Another post about Lebron James and the Clippers

Germany and Argentina are playing in what might be the best World Cup match of the entire 2010 tournament. So naturally it's the first non-Sunday in over a year that I have to open at my work, thus missing the Argentina/Germany match entirely. Here is a blog to keep my mind off of the fact that I'm missing the biggest match of the tournament.
(Sidenote: My friend Jared is currently at Barley and Hops, a really cool beer and wine bar in Temecula, watching the match and enjoying an "English breakfast" which I can only imagine being beans on toast, or possibly a banger in the mouth, as that is what the English call sausages. Anyways, he just informed me that Germany scored in the third minute. Wow).
Do I think Lebron James is coming to LA? No. But after yesterday's meeting, would I Be shocked if King James decided to go west and don Clipper white-and-blue? Okay, I definitely would be shocked. But not as shocked. I think the Clippers brass layed down a solid presentation to woo Lebron. They didn't bring glitz and glamour. There was no cavalcade of a-lister's and former greats (the former because Lebron probably has no clue who Billy Crystal is and the latter because the Clippers have NO former greats, but still...). No u-haul trucks or showstopping presentations. Nope, the Clippers went simple. And you know what, I'm thrilled. Look, you don't have to sell James on Los Angeles in the same way you don't have to sell him on Chicago, New York, Miami or Chicago. They're all great cities for a man who is trying to build a Jordan-esque global image. So why try and sell him on LA? He knows the beaches, the nightlife, the industry. Sell him on the franchise, not the location. Even my buddy Andrew, the most die-hard Knicks fan who swears Lebron is headed to Madison Square Garden admits that if Lebron wants to win now the Clippers are his best shot.
(Sidebar: Jared just told me Germany scored again. Damnit Argentina, you're making me look bad. And as I was typing that in, Jared told me that Germany scored yet again. I bet Maradona is... Um... Actually I don't want to know what he's doing. He might be attempting to kill Messi. Also, between Messi's lackluster World Cup and Wayne Rooney being non-existent, it's not a good tournament for the world's greatest players. Gotta love when a dude named Honda outplays a guy like Wayne Rooney).
Back to James. Look, I get it; the Clippers are a sorry excuse for a professional sports franchise. They have six winning seasons in their forty year existence. They have one playoff series win since moving to Los Angeles in 1984. They have no true face of the franchise, as anyone who has donned the Clippers jersey (Bob McAdoo, Bill Walton, etc...) has gone on to have success elsewhere (except Elton Brand. I hope is goddamn knee explodes too. Or maybe I should be thanking him for stabbing us in the back and stinking it up in Philly). I know that Donald Sterling is the worst owner in the NBA, if not professional sports. And yes, I know about that goddamn Clippers curse. Here's what you guys might not know.
(Germany scored again. Unbelievable.)
Donald Sterling, in recent years, has actually made an attempt. He has paid to keep his players in LA (Brand in '04, Corey Maggette, Chris Kaman) and has actually made a splash in free agency (Baron Davis, Cuttino Mobely, Tim Thomas, Andre Miller, Sam Cassell, chasing Kobe, etc...). Also, he finally fired Mike Dunleavy, albeit about two years too late. Say what you will about Sterling, but I believe the man wants to win. And perhaps the biggest indicator to Sterling wanting to win has been leaving the basketball operations up to basketball guys. Neil Olshey has done a great job in the little time he's been GM, especially with this most recent draft. Not something I thought I'd say about a former soap opera actor. I think the scenery is changing in Clipper-land.
(Germany 4 Argentina 0. Wow. Just. Wow).
And yet, while I don't think Lebron is LA bound, I think Clipper fans should be happy with what the front office is doing in LA. I'm telling you, big things are coming.
(Of course, until they panic and give someone like Hayward a max contract. Then forget everything I just wrote).