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Steve Sarkisian walked out to rival’s war hymn at SEC Media Day

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The people in charge of staging SEC Media Day made an epic blunder during Texas coach Steve Sarkisian’s introduction on Tuesday.

Sarkisian was introduced for his Media Day session on Tuesday by commissioner Greg Sankey. Presumably, he was meant to walk out to “Texas Fight,” the Longhorns’ fight song, but someone made a glaring error and played Texas A&M’s “Aggie War Hymn” instead.

Sarkisian took the error in stride and made no reference to it.

Video from inside the room showed that the mistake was apparent to all, and some awkward laughter could even be heard among media members.

Texas A&M and Texas are longtime rivals. The Texas A&M war hymn even has an entire verse dedicated to how the Aggies are going to beat Texas, so needless to say, this was about the most awkward mistake that could have been made here.

Sarkisian played this off like a pro, but it’s not the first time Texas A&M music has tried to foil him. Fortunately, there was a lot less pressure in this environment.

Sarkisian is 38-17 since taking over as Texas coach in 2021, and led the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff semi-final this past season. That helped get him a new contract that makes him one of the highest-paid coaches in the country.

New details emerge about Paul George’s injury

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A new update has emerged on the injury Paul George suffered, and what it might mean for the Philadelphia 76ers going forward.

In an appearance on ESPN’s “NBA Today,” Shams Charania reported that the 76ers forward suffered a knee injury during last week’s workout, and it was determined that the best course of action was to undergo arthroscopic surgery as soon as possible. Charania added that the Sixers will be “cautious” with George at the start of the season.

“I’m told Paul George suffered the injury during an on-court workout last week. It led to him visiting a doctor on Friday, and the decision was made to undergo arthroscopic surgery because the doctors felt like this would be an injury that would linger for a player that was never healthy all last year,” Charania said. “Both sides will be cautious with him. They want to see Paul George return to that full form.”

The beginning of the season certainly seems to be in doubt for George, but the alternative would have been worse. This course of action gives George the best chance of getting back to his best at some point next season.

The problem with George is that he turned 35 in May, and there are real questions about what his best looks like at this stage of his career even without this latest injury. The nine-time All-Star averaged just 16.2 points per game last season while being limited to just 41 games.

The 76ers still owe George over $162 million over the next three seasons. They have no choice but to try to get the veteran forward back to his best.

Paul Skenes helped Livvy Dunne with wardrobe issue at MLB All-Star Game event

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Paul Skenes and Livvy Dunne turned heads at the MLB All-Star Red Carpet Show on Tuesday, and the Pittsburgh Pirates star had to give his longtime girlfriend a wardrobe assist at one point.

Skenes and Dunne stopped for a brief moment on the red carpet at Truist Park in Atlanta, Ga., so the pitcher could help his lady tie a shoe strap.

MLB highlighted the moment and called Skenes a “gentleman.”

Skenes and Dunne are one of baseball’s most well known power couples, and the number of cameras that were on them reflected that.

A fan recently had an embarrassing moment with Dunne at another event, and it looks like Skenes saved the former LSU gymnast from one of her own at the All-Star Game.

Skenes and Dunne have been dating since both were star athletes at LSU. Earlier this year, Skenes shared in an interview how he almost blew it with Dunne.

Skenes has been dominant for the Pirates this season, though his 4-8 record does not reflect that. The flamethrower has a 2.01 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 121 innings. He will start for the National League in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night.

Klay Thompson and new girlfriend Megan Thee Stallion keep the PDA going

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Klay Thompson and rapper Megan Thee Stallion recently went public with their relationship, and the new couple is not exactly trying to hide from the paparazzi.

A report that was published last week confirmed that Thompson and Megan have been dating. Fans first suspected that the two were together after Thompson was spotted in the background of a poolside photo that Megan shared on social media.

On Saturday, Thompson shared multiple photos on Instagram from a vacation in the Bahamas, and two of them featured a woman who was presumably Megan Thee Stallion. We can now say for certain that it was.

TMZ shared a video on Tuesday that showed Thompson and Megan, whose real name is Megan Pete, leaving famous New York City hotspot Carbone. The two were holding hands as they walked to a car that was waiting for them.

Megan 30 and from the San Antonio area in Texas. Thompson left the Golden State Warriors to play with the Dallas Mavericks last season, which may have helped lead him to his new famous rapper girlfriend.

Megan has had several songs on the Billboard 200. She has won three Grammy Awards.

Thompson, 35, has two years remaining on the 3-year, $50 million contract he signed with the Mavericks last year. He averaged 14.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in 72 contests last season. Thompson had a telling comment in April about his decision to join Dallas.

MLB makes decision on Tampa Bay Rays’ postseason home

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The debate over the Tampa Bay Rays’ postseason venue has been settled.

The Rays will play their home games at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fl. if they make the postseason, commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed Tuesday. Manfred said he understands that the Rays are facing a “unique situation,” but that teams should simply be playing in their home stadium during the postseason.

“Our rule has always been that people play in their home stadiums during the World Series. And I’m not of a mind to change that rule,” Manfred said.

There had been some questions about whether the Rays would be allowed to host postseason games at what is still a minor league stadium. Steinbrenner Field only accommodates 10,046 fans, which would be an issue for the playoffs. The need for additional space for media members and corporate attendees could also present problems.

Ultimately, there are not a lot of alternatives for where the Rays could play. The alternatives would also involve significant travel for Rays players and their families, which is a scenario the league would seek to avoid.

Notably, this would only become an issue if they make it to the American League Division Series. The Rays sit 1.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot as of the All-Star break.

Jets sign another star player to record contract extension

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The New York Jets are taking care of their star players this offseason.

Sauce Gardner agreed to a 4-year, $120.4 million contract extension with the Jets on Tuesday, according to multiple reports. The $30.1 million average annual value makes Gardner the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.

Gardner will receive $85.6 million guaranteed with the new deal, which ties him to the Jets for six more seasons.

Gardner confirmed the news with a post on social media.

The agreement with Gardner comes a day after the Jets signed star wide receiver Garrett Wilson to a 4-year, $130 million extension. Wilson is the first receiver in NFL history to sign a deal worth that much money after just three seasons in the league.

Gardner and Wilson were both drafted in the first round by the Jets in 2022. Former general manager Joe Douglas, who was fired last season, used the No. 4 overall pick on Gardner and the No. 10 overall pick on Wilson. Both players have already established themselves as two of the best in the NFL at their respective positions.

Gardner was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2022. The former Cincinnati star also made the Pro Bowl in 2022 and 2023 and was named a First-team All-Pro both years.

The Jets have a new head coach in Aaron Glenn and quarterback in Justin Fields. They have nailed some of their recent draft picks, and the contracts for Gardner and Wilson prove that they are committed to keeping their core together in the wake of a disappointing 5-12 season.

Kevon Looney felt disrespected by Warriors

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Kevon Looney has been one of the Golden State Warriors’ stalwarts over the last decade, but the team appears to have alienated him with how they handled him during the playoffs.

Looney said he essentially made the decision to leave the Warriors in free agency when they did not trust him enough to match him up against Houston Rockets center Steven Adams during the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Warriors coach Steve Kerr turned to rookie Quinten Post ahead of Looney, and Looney took that as a signal that he had lost the trust of the coaching staff.

“Quint is my guy, but it was anybody but me, it seemed like,” Looney said on the “Warriors Plus Minus” podcast. “It was not one moment. Even this year, probably the playoffs. We’re going against Steven Adams. This is what I do. They’re not giving me the chance to really let me do what I do. It’s like, alright, y’all don’t trust me.

“I thought y’all would trust me. They put me in at the end of Game 7, while we were all the way to that point. That’s when I kind of go, alright. Y’all really don’t think I’m not good no more? What’s the problem?”

Looney clarified that he had no problem with Kerr, and knew the coach’s decision was not personal. Post averaged 17 minutes per game during the Houston series, compared to just 9.3 minutes per game for Looney.

There have been rumors for years that Looney was on his last legs with Golden State. Golden State never seemed to fully trust him against opposing bigs, especially in recent years. Injuries also became an issue for the 29-year-old. At the same time, the three-time NBA champion has become a fan favorite and one of the few constants over the team’s decade of success.

Looney ultimately signed a 2-year, $16 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, where he should have more opportunity. He does not sound like someone who was eager to leave Golden State, but felt he was left with no choice.

Western Conference team listed as heavy favorite to land LeBron James in trade

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LeBron James has been the subject of trade rumors since his agent raised questions about the four-time NBA champion’s future with the Los Angeles Lakers, and there is one Western Conference team that is viewed as a clear favorite to land him.

Bovada sportsbook released new odds on Tuesday for where LeBron might end up in the event that the Lakers trade him this summer. The Dallas Mavericks top the list at +125, followed by the Miami Heat at +500 and Cleveland Cavaliers at +550.

There is a wide gap between the Mavericks and any other team.

James last month exercised his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season. His agent Rich Paul said at the time that LeBron wants to compete for championships and is still “evaluating how he wants to finish his career.” Those comments fueled a new wave of trade speculation.

There are a lot of reasons to believe LeBron would be open to playing in Dallas. He has won championships with Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, and he also has a relationship with Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd. The addition of No. 1 overall pick Cooper Kupp should help as well.

James has not said a whole lot about his future this offseason. He recently had a seven-word response when asked about the trade speculation, and he seems like he is deliberately creating uncertainty. That is likely his way of putting pressure on the Lakers to continue to add to their roster, though it is unclear how much influence the 40-year-old still has within the organization.

Chiefs hand out record-setting $94 million contract

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The Kansas City Chiefs handed out an enormous contract on Tuesday that set an NFL record for the position.

The Chiefs and Pro Bowl guard Trey Smith agreed to a four-year, $94 million deal, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Smith and the Chiefs got the deal done just ahead of Tuesday’s deadline for franchise tag contract extensions.

Smith’s new deal is a record at the guard position for both annual salary and guaranteed money. $70 million of Smith’s deal is guaranteed.

Smith has established himself as a vital part of Kansas City’s offensive line, and was selected to his first Pro Bowl last season. He even started as a rookie and has played in 67 of a possible 68 games in his first four NFL seasons.

A former sixth-round pick, the Chiefs valued Smith enough to use the franchise tag on him. Now he will anchor the offensive line for years to come, and will be paid very handsomely to do it.

Terry McLaurin does not hold back in comments about Commanders

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Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin made a clear statement about his stance toward the team and how they have handled ongoing contract negotiations.

McLaurin voiced his frustration with how the Commanders have handled his contract negotiations. The wide receiver said he wants to remain with Washington, but that the organization has not handled talks well.

“I’ve been pretty frustrated, not gonna lie,” McLaurin said, via 106.7 The Fan. “Everything that has transpired has been pretty disappointing. I want to continue my career here, I’ve created my life here, so I want to be here. Just to see how things have played out has been disappointing.”

McLaurin added that the two sides have not spoken in a month, and he has yet to decide if he will report to training camp. He also suggested that the Commanders have not been forthright about whether he is a part of the team’s future or not.

This confirms all the reporting about McLaurin not being happy with where things stand with the Commanders. He wants a new contract, and in his mind, the organization has not been willing to negotiate one in good faith.

The Commanders open training camp on July 22, so McLaurin has a week to decide whether or not he will report. He is entering the final season of a 3-year, $68.2 million contract extension he signed in 2022.

McLaurin has had five consecutive seasons with 1,000-plus receiving yards, which is why he feels he deserves a significant raise. He had 82 catches for 1,096 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns last season. His $23.2 million average annual salary places him outside of the top 15 highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL.

911 audio released from Quinshon Judkins case

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Cleveland Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins was arrested on Saturday on a charge related to domestic violence, and the audio of the 911 call from his accuser has now been released.

In 911 audio that was released by TMZ on Tuesday, a woman can be heard telling a dispatcher that she was “still in pain” and had “visible bruises” on her body after she was allegedly assaulted by Judkins three days prior.

The woman said she chose not to call the police initially because she believed she and Judkins could work through the issues.

“I had a high-profile male that I was in a relationship with put his hands on me. This happened three days ago. … I thought that we could work through it and obviously we couldn’t and I’m trying to do the right thing now, but the situation happened on Tuesday,” the woman said. “I didn’t go to the hospital for medical treatment but I would say that I am still in pain and I have a lot more of my story to tell. I just need to. I still have visible bruises and evidence on my body of the events.”

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department went to the woman’s apartment after the call and observed visible evidence that she had been assaulted. That led to Judkins being arrested and charged with touch or strike battery/domestic violence, according to Broward County Sheriff’s Office records.

A police report from the alleged incident states that the woman told officers Judkins punched her in the face with a closed fist while the two were in a car leaving the airport. You can read more details here.

Judkins, 21, was selected by Cleveland in the second round, No. 36 overall in April’s draft. He began his college career playing two seasons at Ole Miss before transferring to play for the eventual national champion Ohio State Buckeyes last season.

Judkins rushed for 3,785 yards and 45 touchdowns during his college career. He added 442 receiving yards and 5 receiving touchdowns. Judkins had a career-high 1,567 yards and 16 touchdowns as a freshman with Ole Miss in 2022. He ran a 4.48 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Whether he is convicted or not, Judkins is facing a potential six-game suspension from the NFL for violating the league’s Personal Conduct Policy.

Kirby Smart has 3-word response to talk of Nick Saban returning

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Nick Saban would likely have his pick of jobs at top college programs if he decided he wanted to coach again, but one of his most successful former assistants does not see that happening.

The idea of Saban returning to the sideline was raised this week by former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy, who said he spoke with a “very-much-in-the-know person” who is convinced Saban wants to coach again.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, who was an assistant under Saban at Alabama for nine years, was asked about that on Tuesday. Smart confidently said “that’s not happening.”

“That’s not happening. I don’t think Nick’s coming back. I think he’s too happy where he is,” Smart said, via Seth Emerson of The Athletic. “I have talked to Nick pretty regularly and I just don’t see it. It’s one of those things that if he wanted to, he’d be unbelievable at it.”

Smart also mocked the media for incorrectly reporting that Will Muschamp was leaving his position on Georgia’s staff. Smart said he was going to offer Muschamp’s job to Saban but that the seven-time national champion is “overqualified.”

Smart then joked that Saban’s wife, Terry, will ultimately decide whether Nick can coach again.

Saban is 73 and seems to genuinely enjoy his gig with ESPN’s “College GameDay.” There is no reason to believe he wants to return to the demands of coaching, otherwise he never would have left following the 2023 season.

If Saban were to return to the SEC, the road to winning the conference and reaching the College Football Playoff would get tougher for Smart and everyone else. Fortunately for them, it is highly unlikely to happen.

Conor McGregor shares social media posts amid allegations from rapper Azealia Banks

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Conor McGregor is facing some troubling allegations from a female rapper, but the former UFC champion seems intent on ignoring the situation.

Rapper Azealia Banks shared some screenshots on X Monday that showed messages she claims McGregor sent her that included nude photos the 37-year-old took of himself. Banks accused McGregor of harassing her with the unsolicited photos.

“How you gonna send a b-tch a (sic) some crooked d–k pics then threaten her not to tell. @TheNotoriousMMA n–a do you know who the f–k I am? This is HARAM,” Azealia wrote on X (edited by LBS for profanity).

The photos were removed by X due to a violation of content policy, but the New York Post captured a screenshot.

McGregor has since posted multiple times on social media, but he has not addressed the leaked photos or allegations from Azealia.

McGregor is currently engaged to his longtime girlfriend Dee Devlin. It is unclear when he allegedly sent the photos to Azealia.

McGregor lost a civil trial last year after facing allegations from a different woman.

McGregor has not fought since 2021, when he suffered a gruesome leg injury in a fight against Dustin Poirier. McGregor was supposed to headline UFC 303 before another injury derailed his return fight against Michael Chandler.

Ex-MLB pitcher convicted of murdering his father-in-law

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Former MLB pitcher Daniel Serafini has been found guilty of murdering his father-in-law more than four years ago.

A jury in Placer County, Calif., convicted Serafini on Monday of first-degree murder, attempted murder and burglary stemming from a shooting that took place in the Lake Tahoe community of Homewood in June 2021.

Serafini was found guilty of what police say was the execution-style murder of Robert Spohr, his 70-year-old father-in-law. Serafini also shot Spohr’s wife Wendy Wood twice in the head, but Wood survived. She died a year later.

Serafani and 33-year-old Samatha Scott were arrested in connection with the attack in October 2023. Scott was a nanny to Serafini’s children and described as a close friend to Serafini and the former pitcher’s wife, Erin Spohr.

Scott pleaded guilty in February to being an accessory after the fact and was released from custody. She told authorities that she drove Serafini to Serafini’s father-in-law’s home the day of the murder.

Serafini pitcher for several different MLB teams during his career and also played professionally in China and Japan. He began his career with the Minnesota Twins, who drafted the left-hander in the first round in 1992. Serafini also played for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies.

In 104 career appearances (33 starts), Serafini compiled an ERA of 6.04 with 127 strikeouts.

Serafini also pitched for Italy in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

Fans think MLB screwed Brent Rooker in Home Run Derby

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Cal Raleigh made history on Monday night by becoming the first ever catcher to win the Home Run Derby, and many people feel he received a big assist from Major League Baseball along the way.

Raleigh hit 15 homers in the final round to defeat Junior Caminero and win the Home Run Derby at Truist Park in Atlanta, Ga. The Seattle Mariners star just barely made it out of the first round, when he and Oakland A’s outfielder Brent Rooker both hit 17 home runs.

Raleigh advanced to the second round by way of a tiebreaker, which was the distance of each player’s longest home run. Raleigh’s longest homer was measured at 470.61 feet, while Rooker’s traveled 470.53 feet.

Rooker understandably seemed a bit irritated after he was eliminated. He noted how both his and Raleigh’s longest home run showed at 471 feet on the stadium video board and suggested MLB should display decimal points if they are that important to the competition.

“That’s interesting. I know we were both at 471. That’s obviously what they put up there,” Rooker said. “Maybe if they have it to the decimal point, they should display that during the Derby and not wait until everyone’s done to bring out that information. That might be helpful.”

Many fans thought it was lame that MLB used home run distance as the tiebreaker rather than having a swing-off. Others suggested that MLB intentionally rigged the result in favor of Raleigh, who leads the league with 38 home runs this season.

At the very least, MLB needs to display the decimal points if they are going to continue to use home run distance as a tiebreaker. That would help eliminate concerns about the league just making up some sort of number to favor one player over another.

Photo of Victor Wembanyama with LeBron James circulates online

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The No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft got to link up this week with the No. 1 pick in the 2003 NBA Draft.

San Antonio Spurs star center Victor Wembanyama was in attendance on Monday at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev. for that day’s NBA Summer League action. Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James was also in attendance on Monday and got to meet up with Wembanyama in the arena tunnels.

A photo circulated online of the two big names shaking hands.

Another photo showed Wembanyama leaning in to embrace with James.

Wembanyama is officially listed at 7-foot-3, and James has a listing of 6-foot-9. Based on those photos, you wouldn’t even think that their height difference was that great (though the camera angle and Wembanyama’s hunched position may have skewed things there).

The two stars are already very familiar with one another and have faced each other on the court multiple times already. James even appeared on the same panel as Wembanyama during Fanatics Fest in New York last month, giving Wembanyama a notable compliment along the way.

While the NBA schedule for next season is not expected to be released until August, the Lakers and the Spurs had their first matchup in mid-November of last season. Fans will be hoping that it isn’t too long into the 2025-26 campaign before they get to see the next link-up between The King and The Extraterrestrial.

NBA’s ugly new shot clock debuts during Summer League

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The NBA appears to be fixing something that isn’t broken.

On Monday, the league debuted their new shot clock design during Summer League play in Las Vegas, Nev. The shot clock, which will be implemented for the 2025-26 NBA season as well, features a circular design (instead of the more traditional square). Additionally, the shot clock will flash green (along with the backboard) in order to indicate a coach’s challenge.

Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News shared footage of the new shot clock design in action.

Previously, a dedicated light at the scorers table would glow green during coach’s challenges. Now the sensory overload during challenges will be even greater starting with next season.

Ultimately, the new shot clock design comes across as pretty ugly. The combination of the circular shape and the flashing green light makes it look like something out of either a Buzz Lightyear ride at Disneyland or a neon jukebox setup at a 1950s-style diner.

Over the last several years, the NBA and commissioner Adam Silver certainly have not been shy to implement radical changes to the product on the court. But some of those changes have been criticized as a little bit gimmicky, and the league’s new shot clock design seems likely to fall into that category as well.

Kid in outfield makes unreal catch to rob Junior Caminero at HR Derby

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One young fielder during Monday’s Home Run Derby may have just put himself in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2030 MLB Draft.

Tampa Bay Rays phenom Junior Caminero made it to the final round of the Derby at Truist Park in Atlanta, Ga. He faced off against Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who leads all of Major League Baseball with 38 home runs.

Raleigh went first during the final round and ended up hitting an impressive 18 home runs. Caminero then followed and put up a good fight … but no thanks to one of the kids who was fielding fly balls in the outfield.

With Caminero sitting at four home runs, he lifted one to the wall in left field. The ball looked poised to clear the fence … only for a kid fielder to leap at the wall and somehow bring it back. Take a look at the unbelievable video.

The decision was made by the umpiring crew to award Caminero the home run anyway. But it still did not matter in the end as Caminero finished with 15 homers to Raleigh’s 18 (even with the help of the generous scoring decision).

Have children field fly balls in the outfield is a staple of the Home Run Derby. While those kids are often of varying ages, heights, and skill levels, the one who robbed Caminero there seemed to be maxed out on all those attributes.

Fortunately, Caminero didn’t get close enough to Raleigh’s total for the kid’s Kenny Lofton moment to matter to the final tally. Otherwise, we could have seen a repeat of the scoring controversy that occurred in the Home Run Derby a few years ago.

Fans react to Oneil Cruz’s 513-foot blast at Home Run Derby

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Oneil Cruz did his best Norse god impression during Monday’s Home Run Derby.

The Pittsburgh Pirates slugger Cruz stole the show in the first round on Monday at Truist Park in Atlanta, Ga. Cruz racked up 21 home runs in the round overall, including a ridiculous moonshot that traveled a staggering 513 feet. The ball ended up going past the seats in right-center and had an estimated exit velocity of 118 mph.

Here is a closer angle of Cruz’s missle.

Fans went into a frenzy over the 26-year-old’s feat of strength. Take a look at some of the best reactions, including from some of the fellow MLB stars who were at Truist Field.

Cruz’s bomb was the longest ball ever hit at Truist Field, smashing the record set by Ronald Acuna Jr’s 495-foot homer in Sept. 2020 (though that one was obviously at full-speed in a real game). Meanwhile, 513 feet put Cruz right up there near the longest estimated blast in Home Run Derby history (Sammy Sosa’s 524-foot shot at Miller Park in 2002) as well as the longest confirmed blast (by Statcast) in Home Run Derby history (Juan Soto’s 520-foot jack at Coors Field in 2021).

The lefty-hitting Cruz can be a bit inconsistent at the plate and is batting a rough .212 this season, though with 16 home runs and 37 RBIs for a respectable .733 OPS. But when Cruz does get ahold of a ball, it can sometimes set records (as we have seen during Pirates games as well).

LeBron James posts notable message on X about Cavaliers

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LeBron James continues to master the art of plausible deniability.

The Los Angeles Lakers star James caused another stir on Monday with a post about his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. James reacted to the news that Cavs president Koby Altman had received a new contract extension from the team and that other members of Cleveland’s front office, including GM Mike Gansey and assistant GM Brandon Weems, had gotten new extensions as well.

In a post to his X page, James zeroed in on Weems specifically and offered his congratulations.

“YESSIR!!!” James wrote. “Congratulations to my brother B.Weems!! Super proud of u man.”

James and Weems go way back as they are childhood friends who later went on to play together on the basketball team at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio. But James is also familiar with both Altman and Gansey, who were already part of the Cavs front office during James’ second stint with the team.

There is a perfectly logical explanation here for James’ post given his close relationship with Weems. But a recent report by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst emerged last week detailing how James has gotten his feelings hurt by the Los Angeles Lakers. The report noted that “nothing LeBron does is a coincidence” and mentioned that James has dropped some other public references to the Cavs this offseason as well.

Admittedly, it would take two to tango here, and it looks like Cleveland would only be interested in reuniting with James under one less-plausible scenario. But that is not stopping James from seemingly toying with the basketball world by continuing to make online references to his former team.

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