Who's the Man?

The NBA off-season – especially for the Cavaliers – has reached its true dog days. With the Anderson Varejao-Sasha Pavlovic situations still in relative limbo, there isn’t the usual amount of Cavs chatter and debate going on.

But two discussions – both surrounding LeBron James – have emerged around our Cavaliers offices and we’ve been wondering how to settle the issues. Then I remembered that I have a blog on cavs.com.

On the first one, I’m simply going to offer my opinion. On the second, I’m going to ask for yours.

By all accounts, LeBron did a fantastic job in his first hosting job at the ESPY Awards. For the most part, he looked cool and comfortable and his “My Prerogative” number was outstanding.

But one bit has received some bad pub, including a semi-scathing piece in Wednesday’s Plain Dealer by columnist Bill Livingston.

This, of course, was LeBron’s “dunking baby” bit in which he faked slamming his newborn son, Bryce Maximus, and made a quip about Angelina Jolie adopting it. Some viewers – like Livvy – were incensed. Others wrote it off as just another failed joke. The debate continued in Thursday’s PD.

I personally feel that it wasn’t a great choice by LeBron, but it was more a case of bad humor than bad taste. It was a poorly written, poorly conceived sketch. But that’s why ESPN is known for sports and not comedy. The ESPY’s have always been hit-or-miss.

Jimmy Kimmel in the showers – for example – with Danica Patrick and a racehorse: not funny. Jimmy Kimmel in the showers trying to wipe off Mike Tyson’s facial tattoo with soap: funny. LeBron dunking an infant: not funny. LeBron in Hammer pants: funny.

It’s not that the young King doesn’t know from comedy. Each of the commercials with Kimmel and his writing staff were great. His “LeBrons” Nike ads are priceless. His SportsCenter commercials are stellar – most notably when Scott Van Pelt steals his throne. He’s as deft in each comedic role as he is in his dramatic role on the court for the Cavaliers. LeBron is genuinely, naturally funny.

In September, LeBron will host the season premiere of Saturday Night Live – something reserved for only sports’ heaviest hitters like Michael Jordan, Joe Montana, Wayne Gretzky and, yes, O.J. Simpson. If his sketches are well-written and well-conceived, LeBron’s appearance will be a hit. If they’re not, it won’t.

So his ESPY dunk was an airball. He’ll have plenty of opportunities to bring the funny in the future. I have complete faith that he’ll do so with honors.

Now, it’s time for a little audience participation …

With soccer icon David Beckham about to make his Stateside debut for the L.A. Galaxy on Saturday night, Cavaliers Public Relations’ managers a/k/a “The Defiant Ones” – Garin Narain and John Manuszak – have had an on-going argument about which athlete is bigger worldwide: Beckham or LeBron James.

(I won’t say which one feels which way.)

Soccer is obviously the biggest sport in the world, but basketball has caught fire around the globe and the 2008 Olympics – along with David Stern’s determination – should assure its exponential growth in China.

Other athletes – like Derek Jeter or Tiger Woods or Payton Manning – are huge in their respective sports and are known almost worldwide. But James and Beckham have similar appeal, plus rock star status. Each wear No. 23 in honor of the original king of sport: Michael Jordan.

In the first two days of sales, the Galaxy sold 250,000 Beckham jerseys at $80 apiece. And Beckham, of course, enhances his rock star status with a Spice Girl spouse.

But James recently hosted the ESPYs, will play with Team USA in August and helm SNL in September. He’ll return to China with the Cavaliers in October and watch the Eastern Conference Championship banner raised at The Q in November. He is 22 years old and by every account one of the top 5 players in his sport. Beckham is 30 years old and probably no longer in the top 15 in his.

You’ve heard the argument. Try to remove your subjectivity as a Cavaliers fan and tell me: who is the top athlete in the world – LeBron or Beckham? Maybe it’s someone else. Here’s your chance to weigh in.

Just CLICK HERE and tell me who and why. I’ll print the best responses on Monday.