So, LeBron James leaves Cleveland. So what? After seven years as a Cleveland Cavalier, James came up empty in opportunities to win an NBA championship ring. Even Shaq couldn't give an assist in that goal. But let's think about it---seven years. Seven is said to a perfect number, but things weren't that perfect in Cleveland for LeBron. I've been reading columns and watching news video of fan reaction of James' decision to leave the Cavs to go play with his friends and former Olympic teammates Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade for the Miami Heat. Some of the fan reaction I can understand. But to call the man a traitor, "Queen" James, backstabber is ridiculous.

I understand a fan's passion to have their hometown team do well and desire to see that team win championships. I understand the impact of what sports franchises can have on the regional economies--affecting tourism, restaurants, hotels, entertainment districts, etc. Although, I didn't read the article, I saw a headline of an online story that said LeBron leaving could have a $48 million impact in Cleveland.

No Pressure, right?

How about the Cleveland Cavaliers? Did they leave town? No. Die Hard Cleveland fans will still go see their team in action. I think what hurts Cavs fans the most is that James went on National Television (albeit an infomercial on ESPN) to announce his decision to leave. But does it matter whether James held a press conference in his hometown of Akron, in front of his mother's house, or in the gymnasium at a Boy's and Girl's Club in Connecticut if he were still planning to leave the Cavaliers? I'm not sure.

The disappointment and heartache for Cleveland Cavaliers fans would have been the same.

"This a business," said James. And it is. James completed a seven year contract with the Cavs, took them to their first ever NBA finals and came close to having a great run this past season, but came up short against a hungrier Boston Celtics team. Speaking of Boston, let's talk about unhappy and failed marriages. Kevin Garnett spent 12 seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, leading to the Western Conference Finals in 2004. But, 12 years of loyalty to the Timberwolves and their fans resulted in the definition of insanity (doing the same thing repeatedly, expecting a different result) and futility. Garnett, with all of his accolades and awards, didn't have and was hungry for an NBA ring. "The Big Ticket" went to Boston and claimed his destiny.

Wade, Bosh, and James are taking less money to play for "multiple" championships. "The only reason why we play this games is to win championships," said James.

Now about this 'King James' business. Like most anything in show business or sports entertainment, marketing is very vital to a star's career. James never referred to himself as 'King James' the media created that and was reinforced by Nike. Fans in Cleveland referred to him as "King' because was the king of their city. But as I read somewhere the other day, the king had no clothes---no championship rings to show for his loyalty to the city, fans, teammates.

LeBron James is 25 years old. Just 25. He has a long, long NBA career ahead of him and it's more than certain he'll get desired wardrobe of championship bling. This young man could have stayed in Cleveland, got a max contract of over $120 million, but would have been miserable because what salary cap room would the Cavs had really have to get James some real help for the franchises desire to win "the big one?" Not much. James would have pimped for another five or six years, and may not have gotten another chance to NBA success. Magic had Kareem, Byrd had McHale, Jordan had Pippen. Who did Lebron have in Cleveland? Nobody.

Traitor? Benedict Arnold? I think not.

Is it just me, or have you ever noticed a strange oxymoronic relationship between outsourcing and illegal immigration? Companies outsource jobs/manufacturing outside the United States for cheaper labor costs and taxes. On the flip side, companies inside the United States hire illegal immigrants because they provide cheap labor and for the most part avoid paying taxes on them ---because they're illegal. So, do blame illegal immigrants for risking their lives to come to the United States looking for work (because they know the work is here) or do you blame the companies or people who hire them for the continued flood of illegal immigrants.

Also, how does the federal government know there's between 11 million and 13 million illegal immigrants in the country? If they know that, who told? Was it the Census Bureau? Is the government moving to put them on a path of citizenship or deporting them?

Immigration reform is being laid at the feet of the Obama administration. But how can a president make something happen such as "comprehensive' immigration reform when most politicians are worried not about people, but politics? They live for the next election and move to what's popular among what Richard Nixon called "the silent majority" ---those persons who may find it uncomfortable to speak their true thoughts up front and out loud...but vote their conscience at the ballot box and behind closed doors.

Some of us will only use our right to vote when it is wildly and emotionally popular to do so, but disappear from the polls afterwards. Your thoughts????

Hello friends!

I am looking forward to "upgrading" our weekly talk show in effort to spice things up just a bit. don't worry, the base mission of TalkBack is not changing. What I am hoping to do is bring you more of a good thing--more guests with shorter interviews, more music (with socially aware themes) more features---spreading our conversation to a broader stage.

There's so much going on in the world that needs to be dicussed and we want to address those national/international issues on a local level. We want to inform, educate and entertain. Lots of times, talk shows become so predictable (TV or Radio) and we don't want to get caught up in that cycle. look for more "man on the street" stuff from me. We'll be in your Barber Shops. Beauty Salons, Social and Savings Clubs Fish Frys---stuff like that to get a "real" perspective on happenings in your world. TalkBack 3.0 COMING SOON!

Hello friends!

I am looking forward to "upgrading" our weekly talk show in effort to spice things up just a bit. don't worry, the base mission of TalkBack is not changing. What I am hoping to do is bring you more of a good thing--more guests with shorter interviews, more music (with socially aware themes) more features---spreading our conversation to a broader stage.

There's so much going on in the world that needs to be dicussed and we want to address those national/international issues on a local level. We want to inform, educate and entertain. Lots of times, talk shows become so predictable (TV or Radio) and we don't want to get caught up in that cycle. look for more "man on the street" stuff from me. We'll be in your Barber Shops. Beauty Salons, Social and Savings Clubs Fish Frys---stuff like that to get a "real" perspective on happenings in your world. TalkBack 3.0 COMING SOON!

A pretty packed show for tonight's TalkBack. Join us for a discussion with journalist Cyrondys Jackson, who's making her first run for political office. Jackson enters a crowded field of candidates seeking to fill the unexpired term of the District 1 Jefferson County Commission seat left vacant by William Bell, who's now Mayor of Birmingham. State Senator Linda Coleman of Birmingham discusses the Senator's passage of a bill that would let Alabamans opt out of the new federal healthcare plan. That bill is now in the House. Carol Pitard joins us to discuss a rare disease called Tuberous Sclerosis which is affecting her children. UAB has dedicated a new clinic for treatment and research of TS.

Former Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford is to report to federal prison Wednesday in Ashland, Kentucky by 4 p.m. Wednesday to begin serving a 15 year sentence for his conviction on 60 counts of government corruption. Unless the conviction is overturned, the 63- year old Langford must serve 85 percent the sentence or 12 years, 9 months behind bars. We take a look back at our interview conducted with Langford a day after the conviction. As always, your phone calls, tweets and phone calls! Join us for Talk Back on this Resurrection Sunday, 10pm-midnight on 98.7 KISS FM.

Late Thursday afternoon, Alabama District 7 Congressional Representative Artur Davis once again, defended his decision to vote against the health care reform legislation. The bill that's loudly and arduously pushed by his Harvard classmate and friend, who happens to be President of the United States. Critics say Davis is using this opportunity to bolster his chances in running for Governor of Alabama. "If you look at my record over seven years, you'll see my votes in Congress have been down the middle," said Davis. "My votes have been more conservative than liberal, which has been a criticism of my record for seven years."

True, but it's obvious what's going on here. This is not just about disagreements about his vote on this issue. This about an elected official who represents a predominantly black district, where poverty and unemployment are the highest in the state. Davis says, if the bill fails it won't be the end of healthcare reform, that the very good parts of the bill will be stripped out and would be passed in both the Senate and the House. I might be wrong, but to date, I don't think I've seen a piece of legislation sponsored or co-sponsored by Davis on alternate health care reform legislation. I cannot think of a worse time for an elected official to make such decision.

It may not be the end of healthcare reform if the bill fails this weekend, but it may be the end of your friend's political capital as President of The United States. It may begin the funeral procession of his chances for re-election as well. The people in District 7 need your support more than ever. You have their support now--- but then again, you are running for Governor. Aren't you? Don't get me wrong, there are some things in the bill, as a citizen, I don't like--such as the so-called public option is missing. I would like to see competition in the insurance market place. But noooo, that was stripped out to appease Conservacrats like Davis, and even that's not enough. What about all of the Chapter 7 bankruptcies in this country filed because of skyrocketing medical bills? How much is that costing the country?

Davis and all those voting for and against the bill have government run healthcare that you and I pay for! Why can't we have the same?!? A piece of a "sammich" is better than no "sammich" at all. Without some form of healthcare reform NOW, we're left to chew on the baloney of high deductibles, pre-existing condition rejection and unaffordable premiums. If this healthcare legislation does not pass this time around, after Bill Clinton's debacle in 1994, it may NEVER come back around in our lifetime. If you think I'm trying to scare you--good, because you need to be. Good lookin' out, Congressman.

One.

In another effort of that mundane (and possibly insane) effort of bi-partisanship to get healthcare reform passed, President Obama is holding a summit on how best to go about passing comprehensive, cost contained, competitive and sensible healthcare reform bill. The President, last week, released his own draft of such a measure. The Republican leadership (with the rest of the party on Capitol Hill in tow) declared the bill dead on arrival. What? This is the party who swears up and down they are NOT the party of "No?"

Let me be clear about something, the healthcare reform bill that came out of the Senate, I am not happy about. Sure, it's healthcare reform--but on the shadiest side. It literally hands 30 million new customers to the insurance and big Pharmaceutical industries. Yes, it does away with the most stupid, arcane (if not insane) pre-existing condition restriction for coverage. But it does not offer competition for consumer choice. I'm a type 2 diabetic, if I wanted to go to another healthcare plan and leave the healthcare plan I have at work, I couldn't. Why? Because I have a pre-existing condition and would have to wait one year before my diabetes care could be covered under a policy. They would gladly take my money, but anything associated with my diabetes would not be covered.

I am blessed to have coverage at all. I am able to carry my wife and step children on my plan. There are some things I would change dramatically of course, but as they say--"it is, what it is." But what about the millions of others who don't have health insurance? What about the

Uninsured persons who have to go to the emergency room for healthcare? People who have to file bankruptcy because of healthcare bills? We all end up paying for that one way or another. Small businesses layoff workers because of healthcare premiums; parents take their kids off their work insurance plans and place them on government insurance (S-CHIP, All Kids) because they can't afford the family coverage at work. This is ridiculous. Why can't Americans have the same access to healthcare as the members of Congress enjoy--and we elect them and they're paid from our tax dollars? Pay very close attention to what's being said--and not being said; during this summit today.

A pretty good line up is developing for this week's edition of Talkback. Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper, Catrena Carter ( will talk about the upcoming Bridge Crossing Jubilee in Selma and the 45th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday), and we're hoping to talk with a couple of national authors' on some very timely topics. We'll take a look back at the week at the Alabama Legislature and Birmingham City Council member Kim Rafferty is also tentatively scheduled for an appearance on Talkback.

Here's where I put you to work. Send your questions for Chief Roper and Councillor Rafferty. I want to make these type of interviews as interactive as possible. Questions need to be submitted by noon Thursday.