Monthly Archives: February 2009

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LeBron, Liars and Sportsman

I remember when Magic Johnson used to talk about the competition between himself and other NBA superstars in the league.  Not merely the in-game competition when they were competing against one another; but just other games around the league as the season goes on.  For guys like Magic, it wasn’t an individual ego thing but a motivation to elevate his game to the highest level.  When you are already better than 98% of the people you play against on any given night you have to tell yourself things to keep you from being bored.  Such was the case with Magic, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, etc. 

During a normal game time interview they would never admit it.  But get Magic on a couch and he would readily admit that he would search the newspapers every day to see what Larry or Dominique Wilkins did the night before.  “I’ll looked at the stats sheet and say, “Oh Larry got 35 last night?  That means I’ll have to get 38 or 40.” 

Jordan of course was the same way.  He would tell himself that the other opponents didn’t respect his game and through that anger will himself to another spectacular performance.  I’ll never forget the time the Bulls played a home and home against the then Washington Bullets.  The first game in Chicago saw LaBradford Smith a kid who wanted to be Jordan score 35 against his hero.  Jordan had a so-so game and afterwards they asked Smith about his performance in “stopping” MJ.  Smith no dummy said, (paraphrasing) “Oh no!  Nobody stops Michael.  I just had a good game.  I was fortunate that my shots went in.  Michael is Michael.  He’s the best.” 

Still that didn’t stop Jordan.  Just because the question was asked… the next night he torched Smith for 40 something fouling him out the game.   He played with an angry scowl the entire game.  He knew he was better than Smith so that wasn’t the point.  He wanted to make sure everyone else knew it too.

These memories all came to me upon seeing Kobe Bryant put 61 on the Knicks at Madison Square Garden the other night.  It was the most points scored by any Knicks opponent in The Garden’s history.  The Knicks, blessed or not so blessed with a home schedule that called for the Lakers, the Cavaliers and the Celtics to come visit during the same week had to face the wrath of LeBron James a couple nights later.  Of course James down played the situation saying he was not interested in records.  I knew he was a damn lie.  Every hoops junkie knows. 

Magic had newspapers.  Today’s generation has SportsCenter and Blackberry’s where their peeps text them with, “Man did you see what Kobe did?”

What does James do last night?  He scored 52 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assist… making the first time in over 30 years since a guy had 50 points in a triple double.  He scored 20 in the first quarter.  Of course he was looking to match Kobe and even surpass his effort earlier in the week.  Kobe and LeBron have been friends since James was in high school.  They bonded even closer during the Summer Olympics in Beijing.  Both understand the significance of performing well in the basketball Mecca that is MSG.  No doubt James texted Kobe who was busy putting up 36 in a win in Toronto last night something like, “I’ll see your 61 and raise you 52 and a fu*&% triple double beeeeaach!  How ya like me now?”

Kobe has enough problems, they have the Celtics tonight in Boston.  And speaking of the Celtics… don’t think that Paul Pierce ain’t looking to put up mad numbers on the Knicks on Friday.  Of course, he wont’ admit it.

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Kobe puts 61 on Knicks at The Garden

Number 24 was feeling himself last night at Madison Square Garden the Mecca of basketball.  He played one of the most spectacular games New Yorkers will see surpassing point totals of other Garden foes like Jordan and Miller. 

Kobe Bryant dunk

 His performance left former Knick star turned executive Allen Houston thoroughly inpressed and teammate Trevor Ariza saw it comin. 

“He didn’t have any smiles, he wasn’t playing no games and he was out there to kill it.  I seen it even before we got to the arena on the bus. He didn’t really say much. He was just focused.”

Still the team has to weather another extended absence of center Andrew Bynum who sustained another knee injury when Kobe fell on him a few days ago in Memphis.

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Super Bowl Thoughts & Reflections

Of course it ain’t no secret who I was pulling for in the big game.  My girl/childhood friend Vonda came through and Fed-X’d my gear Saturday delivery from Tampa.  So though I suffered horribly with the flu I was still in full effect with the rest of my terrible towel family.  It was quite a game and quite the experience.  Most Super Bowls are just hype compared to the game.  But this one was like a Tom Clancy suspense novel down to the very end.  With that I will add just a few thoughts.

** Jennifer Hudson (bless her heart) tore that National Anthem to pieces!  I mean she took it to church without the stereotypical churchee flavor if you catch my drift.  My voice quivered as I mumbled to myself, “Damn she sang that song!”  Step aside Whitney! 

** Ben Roethlisberger is a flat out stud.  He played clutch football and whenever his team needed a big play, he delivered.  He may not be pretty or have the style like some of the other big name guys, but there need not be another conversation about the top echelon quarterbacks in the league without his name being mentioned among them.

** Kurt Warner… nothing but respect brother.  You took what the D gave you and wore us out.  You never forced it to Fitzgerald but when the time came you didn’t miss.

** Larry Fitzgerald – all man, all business, all world.  I don’t know that I ever saw a receiver beat a coverage and sprint past the safeties like Usain Bolt.  But I did last night!

** Santonio Holmes – had all the moxie of Fitzgerald and was just clutch all night.  That last catch was all pro and will be featured in Super Bowl films for ages to come.

** Mike Tomlin is a man’s man.  He has a presence and he gets it.  For a second year coach to take a team like the Steelers to the Super Bowl was just a tremendous feat.  He totally gained the respect of the players and the community.  He understands people, his opportunity and he is all business and all human at the same time.  There is no doubt he will continue to gain respect and loyalty as he makes those better around him.

** As intense as that game was, I am glad it ended the way it did.  For all of the talk of the Pittsburgh defense being #1 in the NFL, Arizona found a way to get over.  And right at the end when it counted they scored with the quickness.  It was the Steelers offense that had to deliver and they did.  Did you notice as well that every Steeler touchdown came under review either by a Cardinal challenge or booth review?  The first one they overturned should have been a score as well.

**Finally, The Pittsburgh Steelers,   What an organization!  The Rooney family really has it together.  Since 1969 they’ve had a total of 3 coaches which shows a sense of stability not known in professional sports.  They help enact the Rooney Rule which says that an NFL team has to at least interview a minority coaching candidate when they have an opening.  Then they actually hire a minority candidate at the next opportunity.  They are a shining example that diversity and inclusiveness are a combination destined to succeed.  I am sure that Tomlin was hired because they felt he was the best candidate regardless of his color.  But my point is that it’s not just talk with them.  To Tomlin’s credit he had his presentation together and was able to get with a team steeped with tradition – one of the strongest and most well respected franchises in sports history.  Mr. Rooney didn’t talk himself out of what he saw.  Now they have an unprecedented 6 Super Bowl titles.