He did get some recognition Wednesday when the Sporting News named him its Executive of the Year. He became just the second Cavs GM to win the honor. Wayne Embry won the award in 1992 and '98.

Ferry and his father, Bob, who won the honor twice as GM of the Washington Bullets, also became just the second father / son team to win the honor after Jerry (Suns) and Bryan Colangelo (Suns, Raptors).

The Sporting News award was just recently removed as the official NBA Executive of the Year honor. Ferry finished second to the Denver Nuggets' Mark Warkentien in the NBA office's balloting among executives. The Sporting News, which polled 41 executives and coaches on its own, said Ferry got 15 votes. Warkentien and Orlando Magic GM Otis Smith tied for second with eight votes.

On Tuesday, the Sporting News named Mike Brown its Coach of the Year with 18 of 41 votes. The Magic's Stan Van Gundy finished second.

Kobe and LeBron special: Vitamin Water has been running a marketing campaign with LeBron James and Kobe Bryant over the past few weeks. Now their other common sponsor, Nike, is getting involved. Nike is presenting a one-hour ESPN special on Bryant and James tonight at 7 called "Dream Season: 23 & 24."

Justin Timberlake narrates the documentary, which is about this past regular season. Camera crews followed both players for the past month of the season and highlights, behind-the-scenes footage and interviews are included. Promotional material said the documentary will focus on their developing rivalry and friendship, which is presented as growing.

The two are closer now than they were before playing on Team USA and winning a gold medal together, but it would seem a stretch to consider them friends. James is much closer to other stars from that team, especially Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony.

"Big O" joins West: The former NBA greats are now apparently coming out of the woodwork to comment on James' status against Bryant. Jerry West shocked many this week with his comments that James had surpassed Bryant, a player he traded for as GM of the Lakers, as the best player in the game. On Wednesday, Oscar Robertson seconded West's take in an interview with ESPN Radio.

"I think if you look at the teams, and what they have accomplished just in this playoff, you can say that because LeBron has willed his team. I don't think he's going to let his team lose," Robertson said.

"And then you see the Lakers play against Houston, they were so blas? it was unbelievable. And who do you look at? You don't look at Pau Gasol or someone else, you look at your top player. It seems to me right now that LeBron James has an edge as far as motivating his team. Now, if they played one-on-one it'd be a tough game. I think the strength is gonna play out then you've gotta say LeBron James is gonna win."

Learning from Denver: After seeing the nasty fallout between the Nuggets and the WWE when Game 4 of the Western finals in Denver was scheduled for the same night as a wrestling event, Quicken Loans Arena officials took measures to avoid any potential issue. A Yanni concert that was scheduled for The Q on June 3 has been moved to the Wolstein Center. The NBA Finals begin June 4 and if the Cavs reach The Finals they will host Game 1 that day.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: bwindhorst@plaind.com, 216-999-5166