Second Thoughts

Cubs attire settles bet for James

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James will wear a Chicago Cubs cap, jersey, pants and socks to today’s game in Chicago, paying off a World Series bet he lost to Dwyane Wade.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James will wear a Chicago Cubs cap, jersey, pants and socks to today’s game in Chicago, paying off a World Series bet he lost to Dwyane Wade.

The payoff is finally here.

Chicago Cubs fans have waited for LeBron James to wear their team's jersey to a basketball game, and thanks to a World Series championship in November, they'll finally have their chance to take in such a sight.

And Chicago Bulls guard Dwyane Wade is the reason why.

Because of his pitched rooting for the Indians in this year's baseball postseason, James will now have to wear a Cubs uniform to tonight's game between his Cleveland Cavaliers and Wade's Chicago Bulls as the result of a rather tame bet.

James, speaking to the media a day prior to paying up, spoke with Tom Withers of The Associated Press:

"Hat down to the pants, the socks," James said Thursday after the Cavs' morning shootaround. "I'm not wearing cleats. I got a basketball game to play. No glove. Just the uniform. I will be in uniform."

Too slippery

Don't let his smile fool you; there is a wild side to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

Johnson, 44, has participated in physical sports, from college football to wrestling. He's not someone to be messed with.

In an interesting feature by Sports Illustrated's Alan Shipnuck, Johnson revealed that he once got into a pretty wild scuffle with then-Miami Hurricanes teammate (and friend) Kevin Patrick:

"Me and Kevin were in a coach's office, and he was talking s***, as always, but this time I just lost it," Johnson said. "It was like a movie fight -- the desk got turned over, stuff was flying all over the place. We spilled out onto the weight room floor, still going at it. He wouldn't stop talking, so I decided to pull his tongue out. I stuffed my big ol' hand into his mouth, and I had a couple of fingers around his tongue, but it was so damn slippery.

"I was quite serious about pulling it out, but I couldn't quite get a hold of it. Eventually I gave up, the fight ended, and two minutes later we were hugging each other. It was so dumb."

Johnson, who parlayed his wrestling popularity into worldwide acting stardom, is known as one of Hollywood's good guys, and an inspirational figure to his 10.6 million Twitter followers and 71.5 million Instagram devotees. Patrick told the Palm Beach Post another story that backs up Johnson's reputation.

"He helped me get back with my wife," said Patrick, 45. "He doesn't know that."

Cam's retort

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman may have an explanation for the struggles Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers have faced this season.

Sherman was speaking to reporters Wednesday when he was asked about an incident that happened in January in Charlotte, N.C. As Rob Perez of FoxSports.com explained, the Panthers quarterback ripped a "12th Man" flag from a Seahawks fan and threw it on the ground after his team defeated Seattle to advance to the NFC Championship Game.

Sherman didn't hold back, via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times:

"I guess karma gets you," Sherman said. "Doesn't look like they are going to the playoffs this year."

Newton said he believes he was justified in taking the flag from a Seattle fan, crumpling it up and tossing it after the game at the Panthers' Bank of America Stadium.

"Where was the flag at? Was it at our house?" Newton asked after practice Thursday at San Jose State University, where the Panthers are preparing for Sunday night's game at Seattle.

QUIZ

When was LeBron James' first season in the NBA?

ANSWER

2003-04

Sports on 12/02/2016

Upcoming Events