Sharing LeBron's moment with fellow travelers

While Cleveland Cavalier 22-year-old prodigy LeBron James was putting on one of those performances that a few years from now we'll be watching on one of those 10 Best countdown shows on ESPN Classic, I was at Burke's Cafe in downtown Baltimore. Burke's is one of those places where newspaper types used to hang out, and a bunch were doing that again last night.

I was hopscotching TVs trying to follow the game, first starting at the Sun building on Calvert Street and then hustling down to Burke's, trying not to miss too much of the Cleveland-Detroit Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals, a game the Cavs won, 109-107, in double OT to take a 3-2 series lead.

At Burke's, I was standing behind some locals, none of whom I knew. But as the game made its way through two dramatic overtimes, there was a bonding among the folks watching who, as the minutes ticked by and James' mastery of the moment became ever astounding, understood that what they were seeing was indeed special.

Those invisible barriers that usually separate strangers in public places evaporated as we began chatting among ourselves about the magical things James was doing -- that is, scoring 29 of his team's final 30 points (48 for the game) while making every imaginable type of shot; contributing seven of his team's 13 assists; getting nine rebounds; playing over 50 minutes.

It was a defining moment for James. But for the clutch of people sitting and standing at the bar at Burke's for just a few minutes, it was one of those moments when sport is at its best, bringing together strangers.

Here's what some folks elsewhere had to say.

Bill Livingston, Cleveland Plain Dealer:  "Not even Michael."

Drew Sharp, Detroit Free Press: "My eyes have now seen. I am officially a Witness."

Chris Sheridan, ESPN.com: "All hail the King."

Cavaliers coach Mike Brown, when asked where this game ranked historically: "In this atmosphere, yes, this is the single best game I've seen in this atmosphere, hands down. And I've been around some great players. He was phenomenal tonight, and I felt bad because my words don't give justice to what he did. He was awesome, and at 22 years old, wow. That's all, wow. Wow."

If you missed it, here are some highlights.