Washington Wizards Awaken the Sleeping Giant...With Trash Talk

The Washington Wizards bit off more than they could chew when they drew the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the 2008 NBA playoffs. However, they requested their dish, one they thought would be best served cold. And for one man on the court in this series, his revenge is definitely frosty.

LeBron James has been a one-man highlight reel thus far in this, what was supposed to be the closest, Eastern Conference series. That position has been taken by the Pistons/76ers series, as the aging Detroit team looks to rebound after an embarrassing lose to Philadelphia. No, the big story in the Wiz/Cavs series is now, "How completely can LeBron take over a playoff series?"

It is not his scoring, though he has gone for 32 and 30 in the first two games, respectively, but the way with which he seems to effortlessly glide through the Washington defense to score at will when it matters most.

Wizards star Gilbert Arenas and teammate DeShawn Stevenson were quoted before the series started, saying that Cleveland was the team they wanted to face. While this was probably because the Cavs had bounced the Wizards out of the playoffs the last two years, LeBron has taken those comments personally, and is taking it out on the Wizards. James has shown the Wizards no quarter as he scores with extreme prejudice.

This has become a problem in sports today. The guarantee. The trash talk. Sure, it adds spice to the pre-contest drama, however, more often than not, it is forgotten by history, because the team that spouts off gets annihilated.

Everyone wants to be Joe Namath, but those moments come infrequently in sports, thus making them that much sweeter. To run off at the mouth, taking shots at opposing teams and players is not only unsportsman like, but can make for great fodder for the infamous bulletin board.

Just ask Gilbert Arenas. Or better yet, ask LeBron James.