The secret to post-season success? A theme song

The only dispute I ever imagined between rap star Lil Wayne and NBA star LeBron James was who had the best new ink.

For years they've appeared to be close friends. In December 2005, Wayne was the special guest at James' 21st birthday party at the Cleveland House of Blues. In the pictures of the two rapping side by side at the party, which can be viewed at lilwaynehq.com, Wayne looks comfortable enough with James to pass as a member of his family.

Last year, Wayne was a driving force behind the No. 1 rap song "Forever," which was featured in James' documentary, "More Than a Game." But on Dec. 13, James and teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh failed to acknowledge Wayne's presence at a Miami Heat game against the New Orleans Hornets.

"They don't chuck me the deuce or nothing," Wayne told Rolling Stone in an interview. "(Expletive) spent all that money on them (expletive) tickets. ... Come holla at me. We sit right by them little (expletive)-(expletive) (expletive). At least come ask me why I'm not rooting for you."

Before the game, though, Hornets star Chris Paul and teammate David West did greet the multi-platinum rapper.

Wayne, a New Orleans native, now lives in Miami and has been a fixture at many home and away Heat games during the years. It appears, however, that the rapper is shifting his loyalties.

On Nov. 4, 2010, Wayne was released from New York's Rikers Island prison after serving an eight-month sentence for gun charges. While he was in prison, he told Rolling Stone that Chris Paul visited him.

I doubt James is too worried about Wayne's recent tirade against him, but maybe he should be. In a post-Biggie and 2Pac world, I don't think Wayne and his Young Money crew will be putting a price on James' head. But James should be aware of the potential energy Wayne could have created for the Heat as they pushed toward the post-season.

This fall, rapper Wiz Khalifa released the hit song "Black and Yellow," which quickly became the Pittsburgh Steelers' post-season anthem. Khalifa, a Pittsburgh native, performed the song on Sunday at Heinz Field before the Steelers took on the New York Jets in the AFC Championship game.

The energized Steelers began the game with a dominating nine minute and seven second touchdown drive and led the rest of the game. On Feb. 6, the Steelers will play the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV in Texas - black and yellow versus green and yellow.

The Miami Heat are 31-13, two games clear of the Orlando Magic in the NBA's Southeastern Conference.

As the Heat's star trio continues to learn to play together, it'll be hard to beat come playoff time in April. The Hornets, behind Paul and West, are probably a lock for the playoffs as well. It seems silly, but maybe the key to the post-season magic the Steelers have enjoyed has as much to do with the talent on the field as the energy in the crowd.

Wayne is a rabid sports fan, and an even bigger supporter of his hometown, New Orleans. After his prison term, he probably won't be toting guns anymore, but NBA teams should fear the fire power Wayne could bring to the New Orleans Arena. I can hear it now - creole blue, creole blue, creole blue, creole blue ...