No Podcast, No Cry

*** NOTE: There will not be a podcast this morning. We’ve run in to some technical issues but we will definitely be back tomorrow. ***

In the mean time, please check out the latest gem from Senor Jordan’s people. Watching this 15 times is probably a lot better use of your time anyway.

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By Tas Melas at 5:15 am on 02.14.2007 — Tags: Michael Jordan, Announcements, Media

Crown Jewels

Sometimes I wonder if we’re amidst greatness. Are we watching the best basketball player ever to live play through his young days? Can someone be better than Michael? Or are we just falling for the ESPN hype machine?

We’ve got a 21-year-old in LeBron James that has banked several “youngest player” awards. He’s also accomplished things only the elite have been able to do - one of just five players in NBA history to average over 25 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists in a season (joining Larry Bird, Jordan, Oscar Robertson and John Havlicek) to name but one shiny accomplishment. All this before his peak.

Even if he called Michael “the black Jesus” on David Letterman a while ago, there’s just this feeling inside me that says he’ll never be better than Jordan. If there was a last supper for NBA players when it’s all said and done, ‘Bron may be at the table, but he isn’t sitting in the real King’s chair, you know? I’m aware there have been several players who have been pegged as “The Next One” only to fail so it’s easy to say James won’t do it. I just don’t think #23 has it in him to one-up the real #23. And while we’re on it, is the NBA ever going to retire Michael’s number? And where did LeBron get the watermelons to put it on his back?

There was something that happened a couple weeks ago that made me think about James’ legacy. ‘Bron dined with billionaire Warren Buffett in Nebraska. The King has said before one of his goals is to become the world’s richest person. Now that’s fine and everything. You want the dough, go get it; even if you have all the athletic ability in the world, you probably want to spend your time doing other things. You can’t possibly devote all your time and efforts to training, studying the game and becoming a better basketball player. Just ask the highly gifted, highly unmotivated, Vince Carter. Oh, SNAP!

If you want the real difference between Michael and LeBron, it’s this: their desire to become the best basketball player in the world. Don’t get me wrong, James has heart. But no one’s drive compares to that in your face, slap you around type swagger His Airness lived by. The man was special – I don’t know if you’ll ever see that obsession to be the greatest again. Players have other agendas now. LeBron wants to unseat Michael and be the richest person on the planet? A man can only do so much. If he pulls it off, more power to him, but Jordan was never money hungry. His brand fed upon itself as he became larger than life and he made ridiculous amounts of cake because of it, but his love was basketball. He wanted nothing but to be the world’s greatest.

A lot of what makes a solid player is natural talents and smarts but so much of it is heart and desire. We know defense is all about hard work. Check out the defensive stats of these two ballers, Jordan: Defensive Player of the Year in 1988; Nine-time All-Defensive First Team. James: not so much. The way LeBron plays D, I can never see him getting his way on to an All-Defensive First Team despite having the tools to do so. What I’m getting at is the infatuation of these superstars to be on top lives on two very different levels. And if that stays status quo, the winner of the “greatest ever” arguments won’t have to change either.

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By Tas Melas at 12:59 am on 10.02.2006 — Tags: Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Superstars

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