Thursday, June 4, 2009

AIR JORDAN versus THE AIR APPARENTS


NOTE: The following entry should be read with an arrogant British accent to totally enjoy the full effect of this Diablo's Bastille entry

I can smell the burning embers of celebration smattered about Los Angeles as Angelenos celebrate the Lakers winning the annual basketball tournament known as the NBA Finals. Let me be the first to applaud Kobe Bryant's "carrying" of a one of the most motley Laker teams in history. Trevor Ariza has devloped into a fine player and Gasol finally found his worth in the last four wins of this championship run, but in the end "The Black Mamba" carried this group to the Laker organization's 15th Larry O'Brien trophy. With having said that I must say, "Kobe Bean Bryant is not the Greatest Of All Time or G.O.A.T.. And neither are some of his peers.

In the case of "Air Jordan VS The Air Apparents", I reiterate that one, Michael Jeffery Jordan, from now on known as MJ, is the best to ever play the game created by James Naismith many years ago. And I truly believe there will not be another like him, in the near future.

I shall state the obvious, MJ lead the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships with an accompanying six NBA Finals MVP trophies. and five--- FIVE league MVP trophies. For those who doubt look at the stats below:

Six-time NBA champion (1991-93, 1996-98); NBA MVP (1988, '91, '92, '96, '98); 10-time All-NBA First Team (1987-93, 1996-98); All-NBA Second Team (1985); Defensive Player of the Year (1988); Nine-time All-Defensive First Team (1988-93, 1996-98); Rookie of the Year (1985); 14-time All-Star; All-Star MVP (1988, '96, '98)

MJ won seven straight scoring titles. Can you wrap your head around that? To win a scoring title in the NBA (home of the best basketball players on the planet), you have to average more than over 400 players over 82 games. MJ did this seven years in a row. Mind you MJ took a lot of shots, but no one metions that and I think it is a very unfair assesment of Kobe Bean's game. But nonetheless, MJ still won seven scoring titles.

There are many of you who will look on this piece with incredulity and exclaim that since Kobe has carried "his" Laker team to the ring sans Shaquille O'Neal his legacy was cemented as the GOAT. Kobe Bryant's legacy was cemented during his 3peat championship run and he will be mentioned as one the best in NBA history, but just not the G.O.A.T. Why? Because he has five more championships to lead the Lakers to if he wants to beat MJ. Those who have asked me why does he have to do that and I answer because "we measure things in America and on planet Earth". That's why we have scales, rulers and statistics, if not I could start claiming that I was the GOAT. I know after Kobe knocked down 60 points at the Garden people were quick to say that was the best performance ever in that arena or when he knocked back 81 points in STAPLES, that was the best in Laker history or 2nd best performance in NBA scoring history. And even if I wanted to give Kobe the GOAT title with this 4th ring, I couldn't because I think it is so unfair that some Laker fans want to forget what Shaquille O'Neal contributed to win those titles. It's easy to say that he was fat and out of shape, but when he caught that alley-oop against the Blazers in 2000, which was basically ground zero for the 3peat, no Laker fans were complaining. It's an age old war Tupac vs Biggie, Michael vs Prince and Kobe vs Shaq. No matter what side you were on, you cna't deny each man's contribution to that 2000-2003 Laker 3 peat.

And let me not make this a Kobe thing because it is not. It is a genrational thing. I speak of Kobe, LeBron, Dwight Howard and whatever next Air Apprarent that NBA Commissioner Stern wants to promote. As much as these gentlemen say "it's all about winning the ring" it is not. LeBron James has always talked about starting a tradition in Cleveland. But since losing the Eastern Conference Finals, LeBron James was asked if he would be returning to Cleveland and he answered by saying, "I'll think things over the break". A few years ago Kobe Bryant was letting it be known during the playoffs that he would opting out of his contract IN TWO YEARS. In LeBron's case, you have had one of the greatest runs in Cleveland sports history and put a team in 2 of the last 3 conference finals (not to mention an NBA Finals). With all the speculation of you leaving for New York, if you're returning to Cleveland say it now and stop all the guessing, but I guess he can't because he is thinking about becoming a billionaire and as popular as MJ. And in Kobe's case what did you gain during a championship run by speaking of an event that would happen in two years? Nothing but self induced attention. And in both cases, it is steadily said that neither Kobe or LeBron has a strong supporting cast. Somewhere between their endorsement deals and enormous NBA contracts I'm thinking they could take minor pay cuts to go get someone to help in being "all about getting the ring". MJ in his last two years with the Bulls made in the 30 million range to my knowledge but previous to that MJ did not make any more than 4 million dollars. Think about that the man, who literally changed the game, the NBA and sports marketing never made no more than 4 million dollars until the last two years of his hallowed NBA career with the Chicago Bulls. Could you see any of today's superstars doing that? I'd say no, though the closest I have ever seen was Tim Duncan taking a pay cut a few years ago. You may be thinking how could MJ be the baller he was and not sweat the amount of his contract? Because he was truly about the TEAM concept of winning the championship at all costs. This is something he gained while playing at North Carolina. The majority of today's superstars have been cajoled in their basketball careers from the day they hit their first jumper in an AAU game and taught that it was all about them and probably told they had to be like MJ. But many don't realize that MJ learned to be a team player despite how great he was. Today's NBA superstars are all about using the terms, "my team" or "my guys" because it's still about them but wrapped in the "it's all about the ring" shawl. If per chance Kobe were not to be the MVP of these finals, would he see the ring as a tainted? If LeBron had to share the spotlight with someone to win a ring, would he feel it was tainted? Again congrats to Kobe Bryant and finally getting that "silver backed gorilla" off his back. He deserves it, but think about this entry, next time you're haphazardly throwing out the title of the G.O.A.T. BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

Now Follow Me! Follow Me to Freedom!