The say life begins at 40.  If that's the case, then I guess I should look at turning 30 this coming January with a little more optimism.  As you age, you start to find limitations that you never had.  You can't run as fast as you once could, a "late night" now means that you were able to stay up and see the 11:00pm episode of Family Guy on Adult Swim and the sneakers you rocked on your high school basketball team are now being re-released as "retro."  Take for example his "Airness," Michael Jordan.  As he evolved in his own greatness, even he showed that age brings limitations .  The transition from the Bulls Jordan to the Wizards era of MJ saw a much different type of style of play.  The sheer speed and raw talent that he once used was now replaced with methodical execution and strategic moves.  But after watching the greatest professional basketball player of all time give his acceptance speech in the Basketball Hall of Fame, it appears that MJ has now become a middle-aged man who is not only bitter about not being able to play the game the way he once could but also about grievances experienced long ago.  Limitations are not illusions.  They are realities that are there to help us but most importantly to humble us.  It is the reason his greatness watches games from suite in a suit and not on the sidelines in his shorts. 

But there are exceptions to this aging rule.  Look no further than your Cleveland Cavaliers.  As the Wine & Gold Scrimmage grows near and the home opener creeps closer and closer, this year marks the 40th season of Cavaliers basketball.  Unlike the aforementioned effects of aging described above, the Cavs seem to be more like wine or whiskey when it comes to aging...we just get better with age.  Our roster has the most talented group of players to ever wear the wine and gold, our fan base is the largest it has ever been (with a special thanks to the almost 15,000 Fanatics) and the expectations for this season are set at nothing short of an NBA championship.  Too much for a 40 year old to accomplish?  Some may think so.  But if life does begin at 40, I'm looking forward to what the future holds for our Cavaliers.  The great thing is, we don't have to wait long to find out.

It didn't have the viral video that Mo had for the new Hyperize shoes, but LeBron's launch of the 7th chapter of his shoe arsenal is the best yet.  Although not on sale, you can see from the pictures below that these are, without a doubt, the best LeBron's yet!  Click here to watch the story behind the shoe from the words of LeBron and designer Jason Petrie.  Stay tuned for more details as more colorways become available...there a pair of all white with navy trim in the video that I WILL have (sorry M&M)!

The summer is winding down and that can only mean one thing: 2010 Nike Basketball Shoe Releases!  Yes, after a month long hiatus, I am back at the most important time for the most important time (IMO) of the off season.  It's not off season acquisitions and Free Agency, although we got ourselves some players that are "noice and toight...like a toyger" (Goldmember voice). It's not summer ball.  It's not the schedule being released.  No, my fellow Fanatics, it's time to see the latest kicks for next season. 

Yes, LeBron is launching his new Zoom VII's today, however, we must pay homage to Mo for his starring role in Nike's latest video promoting their Hyperize shoe.  It is a compilation video of Mo (aka Fog Raw), Kevin Durant (aka Velvet Hoop), Andre Iguodala (aka Chief Blocka) and Rashard Lewis (aka HGH....just kidding...Ice-O) rapping about Nike's team shoe for this season, Hyperize.  The shoe came out at the end of the Playoffs last season but players will be sporting them this season.  There are a bunch of new styles out already like the "White Men Can't Jump" edition for Sydney Dean and Billy Hoyle, GI Joe edition for Destro, special ones for the Philipines, London and Paris and many more.  However, the video below does more to promote them than any picture could ever do.  Enjoy and make sure to share with friends.  NIKE has done it again!  It is priceless. 

A lot (and yes, I know that "a lot" is not a form of measurment, it is a place where you park your car, but go with it) of you out there have not seen let along heard of our #1 draft pick.  Who am I kidding?  I'm included.  But take a look at this kid.  Mind the videography used as Moondog only had the camera on his phone to take it.  Ahmaad was under the weather and when Ahmaad isn't around, Moondog just can't handle all the docs.