Nike has released a new LeBron James basketball shoe that will sell for $315 a pair. That shows how times have changed. Larry Bird bought his first car for that price.
On a positive note, several Nike outlets say if a customer buys the shoes, the store will throw in two pairs of sweat socks for as little as $49 apiece.
Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade said last week James has a ways to go to match Michael Jordan as a player. But he's clearly in the conversation as a shoe salesman.
Cowboy law and order
Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant must follow a strict set of rules after his offseason misdemeanor family violence charge. He will have a midnight curfew, can't drink alcohol and can't go to a strip club. He'll also have somebody watching him closely at all times. The Cowboys call this the Bryant Rules, but everyone else knows it as marriage.
Young and restless
The Buffalo Bills traded for quarterback Tavaris Jackson and cut Vince Young the next day. Young tweeted his best wishes to his teammates and then consoled himself by reading his bank account statement online.
High-priced sideline ornament
Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson has been named the opening-game starter for the Seattle Seahawks. He will make 16 times less in guaranteed salary than backup Matt Flynn. This is just a hunch, but I don't think the Seahawks are getting their money's worth on Matt Flynn.
Irish sitters
Notre Dame starting tailback Cierre Wood and backup defensive end Justin Utupo have been suspended for two games for violating team rules. They join suspended quarterback Tommy Rees and linebacker Carlo Calabrese in a newest Irish tradition called “Watch one for the Gipper.”
Postgame silence is golden
Peyton Manning had his best preseason game with the Denver Broncos on Sunday, throwing two touchdown passes. He's getting used to his new environment, and seems to especially like the fact he's no longer asked by reporters if he's seen his owner's tweets.
Sometimes you just gotta go
Indianapolis Colts cornerback Vontae Davis had some maturity problems when he played for the Miami Dolphins. He once took a bathroom break during a short walk-through practice. And, apparently, during road trips he was always asking, “Are we there yet?”
