CSN Bay Area

I predict LeBron James will spend the rest of the year injured, and here’s why: Cleveland's new acquisition J.R. Smith explained how he will cope without knowing the Cavs playbook this way: “My motto is, ‘When in doubt, shoot the ball.’”

So he did, going 0-for-5 in 18 minutes in a loss to Houston.

He comes to Oakland Friday, so sit back and enjoy a man who knows his lack of limitations.

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I am going to vote for Curt Schilling next year to go into the Hall of Fame, if only in the desperate hope that he will stop saying stupid things like this:

“(John) Smoltz is a Hall-of-Famer. And I think the other big thing is that I think he's a Democrat, and so . . . I know that as a Republican, that there's some people who really don't like that.”

He said this on WEEI radio in Boston, where crazy -– and wrong -– is apparently Job One. Wrong, because Smoltz is no more a Democrat than Ted Cruz (he donated to Mitt Romney’s campaign, if that helps). And crazy because, well, professional athletes are typically Democrats only until they make major league money.

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And in other political news, Jerry Jones fixed America with Chris Christie. From ESPN:

“He and his wife used to, on a vacation, use their money to come all the way to Texas to come to a Cowboy game. They were so limited on their money that they couldn’t even buy parking. They had to park far enough away to walk without paying. Now, all I’m saying is that’s a Cowboy fan. But more important than anything, and you hit it right, Mort, is the mojo. Let me tell you, if he’s got enough mojo to pull this thing off for this Cowboy team this year, I’m for him being president of the United States. U.S. could use mojo.”

Okay. Mojo it is.

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And now, Talent v. Tolerance on both sides of the pond, with Talent going 1-0 and with a significant lead in the second game.

Alabama has received a commitment from Jonathan Taylor, a defensive lineman who was arrested in July on an aggravated assault/family violence charge based on him choking and punching his girlfriend. He was subsequently kicked off the Georgia football team.

He'll be part of Team Saban after that, because chances come easier to those who can avoid a proper trap block.

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And in England, the news is dicier still. Oldham Athletic of League One is allegedly close to signing striker Ched Evans, who was just released from jail on a rape charge. Evans, a Welsh international, was found guilty in 2012 of raping a 19-year-old too drunk to give consent, served half his five-year sentence and was released in October, but has steadfastly maintained his innocence even though an attempt to appeal was denied.

He was rumored to be going back to his former club Sheffield United, but the club backed down after a petition with 160,000 signatures protesting the signing was presented. Oldham has been besieged with a petition of nearly 60,000 and two sponsors have either ended their relationship with the club or will do so if he is signed.

Oldham is still mulling it over, and owner Simon Corney told the Jewish Chronicle that the deal could be done at any time but “wasn’t straightforward,” and cited “some legal issues” that needed tending. But the key sentence from Corney is “We believe he has served his time.”

So it’s talent v. tolerance, but it’s also forgiveness v. vengeance. It’s Richie Incognito and Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson, too. It’s life in the new millennium, which is why people have already started the countdown for the next one hoping that it'll start better.

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Tottenham Hotspur has become the first Premier League club to officially ban selfies. That this was ever a thing speaks poorly of Spurs fans, and it also reminds us that selfies of any kind are part of the reason why our culture is doomed. Trust us, pictures of you taken by you are the lowest form of entertainment.

Except for Curt Schilling conspiracy theories.

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Scot McCloughan has jumped to the front of the line in Washington, where he will have final say on all personnel, according to Comrade Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com. This tells us that Bruce Allen and Jay Gruden have to ask for time to make their cases on the quarterback situation.

And then they all tromp up to Danny Snyder’s office and . . . well, you know.

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Detroit Lions fans are beyond caring, but the Super Bowl referee gig is down to . . . no, not Pete Morelli . . . Gene Steratore and Bill Vinovich. Of course, they won’t be making all the calls, only telling us what they are, but go on and hate them ahead of time.

In addition, they are the only two NFL referees who are also NCAA Division I basketball officials, so if they get hooked into working the Michigan-Michigan State game instead, Morelli may make a comeback.

Please, Deity Of Choice, make this happen.

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And finally, this. Because, well, why the hell not?