Actors who could possibly play Michael Jackson:
Janet Jackson. She has the moves, the voice, and the look.
Crispin Clover. Weird dude, almost weird enough to play Jacko.
Zac Efron. Get the tweens to see it, gotta get that core audience ya know.
Chris Brown. He can dance, sort of sing, and as feminine as Jackson (in the 80’s)
Edward Moss. Famous Jackson impersonator has portrayed him in Scary Movie 4, “The Michael Jackson Trial” as well as a show at Lake Tahoe for four years.
CGI? Maybe George Lucas could direct.
And you know what? I guarantee this movie, if given any kind of budget at all, is nominated for at least one Oscar. Best Costume and Best Make-Up, it has to get nominated.
While I’m thinking of it, here are two other ideas that Hollywood needs to get on board with:
OJ Simpson. As if Cuba Gooding Jr isn’t holding his breath waiting for that phone call. And you could play it as a dark comedy or a drama. Paging Ari Gold…
Tupac. Right, you didn’t see that coming. But really, we have our Biggie biopic, now it’s Pac’s turn. Or someone might start thinking its an East Coast bias.
June 30, 2009
Hirp to Fix Sports
I like to think I’m a pretty smart fella, although I like to prove myself wrong, on this front, from time to time. So I’m going to take a crack at fixing sports, when attendance records tell us there’s nothing to fix. Don’t fix it if it ain’t broken? Well sometimes that’s the best time to fix it.
*disclaimer, I know that none of this is realistic. Well, until the shit hits the fan.
This is for the NBA, NFL and MLB, as I don’t follow Canadian sports, nor do I consider four left turns a sport. I made four left turns on the way to work, that doesn’t make me an athlete.
1st- Contraction, really, I mean it. In the 90’s it became hip to expand, the NBA saw Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors and then we got the Charlotte Bobcats in 2005 after the Hornets moved to New Orleans. MLB gave us the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Tampa Rays, and Florida Marlins. The NFL has opened up shop with the Cleveland Browns (Browns moved to Baltimore, but their records stayed in Cleveland) Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and in 2002 we got the Houston Texans (because in ’96 they lost the Oilers to Tennessee). That’s 14 new franchises in 3 sports in less than 20 years.
What’s my beef with giving more fans the opportunity to have a home team to support? Well, a watered down product for starters. Between the three leagues, there are now an additional 384 roster spots since expansion began in the 90’s. I can’t, not for a second, believe that the day before expansion started that there were in excess of 300 athletes who were good enough to make it.
That’s a post of it’s own, for another day, but if we just take the leagues back to how many teams we had in 1990, those teams would be exponentially better. Just look at the NBA, and take the players off those expansion teams and spread them throughout the league. Here’s a list of names, and I’m only listing the best players from those teams:
Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani, Shawn Marion, Jermanie O’Neal, Jose Calderon, Al Jefferson, Randy Foye, Kevin Love, Chris Paul, David West, Peja Stojakovic, Tyson Chandler, OJ Mayo, Rudy Gay, Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, Jameer Nelson, Vince Carter, Dwight Howard, Dwayne Wade, Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers, Gerald Wallace, Emeka Okafor and Boris Diaw. That’s two All-NBA 1st teamers and six all-stars from THIS YEAR. Spread those players out among the have not’s and the haves (Knicks, Clippers, Kings, Wizards, Mavs, Spurs, Celtics, Cavs, and Lakers.) Every team gets measurably better, giving the fan a better product.
I can make a similar list for both MLB and the NFL, a brief preview: Carl Crawford, Hanley Ramirez, Justin Upton, Brandon Webb, Brad Hawpe and Evan Longoria. As for the NFL: Jamal Lewis, Andre Johnson, Maurice Jones-Drew, DeAngelo Williams, Steve Smith and Jake Delhomme.
And so does the college game. As there are less job openings, more kids stay in school, giving us both a better college game, and ensuring more players are better prepared to play in the next level.
2nd- Now that we’re down to having competitive leagues again, and every team really has a chance, it’s time to set up an organization that will oversee the officiating in all three leagues. These guys need to pass physical assessments, because its just silly to ask a 58 year old chase 25 year olds up and down a basketball court, to crouch behind a catcher in 98 degree heat or survive on the football field. They need to be held to a strict set of guidelines, and we need to have only the best out there. I also call for instant replay in all sports, but only for home run calls, buzzer beaters, and in bounds in the end zone.
3rd- I hate it, because it shouldn’t be a story. But the public is nuts about PED’s, so address it. I want an organization that tests randomly tests everyone, and if you fail a test, your contract is voided AND the team has to pay a $2 million fine.
4th- Lastly, and perhaps most important is marketing the game. In baseball, all World Series games need to start at a time where kids can see them. Bring back the Saturday afternoon game, and give us more double headers. Let’s have the season end in mid-October. In the NBA, I think having teams with more talent will naturally speed the game up, bring us back to the 80’s.
This is for all three leagues, no more television blackouts. If you can’t get your fans to the stadium, and they rather watch at home, well you’re better off having them do that than lose interest.
So that’s it, just a four step plan. Now I’ll just wait on the call from President Obama to put me in charge of this mess.
*disclaimer, I know that none of this is realistic. Well, until the shit hits the fan.
This is for the NBA, NFL and MLB, as I don’t follow Canadian sports, nor do I consider four left turns a sport. I made four left turns on the way to work, that doesn’t make me an athlete.
1st- Contraction, really, I mean it. In the 90’s it became hip to expand, the NBA saw Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors and then we got the Charlotte Bobcats in 2005 after the Hornets moved to New Orleans. MLB gave us the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Tampa Rays, and Florida Marlins. The NFL has opened up shop with the Cleveland Browns (Browns moved to Baltimore, but their records stayed in Cleveland) Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and in 2002 we got the Houston Texans (because in ’96 they lost the Oilers to Tennessee). That’s 14 new franchises in 3 sports in less than 20 years.
What’s my beef with giving more fans the opportunity to have a home team to support? Well, a watered down product for starters. Between the three leagues, there are now an additional 384 roster spots since expansion began in the 90’s. I can’t, not for a second, believe that the day before expansion started that there were in excess of 300 athletes who were good enough to make it.
That’s a post of it’s own, for another day, but if we just take the leagues back to how many teams we had in 1990, those teams would be exponentially better. Just look at the NBA, and take the players off those expansion teams and spread them throughout the league. Here’s a list of names, and I’m only listing the best players from those teams:
Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani, Shawn Marion, Jermanie O’Neal, Jose Calderon, Al Jefferson, Randy Foye, Kevin Love, Chris Paul, David West, Peja Stojakovic, Tyson Chandler, OJ Mayo, Rudy Gay, Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, Jameer Nelson, Vince Carter, Dwight Howard, Dwayne Wade, Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers, Gerald Wallace, Emeka Okafor and Boris Diaw. That’s two All-NBA 1st teamers and six all-stars from THIS YEAR. Spread those players out among the have not’s and the haves (Knicks, Clippers, Kings, Wizards, Mavs, Spurs, Celtics, Cavs, and Lakers.) Every team gets measurably better, giving the fan a better product.
I can make a similar list for both MLB and the NFL, a brief preview: Carl Crawford, Hanley Ramirez, Justin Upton, Brandon Webb, Brad Hawpe and Evan Longoria. As for the NFL: Jamal Lewis, Andre Johnson, Maurice Jones-Drew, DeAngelo Williams, Steve Smith and Jake Delhomme.
And so does the college game. As there are less job openings, more kids stay in school, giving us both a better college game, and ensuring more players are better prepared to play in the next level.
2nd- Now that we’re down to having competitive leagues again, and every team really has a chance, it’s time to set up an organization that will oversee the officiating in all three leagues. These guys need to pass physical assessments, because its just silly to ask a 58 year old chase 25 year olds up and down a basketball court, to crouch behind a catcher in 98 degree heat or survive on the football field. They need to be held to a strict set of guidelines, and we need to have only the best out there. I also call for instant replay in all sports, but only for home run calls, buzzer beaters, and in bounds in the end zone.
3rd- I hate it, because it shouldn’t be a story. But the public is nuts about PED’s, so address it. I want an organization that tests randomly tests everyone, and if you fail a test, your contract is voided AND the team has to pay a $2 million fine.
4th- Lastly, and perhaps most important is marketing the game. In baseball, all World Series games need to start at a time where kids can see them. Bring back the Saturday afternoon game, and give us more double headers. Let’s have the season end in mid-October. In the NBA, I think having teams with more talent will naturally speed the game up, bring us back to the 80’s.
This is for all three leagues, no more television blackouts. If you can’t get your fans to the stadium, and they rather watch at home, well you’re better off having them do that than lose interest.
So that’s it, just a four step plan. Now I’ll just wait on the call from President Obama to put me in charge of this mess.
June 29, 2009
Good Mourning
There was a lot of death in the past week, actually, probably no more than usual. Just a lot of names we know, including a girl I went to high school with. Pretty freaky that a 31 year old could have a stroke, but I know of another girl that age that had a stroke. Never really think about anyone under the age of white hair, having a stroke.
The biggest name, by far, was Michael Jackson. It’s been said many times, and the first time I heard it was from my wife, but this is Elvis all over again. I mused on Facebook/Twitter that it wouldn’t be long till we heard rumors of an overdose, and those have surfaced. Shouldn’t really be a shock, the guy was in rehab like a year ago for an addiction to painkillers.
Michael Wilbourn, co-host of “Pardon the Interruption” said last week, that he was choosing to remember Jackson up through 1984, because after that, he just wasn’t the same guy. And I gotta say, I agree. I think it’s more than the molestation charges, before that all surfaced, he was already the living punch line. When I see the videos of him from pre-84, it really is someone completely different. He was a great entertainer, but just a bizarre guy. And I blame his father.
Papa Joe had this gem at the BET Awards over the weekend, “I have a lot of concerns…I don’t like what happened.” Really, your son dies and you don’t like what happened? Maybe blame yourself. The shit his father put him through as a child, I think, is why he never grew up and the source of everything else.
And then Sunday we get the tragic news, that icon Billy Mays also passed away. Well I’m not buying it, I smell foul play, and I think the ShamWow guy was behind this. If Infomercials had a VH1 of their own, we’d know about their on going beef. This was Tupac-Biggie. Adweek once claimed ShamWow Guy was, “the man that could beat Billy Mays at his own game.”
Mays upped the ante when he signed on to do his reality show, “Pitchmen.”
ShamWow guy, aka Vince Offer, has a violent streak. The former Jew turned Scientologist, was arrested in February of this year for felony battery when he roughed up a prostitute. The same month Mays challenged Offer to a “pitch-off.” Do you see how things spiraled out of control from there? Thanks, Wikipedia.
The biggest name, by far, was Michael Jackson. It’s been said many times, and the first time I heard it was from my wife, but this is Elvis all over again. I mused on Facebook/Twitter that it wouldn’t be long till we heard rumors of an overdose, and those have surfaced. Shouldn’t really be a shock, the guy was in rehab like a year ago for an addiction to painkillers.
Michael Wilbourn, co-host of “Pardon the Interruption” said last week, that he was choosing to remember Jackson up through 1984, because after that, he just wasn’t the same guy. And I gotta say, I agree. I think it’s more than the molestation charges, before that all surfaced, he was already the living punch line. When I see the videos of him from pre-84, it really is someone completely different. He was a great entertainer, but just a bizarre guy. And I blame his father.
Papa Joe had this gem at the BET Awards over the weekend, “I have a lot of concerns…I don’t like what happened.” Really, your son dies and you don’t like what happened? Maybe blame yourself. The shit his father put him through as a child, I think, is why he never grew up and the source of everything else.
And then Sunday we get the tragic news, that icon Billy Mays also passed away. Well I’m not buying it, I smell foul play, and I think the ShamWow guy was behind this. If Infomercials had a VH1 of their own, we’d know about their on going beef. This was Tupac-Biggie. Adweek once claimed ShamWow Guy was, “the man that could beat Billy Mays at his own game.”
Mays upped the ante when he signed on to do his reality show, “Pitchmen.”
ShamWow guy, aka Vince Offer, has a violent streak. The former Jew turned Scientologist, was arrested in February of this year for felony battery when he roughed up a prostitute. The same month Mays challenged Offer to a “pitch-off.” Do you see how things spiraled out of control from there? Thanks, Wikipedia.
June 24, 2009
Hirplings
Everyday, on my way to work, I pass this massive Church. This place, I just found out, was 110,000 sq ft as of 1999 and has grown since then. I really can’t even imagine how much it cost to build. I know that a “capital campaign” in 2002 raised $30 million to fund additional space for worship and education. But it got me to thinking, these “non-for profits” are making all kinds of serious bank. And really, what purpose does it serve to have such an expensive building and really, organization? Helps recruit new members, can offer those members a lot, like a gym and all sorts of activities, including organized sports, and education.
I’m no expert on religion, although that won’t keep me from acting like I know it all, but I just can’t help but think about all the good that could be done with that money. All those services and perks are great, but could easily be done on a smaller scale. So maybe at this point, if a Church, Synagogue or Mosque is worth X amount of dollars, we should tax that ass.
And while I’m on it, with religion wanting such a prominent voice in politics, let’s flip the script, and get Government involved in religion. I suggest a new wing of the Government that is to oversee all that’s going on in our places of worship. If we’ll allow Congress to get involved in baseball, we can allow them in the God business.
***
I never read comic books, so this might be common knowledge already, and if so, I’m sure someone will correct me. But the other day I was watching Dark Knight on HBO, and I found myself wondering about the Joker’s back story. Here’s what I’ve come up with. He was a former military guy, some sort of Special Forces. Something happened, and his face got all disheveled. Then the Government turned their back on him, as it was probably done in some hush-hush mission. So he turned on them, and that’s why dude is so bent on tearing shit up. I also found it ironic, that someone who is such a strong supporter of anarchy can be so methodical in his planning.
I’m no expert on religion, although that won’t keep me from acting like I know it all, but I just can’t help but think about all the good that could be done with that money. All those services and perks are great, but could easily be done on a smaller scale. So maybe at this point, if a Church, Synagogue or Mosque is worth X amount of dollars, we should tax that ass.
And while I’m on it, with religion wanting such a prominent voice in politics, let’s flip the script, and get Government involved in religion. I suggest a new wing of the Government that is to oversee all that’s going on in our places of worship. If we’ll allow Congress to get involved in baseball, we can allow them in the God business.
***
I never read comic books, so this might be common knowledge already, and if so, I’m sure someone will correct me. But the other day I was watching Dark Knight on HBO, and I found myself wondering about the Joker’s back story. Here’s what I’ve come up with. He was a former military guy, some sort of Special Forces. Something happened, and his face got all disheveled. Then the Government turned their back on him, as it was probably done in some hush-hush mission. So he turned on them, and that’s why dude is so bent on tearing shit up. I also found it ironic, that someone who is such a strong supporter of anarchy can be so methodical in his planning.
June 22, 2009
From The Hirp
I was never much of a Joe Montana fan; I always supported the Dan Marino party in the race for the “Best Quarterback Ever.” And Joe went to Notre Dame, which I only like when I watch Rudy. So, that being said, I was just reading a story about Montana’s son, Nick, a blue chip football recruit in his own right. But Joe and his wife, Jennifer, wouldn’t go on the record in the article because they didn’t want it to appear as if they were focusing more on one of their children than the others. That’s fantastic parenting, and just damn cool.
That brings me to this gem of a story from our weekend. Saturday we went to a wedding, and seated across the aisle from us was a young mother. Everyone knows black hooker boots have their place, but when a seven year old leans over and says, “Mommy, that is NOT appropriate for a wedding,” well, then you know that just maybe, someone has made a bad judgment call.
Niccolo Machiavelli posed the question: “Is it better to be loved, or feared?” If you want the answer, ask a parent.
What was more predictable, the Brett Farve wants to play again story, or the voting scandal in Iran? I’m saying it was a push.
I’ve seen the headlines; Tom and Kate have some big announcement tonight. It should either be “Kate’s a biatch” (I only know this thanks to “The Soup” on E) or “Obama supports taxing our viewers twice as much as everyone else.”
That brings me to this gem of a story from our weekend. Saturday we went to a wedding, and seated across the aisle from us was a young mother. Everyone knows black hooker boots have their place, but when a seven year old leans over and says, “Mommy, that is NOT appropriate for a wedding,” well, then you know that just maybe, someone has made a bad judgment call.
Niccolo Machiavelli posed the question: “Is it better to be loved, or feared?” If you want the answer, ask a parent.
What was more predictable, the Brett Farve wants to play again story, or the voting scandal in Iran? I’m saying it was a push.
I’ve seen the headlines; Tom and Kate have some big announcement tonight. It should either be “Kate’s a biatch” (I only know this thanks to “The Soup” on E) or “Obama supports taxing our viewers twice as much as everyone else.”
June 11, 2009
Hirp History X
Last night we had dinner at my in-laws, and while we were eating I brought up what had happened at the Holocaust Museum
The Kyd hears us go over pretty much the same details I just mentioned, and we tell her, that he's racist against Blacks and Jews, and that's why (how weak is that?!) he did what he did. She's 7, mature for her age, but still just 7. So her reaction, as pure and beautiful as it really was, also really bothered me. There was complete and utter shock in her face. Immediately she looked at me, we could see her making the connection in her head, "G is Jewish, and this happened because someone doesn't like Jews. Can this happen to G?"
A scene from the much underrated and very re-watchable movie, The Kingdom, immediately played in my head. Jamie Foxx, who plays an FBI agent that investigates terrorism, is trying to tell his son, who is about the same age as my step-daughter, that something very bad happened, and dad needs to go to work. His son looks at his dad and says, "there's a lot of bad people out there, huh?"
Foxx replies, "yes, but you're not one of them."
Syd, there are a lot of bad people out there, but you aren't one of them, never one of them. I've thought a lot about that brief conversation, her reaction, and just the pointless violence that took place in Washington DC
These people scare the crap out of me. We found the show when they were giving the details of a 1999 shooting at a Jewish Community and day care center. Frankly, I had almost completely forgotten about it, which makes me feel guilty. The irony is rich. At one point, they interviewed some "leader" of another Neo-Nazi organization, and he called the incident a failure. Why? Because the gunmen fired off 70 shots, and it's supposed to be 1 shot, 1 kill, and this gunmen didn't kill anyone in the center (but did kill a postman as he fled, for the simple offense of being a person of color working for the Government).
I swear, I thought I heard banjo's playing in the background as this guy with the serial killer glasses and Grizzly Adams beard spewed his20bullshit. But something occurred to me on the way to work, perhaps a little sick and twisted, but that's just how I roll. These freaks believe whites are the "master race." But if my people are in such control of all that goes on in the world, that we control the media, the courts, and all the money, doesn't that mean that Jews are actually the "master race?" I mean, just by default. Their hero, Hitler, killed six million of us, yet we're still so powerful, really? According to JewishVirtualLibrary.com, Jews account for a whopping 1.78% of the American population. There are more WNBA fans in America than there are Jews in America
Seriously though, what makes them hate so much? I get it, times are rough, and we all want to point the finger at someone else. Maybe it's easy to blame 1.78% of the population for the fact that you had to take your sister to prom. I guess it doesn't really matter, because these people are friggin' dangerous. Their ideas are even more dangero us than the violent acts they commit. They want to spread weakness and hate, and if it were up to them, 7 year olds would (and I'm sure their kids already) think like them.
Seven year olds are smarter than us. When the Kyd tells us she doesn't like someone, her reason is almost always the same. "They're mean." It's that simple, and it should still be so easy. I've seen her play with boys, girls, handicapped, Black, Mexican, older and younger kids. And all she wants is kids who are nice. If someone isn't nice, that's the extent of it. She doesn't need to find a reason and place blame. It isn't because of their race or religion, they just aren't nice. Why can't we be as mature as 2nd graders?
I don't know if it's more hypocritical or just nonsensical that they admire Adolf Hitler so much. I mean, do they not realize that as such "patriots" they're following someone who killed Americans!? Who disagreed with everything our country stands for? How is sidi ng with your enemy a patriotic act? The show we watched had the standard clips of some Derek Vinyard type, rallying about how they don't want immigrants here and this country is for them. I just want to ask them, how the ef did your family end up here?
There's really nothing wrong with having some pride in your people. Jews do it all the time, and proudly spend their money at Jewish owned businesses, but doesn't pride come before the fall? Or that must be some Jew pulling on a trip cord. It's pretty obvious, but these neo-Nazi's aren't happy and well adjusted citizens. And for that matter, neither are most Jews (or anyone else). But to actually want your kids to hate, that's their biggest sin, and most indefensible. Hate me because I had more opportunities in my life, or because I have a nicer TV than you, because I went to KU or voted for Obama and you disagree with my religious views. But for the love of whatever you actually care about, don't teach your kids to hate, asshole.
June 03, 2009
We are Hirpness
As a kid, I was always a baseball fan first. That’s my first love, and even though we’ve had a rocky relationship and grown apart some, she still has my fan heart. But I always enjoyed the NBA. In the 80’s I was a bit of a Laker fan, not just because it was the team of choice of an older cousin who lived out there, but because Magic Johnson was just too much fun to watch. For years I argued how he was the best ever, and this Jordan fella was all about stats, and actually hurt his team.
After Jordan won his first title, beating Magic and the Lakers, I still insisted that Magic was the better player. At 6’9, he was built like a power forward, but played the point. He made passes that I would end up practicing in my drive way. Only I was passing to an 18 foot wide garage, and he was making the passes to someone running full speed. Advantage: Magic. Jordan was playing above the rim, and it was awe inspiring, but just the thought of being able to reach the net was more than a tall order for me.
It took Jordan retiring for me to come around, and realize that was in fact, the best player to ever play. Luckily for me, he came back. But at the same time, I was also a Knick fan. How I was able to cheer for a NY team and an LA team at the same time was simply a product of my age. By the time the Bulls played the Lakers, I was definitely a Knick fan first, but Magic was my guy. Those passes never got old, and that smile was infectious.
Today I routinely exchange emails with that same cousin, and his partner in crime. And once again, I’m siding with the guy who makes the pretty passes. Only this guy plays above the rim too. He’s a beast, that Lebron James. I remember watching his high school games on ESPN2, and I thought he had to be at least 24 years old then. That was 7 years ago, and he’s still 24.
Nike hyped him up like they’ve never hyped anyone else. He was the #1 draft pick by his hometown Cleveland Cavilers. We were all witness. And he came on the scene like no other NBA rookie ever has. I won’t get into the stats, even though I want to. I spent the past few years rallying against Kobe Bryant, who like James, came to the NBA straight out of high school. My friends will tell you, I always like getting excited over the young athletes. And I don’t mean that in a creepy, Michael Jackson-Maculy Culkin sort of way. There’s just something about seeing the potential, wondering what kind of career someone will have, and seeing it play out. It’s one of the things that make sports so great.
But I quickly soured on Kobe. He was arrogant, and just very easy to dislike. So my cousin and I sparred, and sparred some more. I picked at every word he spoke, every face he made on the court and generally acted like a “hater.” It took some time, and some growing on my part, but I softened my stance on Kobe. He grew up, and so did I. I wrote on this blog once, that he and A-Rod were very similar. That was flat out wrong. I can admit that now.
This year the question became clear, you’re either a Lebron guy, or a Kobe guy. And I’ve planted my Lebron flag. And while it’s been much speculated that he’ll bolt Cleveland for the glitz of New York after next year, I am firm in my belief, that I don’t want him. Not because I just don’t want the best player (or 2nd best) on the planet, because of course I’d love to have his talent. I just don’t want to see an icon change teams. Icons don’t do that, no in the prime of their careers. His staying in Cleveland is better for him, basketball and all of us. Even Knick fans.
That’s a bit off point. Here’s why I think Lebron is “The One.” His play in the playoffs this year, against the Orlando Magic, even though they lost the series, sucked my wife in. She was right there next to me, on the couch, watching in pure amazement, as this guy did everything imaginable on the basketball court. That’s huge. To get someone who isn’t even a casual NBA fan, so enthralled in their play, is evidence of something special.
After Jordan won his first title, beating Magic and the Lakers, I still insisted that Magic was the better player. At 6’9, he was built like a power forward, but played the point. He made passes that I would end up practicing in my drive way. Only I was passing to an 18 foot wide garage, and he was making the passes to someone running full speed. Advantage: Magic. Jordan was playing above the rim, and it was awe inspiring, but just the thought of being able to reach the net was more than a tall order for me.
It took Jordan retiring for me to come around, and realize that was in fact, the best player to ever play. Luckily for me, he came back. But at the same time, I was also a Knick fan. How I was able to cheer for a NY team and an LA team at the same time was simply a product of my age. By the time the Bulls played the Lakers, I was definitely a Knick fan first, but Magic was my guy. Those passes never got old, and that smile was infectious.
Today I routinely exchange emails with that same cousin, and his partner in crime. And once again, I’m siding with the guy who makes the pretty passes. Only this guy plays above the rim too. He’s a beast, that Lebron James. I remember watching his high school games on ESPN2, and I thought he had to be at least 24 years old then. That was 7 years ago, and he’s still 24.
Nike hyped him up like they’ve never hyped anyone else. He was the #1 draft pick by his hometown Cleveland Cavilers. We were all witness. And he came on the scene like no other NBA rookie ever has. I won’t get into the stats, even though I want to. I spent the past few years rallying against Kobe Bryant, who like James, came to the NBA straight out of high school. My friends will tell you, I always like getting excited over the young athletes. And I don’t mean that in a creepy, Michael Jackson-Maculy Culkin sort of way. There’s just something about seeing the potential, wondering what kind of career someone will have, and seeing it play out. It’s one of the things that make sports so great.
But I quickly soured on Kobe. He was arrogant, and just very easy to dislike. So my cousin and I sparred, and sparred some more. I picked at every word he spoke, every face he made on the court and generally acted like a “hater.” It took some time, and some growing on my part, but I softened my stance on Kobe. He grew up, and so did I. I wrote on this blog once, that he and A-Rod were very similar. That was flat out wrong. I can admit that now.
This year the question became clear, you’re either a Lebron guy, or a Kobe guy. And I’ve planted my Lebron flag. And while it’s been much speculated that he’ll bolt Cleveland for the glitz of New York after next year, I am firm in my belief, that I don’t want him. Not because I just don’t want the best player (or 2nd best) on the planet, because of course I’d love to have his talent. I just don’t want to see an icon change teams. Icons don’t do that, no in the prime of their careers. His staying in Cleveland is better for him, basketball and all of us. Even Knick fans.
That’s a bit off point. Here’s why I think Lebron is “The One.” His play in the playoffs this year, against the Orlando Magic, even though they lost the series, sucked my wife in. She was right there next to me, on the couch, watching in pure amazement, as this guy did everything imaginable on the basketball court. That’s huge. To get someone who isn’t even a casual NBA fan, so enthralled in their play, is evidence of something special.
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