Charles Barkley weighed in Wednesday on a recent Twitter statement by LeBron James. Barkley, a TNT analyst and former NBA All-Star, said he hopes James remembers Barkley’s critical comments and called a couple of James’ more significant actions this summer “punk” moves.

“I heard about LeBron’s little tweet today that he’s remembering everybody who said anything bad about him,” Barkley said Thursday on ESPN Radio 103.3 FM in Dallas/Fort Worth. “And he said ‘everybody.’ Well, I want him to make sure that he puts my name on that (list).

“I thought that his little one-hour special was a punk move. I thought them dancing around on the stage was a punk move, and I thought he should’ve stayed in Cleveland. Him joining Dwyane Wade’s team was very disappointing to me.”

Barkley spoke on “Galloway and Company,” hosted by Randy Galloway, Ian Fitzsimmons and Matt Mosley. Barkley referred to a Twitter post by James – under the name King James — in which he said: “Don’t think for one min that I haven’t been taking mental notes of everyone taking shots at me this summer. And I mean everyone!”

James has been criticized for leaving Cleveland and for announcing it on a national TV special on ESPN set up by him and his handlers. He also was the subject of a story on ESPN.com about a birthday party in a Las Vegas club that sounded more hedonistic than humble. The story was later removed because ESPN said its reporter did not state clearly he was writing a story (the accuracy of the story was never questioned).

In addition to the TV special, Barkley also weighed in on a rally at American Airlines Arena where James, Chris Bosh and Wade were treated like rock stars and talked about themselves as arguably the greatest trio ever to play in the NBA and future winners of five, six, seven championships.

Galloway and his co-host chuckled at Barkley’s remarks, which also appeared on the sports blog susanshan.com, then said they enjoyed the fact Barkley wanted James to include him on his list.

“He’s got enough people kissing his ass with his family and all the people who work for him,” Barkley said. “We don’t have to tell him what he wants to hear all the time. That’s one of the reasons why … some of these young guys … my opinion is he should have stayed in Cleveland.

“That one-hour special, them jumping around on stage like punks, that wasn’t cool to me. From a basketball standpoint, I wish he had stayed in Cleveland, and if he takes that as criticism, so be it.

“He knows where I’ll be, I don’t run. I’m on TV every week, I’m easy to find.”

An Ohio woman who said she paid $5 at a yard sale for a LeBron James pendant worth nearly $10,000 says it’s been taken from her.

Vaneisha Robinson had the basketball jersey-shaped white gold pendant appraised and put it for sale on eBay.

She says she got a phone call Wednesday from the mother of Maverick O. Carter, the CEO for James’ marketing company. She says the woman told her James wanted to buy the pendant but when she went to the woman’s house James wasn’t there and other people threatened her and took it.

Wadsworth police Sgt. James Elchlinger says he determined the pendant belongs to Carter.

Carter says it had been stolen from him.

Robinson tells WEWS-TV the pendant belongs to her and she wants it back.

LeBron James was the butt of the ESPY awards’ biggest jokes Wednesday night.

Host Seth Meyers was the first to reap the benefits of the former free agents’ lengthy ESPN announcement on July 8 of his decision to choose the Miami Heat as his next team.

“Did it really need to be an hour?” Meyers said. “Somebody time me. Miami. How long did that take? A second.”

The “Saturday Night Live” star later offered some support to the basketball stars’ former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“Literally every team that has ever won an NBA championship has done it without LeBron James,” he quipped.

But Meyers wasn’t the only celebrity to take pot shots at James. “Dinner for Schmucks” stars Steve Carrell and Paul Rudd offered up a parody of his one-hour ESPN special.

Before revealing his big decision to a bearded Rudd, Carell said he used an eight-ball to make his final choice.

“I’ve decided I am going to take my appetite to the Outback Steakhouse,” he said.

In another surprise move, Phil Mickelson won the award for best male golfer, stealing what would have been Tiger Woods’ 23rd win.

“We all know which free agent is making the most money this summer — [Woods's wife] Elin Nordegren,” Meyers joked of Woods’ ex-wife, who is reportedly set to get hundreds of millions from their divorce settlement.

Another highlight involved Andy Samberg arriving on stage dressed up as Paul, the octopus who predicted that Spain would win the World Cup.

As for the big winners of the night, New Orleans Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees picked up four awards while Los Angeles’ Galaxy soccer star Landon Donovan took home three wins.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas is following LeBron James to the Miami Heat. The veteran center, who started playing for Cleveland in 1997 and has never suited up for another NBA team, expects to sign a two-year contract with the Heat later this week, agent Herb Rudoy said Tuesday. The two-year deal would come with a player option for the second season, Rudoy said.

“We’ve agreed to agree,” Rudoy said.

The Heat had no immediate comment. They had talks about acquiring Ilgauskas when he was available this past season after being dealt in a three-team trade to Washington. The Wizards subsequently bought out his contract and made him a free agent.

Ilgauskas is the Cavs’ career leader in games played, blocked shots and rebounds. The 7-foot-3 Lithuanian was drafted by the club in 1996 and overcame serious foot injuries that nearly ended his career.

He’s just the latest name to join what shapes up as a serious title contender in Miami, joining not only James but Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller, who agreed to a deal late last week that remains unsigned.

It’s still possible Ilgauskas accepts a one-year deal, though his preference is the multi-year arrangement.

“His best chance to win a championship would be in Miami,” Rudoy said.

Ilgauskas told Cavs owner Dan Gilbert and general manager Chris Grant the news on Tuesday. James played a role in luring Ilgauskas to Miami, and other teams were interested as well.

Ilgauskas was immensely popular in Cleveland, and expects to keep a home in the city.

“It’s hard,” Rudoy said. “It’s been 14 years. It was very hard for him. I know that. When he called Chris Grant and Dan Gilbert today, it was definitely a hard decision at this stage of his career. But he wants to win a championship. That’s how he made this decision.”

Playing as a reserve for the first time, Ilgauskas averaged 7.4 points and 5.4 rebounds last season. For his career, Ilgauskas has averaged 13.8 points and 7.7 rebounds, plus has played in two All-Star games.

Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert told the Associated Press that he “strongly” disagrees with Jesse Jackson’s criticism of his recent comments about superstar LeBron James.

Following James’ announcement last week that he was leaving Cleveland to join the Miami Heat, Gilbert fired off an incendiary letter to Cavs fans, ripping the 25-year-old and calling his decision “cowardly behavior.” Later, Gilbert told The Associated Press that he felt the NBA’s two-time MVP quit during the playoffs the past two years and that James “has gotten a free pass.”

On Sunday, Jackson responded to Gilbert’s remarks by saying the Cavs owner sees James as a “runaway slave” and that Gilbert’s comments put the player in danger.

In a statement released by the team on Monday, Gilbert tried to put an end to the issue.

“I strongly disagree with Rev. Jesse Jackson’s recent comments and we are not going to engage in any related discussion on it,” Gilbert said. “Going forward, we’re very excited about the Cavaliers and the positive future of our region.”

Gilbert is in Las Vegas attending the owners’ meetings.

James’ publicist, Keith Estabrook, declined comment to The AP.

LeBron James is being dropped off a building in Cleveland.

Workers began dismantling the 10-story-tall iconic image of James on a mural in the downtown area on Saturday, a billboard that has dominated the city’s skyline for years.

It’s being taken down now that the NBA superstar has left the Cavaliers for the Miami Heat.

As strips of the image of James, his arms outstretched and head thrown back after doing his pregame powder toss, began coming off, pedestrians stopped on Ontario Street to take photos while cars pulled to the side for one last look at No. 23, who has gone from being a hometown hero to villain.

Meanwhile, they’re almost giving away LeBron James jerseys in the city he left behind.

All over Cleveland, No. 23 jerseys can be found at discounted rates as merchants look to get rid of their inventories for the superstar.

At Dick’s Sporting Goods in Westlake, James jerseys have been reduced to $29.99 US with the store offering a further 75 per cent reduction. T-shirts and other merchandise with James’ face or number on it are also at bargain prices.

Elsewhere, businesses are offering perks in exchange for James’ jersey. At McNulty’s Bier Markt in Ohio City, anyone turning in a James sweater or T-shirt got a free beer.

Anyone with a T-shirt, hat or tattoo featuring another Cleveland sports star got a free second round.

Jesse Jackson criticized Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert on Sunday, saying Gilbert sees LeBron James as a “runaway slave” and that the owner’s comments after the free-agent forward decided to join the Miami Heat put the player in danger.

Shortly after James announced his decision last week, Gilbert fired off an incendiary letter to Cleveland’s fans, ripping the 25-year-old and promising to deliver a title before James wins one. He called James’ decision “cowardly” and later told The Associated Press he believes James quit during a handful of Cavaliers playoff games.

“He has gotten a free pass,” Gilbert told the AP in a phone interview late Thursday night. “People have covered up for (James) for way too long. Tonight we saw who he really is.”

Jackson said Gilbert’s comments were “mean, arrogant and presumptuous.”

“He speaks as an owner of LeBron and not the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers,” the reverend said in a release from his Chicago-based civil rights group, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. “His feelings of betrayal personify a slave master mentality. He sees LeBron as a runaway slave. This is an owner employee relationship – between business partners – and LeBron honored his contract.”

Messages were left Sunday night seeking comment from Gilbert, the Cavaliers and James.

Jackson also called Gilbert’s comments an attack on all NBA players and said the owner should face a “challenge” from the league and the players’ association.

NBA spokesman Tim Frank declined comment.

Gearing up to join his new team the Miami Heat, LeBron James was spotted arriving in South Beach late last night (July 8).

The former Cleveland Cavaliers player looked to be in good spirits as he arrived at the W Hotel where he has rented several cabanas for the weekend celebrations.

James made the announcement that he’d be leaving Cleveland and joining up with the Miami squad during a one-hour special on ESPN earlier in the evening.

He explained, “Ultimately, the decision had to come from me. To be alongside greatness raises your level. I’ve won at every level, won championships at every level. It won’t be fulfilled until I win at the highest level.”

All Hell broke loose in Cleveland on Thursday night. It is appears sports fanatics are jumpier than a virgin at a prison rodeo  over Ohio native son LeBron James’s announcement that he’s abandoning the city for sunny pastures in South Beach.

In Thursday’s one-hour ESPN special called “The Decision,” LeBron James announced to the world that he had decided to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers, who drafted him No. 1 overall in 2003, after seven seasons and join fellow superstars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on the Miami Heat. During his tenure in Cleveland, James averaged 29.7 points, 8.6 assists and 7.3 rebounds and won two MVP trophies.

Clips of rejoicing fans in downtown Miami were simultaneously met with images of LeBron’s jerseys being burned in the streets of Ohio. Many Cavs fans are angry over James’ decision to turn the most important announcement of his career into an infomercial, but none more than Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert. Angered and betrayed by LBJ’s decision to leave for Miami, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert accused the NBA’s MVP of quitting during the playoffs in a scathing public letter late Thursday.

Gilbert posted a letter to Cavs fans on the team’s website shortly after James announced his plans to sign with the Heat — and boy was it not pretty! In the letter, Gilbert called the process on James’ free agency “narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his ‘decision’ unlike anything ever ‘witnessed’ in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.”