Das Team » He fought off a Sabres defender in the high slot

SAN ANTONIO - LeBron James should be used to the NBA Finals by now. After five trips to the championship series in eight years, it would make sense if he had a been-there, done-that attitude when stepping onto the sports biggest stage. He doesnt. On Wednesday James took a seat inside a makeshift interview area, sneaked a quick glance at the NBA Finals signage that was off to his left side, and beamed like a kid in a candy store. Just a couple years removed from being ripped for not delivering in the moments that decide championships, James seems more comfortable in these surroundings than ever. "Im blessed, man," James said. "Thats all I can say." And then, without stopping, the four-time MVP said much more. "This is my fifth appearance in a finals," he continued. "Im blessed. I was a kid who watched so many finals appearances and, you know, watched Michael Jordan and watched Shaq and Kobe ... we watched throwback finals games. ... I just wished maybe I could see the finals verbiage behind me and be a part of this." His wishes come true again Thursday night, when James and the Miami Heat open these finals against the San Antonio Spurs, the NBAs first championship-series rematch since 1998. The Heat are going for a third straight title, the Spurs are trying for their fifth crown since 1999. If Miami wins, the perception will be James came through. If Miami loses, the perception will be he didnt do enough. James knows thats the reality. He doesnt mind. "I play for my teammates, our team, the city of Miami, my friends and family, and I gave it all for that," James said. "And at the end of the day, win, lose or draw, Im satisfied with that. I dont get involved in what people say about me and my legacy. I think its actually kind of stupid." By now, the story behind James rise to a champion is no secret. He left Cleveland in 2010 because he felt Miami gave him a better opportunity to win titles. In 2011, when Miami lost to Dallas in the final round, James said he was relying too much upon proving his doubters and naysayers wrong. So the next season, he vowed to play the game the way he had in the past. Championship No. 1 came in 2012, championship No. 2 came last season in an epic seven-game series against the Spurs, and now the shot at No. 3 is here. "Hes really taken his game to a whole other level," Heat guard Dwyane Wade said. "Obviously as an individual hes grown, as a man, both on and off the court from his own experiences. So I think hes done a phenomenal job. ... If I sit back and look from afar, hes done an unbelievable job under the microscope that hes been under since he was 16 years old of doing things his way and been very successful at doing them." If James is feeling pressure right now, it doesnt show publicly. Away from the public eye, though, teammates have marveled all season about how someone who makes more than $50 million a year in salary and endorsements is working perhaps harder than ever. "Nothing he does is normal," Heat forward Michael Beasley said. "He practices wearing a weight vest. Does that sound normal?" James spent the majority of his question-answering time Wednesday laughing or smiling. Off-stage, he joked with a few other people, chatting and seeming as relaxed as he would if this was the eve of a Heat-Spurs game in January, not one in June. The Spurs are worried about stopping James, they know that wont happen. "We understand LeBron is the best player in the league and just physically hes just a monster," San Antonio forward Tim Duncan said. In 2007, when the Spurs swept Cleveland, James was still learning. In 2011, he felt like he absolutely had to win, and failed to get it done. In 2012 and 2013, he just played the game the way he felt it needs to be played. And its no coincidence that its all fallen into place since. "Every time I come up here and talk to you guys or I do something, you know, very well on the basketball floor or off the floor, my city is rewarded by that," James said. "My family is rewarded by that, my friends are rewarded by that, the kids and all the kids in the world that look up to me are rewarded by that. Thats enough to get me by. Everything else is extra credit." Cheap Yeezy 350 V2 . -- Barry Bonds is all set to return to the San Francisco Giants. Cheap Yeezy 350 Fake .com) - The Carolina Panthers won for the first time in seven games last week, were without Cam Newton due to a car accident this week, but somehow sit atop the much-maligned NFC South. http://www.yeezys350cheap.com/fake-yeezy...lesale.html.com) - There may be a debate in Philadelphia about who should be the starting quarterback of the Eagles. Fake Yeezy 350 White . - Jerome Verrier scored the winner 8:24 into overtime and Louis-Phillip Guindon stopped 46 shots as the Drummondville Voltigeurs edged the host Val-dOr Foreurs 4-3 on Friday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoff action. Fake Yeezy Boost 350 Womens . The moves were the first punitive steps taken by the Dolphins since a report on the NFLs investigation of the case was released last week. Investigators found that guard Richie Incognito and two teammates engaged in persistent harassment directed at tackle Jonathan Martin, another offensive lineman and an assistant trainer.Buffalo, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Boyd Gordon recorded the winning score in the late stages of the third period, and Edmonton clipped Buffalo, 3-2, on Friday. Iiro Pakarinen posted his first career goal and Mark Arcobello also lit the lamp for the Oilers, who won for the first time on their five-game road trip and snapped a four-game skid overall. Viktor Fasth came up with 29 saves for the victory. Michal Neuvirth stopped a season-high 49 pucks for the Sabres, who became the first team in the NHL with 10 regulation losses. Matt Moulson and Drew Stafford tallied for the hosts, who dropped their ninth game in the last 11. We had a 2-1 lead in this game, but it wasnt enough if we dont compete, said Buffalo head coach Ted Nolan. Gordon gave Edmonton a 3-2 edge with 4:15 left in regulation, by breaking to the net along the left side and tapping home a feed from Teddy Purcell. Buffalo went with an extra attacker in the final minute-plus but failed to dent Fasth. We were able to respond after their second goal, gave a good push-back and got the win, said Gordon. Despite 31 combined shots iin the first period, the game was scoreless, as Neuvirth stopped 19 Edmonton opportunities and Fasth was good on all 12 Buffalo chances.dddddddddddd Moulson opened the scoring just 26 seconds into the middle period by sweeping in a Zemgus Girgensons dish, then Pakarinen added his milestone score 54 seconds later to tie the game when he followed up a Mark Fayne rebound and scored with a low, hard shot from the inner arc of the left circle. Stafford put the Sabres ahead just past the 6 1/2-minute mark of the third, but Arcobello struck for the Oilers with 8:18 to play. He fought off a Sabres defender in the high slot, and, once he regained his balance, popped the puck over Neuvirths shoulder. Game Notes Neuvirth made 51 saves on Mar. 13, 2014 for Buffalo against Carolina in a 4-2 loss ... Pakarinen was recalled earlier in the week after collecting five goals and three assists in seven games for Oklahoma City of the American Hockey League ... Edmonton continues its sojourn in Manhattan on Sunday, while Buffalo hosts Pittsburgh on Saturday. ' ' '