Heat await different sort of ring ceremony
Friday marked the one-year anniversary of the most infamous free-agent announcement of all time when LeBron James used an hour of prime-time television to participate in a scripted "interview" with Jim Gray.
As expected, the first year will conclude with rings and dancing in South Beach, Fla.
Though the Heat came up short in the NBA Finals, delaying James' prediction of seven titles or however many he and the Threetles promised during that laser light show/graffiti bath last July, the Heat organization will get to watch Chris Bosh slip on a ring when the forward gets married this month.
The NBA ruled last week team officials indeed will be allowed to attend the ceremony despite the lockout, which prohibits contact between management and players.
That same lockout, combined with a similar labor situation in the NFL, left just about every talking head on ESPN with plenty of time to painstakingly discuss every aspect of the Heat's season on the anniversary of James' decision.
Just imagine how unbearable the coverage would be if they had actually won a title.
■ EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE -- In a desperate attempt to avoid further sanctions by the NCAA, Ohio State decided Friday to vacate all the wins the school's disgraced football program racked up during the 2010 season.
While fans typically aren't bothered a whole lot by losing past victories, Buckeyes fans have to be upset by the fact they no longer officially have a seven-game winning streak against Michigan.
In the end, vacating wins is a completely empty gesture.
Nobody can take away the memories everyone has of which team actually won the games on the field.
Even Ohio State tight end Jake Stoneburner doesn't appear too bothered by the penalty, as he took to his Twitter account to point out he still has proof he was part of a successful team last season.
"I still got my 2010 Big Ten Champion ring. Sorrrrryyyy can't have that back!," he posted.
Well, unless you want to give Stoneburner some tattoos, cash or cars in exchange.
■ DOING FINE -- Oregon standout cornerback Cliff Harris, with some help from his parents, paid off more than $4,000 in fines he had racked up the past few years, according to the Register-Guard in Eugene.
The fines stemmed mostly from traffic citations and a ticket for underage possession of alcohol.
Harris, also one of the top punt returners in the nation, was stopped going 118 mph and driving with a suspended license in a car rented to a university employee last month.
The total of the fines was roughly equivalent to what Harris makes each defensive series for playing football at Oregon.
■ WHAT A HACK -- Beleaguered golfer John Daly took a 13 on the fourth hole Friday at the PGA Tour John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill.
He originally told his playing partner to put him down for an 18, but the score was later modified to an 11. Eventually, Daly settled on a 13.
The score was nothing compared to the number Daly probably posted at the 19th hole.
COMPILED BY ADAM HILL
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
