I have to say, watching LeBron James hoop it up in a regular ol' recreation center is one of the coolest things I've seen in my sportswriting career. It was especially interesting to see how the college kids reacted. One example: At one point the referees had to leave, so the players were making their own calls, playground-style. James' opposing team included Patrick Beverley, the 6-1 junior at Arkansas who grew up in Chicago. Beverely's team had game point, but when he attempted a layup James blocked it so hard it sailed across the gym and slammed against a side wall, almost plastering Jay Bilas in the face. (Which would have been another one of the coolest things I've seen in my sportswriting career.) Beverley tried to call a goal tend -- which in my eyes was the correct call -- but King James was having none of it. Beverley accepted LeBron's overrule, but he jawed back at him by saying, "It's still our ball. It's still our ball." He and James woofed back and forth for a good 10 to 15 seconds before play resumed. I thought it was very cool that this college kid was taking on the best player on the planet in his own hometown and not backing down. And let the record show that Beverley's team won the game on the ensuing possession.