Alltagetha: Pierce, LeBron & Swish

While we all wait with nine hours remaining until LeBron James tells the sporting world of his decision...

- Former New York Giants favorite and star linebacker Antonio Pierce has announced his retirement from the NFL. "A-P" will now join ESPN as a NFL analyst, and will appear on "NFL Live" today at 4 PM ET to discuss his retirement, as well as his new job working as a sports analyst. Pierce follows Michael Strahan, another Giants great and future Hall of Famer, into the career of broadcasting and being an analyst. Pierce began his career with the Washington Redskins for four season before signing with the Giants in 2005.

"I am definitely going to miss the fans, the locker room talks, and the excitement of putting on a NFL uniform every Sunday, but I am ready to put on a new uniform, and I am extremely excited about contributing my knowledge and experience in this new endeavor to the championship team at ESPN. I thank my family, friends, teammates, and fans for their support throughout my career and as I move in this new and exciting direction," Pierce said in a statement.

Pierce led the Giants in tackles three times, was a three-year captain, a Pro Bowl pick in 2006 and one of the inspirational leaders of a squad that did not have a losing season in his five years with the franchise.

His five-year totals with the Giants: 537 tackles (322 solo), seven sacks, six forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and four interceptions. Pierce also had 44 postseason tackles (28 solo). (ESPN)

- Today is D-Day. Well, D-Day for LeBron James that is. Tonight at 9 PM ET on ESPN, LeBron James will announce his decision on where he will play next year. It's been narrowed down to the Knicks, Heat, and Cavaliers. This morning, sources have indicated that James is going to go to Miami to form a powerhouse with the Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Other sources have said that LeBron is going to New York, where he was spotted house shopping yesterday with Amare Stoudemire and Allan Houston. Some say he's staying in Cleveland. We'll find out tonight.

- Today is the last day to vote for the Final Vote for the MLB All-Star Game in Anaheim. Nick Swisher of the New York Yankees is holding a slim lead over Kevin Youkilis of the Boston Red Sox. Remember to vote for Swish! Voting ends at 4 PM ET today! SEND SWISH! GET THE MAN TO ANAHEIM!

CLICK HERE TO VOTE.

BREAKING NEWS: Chris Bosh to join Dwayne Wade with the Miami Heat

According to ESPN's NBA analyst Chris Broussard, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade are joining forces to play together for the Miami Heat. Both Wade and Bosh will announce their official decision later today.

Many thought that Bosh or Wade would end up playing with LeBron James, the most sought after free agent, in either Miami, New York, Chicago, New Jersey, or Los Angeles. However, it seems as thought James won't be playing with either Bosh or Wade now. James is has announced that he will make his decision Thursday night at 9 ET during a one-hour special on ESPN.

More from ESPN:
"It was not immediately clear whether Bosh will sign with Miami outright or join the Heat through a sign-and-trade deal. Bosh could earn $125 million over six years via sign-and-trade, but only $96 million over five without it.

"Either way, he's definitely going to Miami," the source said."

I think the team most affected by this move is the Cleveland Cavaliers. Yesterday, reports said that the Toronto Raptors, Bosh's now former team, were willing to do a sign-and-trade deal with Cleveland in which Toronto would sign Bosh and then trade him to Cleveland. However, according to reports, Bosh did not want to play in Cleveland. Cleveland is hoping to retain LeBron James. Since Bosh did not want to go to Cleveland, this might hurt the Cavs, and not make James want to return. At the beginning of the summer the three marquee players (Wade, Bosh & James) met to discuss their future together. It was known that they wanted to all play together and that at least one of them would have to be on the team that LeBron signs with. Now that both Bosh and Wade are off of the board, LeBron's decision is going to looming bigger.

Where could LeBron go? Can he team up with Derrick Rose in Chicago? Can he and Amare Stoudemire bring basketball back to the Big Apple? Will he go to New Jersey to play for his buddy Jay-Z? Or, by some act of a higher power, could he go to Miami? Will he stay home?

There you have it, two of the top free agents off of the board. Now we just have to see where the King goes...

Hey LeBron, here's a refreshing idea if you're having trouble with a decision....

"In New York,
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,
Theres nothing you can’t do,
Now you’re in New York,
these streets will make you feel brand new,
Big lights will inspire you,
lets hear it for New York, New York, New York."

Pettitte placed on All-Star Roster, Nick Swisher Final Vote leader, Amare signs with Knicks

Andy Pettitte replaces Clay Buchholtz on All-Star Roster

From Riveraveblues:
"Via Bryan Hoch, Andy Pettitte has replaced Clay Buchholz on the AL All Star Game roster because the latter has been placed on the disabled list with a hamstring issue. Joe Girardi had no say on this move since Buchholz was elected to the game by the player’s vote. The next highest vote getter simply took his spot, and it happened to be Pettitte. Girardi will have to name a replacement for CC Sabathia, who is scheduled to pitch on Sunday and is therefor ineligible to play in the game.

Pettitte makes seven Yankee All Stars, the most of any team. This will be his third trip to the mid-summer classic, and his first since 2001. Hard to believe that Pettitte has more top five finishes in the Cy Young voting than All Star Game appearances."

Swisher and Votto in the lead for Final Vote

From MLB:
"NEW YORK, July 5, 2010 -- Nick Swisher of the New York Yankees and Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds topped the early returns from the more than 10 million votes registered in the opening 24 hours of the 2010 All-Star Game Final Vote Sponsored by Sprint.

Swisher led a tightly-contested race for the American League's final roster spot, followed closely by Kevin Youkilis of the Boston Red Sox; Michael Young of the Texas Rangers; Paul Konerko of the Chicago White Sox; and Delmon Young of the Minnesota Twins.

On the National League ballot, Votto grabbed the top spot out-of-the-gate over the other four candidates, narrowly ahead of Ryan Zimmerman of the Washington Nationals; Billy Wagner of the Atlanta Braves; Carlos Gonzalez of the Colorado Rockies; and Heath Bell of the San Diego Padres.

The ninth annual All-Star Game Final Vote ballot commenced exclusively on MLB.com and the individual Club sites at 1 p.m. (EDT) yesterday and will continue until balloting concludes at 4 p.m. (EDT) on Thursday, July 8."

Amare Stoudemire signs with Knicks

From NBA:
"The New York Knicks finally got a return on their two years of self-induced misery on Monday, finishing up the final touches on a five-year contract for Phoenix Suns free agent forward Amar'e Stoudemire that is expected to be worth around $100 million. A source indicates a formal announcement from Stoudemire should be forthcoming within the hour at Madison Square Garden."I feel great about being a pioneer and showing my leadership," he said at Madison Square Garden, where signs throughout the entrances showed the player pictured in a Knicks uniform and reading "Welcome, Amare Stoudemire."

The deal can't be signed until Thursday, after the salary cap for next season has been set.

Stoudemire and the Knicks quickly found each other last week, each in need of a soft landing place. The 27-year-old Stoudemire was looking for a team that still believed he could be a dominant player in the next few years, despite concerns about his knees and his eyes following serious injuries to each. And the Knicks, who'd sold their fans for the last two years that they'd be a major player in free agency this summer, able to lure the likes of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, were desperate for a splashy acquisition that would give fans hope and add to their depleted roster."

Your links for the day. Had an awesome, yet tiring day. That's for tonight unless anything major happens.

Tackling the Giant Gorilla in the room...

Oh Where, oh where will LeBron end up...

Alright let's be honest, how many of you out there just want the NBA playoffs to come to an end?

Anybody? (Put your hands down)

My Lakers are still in the playoffs and I'm happy, thrilled you could say. But what am I most looking forward to? I'm pretty sure I'm not speaking for myself when I say FREE AGENCY. And by free agency I mean, "Where will LeBron James play next season?"
We've been speculating (and by we, I mean the sports world) since even before the season, and even during last year's NBA Finals (Lakers <3)

New York Knicks

I want the money, the money and the cars, the cars and the clothes. I suppose, I just wanna be, I just wanna be successful. - Drake, "Successful"

I think LeBron agrees with the way Drake's thinking. LeBron's previously stated that he wants to go somewhere that can win NOW. He does not want to be a part of a reclamation project that will takes years to succeed. If it's about winning, then LeBron, do NOT go to the Knicks. The Knick's are a disaster. They haven't had a winning season since 2001 and have been a corrupted organization since the Isiah Thomas era. That being said, the Knicks traded their superstars prior the end of the regular season in order to clear cap space to make a run at LeBron. Zach Randolph, gone. Nate Robinson, gone. Jamal Crawford, gone. In fact, the Knicks cleared up so much space that they could sign LeBron and ANOTHER superstar such as Dwayne Wade or Chris Bosh to accompany James. Even before the season, Knicks fans were campaigning for LeBron to come to New York. From photoshopping images of him in a Knicks uniform to his picture being the back of the Post, Knicks fans have been desperate, begging the King to come to New York. If LeBron comes to New York it will be for one reason and one reason only: The Money and the Fame. Alex Rodriguez, Mark Messier, Reggie Jackson, Brett Farve are just examples of hall of fame players lured in by New York's market. New York has often been called the greatest stage in sports, and playing at Madison Square Garden for the Knicks would make LeBron a legend. If LeBron comes to New York he'll be larger than life. He'll be the NBA's highest paid player, he'll be on billboards everywhere, and he'll be bigger than New York's most recently lured best athlete, Yankees third baseman, Alex Rodriguez. LeBron coming to New York would wake up the sports world, proving New York is the place to play. Expect the Knicks to make the biggest push of any team and if they sign LeBron to accompany him with either Bosh or Wade.

New Jersey Nets
Impossible? Not so much. Likely? Nope. Though LeBron is good friends with Nets part owner and famous rapper Jay-Z, don't expect that to be the lone reason he would want to go to the Nets. The Nets are clearly in rebuilding mode. They finished with the NBA's worst record and are in no position to contend next season. However, the construction of a new arena may lure LeBron, but most likely not. A more likely target would be Wade or Bosh.

Los Angeles Lakers
The least likely of all the teams I'm posting. I love my Lakers, but c'mon, there's no place for LeBron. And are the Lakers really ready to take the spotlight off Kobe? This isn't happening, but it could. You never know, maybe the Lakers offer Lebron a one year contract so he can win a championship with Kobe. If LeBron were to go to the Lakers the rest of the NBA would surrender. Having to face the tri-fecta of James, Bryant and Gasol would make others tremble in fear. Look for the Lakers to at least sniff around LeBron.

Chicago Bulls
A surprise team here, the Bulls are rumored to be very interested in James. Searching for a player to accompany Derek Rose, the Bulls feel LeBron would be the best fit to accompany him. Having a starting line up consisting of Rose, Joakim Noa and James would be the best young starting line up in the NBA. The Bulls would become a way better team. I'd say that the Bulls have as good a chance as the Knicks.

Cleveland Cavaliers
Every fan's wish, for the guy to just stay in Cleveland. He's from Akron, Ohio and he's lived in Cleveland his whole life. It's a feel good story, the Ohio boy living there his whole life and then being drafted and playing for the hometown team. That being said, those in the industry aren't sure LeBron will stick with the Cavs. After failing in the playoffs the last few years, many wonder if the Cavs are dysfunctional, having the best record this year and being eliminated by the Celtics. There has been talking that coach Mike Brown and general manager Danny Ferry may not be retained. As well, Cleveland does not have enough cap space to retain their star player. They have to make some serious changes in order to retain Mr. James. I'd have to think Cleveland has the best chance to sign LeBron.

Most likely team:
1. Cavaliers
2. Knicks
3. Bulls
4. Nets
5. Lakers

The Verdict:
New York. Pack him up, He's pretty much set. The Money and the fame lures all the big fish to New York. The Knicks have bagged the past two seasons in order to make a run at LeBron and this is the year it will all pay off. Expect LeBron to be the highest paid player ever and for the Knicks to accompany LeBron with Dwayne Wade or Chris Bosh.

Only time can tell. 46 days away.

...oh where, oh where will he be?