NEWS » Flair at Falcons training camp with

MIAMI -- LeBron James could not sleep after Game 6. Imagine, then, how frayed his emotions will be going into Game 7. So much is at stake. Legacies, for so many players, James included. The NBA championship. Whether the season was a success or a bust. How he will be portrayed over the next few months. How history will judge a Miami Heat team that won 27 straight games in one stretch, 66 games in the regular season and now 81 games overall. Although the Heat will insist otherwise, the common belief is that it all hinges on James shoulders. And the four-time NBA MVP wouldnt have it any other way when his Heat take on the San Antonio Spurs in Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night. "I want to go down as one of the greatest. I want our team to go down as one of the greatest teams. And we have an opportunity to do that," James said. "Hasnt been many teams to win back-to-back championships. Its so hard. Its the hardest thing. I said last year it was the hardest thing Ive ever done, winning my first. Last year dont even come close to what weve gone through in this post-season and in these Finals." James was so weary afterward that he had trouble pulling himself up from the chair where he conducted postgame interviews. But on Wednesday, even after a night of no sleep -- "everything goes through your mind after a game," he said -- James said he was already feeling more spry than he was the night before. More rest, more treatment, some time at home with family and friends and a scheduled 9 p.m. date to watch SpongeBob with his kids, James figured that was the right formula to get ready for Game 7. His second ring is 48 minutes away. If it comes, it will be earned. "First of all, Im blessed, man. I dont even know how I got here," James said. "I wasnt supposed to be in the NBA, if you go by statistics and things of me growing up where I grew up. Every time I go into my locker room and see the James on the back of an NBA jersey, Im like, Wow. No criticism can deter me from playing this game because of that. Im not supposed to be here." He means that in a more broad sense, but in simplest terms, that also applies to Thursday night. The Heat probably arent supposed to be there. They were down by five points with less than a half-minute to go in regulation of Game 6. The championship celebration was being readied, literally around them. The Spurs were about to get their hands on the Larry OBrien Trophy, and the Heat were about to slink off into another off-season of utter disappointment. Until, of course, none of that happened. James made a 3-pointer to get Miami within two, and after the Spurs gave Miami life by missing a free throw, Ray Allen sent it to overtime with another 3-pointer. In the extra session, James and the Heat found a way to pull out a 103-100 win, one that left Miami exhausted and San Antonio devastated. They collide one last time on Thursday with all eyes on James, who struggled for much of the game and still finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. "He had an off triple-double," Heat guard Mike Miller said. "I cant have an on triple-double." In James lifetime, only four franchises -- Chicago, the Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit and Houston -- have won consecutive championships. Miami can be the fifth, and even though Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is cautioning his team to not think about the potential prize, James said "human nature" dictates that he has to at least daydream a little bit about what might be looming. "I will play Game 7 in my head from now until tomorrow night," James said. "Its just who I am, how I am. But I wont be too serious. I wont go into a bunker when I get back home. But I will be mentally sharp, mentally focused and mentally driven tomorrow night." For the most part, the Spurs have found a way in this series to keep James under some sort of control, and thats even with him dropping two triple-doubles on them in six games so far. They wont change their approach for Game 7. And the Heat dont expect James to change his, either. In fact, some say hell set the tone long before the opening tip. "I expect LeBron to be LeBron," Heat forward Shane Battier said. "Hes going to be loose. Usually, in shootaround, he does some dunks that would win any dunk contest if they were televised. Thats his way of saying, OK, Im ready to go. Hes going to come here, hes going to listen to his music and hes going to do what LeBron does. If theres one guy we dont have to worry about, its LeBron." James has kept his phones off during the playoffs. Hes stayed away from social media. He has tried to limit how much he hears of what the Heat call the noise, all the constant analysis of a team that has alternated wins and losses for the last month -- and now needs one last two-game winning streak to wrap up their second title. "I dont know how it is possible," Miller said of James turning off the outside world, as much as he can, at this time of year. "I tell him all the time, I wouldnt want to be in his shoes. Its not always fun being the greatest player on the planet. But he handles it about as good as Ive ever seen anyone." It could be a great deal of fun for James on Thursday night. If Miami pulls this off, a second straight Finals MVP award will likely be his, to go with the four regular-season MVPs. Hell be a two-time champion, to go along with his two Olympic gold medals. Others have won more titles and more MVPs, but poking holes in James resume will become a considerably tougher task, even for his biggest naysayers. "We cant worry about what the history books say. Thats why its history," James said. "We have to live in the present. We have to live in the moment. And we have to do whatever it takes to bring that trophy -- or to keep that trophy -- here in Miami." Kyle Keller Jersey . While hell be dialed in to that tournament on a course he loves, you can forgive him if his eyes glance down the calendar just a bit, towards April. Jay Powell Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. https://www.cheapmarlinsjerseys.us/201r-garrett-cooper-jersey-marlins.html . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me. Bob Natal Jersey . The Croatian served 21 aces and hit 42 winners against Sijsling, who double-faulted to give Cilic a 4-3 lead in the deciding set. "All the players, they know me and they were really happy to see me and they were really happy that this is over for me," Cilic said. Miami Marlins Shirts . It just didnt show when he hit the ice. Berra made 42 saves and Kris Russell scored at 1:32 of overtime, lifting the Calgary Flames to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night. FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Wrestling legend Ric Flair, a special guest at Atlanta Falcons training camp Tuesday, praised star receiver Julio Jones while calling out Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman.The Nature Boy, a guest of Jones, addressed the Falcons following practice, firing up the entire squad with his trademark Wooooooo! before breaking the huddle.Afterward, Flair shared a special message about Jones with ESPN and called out Norman, the former Carolina Panthers cornerback who will suit up for the Redskins against the Falcons on Thursday night.This is the Nature Boy Ric Flair at Falcons training camp with my main man, my brother, Julio Jones, the greatest wide receiver in the NFL, Flair screamed. Thats right, Josh Norman: The best. Nobody catches up to Julio Jones. Wooooooo! Go Falcons.Flair, who used to live in Charlotte but now resides in the Atlanta area, expanded on his thoughts about the Falcons.I met Julio at Lake Lanier, and my family has been big Falcons fans, Flair said. I aam a Falcon fan now.dddddddddddd Its easy to say youre a fan of Tom Brady and the Patriots. But now, I want someone in this conference (NFC South) to step up, and this could be Atlantas year. The Panthers gave up a lot on defense. I think (the Falcons) can do it, if everyone stays healthy.I think Julio is one of the most wonderful, most polite, most articulate guys Ive ever met. From texting and talking and just being so kind to people. He doesnt have to be, but hes such a quality guy. Hes first class.Flair expressed an equal amount of respect for coach Dan Quinn after meeting the Falcons coach for the first time Tuesday. The respect is mutual.You could see the energy, Quinn said of Flair. (He) was talking with us and having some fun. So it was great to have his support and being a part of it for us today. You could tell hes a big fan, and were also a big fan of his. ' ' '