James show could be trendsetter

Yes, the hourlong LeBron James infomercial was a farce, with interviewer Jim Gray taking forever to ask the only question anyone really cared about.

But the show was also a success and could start a trend.

ESPN drew an astounding overnight rating of 7.3 that peaked at 9.6. James' final game with the Cleveland Cavaliers, a Game 6 loss to Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals, drew a 7.1 rating.

Think television and sports executives didn't notice?

James' publicity-grabbing announcement that he will play for the Miami Heat could prompt pro leagues to create a signing day similar to college football for their top free agents.

The media-conscious NFL, which this year put its draft on prime time and dragged it out over three days, could invite the top five free agents to New York for a night of announcements.

NBA commissioner David Stern is probably coming up with more ways for people to keep talking about his league. Whether fans were turned off by the James saga or not, they paid attention during what is supposed to be the offseason -- and that's what counts.

Now there's a buzz to see the Heat play, similar to the one the Celtics generated three years ago when they brought together the new Big Three to win the 2007-08 championship.

Baseball, except for when Stephen Strasburg pitches, continues to lose ground, its season increasingly encroached upon by the NFL and NBA.

Don't expect it to stop, either.

■ HE'S NO ART MODELL -- LeBron might not be welcome back in Cleveland or his nearby hometown of Akron, Ohio, but at least he's no Art Modell.

Clevelanders so despise Modell for moving the Browns to Baltimore in 1996 and turning them into the Ravens that he hasn't returned since.

Modell scoffed at the notion that James would pass him in unpopularity.

"Nonsense," Modell told the suburban News-Herald. "I don't think there's any basis for it."

Browns fans might be more forgiving if the second edition of the Browns didn't stink so badly.

No matter how much hatred Cleveland feels toward Modell, the feeling apparently is not mutual.

"I still love Cleveland," he said. "Nobody could ever take that love away from me. Nobody."

■ BUT DID HE HAVE LEBRON GOING TO MIAMI? -- While the United States has been dealing with LeBronapalooza, Europe is wrapped up in a different kind of craze.

Soccer fans across the pond are going wild about an octopus with an uncanny ability to pick World Cup games.

Octopus Paul has sided with Spain over the Netherlands in Sunday's final and Germany over Uruguay in today's third-place match.

Should Spain and Germany win, Paul would improve to 8-0.

Hmm, any chance he could pick NFL games?

COMPILED BY MARK ANDERSON LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL