LeBron thinks he could've helped struggling Browns

CLEVELAND -- LeBron James watched the Cleveland Browns get shut out by Baltimore on Monday night and came to one simple conclusion: He could help.

"If I put all my time and commitment into it, if I dedicated myself to the game of football, I could be really good," the Cavaliers superstar said before facing the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night. "No matter what team I was on."

The Browns have one of the NFL's most anemic offenses, a key problem during their 1-8 start. The NBA's reigning MVP certainly couldn't make things any worse.

James was an All-Ohio wide receiver at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School before quitting football after his junior year to focus on basketball. But he still follows the game closely and believes he could have been a hybrid tight end/receiver in the mold of San Diego's Antonio Gates or Atlanta's Tony Gonzalez.

Gates, who played basketball in college and not football, is listed at 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds. James is listed at 6-8 and 250 pounds.

Around the league

BOSTON: Forward Paul Pierce has returned to practice after missing a day with a sore left knee.

Pierce was hurt on Friday night against Atlanta. The 32-year-old says it was only a slight sprain, and he took part in the team's workout after missing Monday's practice. He says his return went smoothly.

Coach Doc Rivers gave him an occasional rest on the sideline.

Rivers and Pierce both say they expect him to be available against Golden State tonight.

GOLDEN STATE: Swingman Kelenna Azubuike will undergo surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his left knee.

The team says the operation will be performed today in Phoenix. Azubuike is expected to miss the remainder of the season.

OKLAHOMA CITY: Forward Shaun Livingston was scheduled to undergo surgery to remove staples from an earlier procedure on his left knee. No timetable for his return has been set.

Livingston had the knee rebuilt after he tore three ligaments during a gruesome spill in a February 2007 game.

ORLANDO: Point guard Jameer Nelson needs surgery again.

The All-Star will have arthroscopic surgery today on torn cartilage in his left knee, the team said. He is expected to miss four to six weeks.

This is the second straight season he has been sidelined.

Nelson injured his right shoulder in February and had surgery. In a surprise move, he returned for the NBA finals.

PORTLAND: Forward Travis Outlaw will have surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot.

TORONTO: The Raptors have claimed forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu off waivers from Houston and was in uniform for the Raptors' game at Denver. Forward Hedo Turkoglu was ruled out for Tuesday's game against the Nuggets with a sore left hip

MUTOMBO: Dikembe Mutombo is joining the NBA as a global ambassador.

The league announced Mutombo's hiring to the newly created position Tuesday, with commissioner David Stern calling the eight-time All-Star "one of sports' outstanding humanitarians."

Mutombo, who retired last season after 18 years in the league, will work on numerous international events and programs, including the Basketball without Borders camps.

Observer News Services

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