s almost like another mini-break. Shannon Brown never should have left him. Doc Rivers’ expression after the make was priceless.
Make #6: This was probably my favorite of the bunch, because I’m sure Kobe was all pissed off at his teammates and felt the need to guard Allen and try to shut him down. Then he proceeds to make the same mistake that Fisher made by trying to go over the top of the screen. Chase, chase, chase. Always chase. Always. Also, notice the little jab step/push off that freezes Kobe for a second. Then, as soon as Allen sees Kobe go ball side of the screen, he fades to the sideline and spots up. It’s a think of beauty.
Make #7: Here’s another example of how dangerous Allen can be on the break. Derek Fisher ends up coming over to help on him, but he’s too late because he was also the one who stopped Rondo’s dribble. The blame could fall on Brown’s shoulders, who is standing in the lane while a guy who has just hit six-straight threes is jogging down the right side of the court unguarded. But the blame is really on Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol — neither player got down the court fast enough to cover the big (I can’t tell who it is) under the basket. Brown didn’t want to leave a guy standing wide open right at the hoops, so he stayed home. That’s on Bynum/Gasol.
Make #8: This was another offensive rebound kickout, this time from Glen Davis. Once again, it was Brown who fell asleep as Davis gathered the offensive rebound. It’s a no-no to leave Ray-Ray, especially when he’s shooting like this.
Tony Parker is rumored to be available for trade, but that has more to do with the presence of George Hill than anything the Spurs have done since their season ended. The Knicks are in dire need of a good point guard, so of course there have been some Parker-to-New York rumors as well.
The Spurs and Thunder also are in the hunt for a big and have targeted a number of teams in the lottery to move up a few spots. The Thunder have multiple picks to offer. The Spurs have Tony Parker or George Hill. While the Spurs aren’t necessarily shopping either player, they’re not untouchable, either. If the Spurs can get another big man to help prolong Tim Duncan’s career, they’ll do it.
But looking ahead — if the Knicks strike out on their plan to get one of their LeBron/Bosh, Wade/Bosh or LeBron/Wade dream combos, maybe a Lee-for-Parker deal would make some sense.
Let’s say the Knicks strike out on LeBron, Wade and Bosh, but manage to sign a couple of second-tier free agents (Joe Johnson, Carlos Boozer, etc.) starting at $14 million per season, that would leave them about $9.5-$10 million to re-sign Lee and then move him for another asset like Parker. That would give the Knicks a core of Parker, Johnson and Boozer moving forward, and give the Spurs a quality power forward to play alongside Duncan. (Remember, Antonio McDyess is still under contract for another season and the Spurs have DeJuan Blair as well.)
