The tone was uncommonly intense from the opening

As the theatre and drama of the NBA Free Agency Season unfolds with LeBron James Decision 2.0, TSN Radio 1050s hosts of #1On1 with Will & Duane, Will Strickland and Duane Watson incorporate the help of long-suffering Cleveland sports fan and a host of TSN 1050s Game Night and Game Day, Andy McNamara to sort out where the dominoes fall for the rest of the NBA and its prime free agents. What does LeBron Jamess return to Cleveland mean to that city and the league? Strickland: It would seem that Ohios Prodigal Son returning to the place where his professional success began would be a significant part of his career narrative. The legend grows even more so if James is able to unite and sow the seeds of ultimate glory in the game with his new teammates to lead them to a title. LeBron exhibited how he could lord his power over the NBA with this decision and create semi-seismic ripples in leagues landscape. But the deeper, more meaningful aspect of this all is LeBron Raymone James had to leave, grow, learn to understand what may be his greater purpose in life. In his own words: "My relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball. I didnt realize that four years ago. I do now." McNamara: For the City of Cleveland LeBrons return means everything. The city nearly shut down on Friday to celebrate. Billboards were raised and t-shirts were released. It means a return to legitimacy, not just in the NBA, but in the North American sports scene. When LeBron left bars, restaurants and tourism suffered. LeBrons letter provides commitment and hope to a struggling region and erases the pain of the last four years. For the NBA LeBrons return provides a phenomenal feel good story and gives hope to an underdog franchise. Its great for the league and freshens up a stale Eastern Conference scene. Watson: It allows James to make a return home, make peace with the City of Cleveland and makes them viable contenders in the Eastern Conference. Its a storybook ending, really, and a chance for James to cement his legacy if he brings a championship to Cleveland. Oh, and more jersey sales for the league as its rumoured he will change his number to 32. In LeBrons open letter to the NBA in Sports Illustrated, he mentions several of his Cleveland teammates, but not Andrew Wiggins. Cause for alarm? Strickland: No. Alarm for whom? Canadian hoops fans who would like to see the four Canucks on that team, especially Wiggins, be integral parts of aiding the Cavaliers in their NBA title quest. Understandable. But, this is a business. And this is a business that requires deft asset management skills, those often lacking in the front office decision making in Cleveland. So, do the Cavs move Andrew Wiggins, an unproven commodity on the finest of hardwood courts in The Association as yet, but with an absolutely meteoric upside for a highly coveted three-time All-Star, 3-point shooting, voracious rebounding Olympic Gold Medalist entering his prime who accelerates your teams championship aspirations? McNamara: I dont believe the exclusions of those names was a secret message or hint of things to come. It was definitely interesting that the #1 overall draft pick was left out though. Maybe LeBron doesnt know Wiggins and mentioned people with whom he was more familiar. Watson: No. Despite his talent, Wiggins is a rookie and still has to prove his worth in the NBA. The balance of power shifted in the Eastern Conference. Who prevails ad why? Strickland: While Cleveland automatically becomes a prohibitive favourite with That Guy on their roster, consider Washingtons impressive showing in the playoffs as well as retaining centre Marcin Gortat in free agency, note that Miamis not completely dead and the Toronto Raptors wont creep up on anyone next season. However, after "meditating it", the Chicago Bulls hold the most intrigue. Pau Gasol may still be the most all-around skilled big on the planet, even at 34. Teamed with 2014 Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah, they could be the best passing bigs in the league. Rookie Doug McDermott, the solid Jimmy Butler & the emerging Taj Gibson all help Coach Tom Thibodeaus plans of Eastern Conference supremacy. A healthy Derrick Rose makes this close to a forgone conclusion. McNamara: As it stands now the East is completely wide open, which makes for real interesting storylines that dont involve who will lose to Miami in the Eastern Conference. As it stands now, the major players have to include Cleveland (obviously), Indiana and Chicago. Free agency moves and trades can alter this of course. Right now I give the nod to the Cavaliers as favorites, but that takes into account a lot of assumptions that include whether Wiggins stays, if Wiggins can step in and contribute day one, how Bennett bounces back, and what trades or signings still take place. Watson: I dont necessarily know if it has shifted, I think it is just far more open and even overall. Every year the Heat were the dominant force to beat and now there isnt an overwhelming favourite. Teams have improved, (Bulls, Cavaliers), while others have are looking to take the next step after last years success (Raptors, Wizards), if some teams can figure it out, they can be dangerous (Pistons, Heat) and some have regressed (Heat, Pacers). The landscape has balanced out and its not as easy to call, with some free agents still unsigned, and moves to be made, its too early to call. Which player won the most this free agency period? Strickland: With spirited nods to the Madison Square Gardener, Carmelo Anthony (five years/$130M), Chris Bosh (five years/ $118M), Gordon Hayward (four years/$63M) and Chandler Parsons (three years/$46M), who all cashed out in dramatic fashion, LeBron James reigns here. The King didnt max out as he could have at two years/$42.1M. But the social/community currency, along with his personal peace of mind, may have the longest lasting impact and value. McNamara: No doubt LeBron. He looks like a superhero returning home and is savior to a city and region. Plus he goes to a team with assets to trade for a proven vet or just grow a stable of young studs. Watson: Chandler Parsons was a second round pick that earned $926,500 this past season with the Houston Rockets. Now the Dallas Mavericks are paying him $12 million a season on a three-year near max contract, talk about a pay day! Hes the Mavs highest player, but hes not the key to taking the Mavericks to the next level. Mark Cuban overpaid to stick it to his cross-state rival. Parsons is good, but not near-max money good. Youre the real MVP Chandler Parsons. Which player lost the most this free agency period? Strickland: Luol Deng, hands down. After dismissing several deals at $10M per year, which he felt were too low considering his stature and value, the oft-injured 29-year-old former All-Star signed a two year/$20M deal to "replace" LeBron James in Miami. More potentially lucrative offers existed with the Rockets, Mavericks, Hawks and Wizards. Negotiation is an art. Deng and his agents seem to be finger painting. And, as hard as it is to call $10 million per year "finger painting", tough to find kinder words for how this all shook out for Deng. McNamara: Chris Bosh. Why, Oh Why would he go back to Miami? There is no possible way he will be seen as anything other than a complete failure if he doesnt lead the Heat back to the Finals. Bosh going to Houston made much more sense since he would get a fresh start and different expectations on him. The only positive for CB about returning to South Beach is the extra year he gets on his contract. Watson: Chris Bosh signed a max contract with the wrong team, electing to sign a five-year $118 million to return to the Miami Heat (sans LeBron James). The Houston Rockets offered the power forward a four-year deal for $88 million to play alongside Dwight Howard and James Harden and stretch the floor and play defence in his home state, but he passed. Now he will have to work twice as hard, with Dwyane Wade on part-time duty and carry the Heat, as James made it easier for everyone on the team. He will effectively have to earn that salary, and bring his level of play back to what he did in Toronto. The Three-Man Weave contributors are co-hosts of TSN Radio 1050s 1-on-1 with Will and Duane, Will Strickland (@WallStrizzle1) and Duane Watson (@byDuaneWatson) and guest Pancakkon King (The second "k" is silent) Andy McNamara (@AndyMc81). Cheap Nike Shoes From China . TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie tweeted Monday morning that Callahan - who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, is now open to a six-year contract at less than $7 million per season. Wholesale Nike Shoes . The 36-year-old said a few months ago he would hang up his boots at the end of the season, but has since changed his mind. "Its a pity the season is ending now, as I am in good physical shape and enjoying myself," Di Natale said. https://www.wholesalenikeshoesauthentic.com/ . The 49ers announced the deal Tuesday. San Francisco selected Lloyd in the fourth round of the 2003 draft. Discount Nike Shoes . Interestingly, the culprits were not rookies, but well paid, experienced pros. The first gaffe came in the 24th minute of arguably the biggest early season MLS game in history between Seattle and Toronto. Sounder newcomer Marco Pappa, (with over 100 MLS games, and 39 Guatemalan Caps to his name) attempted a back pass to one of his central defenders. Cheap Nike Shoes Authentic . Chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel also accused Pistorius of tailoring his testimony to fit the evidence at the scene. Pistorius denied the accusations. Nel alleged that the Olympic runner changed his aim with his 9 mm pistol to ensure that he hit Steenkamp as she fell back against a magazine rack in a toilet cubicle.SOCHI, Russia -- Finland eliminated Russia from the Olympic mens hockey tournament with a 3-1 victory Wednesday, putting a stunning end to the Russians enormous expectations at home. Teemu Selanne scored an early goal and Tuukka Rask made 37 saves as Finland crushed the Russians dreams of winning hockey gold in front of their own fans. Russian teams have won eight gold medals in hockey, but none in the last 22 years. Selanne and Mikael Granlund each had a goal and an assist for the steady Finns, who overcame an early deficit and silenced the Bolshoy Ice Dome with two goals in the first period. Despite its roster of high-priced offensive stars, Russia couldnt score in the final 52 minutes after Ilya Kovalchuks early power-play goal. Finland will face top-seeded Sweden in the semifinals on Friday. Russia has failed to win a medal in three straight Olympics since 2002, and even home-ice advantage couldnt end the embarrassing drought. A quarter-final exit is excruciating for the proud Russian team, which pressed relentlessly and fruitlessly in the third period after falling behind by two goals. After the final buzzer, several Russian players stood on the ice with their hands on their knees. Evgeni Malkin, who failed to score a goal in the last four games, dropped to one knee before captain Pavel Datsyuk led the traditional post-game handshake line. The Russians then gathered at centre ice amid more jeers and whistles than cheers, mournfully raising their sticks to salute the fans before skating off the ice at an arena built to herald Russias return to hockey dominance. Alex Ovechkin, the reigning NHL MVP and one of the Sochi Games most public faces, failed to score another goal for Russia after scoring on his first shot just 1:17 into Russias opener against Slovenia. Malkin, the Russians other former NHL MVP, also didnt score a goal after the first four minutes of the opener. Ovechkin, Malkin and Datsyuk all hailed Russias home Olympics as the most important tournament of their careers, but theyll likely have only bitter memories. Russia didnt play horribly in Sochi, winning three of its five games, but lost a painful eight-round shootout to the U.S. team before falling behind early and failing to cattch up against steady Finland.dddddddddddd Semyon Varlamov allowed all three goals on 15 shots against the Finns before getting pulled for Sergei Bobrovsky during the second period. Juhamatti Aaltonen scored the first goal for Finland, the most consistently successful Olympic team in the last two decades, winning medals in four of the past five games. Russian fans realized the importance and peril of this game, filling the Olympic park early in the afternoon with cheers, chants and Russian flags. The Bolshoy crowd began chanting "Ro-ssi-ya!" even before pre-game warm-ups, waving hundreds of flags and banners emblazoned with hometowns and slogans. The tone was uncommonly intense from the opening faceoff. After Granlund took an early holding penalty in the offensive zone, captain Pavel Datsyuk fed Kovalchuk for a hard shot over Rasks shoulder. Kovalchuk popped the water bottle off the top of Finlands net and celebrated with a two-footed leap into the air amid ecstatic cheers. But moments later, Aaltonen made a beautiful move along the goal line, putting a shot under Varlamovs glove arm for the KHL forwards first goal in Sochi. Bolshoy got quiet, and it became positively funeral-like late in the period when Granlund moved up the boards, broke past two defencemen and fed Selanne for the Finn captains 22nd goal in a record-tying six trips to the Olympics. The 43-year-old Selanne extended his own record for the oldest player to score in an Olympics. Finland scored again on the power play early in the second, with Granlund collecting Selannes rebound and sliding in a backhand from a sharp angle. Granlund, who turns 22 in a week, hadnt been born when Selanne played in his first Olympics in 1992. Russia put together an impressive offensive stretch after Bobrovsky came on, with Rask forced to make a big save on Alexander Semins breakaway. The Russians continued to press in the third period, outshooting Finland 14-5, but Rask made big saves when his teammates didnt block Russias shots. Dozens of fans lingered in their seats long after the team left the ice, disconsolately folding their flags and staring at the ice. A few Finnish fans near centre ice even went up to a group of Russian fans for a hug. ' ' '