Lebron´s inability to just play basketball...

I know that when you are one of the top two NBA players in the game (I don´t think there would be too much argument that some order of Kobe and Lebron constitutes the two best players in the game...sorry Wade, Howard, and Nash fans), you have a larger public image that is necessary to uphold and develop. But Lebron´s decision to switch jersey numbers from 23 to 6 as a supposed "tribute to MJ" is ridiculous. If he really wanted to pay homage to the greatest player of all time, why wouldn´t he choose to be a part of the Jordan brand, or consider signing with the Bobcats after this summer? The whole act just reinforces that Lebron is just as much (or moreso)of a businessman than he is a basketball player. As Adrian Wojnarowski muses in his Yahoo Sports Article, the move puts all the spotlight on Lebron (instead of sharing it with Kobe), and opens more marketing opportunities needed to create the empire that Lebron wants. But all these business-oriented motives do nothing to dispel the reality that Lebron has not accomplished the most important element needed to cementing one´s status as a legend: winning an NBA championship. In a contract year with a team that clearly has the talent to win a championship (although Shaq might no longer have their back), I´m starting to wonder why Lebron doesn´t shift his focus to becoming president instead of playing basketball. He certainly can pull off looking snappy in a suit.

Jordan Sues Over $2 Steak

Michael Jordan has sued two grocery stores, claiming that both used his name and likeness without permission in published ads. One ad features a picture of Jordan under which text reads, "You are a cut above." The ad then offers a coupon for $2 of steak at the chain. Jordan has sued for $10 million which obviously indicates that Jordan has a misconception about the damage these ads will do to his image.

After this,



I am not sure how much people respect his image. On the other hand, Jordan does own a chain of steakhouses and I suppose a really dumb person might get confused. Another grocery chain was sued for uses Jordan's sneakers in a pic. To that I say that if an athlete's name and statistics aren't protected privacy rights, then you're f'in shoes aren't either! I'd love to hear David Falk's spin on that.

Congrats, Derek!

I would like to offer a quick congratulations to Derek Jeter, who was recently named Sports Illustrated's 2009 Sportsman of the Year. The Yankees' captain batted .334 this season and led the Yankees to their 27th World Series Championship. Jeter joins some elite company, including Michael Jordan, Arnold Palmer, and Michael Phelps. Let's hope he'll keep up the good work and lead the Yanks to #28 next season.

Don't hate the player, hate the...

Across all professional sports, contract negotiations, player-coach relationships, retirement, and player-player conflicts result in athletes changing their uniforms. The popularity of the player is positively correlated with the outrage of the old team and the excitement of the new team. Switching teams is not, by any means, a new sensation. Usually, a trade makes a small wave within the organization that ripples out into the public for a week at the most. When great players are traded, however, it is a different story. Over the course of five weeks, we are taking a look at five significant cases. The first was Brett Favre, the second was Wayne Gretzky, the third was Patrick Ewing, and the fourth is Michael Jordan. The fifth, and final, is Junior Seau.

San Diego Chargers: 1990-2002

Miami Dolphins: 2003-2005

New England Patriots: 2006-present

Junior Seau joined the Chargers in 1990 fresh out of USC, and he became an instant fan favorite, earning the nickname “Tasmanian Devil.” Seau played in 12 consecutive Pro Bowls, becoming a star of the franchise. Then Seau requested to be released so that he could sign a deal as a free agent and ultimately increase the size of his paycheck. Seau was traded to the Miami Dolphins for the 2003 season with aspirations of winning a Super Bowl ring. He played well but could not carry the team to a championship. Injuries in 2004 and 2005 caused Seau to end both seasons prematurely. This ultimately resulted in his release from the Dolphins in 2006, after which he retired.

But Seau was not done playing football. Four days after his retirement Seau signed with the New England Patriots, but a broken arm ended his season early. He stayed on for the 2007 season, but retired again at its conclusion. Most thought this was the end of Seau’s spectacular career. Then, during the 2008 season, injuries plagued the Patriots’ linebackers, and coach Bill Belicheck asked Seau to return to the team. He signed on for the last four games of the season, making it clear that he probably would not have done so if he had previously won a Super Bowl, which is the only thing missing from an otherwise impressive career. The undefeated Patriots entered the Super Bowl with over $111 million in free agents, but were unable to beat the New York Giants.

Seau “retired” again after this stint with the Patriots, but then in October he announced that he would be returning to the field for the 2009 season in hope of finally winning a Super Bowl ring. This season, Seau has played in two games (he did not play this Sunday, 11/8), without any particularly memorable occurrences. 2009 marks his 20^th year in the NFL. The Patriots are 6 and 2, and are in first place in the AFC East. It remains to be seen as to whether Seau will finally procure the Super Bowl ring that seems to evade him and that he so desperately desires.

Don't hate the player, hate the...

Across all professional sports, contract negotiations, player-coach relationships, retirement, and player-player conflicts result in athletes changing their uniforms. The popularity of the player is positively correlated with the outrage of the old team and the excitement of the new team. Switching teams is not, by any means, a new sensation. Usually, a trade makes a small wave within the organization that ripples out into the public for a week at the most. When great players are traded, however, it is a different story. Over the course of five weeks, we are taking a look at five significant cases. The first was Brett Favre, the second was Wayne Gretzky, and the third was Patrick Ewing. The fourth is Michael Jordan.

1984-1993, 1995-1998: Chicago Bulls
2001-2003: Washington Wizards

Michael Jordan was a star from the start, being named to the NBA All-Star Team during his first season and receiving the Rookie of the Year Award as well. Since joining the Chicago Bulls in 1984, “His Airness” has received a plethora of accolades and has achieved a multitude of statistical accomplishments. However, what on the surface appears to be a smooth career was in fact marred by two retirements.

Jordan and the Bulls won their first Championship together in 1991, and went on to win two more in 1992 and 1993, giving the Bulls three consecutive titles. Excitement soon led to despair when Jordan announced his retirement from basketball on October 6, 1993 at age 30. Spurred by his father’s death and claiming a lack of desire, Jordan told the press, “I just feel that I don’t have anything else to prove.”

During his hiatus, Jordan joined the baseball team the Birmingham Barons, which are part of the Chicago White Sox minor league system. Less than successful, on March 18, 1995, Jordan announced that he was returning to the NBA and would rejoin the Chicago Bulls. Although the Bulls made it to the playoffs, Jordan did not win a title upon his return. In better condition for the 1995-1996 season, Jordan, supported by teammates Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, led the Bulls to three more consecutive championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998.

The three-peat high did not last too long, however, when Jordan announced a second retirement in 1999. Unable to stay away from basketball, in 2000, Jordan took on a professional position as President of Basketball Operations for the Washington Wizards. Watching his team fail and feeling inspired by his friend Mario Lemieux’s NHL comeback, Jordan was anxious to get back on the court. He signed a two-year contract with his new team, the Washington Wizards, and he hired former Bulls’ coach Doug Collins. Unfortunately, Jordan’s return did not revive the Wizards in the way he had hoped—they never made the playoffs. However, he did score 40 points at age 40 during the 2002-2003 season, after which he retired for a third and final time.

Air Jordan is still a household name and will forever remain the childhood hero of millions. He is one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century, ranked number one above Babe Ruth and Muhammad Ali. His retirements were possibly the least controversial of those discussed in this series. However, they will forever taint an otherwise stunning and incredible tenure of one of the best, if not the best, players in NBA history.

Dirty Little Secrets

Compliments of twitter:

"MJTwitterSecret #2 : I secretively really like to read american fiction. I love Cormac McCarthy, Herman Melville, and Thomas Pynchon"

True American fiction people! Steinbeck, eat your heart out! That's what I thought, you're already dead!

Apparently MJ is too busy reading these fabulous American authors because his previous post read:

"Do a lot of people get music and movies for free off the internet? I just found out this was a popular thing to do."

As a matter of fact Michael, I used to like 10 years ago when that was a popular thing to do.

Really? Really....? That is "So Hood"

Adande: Kobe-Shaq and the Artest signing

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Sure, I can sympathize with making news sounds like good news. I, on the other hand, prefer to take a more critical stance. I suppose it's the lawyer in me. First of all, I am not sure I would prefer to live in LA over Cleveland. I can't say I wouldn't but I can't say I would. There is something about the superficial way of life in CA that rubs me the wrong way. There's something about Silicon Valley and Silicone that make the excessive hit of the financial crisis out west, well, obvious. It's the land of excess and make-believe. The situs of Neverland Ranch; the former home of the late Michael Jackson... that was foreclosed on. In fact, the state motto is Eureka, which means "I found it," referring to the gold rush. I think we all know how that turned out.

While I digress, the point is that it is all a dream. LA is a place were illusion seems like reality and the impossible seems possible (or is that Vegas). To think that Artest's chances of winning a championship in LA are better than in Cleveland is an illusion. Let's face it, Orlando nearly took Kobe down. No doubt, we were all surprised. Moreover, it's Kobe's team. Kobe is not a team player. In my estimation Artest would be foolish to risk his career and further damage his reputation by playing with Kobe.

Kobe's a guy that thinks he can do it on his own. He doesn't want help and he wants to be the star of the show. LeBron, on the other hand, is practically begging for some help. LeBron wants teammates. Kobe wants four other individuals who can maintain possession of the ball while he gets in scoring position. Kobe's mentality is not conducive to furthering the careers of those four other players. Because of my perception of Kobe's mentality based on his experience in the league, I truly believe that Artest (or really any talented players) added to the Caveliers roster would make them a better team than the Lakers simply because LeBron has a better attitude.

I've said this before, and I say it again: LeBron is regularly slated to be the next "MJ." Of course, this has been said of Kobe in the past but if he were the next Michael Jordan, he'd have solidified that status after 13 years in a league and 4 championships. The reason he will never attain that level of fame is not because he cheated on his wife (or raped a woman, whichever you prefer), but because he doesn't play like MJ. And I don't mean he doesn't score as many points. I mean that he doesn't inspire his teammates, he apparently threatens to bite them... or growls at them... or whatever that teeth thing was he had going on during the playoffs. Kobe has no Pippen because he's too selfish. Yet, Artest wants to try and be his Pippen...? Good luck. My prediction is Artest's next brawl will take place on the benches on the court rather than those in the stands and he'll wish he opted out of the illusion of LA.

The Days of High Life

So as Ruby and I were sitting poolside classing it up with our Busch Lights we learned of the tragic news about Michael Jackson. Within minutes we had commenced our honorary dance party which continues as I write this. Soon after, we realized several additional things were in order including making a mad dash to the liquor store to get a case of High Life so we could drink the Champagne of Beers rather than the classy, yet not as classy, Busch Light. While I should absolutely be studying for the bar, today's tragedies have reminded me that celebrating life should come above all else.

Of course, I am celebrated life, I began contemplating many other important philosophical matters. Specifically, I was reflecting on the shock that comes when life defies our expectations. This led me to consider what I read last night in Sway, a wonderfully insightful book which I recommend to all. In Sway, the authors discuss a study conducted on the 1984 NBA draft which included players such as Michael Jordan, Hakeen Olajuwon, and Charles Barkley. The study found that regardless of the individual players' statistics on a per minute basis, those drafted later saw statistically significant fewer minutes of play. The Brafmans' conclusion was that coaches attributed less value to those players who were drafted later than earlier draft picks, regardless of the players' actual performance. Ultimately, that the value attributed to these players was prejudiced by their draft numbers even years into their careers. Not only did they get less playing time, lower drafted players had shorter careers and were more likely to be traded, again, regardless of the value they actually added to their teams in plays per minute.

Subconscious attribution of worth based on some perceived value absent objective analysis is nothing short of failing to recognize the potential right before our eyes. Life is potential energy and it is what we choose to do with that energy that matters most. It behooves us all to embrace the potential surrounding us and abandon our preconceived notions. I for one, am starting with the (wo)man in the mirror.

Pep in Their Step

I was at a spring college football scrimmage this past weekend and I could not help but to be enthused. There is something about men in tight pants jumping all over each other and smacking each others' assess that is just so contagious. I found myself taking video footage of the band playing their star trek crescendo, snapping alluring photos of player 69 - yes, I behave like an adolescent - and trying as best I could not to grab to round tush of the gentleman in front of me.

I was having a great time until I realized, this team is undeniably mediocre. No, less than mediocre although the red shirted freshman quarterback was inspiring some more thoughts of ass-grabbing. Not to mention, they weren't selling beer so I turned to Kate and told her I was bored and wanted to go shopping. In an instant, the pep in my step was gone and realized that the only way to keep it was to actually care about what was in front of me. Since it is far too easy not to care about Syracuse Football, I decided heading to the mall was the best way to get the pep in my step back.

As for a brief comment on the potential of Syracuse's team this year, I'll point out that Coach Robinson shocked just about everyone (except maybe Charlie Weiss) when he led his team to victory in the final game of his coaching career at Notre Dame Stadium last fall. Nonetheless, the program has a long way to go before it's going to inspire pep in anyone's step!

This brings me to the point of my blog entry. A few weeks ago when MJ was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, it was reported by the Detroit Free Press that MJ was actually saddened by it. I mean don't get me wrong, I don't think the man is crying in his California king, sobbing and snotting all over his thousand thread count Egyptian cotton pillow cases, but I think the fact that he is officially a legacy and NOT a player anymore was a reality that hit hard.

Although one has to wonder what kind of denial he has been living with all these years, his induction officially marks the end of an era. Perhaps from his perspective he thinks this means he will now join the rest of us "normal" people who live in a world of grey. Meanwhile, the lives of players are strictly black and white: you win, you're a winner, and you lose, and you're a loser... how does this translate into the world outside of sports?

The same article that reported on MJ's induction, spouted off statistics about retired athletes and all inferred the same thing, life changes when you retire, and for the worse. Divorce, bankruptcy, and substance abuse rates all increase among professional athletes after retirement. This seems to suggest that the sports world socializes its players in such a specific and confined way, that when athletes are required to socialize in a world that is much less black and white, they are often unable to maintain stability.

Which leads me to Isiah Lord Thomas, III. First, I would just like to say, I would never include the name, "Lord", in designating a title for my child. I don't care if they were the third or thirty-first in line. In my opinion the name's obvious association is entirely too much to live up to. For example, my name is Ruby and I'm still scarred from little jerks running around the playground calling me "Ruby-Booby." I cannot imagine what little ILT3 must have endured. But I digress.

Moving on, Isiah had an outstanding professional career as a basketball player. In 1981, he led the Hoosiers to the NCAA tournament and was deemed Most Outstanding Player. He entered the NBA drafted after his sophomore year and was the second pick overall in 1981. He went to playoff after playoff with the Pistons, setting an NBA final record while playing hurt against the Lakers in 1988. The next year, he and his fellow "Bad Boys"set a franchise record with a 69-19 record and won back-to-back championships. In 1990, Thomas was named the NBA's MVP. SHEEEEEEEEEESH, I mean if that's not living the high life, then I don't know what is, but then... insert Syracuse Band's version of Star Trek theme song insinuating impending disaster... Isiah tore his Achilles' tendon. This is when the rain came-a-pouring.

After retiring from professional play, Thomas continued his involvement in professional basketball in a variety of roles which included coaching and management. These roles didn't seem to suit ILT3 as made evident by his post-play experiences. As far as coaching went, he didn't quite do it for the Pacers, and definitely was not doing it for the Knicks. And, to make matters worse, he was slapped with a sexual assault lawsuit, reported as a racist, and rumors spread like wild fire when ILT3 was admitted to the hospital for a sleeping pill overdose. Loss of the pep in his step... I think so.

Now Thomas is turning to FIU to continue living the sport mantra: "If you win, you're a winner. If you lose, you're a loser." Let me just say this, I pray to the Lord that FIU allows Isiah to take advantage of this chance at glory. This man needs to go out on a high note because I would hate for Isiah to match up anymore to the retired player statistics that I mentioned previously. Let's put some pep in his step and then cryo freeze it.

Conclusion: Retired players, whether they like it or not, must be aware that as a byproduct of their skill-set they are being mentally f'ed with. At some point in everyone's life, professional athlete to retired shoe salesman, all people have to learn to embrace that change is inevitable and the only way to end up successful on the other side, pep still in step, is to embrace it and change too. And lastly, I am seriously going to consider gearing my medical studies toward psychiatry, it seems a necessary practice, yet not exactly rocket science.