was restricted in the second half against Dallas last weekend — and the Cowboys dont come close to prese

MIAMI -- The only thing that keeps LeBron James up worrying at night is basketball, which simultaneously makes perfect sense and no sense. On one hand, hes the games best player. On the other, hes rarely impressed with himself. Even after a year like 2013 -- when a spectacular wedding, a second NBA championship and a fourth MVP award were among the many highlights enjoyed by the Miami Heat star -- he still is, as he puts it, striving for greatness. Or, technically, more greatness, since his enormous list of accomplishments just keeps growing. James was announced Thursday as The Associated Press 2013 Male Athlete of the Year, becoming the third basketball player to capture the award that has been annually awarded since 1931. James received 31 of 96 votes cast in a poll of news organizations, beating Peyton Manning (20) and Jimmie Johnson (7). "Im chasing something and its bigger than me as a basketball player," James told the AP. "I believe my calling is much higher than being a basketball player. I can inspire people. Youth is huge to me. If I can get kids to look at me as a role model, as a leader, a superhero ... those things mean so much, and thats what I think I was built for. I was put here for this lovely game of basketball, but I dont think this is the biggest role that Im going to have." Past winners include Joe Louis, Jesse Owens, Muhammad Ali, Carl Lewis, Joe Montana, Tiger Woods and Michael Phelps. Serena Williams was the AP Female Athlete of the Year, announced Wednesday. James joins Michael Jordan and Larry Bird as NBA players to win the award. "I dont think Ive changed much this year," James said. "Ive just improved and continued to improve on being more than just as a basketball player. Ive matured as a leader, as a father, as a husband, as a friend." So far in 2013, with a maximum of three games left to play, James has appeared in 98. The Heat have won 78 of them. None of those was bigger than the four Miami got in the NBA Finals against San Antonio. In Game 7, James was at his best, scoring 37 points, including the jump shot with 27.9 seconds left that essentially was the clincher. "He always rises to the occasion when it matters the most," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. Business-wise, James is booming. Some estimate his annual income around $60 million, less than one-third of that being made on the court. His wife has opened a juice bar in Miami, and David Beckham wants James to be part of the Major League Soccer team he plans on bringing to South Florida in the next couple years. Countless people want to align with James. Few make him listen. Beckham did. "You want to be a part of it, but it has to feel real to you," James said. "You dont want to do something that doesnt feel much to you, that youre just doing for the money. We all have money. For me, my time is more than money at this point in my life." James has another "decision" to make in 2014. He can become a free agent again this summer, though still smarting from the circus atmosphere that followed him during his final season with the Cleveland Cavaliers four years ago, James is staying largely silent on what might happen. He insists he has no idea. "Im so zoned in on what my task is here this year that its hard to think about anything else," James said. "A guy the other day asked me what Im going to do for New Years, and I havent even thought about that." When asked if theres anything he doesnt like about Miami, James offered few complaints, other than the often-clogged street -- Biscayne Boulevard, or U.S. 1 -- that leads to the arena the Heat call home. "What is there not to like about Miami?" James said. "It is a home. My family is very happy; Im very comfortable. But U.S. 1? I wish that was a highway." Bear in mind, hes not always unhappy when that street is gridlocked. The last two years, hes been largely responsible for hundreds of thousands of people lining that road for Heat championship parades. And if he gets his way, theyll be back next June. Cheap Air Max 97 Nz Sale . Yahoo! Sports columnist Marc Spears says that the Boogie Smooth album may have been an elaborate April Fools prank. Cheap Air Max 97 Nz Shoes . In the last race before the Sochi Olympics, Bjoergen followed up her win in the 10-kilometre classical race on Saturday by beating World Cup sprint leader Denise Herrmann of Germany by 0.43 seconds for her fifth victory of the season. http://www.cheapairmax97nz.com/ . You can watch coverage on TSN, TSN2 and CTV beginning today at 3pm et/Noon pt. The championships will feature approximately 250 of Canadas best figure skaters in senior, junior and novice as they vie for spots on the national team, international assignments and will act as the final step in the 2014 Olympic qualification process. Cheap Air Max 97 Nz . The Rangers announced after Thursdays 4-2 loss to the New York Yankees that they would purchase Williams contract from Triple-A Round Rock. The 32-year-old Williams was released by Houston earlier this month after going 1-4 with a 6. Cheap Air Max 97 Nz Free Shipping . Thats what he did over the past 2 1/2 years with the Washington Wizards. Wittmans approach helped turn the Wizards from pushover to playoff winners.Very nice job, Colts. Sorry we are not more impressed.Yes, Pro Picks has looked down on Indianapolis in these playoffs, twice picking against the Colts and looking foolish.Have we smartened up as Andrew Luck takes the AFC South champions to Foxborough to meet the AFC East winners, the Patriots?Read on.New England (No. 2 in AP Pro32) is a seven-point favourite over Indianapolis (No. 8 in AP Pro32), which seems a bit low. Not only did the Patriots rout the Colts in Indy this season, but other than the Ravens, hardly anyone puts a scare into them at Gillette Stadium.But the oddsmakers have noticed several things about both teams:—Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is playing at a very high level, perhaps the best of his three pro seasons — and that is saying plenty.—Indys defence has shown up bigtime in the post-season, discovering a pass rush, blanketing receivers (cornerback Vontae Davis has been superb) and making big plays.—The offensive line, considered a weak spot for most of 2014, appears to be coming together at just the right time.—Joe Flacco often had his way with New Englands secondary last week.—The Patriots showed plenty of gumption by rallying twice from 14-point holes. But they twice fell into 14-point holes.—New England couldnt run at all against Baltimore and stopped trying.All of that said, we leave the final words on Sundays late game to Patriots coach Bill Belichick, not someone to care about point spreads.I dont take anything for granted from anybody, Belichick says. Its a one-game season. They have a lot of good players; they have a lot of good coaches. Theyre working just as hard as we are. We have to find some way to outperform them. I think thats the message for all of us.Message received.BEST BET: PATRIOTS, 31-21No. 3 Green Bay (plus 7) at No.dddddddddddd 1 SeattleThe NFC finalists also met during the regular season and it was lopsided, too. Seattle romped 36-16 in the 2014 kickoff game.Both sides went through some trials and tribulations the rest of the way, and not much emphasis should be placed on that opening result. Green Bay, in particular, is a different team, its defence more efficient with an improved pass rush, and its running game well-established after early struggles. Aaron Rodgers has gotten some diversity from his receiving group, especially with the emergence of Davante Adams and Andrew Quarless as a third and fourth target.Most problematic, of course, is All-Pro Rodgers sore calf. He clearly was restricted in the second half against Dallas last weekend — and the Cowboys dont come close to presenting the defensive challenge the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks bring.Indeed, Seattles D is looking just as imposing now as it was a year ago.Were playing for each other, I think thats the biggest thing, All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman says. Guys are playing selfless: There arent any egos, there arent any agendas, and guys just want to do whatever it takes to win. If that means making a tackle, then make the tackle; if that means catching the football, were going to catch the football. Guys are playing for one another, they dont care about stats, nor do they care about anything else.They care about another trip to the big game, and theyll get it.SEAHAWKS, 23-20___2014 RECORD: Against spread: This week (2-2); Season (130-122-5). Straight up: This week (3-1); Season (174-88-1)Best Bet: 7-12 against spread, 11-8 straight up.Upset special: 9-9 against spread, 7-11 straight up.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '