An email that in no way alludes to the NBA’s blocking of a trade

The following is an email I sent to the NBA Store in response to a promotion I received about a sale on all NBA-related items:

The King’s Speech: It’s time for LeBron to change

In my lifetime, I can think of three athletes who, in one poorly timed move, have gone from jovial, beloved figures to despised villains: Andre the Giant, Tiger Woods and LeBron James.

In the case of the Giant, the massive wrestler not only stood up to Russian threats and other various nefarious heels, he also had a charming co-starring role in The Princess Bride. He was a large, loveable personality, which made it all the more shocking when he sided with Bobby “the Brain” Heenan, embraced a villain’s status and took on Hulk Hogan, a wrestler who quite possibly meant more to kids in the late 1980s than any other athlete in the world.

Maybe so, James

Sometime before 9:30 p.m. Thursday, LeBron James caused a seismic shift in the NBA.

Sure, with James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, Miami now has a better shot at winning in 2010-11 than the team did this year, but LeBron’s signing will be even more far reaching.

UK fans feeling Blue this Easter

The honeymoon lasted a year.

Last April, John Calipari arrived in Lexington a coach anointed a savior by fans starving for basketball relevance.

And with players leaving for the NBA just days after the team fell short of the Final Four, it’s important to realize today’s date.

Today is Good Friday.

The savior is gone.