As of late Wednesday night, the news indications are that James will be joining Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade in Miami. So how will this affect James and the perception fans have of him? Let’s break it down.

Going to Miami

• If James is choosing to go to Miami to win I think it is a wise idea; however, if James is going there to become the greatest ever it simply cannot happen. Every Championship that James wins in Miami will include Wade who is already one Championship ahead of him. James will always be behind Wade.
• Past all-time Champions and historic greats have been one-team players for their whole career: Kobe, Jordan (fat Wizard Jordan doesn’t count), Magic, Byrd, Russell, Olajuwon (forget that last year on Toronto).
• James will lose brand appeal, which supposedly he cares a lot about. He will still be known as a singular great, but he will also be known as the new big 3 or the Miami Thrice (I’m claiming that one). A little bit of his individuality will fade.
• James will not have as much on ball time meaning his stats have to go down. Maybe stats don’t matter and all he wants are the rings, but they flash more than Championship team names on basketball telecasts…they often show all time leaders and top stat holders. Say good-bye to your high stat averages LeBron.
• James will be known as the player who left to come to D-Wade. There is something to be said in that. It’s like they stared at each other and James flinched. James is joining D-Wade’s team making Wade the captain, in a way.
• By joining a team with possibly the greatest sum of talent ever, James has to win year one. If he would have stayed on the Cavs he would continue to have a legitimate excuse if he cannot win the Championship.

Staying in Cleveland

• His brand grows. To be able to say loyalty means everything to him is something advertising campaigns can eat-up. Think of the slogans…”Champion to Self or Champion to a City, State and Family?”
• James can make the most money in Cleveland. He can use that money to give to charities and the community he cares for.
• James has time to win. The pieces are not there and other Eastern teams got much better (Miami). With less pressure to win, who knows, maybe James will.
• How amazing and legendary does James become if he wins without the other pieces? It may be difficult, but if he can he will not only have the increased positive brand but one of the greatest sport success stories of all time.

In the end, James has a tough decision. An athlete “plays to win the game”, but is there something to be said about the honor of how the game is played in regards to commitment and loyalty? James wasn’t blessed with amazing secondary players like Magic, Byrd, Kobe and even Jordan were, and James now has a chance to make his own luck in the same way Kevin Garnet and Ray Allen did some years ago. I wouldn’t blame him for doing so. Plus, James is young. What person from Cleveland doesn’t dream of living in Florida or California? I mean come on! It’s Ohio! I love Ohio, but there is a reason the movie stars have homes in the states with the best all around weather and beautiful beaches. They’re just more comfortable and fun.

What will James do?

I believe there are plenty of athletes who are judged by how many Championships they have won, but there are very few that are judged by a higher standard, a standard beyond sports. If James believes in this maybe he’ll throw the curve-ball every Cleveland fan hopes he will and stay in Cleveland…and also sign with the Tribe. They need some a pitcher with a curve-ball.

Co-workers have done a double take a couple of times. It is kind of funny. I will start talking to someone and they are just checking out my calender and thinking “This guy’s a creep: checking out half naked comic chicks.”

After a day of looking at this, along with many office walker-byers, I decided to make Ms. Marvel a nice poodle skirt.

No person would argue that coloring is the number one reason a book sells. The actual story and text is the most driving part of the book followed by the illustrations. Coloring is more like lettering. Lettering, presents the text on any given frame or page. The font can have it’s own presence which conveys a tone, type of voice or way a phrase is said. The lettering can give a character’s voice emphasis. Coloring is to art as lettering is to the text.

The colorist helps the story teller set the scene. Maybe the characters in play are mysterious and evil…a colorist may use darker shades. Or in the case of Stumptown, a P.I. crime  drama, Lee Loughridge’s coloring is very simple. Loughridge uses a limited pallet with dull coloring. It ads to the murky world of mystery Stumptown tries to convey. Plus, the coloring doesn’t take any attention away from the driving force of the book, which is the plot.

Other books need bright bold colors. A big action packed caped character story needs bursting colors and tones to take the characters right off the page. Laura Martin of Astonishing X-Men and Secret Invasion fame is a superior colorist who know when to accent action with strong coloring and mellow down the page with less dominant shades in more intimate moments.

Recognizing coloring achievement can be difficult. If a comic book is down well, you may not even notice. At times all you see are colors that liven your eyes. Next time you pick up a book take a look at who colored it and maybe even give them a shout out on a review post from time to time.

When I was young there were many things I enjoyed. I loved to play Nintendo, catch fireflys, watch cartoons, go to United Skates of America and play with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle toys.

The early Ninja Turtle toys were amazing. The original four turtle figures all came with a grimace, brownish colored weapons, and hours of entertainment. I remember having a few of the turtles, if not all of them, and papa Gazzuolo randomly buying me Leonardo: my favorite ninja turtle. He had katana blades! Swords to you losers.

Their weapons would bend over time (cheap plastic) and their paint would wear on their bodies. At the time no one cared about lead based paint. Back in the day, we licked our toys and didn’t complain when we died.

While I did cherish those early turtle toys, it wasn’t until the introduction of the turtle vehicles that I first understood what a man’s parts were for.

Ninja Turtle Vehicle Invasion

My first vehicle was the Psycho Cycle. This was the motorcycle with the side trashcan seat/stand that could be propelled by a rip-cord. You pulled the cord through the cycle and it spun those wheels (line in a ninja turtle movie song – movie 1) so that the cycle would zip along the floor. It was totally radical and a good start.

The next vehicle I received is possibly the greatest toy in the history of toys. I am not overstating the importance of this toy. If this fact is denied the government finds you and murders you. Fact. The vehicle (all together now): The Turtle Pizza Thrower! Electronic and humming, this ground vehicle which was almost tank like, sat a turtle to shoot pizza pies at his enemies. With a push of a button the vehicle shot out the pizzas fast and far. The projection of the pizza was quite amazing. I heard that NASA has actually studied it for future shuttle use.

The projectile pizzas would not only be used to attack foot-soldiers and other baddies, but was also perfect for attacking your friends and family. “Hey Dom, can you clean your roo…” Bam! Pizza to the eye! Think again Mom…and wear some goggles the next time you come at me with that shit. I had a foul mouth as a kid.

Th last turtle vehicle I received was the punching action turtle plane or helicopter (I can’t remember). This was the last of the ninja turtle vehicles I ever received. I was given it at a birthday party I had at the Untied Skates of America in Ohio. It had a gun-like trigger in the back to hold the vehicle and to make two punching glove weapons on it’s side…well, punch. It was cool for a while. If you were playing with your friends, and didn’t get to pick the pizza thrower, it was a nice alternative vehicle to choose as your primary attack vehicle.

Future impressive toys I eventually got a hold of included the Exo-Squad projectile firing toys. Something about being able to shoot something out of a toy just really got me going. Surprisingly enough, I didn’t turn into a gun crazy psycho…yet.

The Problems:

• Some people are just rude. If one opens a door going forward the following person should take the batton. The follower should give thanks and take the wait of the door. Unfortunately, too many people do not say thanks, and worse, some don’t even receive the door. Rude people will just walk through with heads down. I hate that.
• The waiting game. Once in awhile you hold a door for someone who takes their sweet-ass time. If eye contact is established you better move on through quickly.
• The waiting game: overtime. Sometimes there is a person behind you at an odd distance. If you hold the door the previous situation may occur, and if you just let the door shut the door shuts just as they get to it and you look like a dick.
• Too close for comfort. Occasionally you are stuck holding the door open ahead of you and the walker-through has to squeeze by you because they are a heavy set person. I’ll allow very few bellies to touch mine, and I would like to keep it that way.

Self-propelled Solution

Every office building needs a rotating door. These are great for buildings with people blind spots. You never have to wait on people or be left in an awkward position deciding to hold a door or not. Occasionally one gets stuck with some idiot who gets in the same little nook with you (making for both of you to create short shuffle steps to push the door forward and not touch), but for the most part rotating doors clear up many door waiting dilemmas.

When you enter a grocery store there is often a solicitor. It’s either a group of girl scouts, during the holidays a Santa or charity rep, or just a standard bum. On the way in they just say hello and give you a smile. A regular to the store knows they don’t care about you. All they want is your money. To get it they try setting you up with some connection. Like a sales person in any other field they try to lower your guard early to eventually get what they want in the end: your money.

On the way out of the store you are left with that awkward interaction where you try and avoid eye contact, but they still address you. Often we respond with a mumble or a “sorry.” I have decided to compile a list of ways to deal with this awkward avoidance, so that we are prepared to deal with these scavenging solicitors.

• Actually give them your change.
• Say “sorry” and move along.
• Act like you are on a very intense cellphone call. “No! Tell them to cut the blue wire or we’re all dead!”
• Sneaking out behind someone else. Try hiding behind someone who looks like a giver: a happy old lady works well, but remember…old people are slow try to time your escape accordingly.
• Leave the cart in the store and carry all of your bags. This can be tough, and should be. With both hands full, and your body in a quick shuffle to hurry to the car so you can release the bags, the solicitor will often disregard addressing you. You have no hands to fish-out change and look too busy to bother.
• Bring a gun and shoot the solicitor on the way out.

Whatever you do to get out of the awkward situation, I hope it works. If there is one thing that’s true in this universe, it’s that helping other people can be freak’n annoying.