LeBron Appears at Jay-Z Show, Music Writers Tremble

So last night, Jay-Z was in Cleveland. SUSPICIOUSLY, the Cavs didn't have a game. REMARKABLY, LeBron not only attended the concert, but stood by the stage with his crew and knew all the words. Oh, and it gets even worse. From the music section of the Plain Dealer:

The good news is Jay-Z didn’t offer LeBron James(notes) a new contract on the spot. The bad news? The hip-hop superstar and the NBA’s MVP were thick as thieves Thursday night at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center.

When Jay-Z rapped an ode to his hometown of New York City (complete with a dazzling Manhattan skyline backdrop), James danced alongside. Alarmingly, No. 23 seemed to know all the words, too. Did we mention that the tune was called “Empire State of Mind”? Their buddy routine certainly didn’t do anything to dispel persistent rumors that New Jersey Nets co-owner Jay-Z is trying to lure James for his team.

For a more reasonable, and sports-conscious, review, read Waiting for Next Year. I could easily just clown the concert reviewer for fear mongering or a lazy lede. But I think it says something that even in other sections of the paper, the Jay/Bron connection and the looming anxiety about James's future can be the hook for an entire story. I guess an ingrained pessimism about sports will do that to a city, even in other parts of the paper.
More from Sporting News: NBA Countdown: No. 5 Dallas Mavericks