You'll hardly be surprised to learn Bruce Ratner's controversial basketball palace planned for Brooklyn has been delayed again, as the New York Daily News reports (via SLAM). A Ratner rep admits getting the gym open for the 2010-11 puts building on a "very aggressive" schedule, and finishing work in the calendar year 2011 seems more likely.

For those who believe LeBron James will heed Nets overtures in the summer of 2010, when he is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent, that means King James would be charged with closing out the Izod Center in East Rutherford. Jason Kidd nor a championship level team could draw enough fans to make Jersey work for Ratner; the sweet irony would be LeBron selling out the building in its final season.

And I really do apologize for all the Global Icon talk in what should be a Nets post. But when the Daily News leads up with mention of the King, what's an impressionable blogger to do?