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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." A.Q. Shipley Jersey . -- The Tampa Bay Lightning are disappointed, though not discouraged. David Johnson Jersey . -- Adam Tambellini scored three times and set up one more as the Calgary Hitmen won their sixth in a row by crushing the host Lethbridge Hurricanes 8-1 on Saturday in Western Hockey League play. http://www.officialarizonacardinalsfootb...e-jersey-womens. Pospisil, whose season-ending goal is to improve his ATP Tour ranking enough to qualify for one of the 32 seedings at Januarys Australian Open, dominated Karlovic in 59 minutes. The world No. 40 never faced a break point and limited the big mans threatening ace count to a mere eight, while striking five key aces of his own. Benson Mayowa Jersey . The 25-year-old native of Milford, Conn., has 18 points in 41 games this season. The five-foot-eight 166-pound centre also has 28 points (10-18) in 15 games with AHL Oklahoma City. Patrick Peterson Jersey . The 24-year-old right winger has one assist in nine games this season with the Sabres. In his career, he has three goals and six assists in 43 NHL games.VEYSONNAZ, Switzerland -- Dominique Maltais has secured the World Cup snowboard-cross title for a fourth straight year. The native of Petite-Riviere-St Francois, Que., clinched the Crystal Globe after winning a World Cup event Tuesday. A silver medallist last month at the Sochi Olympics, Maltais edged Nelly Moenne Loccoz of France and Alexandra Jekova of Bulgaria to secure her fifth career overall title. "My goal coming here was clear -- to come back with a win and clinch the Crystal Globe," said Maltais. "Right now, its like Im on a cloud. I had a wonderful season. Actually, my last four seasons have been amazing, and I keep improving." American Lindsey Jacobellis is second in the overall standings after finishing sixth Tuesday. "I didnt get off to good starts in the quarter-final or the semifinal, but I knew I was fast in the rest of the course," said Maltais. "In the final, it was rough but I knew I was going for the win. I knew I could do it. My riding is really amazing right now. I cant bellieve how well things are going for me.dddddddddddd." Maltais will close out the season later this week in Spain. "Ill try to do it again in the last race," she said. "And Ill use it to test some equipment for next season." The 33-year-old said she hasnt decided if she will return next season. "I"m going to take a little rest," she said. "I havent made a decision on next season yet, but personally, Id like to race another season just to make the transition smoother." Michelle Brodeur of Calgary, Carle Brenneman of Whistler, B.C., and Tess Critchlow of Kelowna, B.C., and Zoe Bergermann of Acton, Ont., didnt make it past the quarter-finals. On the mens side, Christopher Robanske of Calgary won the bronze, finishing behind gold medallist Fabio Cordi of Italy and Finlands Anton Lindfors of Finland. Kevin Hill of Vernon, B.C., was 12th. Baptiste Brochu of Saguenay, Que., Jake Holden of Caledon, Ont., Rob Fagan of Squamish, B.C., didnt make it past the quarter-finals. 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