Slam Dunk
Posted July 5, 2010, 12:43 PM ET

Hopefully, this is the week that ESPN and every other media outlet with nothing better to talk about can finally end the LeBron James story.

Ever since James and his Cavs were unceremoniously drubbed in the NBA Playoffs, there has been nothing but speculation surrounding his next move. Can you imagine if Kobe Bryant and his five NBA titles were going through the same ego-driven recruiting process?

Let's face it: James has an Ohio High School title to his name, but he has yet to lead anybody to a championship since joining the NBA. However, the media coverage surrounding his decision would make you believe that the greatest player to ever play the game was about to make the biggest decision the game has ever seen.

It's been embarrassing.....for both James and the media that covers him.

I vowed on my radio show that I would not bring up the topic once he was eliminated from the post-season discussion. I'm proud to say that I haven't wasted one minute on James....even though some callers love the BS-session surrounding the visitations. Once he makes his decision, then it's a news story...until then, it is a pitiful display of sports journalism.

In fact, when you look at some of the players and the amounts of money that are being thrown their way, it makes it pretty easy to figure out why the NBA is projected to lose 400 million bucks this year. It's Business 101, and evidently there are some idiots running NBA teams these days.

119 million bucks for Joe Johnson? The last time I saw Johnson play, his hometown team in Atlanta was booing him off the floor for being swept by an average of 30 a game, not to mention Johnson's comments about telling the Hawks fans to stick it in the ear.

$80 million for Rudy Gay? The last time I checked, Gay asked the Grizzlies for 50 million and they refused.....only to agree to adding 30 million more this go around.

$20 million for Darko Milicic? That's great money for a guy that partakes in the daily warm-up drill. Who knew he was still in the league?

$34 million for Ari Johnson? Who the hell is Ari Johnson? And what are the Toronto Raptors smoking, north of the border?

I have no problem with any player (or person) getting as much money as possible. It takes an asinine owner to agree to write the check....so I'm not blaming the player. But with decisions to pay the guys mentioned above absurd totals without sniffing a championship in the process is downright foolish.

Dwayne Wade has a championship.....and so does Paul Pierce. If they want to ask for tens of millions, then they should, and tell the owner how they can bring a championship to their respective city.

But the rest of the bunch has proven that they know how to orchestrate the media, the owners and the system.

More power to them. Right now, I have as many NBA Championships as LeBron, Stoudemire, Bosh and Nowitzki.....and it didn't cost a dime.

So come on, guys, pick which city and team you expect to fleece and let's move on with the rest of the sports year.

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The Tour de France is underway, and it didn't take long before everyone was crashing into each other.

The first stage after the prologue produced a massive wreck that would make the folks at Daytona blush.

Speaking of Daytona, what was that nonsense over the July 4th holiday? The race looked like a demolition derby, as dozens of cars were taken out down the stretch. For a while, I wasn't sure there were going to be any cars left on the track.

In the end, well past midnight, Kevin Harvick claimed the win and maintained his lead in the point standings. The race also created some additional controversy between drivers. The good news for NASCAR this year is that it seems like every week there are drivers ready to strangle the other guy.

Surely, these episodes have to help the TV ratings, even though the numbers prove contrary to public opinion.

I spoke with Fox Sports' Jeff Hammond last week, and he was dumbfounded by the sport's lame TV ratings and below-par showing at the gate. It does seem that the racing is getting better and the personalities are being highlighted, but NASCAR is losing out on the tube.

It can't hurt to see Dale, Jr. win a Nationwide race while driving his father's famous 3-car.....shoot, it can't hurt to have Junior in the Top 12 in points in the Chase for the Cup. Maybe it's the start of a turnaround for NASCAR; we'll just have to wait and see.

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I don't know about you, but I'm about ready for the end of the World Cup.

No Brazil means I'm officially tapped out on soccer.

I'm also tired of the vuvuzelas and the flopping. On Sunday, we'll finally be rid of the event for another four years....and that's fine with me. It was fun while it lasted.

I spoke with retired Hurricane hockey player Rod Brind'Amour last week on the radio show, and asked him if he watches the World Cup. He acknowledged that he did along with his son. But he cringes at how soft the players dive and flop....and coming from a guy that played 21 years in the NHL, I can feel his pain on that one.

For the World Cup champ: congratulations.....we'll pay attention to the next round in Brazil in 2014.

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I plan on being on vacation between July 10-25, but if I can find the motivation and desire, I'll post a new Ripe Gripe next week. If not, I'll see ya in a couple of weeks.