If one asks terror suspect Muhammed Rahim, Miami Heat superstar LeBron James is a "very bad man"- an opinion the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) deemed classified for two months, according to Rahim's military lawyer.
According to Reuters, Navy Lieutenant Commander Kevin Bogucki, a defense lawyer who once represented Rahim-the former translator for deceased al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden-said Tuesday that his client's note commenting on the Akron, Ohio-born NBA superstar's decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat in the summer of 2010 was once deemed classified by the CIA for two months.
Bogucki quoted the note-written by Rahim in 2010-as stating, "LeBron James is a very bad man. He should apologize to the city of Cleveland."
In James' widely watched announcement on ESPN dubbed "The Decision"--which drew 9.95 million viewers, according to the Nielsen Co, as reported by The Huffington Post--the former Cavs star declared that he was "taking my talents to South Beach" to join with the Heat, who James led to the NBA Championship this past season.
While Rahim has not been charged with a crime, due to his previous questioning by the CIA, his communications were subject to restrictions similar to those given to the alleged plotters of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks in New York and Washington, D.C.
Under such restrictions, any word communicated by the terror suspects is declared "Top Secret" unless authorized for clearance by a government Security Classification Review Team.
"It took that classification authority approximately two months to determine that my client's opinion of LeBron James did not pose a grievous threat to national security," said Bogucki, who did not indicate when the note was written.
While prosecutors argue that such restrictions are needed to protect U.S. national security and safeguard CIA interrogation methods and sources, Reuters reports, defense lawyers countered that the CIA relinquished control of that information when it disclosed those methods and sources to the defendants, and that the restrictions are aimed at preventing the suspects from discussing treatment that amounted to torture.
Dwayne Wade's left knee recovery ahead of schedule
It appears that Heat fans won't have to wait long for star guard Dwayne Wade to return to action.
The eight-time All-Star said Tuesday that his left knee-which he underwent surgery for during the summer on July 9-believes that his knee is progressing ahead of schedule and he plans to play in the Heat's Thursday game against the Detroit Pistons, ESPN reports.
While Wade sat out of the Heat's Oct. 7 preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks, the two-time NBA Champion was on the court for both exhibition games in China against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Wade played 23 minutes during the Heat's Oct. 10 win over the Clippers and just over eight minutes in Sunday's loss to Los Angeles.
"I feel ahead of schedule," Wade told ESPN. "If I continue to keep progressing, I'm going to try to play as much as possible but try to be smart as well. I want to play Thursday, get back out there and continue to get my legs under me ... so I can be ready for opening night."
Teammate and fellow Big Three member LeBron James appeared to be encouraged by Wade's progress while watching him play in China.
"It was good to see him get out there and play like he did, getting dunks, driving baseline and making spin moves, his patent moves," James said. "It's good to see that already with him coming off knee surgery."