Cardale Jones-Joakim Noah Feud the Latest Chapter in Ohio State-Cavs History

COLUMBUS, Ohio — By now you probably already know the story behind the Cardale Jones-Joakim Noah feud. But just in case you don't, let me catch you up.

As members of Ohio State's national championship team were honored during a timeout in last night's Eastern Conference Semifinals matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls, the Buckeyes quarterback took the microphone. Cheering on his hometown team, Jones encouraged the Cavs to "bring another championship to Ohio," before adding a, "Let's go Cavs!"

"

"Let's Bring another championship to Ohio." - @CJ12_ pic.twitter.com/ihEQuQztZA

— NOTBRCleveland (@NOTBRCleveland) May 7, 2015"

Seated nearby on the Bulls bench, Noah—who played his college ball at Florida—took exception, according to 92.3 The Fan's Anthony Lima.

The Chicago center's words apparently got back to Jones, who's never been shy to speak his mind—or have fun with the Twittersphere.

Little will likely come of Jones' tweets to Noah, although it is worth noting that the national champion signal-caller's head coach, Urban Meyer, was also at Florida during the two-time NBA All-Star's time with the Gators. In the grander scheme of things, this is just the latest chapter in what's been a growing connection between Ohio's top two championship contenders.

A Kid From Akron, Ohio

Long before he won two NBA titles or returned back to Cleveland to try to help Northeast Ohio capture (at least) one, LeBron James was a budding star at Akron's St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, starring on both the hardwood and the gridiron. Then just a wide receiver coach at Notre Dame, Meyer headed to the Rubber City in hopes of wooing the All-State wideout to South Bend.

As opposed to most recruiting jobs Meyer has performed, however, this one was unsuccessful.

"'Thank you very much, I'll consider it,' and his coach started laughing," Meyer recalled of James' reaction to his scholarship offer at Big Ten media day in 2012.

"I didn't know what he was laughing at, so we went down and sat in a room and he said, 'Do you know who that is?' and I said, 'No' and he said, 'LeBron James' and I said, 'Who's LeBron James?' and he said, 'He'll be the next Michael Jordan' and I go, 'Come on.'" 

Dave Saffran/Getty Images

Whether James has or hasn't lived up his high school coach's prophecy is a debate for another day, but despite LeBron declining, a bond was formed between him and Meyer on that day. The three-time national champion coach has spoken fondly of his former target ever since, even when James didn't have public opinion on his side.

"I took my son down to meet him and he treated him great," Meyer said. "Very articulate guy too. Just very respectful. You know, I love him, when my son met him, I was proud to have my son meet him."

An Honorary Alum

Ultimately, James opted to skip the collegiate route altogether, entering the 2003 NBA draft out of high school. Selected first overall by the Cavs, James remained within the Buckeye State, allowing him to follow his favorite college football team.

Having previously formed a friendship with Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett, James made no secret about the fact that he was a big Buckeyes fan. Appearing on the set of ESPN's College Game Day as a guest-picker in 2008, the 11-time All-Star revealed that Columbus is where he would have spent his college career—had he had one.

"Absolutely, I wouldn't have gone nowhere else," James said. "I would have been right here wearing this red and this gray, baby."

Technically, Ohio State's official colors are scarlet and gray. But close enough.

Taking His Talents to South Beach

When James left Cleveland for the Miami Heat as a free agent in 2010, he may have underestimated both the backlash and overlap in Cavs and Buckeyes fans. When it was revealed that the NBA star planned to return to his home state for Ohio State's meeting with the Miami Hurricanes just a few months after "The Decision," many fans in Columbus threatened to boo James upon his arrival, against the wishes of then-Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel.

"Sore subjects need to pass," Tressel said during a press conference. "Things are as they are. We all make decisions. You have to respect one another's decisions and move on."

Jay LaPrete/Associated Press

Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor also pleaded with fans to welcome James, who he referred to as a "mentor" and a "Buckeye."

After reportedly being denied a full police escort to the game, James ultimately opted to spend the weekend in Akron instead.

Coming Home

By 2013, enough time seemed to have passed since James' decision, and it certainly didn't hurt that Meyer was more vocal in his support of LeBron than Tressel was three years prior. That's why when James addressed the crowd at Ohio State's "Skull Session" before delivering a speech to the Buckeyes' Big Ten opener against Wisconsin, it was hardly a big deal as Columbus welcomed James with open arms.

Little did anybody know—at least in Ohio—that the sight of James standing on Ohio State's sideline would soon become a common occurrence.

When James announced in July 2014 that he was returning to the Cavs as a free agent, it sent shock waves throughout the state, including in Central Ohio. Meyer welcomed James back to the Buckeye State just hours after his second decision with a tweet, before issuing an open invitation for James to attend every Ohio State game.

"He means a lot in recruiting,” Meyer said of James at Big Ten media days last July. “You can’t measure the positive feeling of him standing on the sideline for an Ohio State game."

Sure enough, on the Buckeyes' biggest recruiting weekend of the year, there was James, standing just feet away from Meyer as Ohio State took on Virginia Tech. And while James and his entourage wound up leaving before the clocks hit zero on the Buckeyes' lone loss of the season, it wouldn't be the last time the four-time MVP would grace the Ohio State sideline.

Championship Connection 

As James' impromptu two-week hiatus from basketball in his first season back in Cleveland neared an end, he found himself on the West Coast while the Buckeyes were in Dallas for their national title game against Oregon.

After sending the entire Ohio State roster a pregame pair of Beats By Dre headphones, James watched the Buckeyes handle the Ducks before moving to the sideline to watch the game's final few minutes. As Ohio State celebrated its national championship, there was James covered in confetti, embracing with Jones and Buckeyes star running back Ezekiel Elliott.

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

From that moment forward, the Ohio State-Cavs connection was in full force, with Cleveland honoring Meyer and a few area Buckeyes at a game just one week later. Perhaps it wasn't a coincidence that Meyer's visit to the Cavs locker room led to a hot streak in the team's season, with James' team reeling off 10 consecutive wins from that night forward.

Cavs owner Dan Gilbert repaid the favor with a recent visit to Columbus to take part in Meyer's "Real Life Wednesday" program, advising the Buckeyes on their post-football career options.

With Ohio State having already captured a championship, it will now be up to James and the Cavs to follow suit as they head to Chicago tied with Noah's Bulls at one game apiece in their semifinals series.

Whether Cleveland will make good on Jones' hopes for Ohio to be the home of two championship teams in 2015 remains to be seen, but as long as Meyer, James—and now Jones—reside in the Buckeye State, it's safe to say the connection between the Cavs and Buckeyes won't be coming to an end anytime soon.

Ben Axelrod is Bleacher Report's Big Ten Lead Writer. You can follow him on Twitter @BenAxelrod. Unless noted otherwise, all quotes were obtained firsthand. All statistics courtesy of CFBStats.com. Recruiting rankings courtesy of 247Sports.