So we will see the Heat in the Finals. Maybe they will beat San Antonio. Maybe they will lose to Oklahoma City. Whatever. No. Big. Deal. (crickets) Okay, Im trying to be all nonchalant but this is actually VERY PERSONAL. I am holding back years of torment and contempt. Bile in my throat. Bags under my eyes. Ancient pain in my heart. In 2010, I learned to hate LeBron James. I had not hated anyone in sports so much, ever. Not Harold Ballard, not Michael Vick, not Vince Carter. On July 7, 2010, I considered LeBron James to be an excellent player, living up to the incalculable hype, even if I didnt care for his chronic uncalled traveling violations or his cloying media personality. By July 8, I wanted him dead (figuratively, obviously). That was the night of Mr. Jamess infamous "Decision" to leave Cleveland, when he would gather his many talents and massive entourage, and partner with Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh and Pat Riley in South Beach, a notoriously undeserving sports town full of ray-soaked, disinterested seat-fillers. Courtesy: CelebBuzz Let me be clear. I was not a Cleveland Cavaliers fan and had, in fact, driven quickly most times I passed through Ohio. I was, and still am, a staunch Baltimore Ravens supporter, about as natural an enemy to a Cleveland sports fan as there is. But on that Thursday night, I drank from a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame collectors tumbler. On that night, I became an ardent fan of something I to this day refer to as “Team 29”. That is, any team playing LeBron. I had been a basketball nomad ever since the previous low point of my fandom: February 24, 1994, the day my beloved Atlanta Hawks traded my childhood wallpaper, Dominique Wilkins, to the Los Angeles Clippers. I still shudder at the memory. When the Toronto Basketball Club chose to name itself the "Raptors" instead of a self-respecting choice like "Towers" or "Huskies", I could never entirely settle in with my newly formed local. But, on that fateful day in 2010, I was granted asylum. I finally had a home. Team 29. Whoever was playing LeBron. My animosity burrowed deep. In a hushed tone, I admit to making the 500-kilometre December journey to wintery Northern Ohio - on my own - to assist the locals in ushering in Jamess return to Cleveland. You may revisit my chronicle of that journey here and my subsequent delirious celebration later that season when Team 29, AKA the Dallas Mavericks, triumphed over Miami in the Finals. The day after LeBrons defeat, a sigh of aching relief passed through my lips. A burden lifted. I had not noticed, but my loathing had become an appendage. I dragged it around like a boil on my cheek. Suddenly, it was lanced. Even though it meant losing part of my identity, I simply didnt have the hate in me anymore. LeBron was too talented for me to despise. I dragged around some residue resentment the next year, but I was going through the motions. I didnt want to be on the wrong side of history as the greatest player since Jordan did the requisite great things. But even as I reconciled my feelings for LeBron, I felt a familiar twinge, something which made me continue rooting against him. And, as Ive certainly foreshadowed, it was relatively easy to pinpoint what it was. I cant stand the Miami Heat. I harbour an endless depth of loathing towards LeBrons brethren in South Beach, particularly the ever-whining Dwyane Wade, who was gifted the 2006 Finals by the most biased refereeing this side of of an Ante Sapina soccer match. Ive had it with the cluster of Ray Allen-come-lately veterans looking for a coattail ring in the Florida sun. Ive seen too many of Pat Rileys Armani suits. You may enjoy luxuriating on South Beach, but attend a game in south Florida and tell me those spoiled, limp crowds deserve their seven major championships. But whats to be done? It would be great if the Raptors met the Heat in the second round. It would be great to see Jonas and Amir get their licks in against the histrionic Chris Bosh, a guy I rank after Paul Millsap in talent, but will somehow wind up a first-ballot Hall of Famer. It would be an epic demonstration of cosmic fairness for the die-hard, through thick-and-thin faithful of Toronto to triumph over the second quarter arriving, third quarter leaving falling ass-backwards into success Miami fans. But wishing wont manifest destiny. The East is in stone. Predetermined like a game officiated by Tim Donaghy. Miami is heading to the Finals. So I recognize what must be done. Im keeping my eye on the prize this year. I know the focus of my venom, and I welcome you to join my Team 29 bandwagon. I dont care if LeBron ever wins another ring, I just dont want anyone else in Miami to get one. Gallays Poll #7 Who do you want to win the 2014 NBA Finals? (A) The Miami Heat, because I have no conscience. I also hate puppies and hugs.(B) Team 29, because I am a good and decent person. Drue Tranquill Chargers Jersey . Thats exactly what happened. And they enjoyed every moment. Durant remained sizzling with 33 points, Serge Ibaka added 22 and the Thunder roared back from an abysmal start -- they trailed 22-4 early -- to embarrass the Miami Heat 112-95 on Wednesday night, erasing that big deficit out of the gate by outscoring the two-time defending champions by 43 points over a 33-minute span. Jerry Tillery Womens Jersey . -- Kevin Harvick pulled away on a restart with 47 laps to go and ended Chase Elliotts two-race winning streak in NASCARs Nationwide Series with a dominating victory early Saturday at Richmond International Raceway. http://www.prochargersteamstore.com/Yout...ite-Jersey/.The Toronto Raptors guard, who will represent the Eastern Conference at the All-Star Game in New Orleans on Sunday, says he doesnt complain in the face of adversity "because I know this little girl is just happy for anything. Doug Flutie Womens Jersey . -- Two nights after losing to the Eastern Conferences worst team, the Phoenix Coyotes handled the best. LaDainian Tomlinson Jersey . Six years of waiting are finally over for the Dallas defenceman. Daley had a goal and an assist, Kari Lehtonen recorded his fifth shutout of the season, and the Stars clinched their first playoff berth since 2008 with a 3-0 victory against the St.DALLAS -- John Tavares scored with 1:24 to go and Brock Nelson added an empty-netter, leading the streaking New York Islanders to a 4-2 victory over the slumping Dallas Stars on Sunday. Kyle Okposo had two goals in New Yorks fourth consecutive victory. The Islanders (18-22-7) also have won seven straight road games. The Islanders rallied past the Stars after trailing 2-0 after one period for the second time in a week. This time, New York scored three goals in the final 4:16. Dallas (20-18-7) has lost six in a row for the first time since March 2011. Ray Whitney and Sergei Gonchar scored first-period goals for the Stars against goalie Kevin Poulin, who finished with 29 saves. Tavares got a cross-ice pass from Calvin DeHaan and beat Dan Ellis from the right faceoff circle for his 21st goal of the season, including four against the Stars. Ellis scrambled to get back across the goal, and tried in vain to glove the puck before it went into the short side of the net. Okposo scored in the second, and tied it at 15:44 of the third with a drive from the top of the right faceoff circle. Ellis stopped 27 shots. The Stars first goal was at 11:45 of the first period. Vernon Fiddler hustled in to pick up the puck against the back boards, and pushed it across to Alexx Chiasson.dddddddddddd He passed to Whitney skating into the left circle, and his shot went in past Poulins left leg. Gonchar then intercepted a pass inside the blue line, skated to the top of the right circle and fired a shot inside the left post at 18:12. It was the first goal of Gonchars 19th NHL season. Ellis stopped nine shots in the period to hold the Islanders scoreless. His best saves came on Thomas Vaneks drive from the left circle and Cal Clutterbucks short-handed breakaway. The Islanders began their comeback in the second period. They nearly scored 9 minutes in, but Ellis stopped Colin McDonalds tip from in front of the net. Okposo then broke through for New York at 10:47 of the second, scoring from low in the right circle. Assists went to Vanek and Tavares, who combined for three goals and four assists in the first meeting between the teams. NOTES: In last Mondays game, Tavares tied a career high with five points. Vanek added two assists, but Okposo missed the game because of the birth of his first child. The line totalled three goals and three assists Sunday. . Vanek has at least one point in 11 of his last 12 games, with a total of 17 points. . The Stars six consecutive losses all have been against Eastern Conference teams. ' ' '