Lance Loves LeBron
The Pacers avoided elimination on Wednesday with a 93-90 victory over the Heat in Game 5. Lance Stephenson was the story of the game for a variety of reasons – blowing in LeBron James‘ ear in a super-creepy manner, eavesdropping on Miami coach Erik Spoelstra during a huddle, flopping to try to draw a foul on LeBron, changing his sneakers at halftime – and it all worked in Indiana’s victory. Ray Allen was not impressed with Lance’s antics. The internet, however, couldn’t get enough of Stephenson.
Red Sox Reunion
In Boston, the Red Sox celebrated the 10th anniversary of their epic World Series victory with a reunion at Fenway Park. Johnny Damon stole the show when he intercepted the first pitch throw by Manny Ramirez as a homage to one of Manny’s more bizarre plays in a Red Sox uniform. It was a busy night for Ramirez, who showed off a new hairstyle and then apologized to the team’s 70-year-old traveling secretary for a 2008 pushing incident.
Hunter Pence Scooter Update
On Tuesday, we passed along that the scooter belonging to Giants outfielder Hunter Pence had been stolen and he was torn up over the loss. We’re happy to announce that it was returned, safe and sound, to Pence last night.
Lovely Lady Of The Day
Clara Alonso visited SI yesterday for a 2015 swimsuit casting call. There were definitely some turned heads in the elevator.
Winners*
Palos Verdes Peninsula High in California had to forfeit a playoff baseball game because of a small technicality. The players from Peninsula had a pregame “batting practice” where the pitchers threw wiffle balls from their knees to batters. This, according to the Santa Monica High coach, gave them an unfair advantage. After a 7-2 loss, the coach successfully filed a protest and Santa Monica High was declared the winner.
Now This is a Business Card
SI’s Andy Staples met new Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason and received one of the coach’s amazing new business cards.
From the SI Vault
LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony :: Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal
Happy 30th birthday Carmelo Anthony. In this 2002 photo, Anthony’s Oak Hill Academy takes on LeBron James’ St. Vincent-St. Mary’s as the two stars went head-to-head for the first time. SI’s Tim Layden wrote about Anthony early in his freshman year at Syracuse and discussed the high school showdown between the two future stars:
The calls come every couple of days. Syracuse freshman Carmelo Anthony will feel his cellphone vibrating, snatch it from his baggy jeans, flip it open and hear LeBron James already in mid-sentence. “You made a mistake,” James will say. “You should have come on out, should be in the NBA right now.” Anthony will toss back his head in laughter until his cornrows brush the nape of his neck and his broad shoulders begin to shake, and then the two players will talk about what a strange view it is from the top of the world when you’re 18 years old.
One year ago they checked each other in an epic high school basketball showdown. Anthony, a senior, scored 34 points to lead Oak Hill Academy of Mouth of Wilson, Va., to a 72-66 victory over St. Vincent-St. Mary High of Akron. James, only a junior and with a weaker supporting cast, had 36 in the loss. Few who saw that game expected either player to wear a college uniform. Last Thursday night the two high schools played again, this time before a national television audience, with James scoring 31 and helping the country understand why he will, indeed, bypass college and probably be selected as the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. Anthony viewed the game from the Skytop Apartments in Syracuse, just off the school’s south campus. “I was watching the game and thinking about last year,” he said the day after James’s tour de force. “Seems like yesterday.”
Odds and Ends
Incoming Kentucky freshman Karl-Anthony Towns, who stands 6-foot-11, received his size 20 sneaker from Nike … The woman who won Chad Johnson‘s 2009 reality dating show was arrested after allegedly stabbing her boyfriend in the chest … The hardest names to spell in sports … LeBron is already a fan of Johnny Manziel (and his new t-shirt) … Nigeria goalkeeper Austin Ejide threw the ball into his own net during a friendly against Scotland on Wednesday … The 50 funniest moments in McDonald’s history … Bruce Willis’s and Demi Moore’s daughter took a topless stroll around NYC.
The Heat’s No. 1 Fan
I wish my grandma was this big a fan.
Free Safety Advice
Patriots safety Devin McCourty offers random advice to strangers in Boston. This is pretty funny.
Beware of Dinosaurs
The Mets held Dinosaur Day at Citi Field Wednesday and “scared” this little girl away.
Dancing Babies Alert
Two dancing babies from South Korea get down to I Got My Eye On You by Nari & Milani & Cristian Marchi.
