FU Resurrected: The Art of Legacy

*blows dust and peels away cobwebs from the blog*

Yeah, yeah. I know. Long time no blog. But I've always made it clear that posts drop as often as I've had time. Frankly, I just haven't had the time. Other things and other opportunities have come about. But now that I'm able to balance all of that--and with the best NBA offseason ever--I'm back and able to philosophize about the game that is Basketball. Been away for months, but things haven't changed. Meet me after the random picture...


There's no need to recap what happened this offseason. It was practically everywhere. No links necessary. And yes, the first article back will be about "The Decision." However, it won't be approving or scolding LeBron for playing for Miami or even the hour-long special itself. Instead, this post will focus on a key point that seems to be the underlying factor for people who were against Lebron's move: legacy.

Most people (including myself, before I really thought about it) felt that Lebron changing teams and teaming with another superstar somehow hurts his legacy long-term. They feel that somehow, Lebron can no longer ascend to that "Chosen One" throne because left Cleveland. To them, Lebron's lost the chance at becoming the best basketball player ever simply by switching jerseys at 25. But is there a concrete definition of "legacy?" Or is there merely a mythological perception of it...


I believe that over time, the Elites of all sports began to share certain characteristics. And I don't just mean Hall of Famers. I'm referring to the legends--the icons that are spoken of with hallowed breaths. These players seem to have similar career paths. They play for one team most (if not all) their careers. They break a few records, pile up gaudy stats, and win multiple rings. The prime example is Jordan, who's so deified that his two years with the Wizards are viewed as though another person was player/executive in D.C. Bird and Magic spent their entire tenures immersed in the NBA's most famous rivalry; and there are certainly other sports that have players that have done the same. They get to the point where imagining them in another uniform becomes a ridiculous notion. Their franchises deem them too valuable to part with, and allow for them to retire with the squad with which they began.

There is one pro athlete who still ascended to consensus greatness despite playing for multiple teams. That is Wayne Gretzky. The Great One was so dominant as a player, that it didn't matter that he played for a few teams. He was just that good. How often Gretzky changed jerseys would have had no bearing on how is career ended because his talent was just that undeniable. Of course, hindsight is 20/20; and he's an exception to that mold that other Elite athletes fit in.

What does Gretzky's hockey greatness have to do with Lebron? Well as I stated, Lebron has been selected--justly or unjustly--as someone that can finish his career as the best to ever hoop. If that wasn't the case, then there wouldn't have been a big deal being made about his move to Miami, nor would there have been ESPN network time for his decision. He would have been a footnote on the bottom line and a brief segment on SportsCenter like, say, Rudy Gay was when he signed. But he wasn't...because he is Lebron. And we recognize the potential awesomeness his talents can reach.


This isn't to say that Lebron will be the GOAT; but we also can't deny that he has the capability to dethrone His Airness. This was to suggest that just because a great player changes teams does not necessarily diminish his career. Let his play on the court and his winning or lack thereof determine where he ranks among the pantheon of Basketball players--not his jersey.



Peace.

Premature Anointing?

Apologies for the hiatus. Computer monitor issues got in the way of the myriad of ideas for posts that I had in the past two months. Plus, life became really, really busy. Anyway, a lot of things have happened in the Basketball Realm; and the first round is nearly over, save for one game. I thought that a lot of my ideas would be too past-tense to be posted. But alas, the more things change... My next post is still relevant. I know it's been a long time; but yall know what to do. Meet me after the random picture...

About a year ago, I wrote about the mind state that the Elite players in the Association have. They never rattle in nerve-wrecking situations; and rarely make terrible decisions when other, lesser players are panicking. Those role players look to their leader as a calming influence in the most turbulent of game circumstances. Elites provide comfort, whether through words or actions, to his teammates; allowing them to stay in their respective lanes and thrive as complementary pieces. Some, like Kobe and Jordan, lead through fear and lofty expectations. Others, like Chris Paul and Kevin Durant, befriend their teammates and gain loyalty through friendship. Whichever method he chooses, an Elite must be able to respond to his team's distress signal and diffuse all crises, one basket at a time.

Within the branch of the All-Star players in the Basketball Realm, there exists some who have the mentality to be true #1's; and those that only have the game—but not the makeup—to be true Elite players. They're better as very good #2 players, able to be very productive without having to carry a squad. On Twitter, I've made my share of comments about Dirk Nowitzki and Vince Carter. I'll get to Vinsanity later. But I'm focusing on another two-guard with all the offensive tools. Begrudgingly, this brings me to Joe Johnson...

This is sort of personal, because I had ordained Joe Johnson as an upper-echelon shooting guard. Truth is, he is the third-best at that position. The sadder truth is that the gap between the other two (Kobe & Wade) and himself is wider than the margin of victory Orlando defeated Johnson's Hawks. I used to praise that he embraced anonymity; until he began to frequently fade into said anonymity whenever Atlanta had a tough game. I liked how he let Josh Smith be the marquee player through his highflying dunks and blocks. Until his recent quotations on the sparse fan support at Phillips Arena, I had never heard him speak. It may be a result of his personality; but at some point, while his team was getting manhandled, Johnson should have spoken up. He didn't have to do it publicly, but his play on the court would have been evident that he took the defeats personally. Good luck getting that max contract now.

Joe Johnson's was best suited as the fourth option on the SSOL Suns in the middle of the previous decade. As the only player other than Nash that could create, he had a niche that made those Phoenix teams formidable. Once he took the money and moved to ATL, that spotlight seems to have gotten too bright and he hasn't had the same success as the main threat. Vince Carter can relate. Carter was brought into the Magic Kingdom to be the devastating weapon that Hedo Turkoglu couldn't be last season. Orlando's a better team, but it's not because of him. Jameer Nelson's healthy and playing superbly, allowing Vince to blend in and continue to settle for jumpers. While the Magic were dismantling the Bobcats and Hawks, Carter's subpar shooting went unnoticed. In the eight games Orlando's played, he's 8-32 in three-point field goals—and he made four of those in the closeout game against Atlanta. He's Courtney Lee with a reputation of a sublime scorer, and lives off that rep alone.

Somehow, this brings me to Lebron. I believe that he is the best player on the planet. However, with his most recent game being his worst to date, it's fair to ask if he does have the mentality to carry a franchise. That's a big difference between he and Kobe. Kobe earned his Elite status through sheer determination and will to win. Lebron's godlike status was handed to him; and he has exponentially exceeded everything we had expected him to be. He's brought relevance to a city that wallows in its own futility, carried mediocre players to title contention, and has not once alienated his teammates or coach after series defeats. But, a question that was never thought of has now surfaced. Does Lebron have that Elite makeup? Yes, he's summoned his powers at his whim in the Motor City. But this is different. Now, he's expected to move mountains and reach the highest of heights, excuses and inflamed elbow tendons be damned. So what that Mo Williams isn't very good? Lebron is supposed to win anyway. This is your destiny, whether you chose it or not. Your legacy begins now, Chosen One. Good luck tonight.


Peace.

Superhero Mindstate

I have been away for awhile. I had dropped off a post about which Beltway player will get a ring first over at BeltwaySportsPage. Had to support the DMV movement.

So this year's Finals, like in recent years, have been anti-climactic. The Orlando bandwagon is all but empty; and even if you believe the Magic will stave off elimination tonight, most will agree that Kobe will end it at Staples in Game 6. But this post isn't about the series; or Kobe's validation with a championship, or how Lebron's still numero uno despite the Mamba's impending ring (foreshadowing to a future post). It's actually a journey into the mind of the elite player and how he approaches a big game/series. More after the random picture goodness...

You see, the reason why the Elite are the Elite, aside from being supernaturally gifted, is their intrinsic ability to rise when situations are most pressurized. Very rarely will the Elite play terribly when his team needs him the most. Now this doesn't necessarily mean that they will win everytime—as evidenced by Lebron's play against the Magic—but it will take the perfect storm from the opposition in order for the Elite to be defeated. But there's a process before the Elite decides to unleash his ultimate fury. If you're still with me, the first level is after the second random picture...

Observation State. If you play Basketball, regardless of level, then you are aware of the "feel-out" process that happens at the beginning of each game. The intensity isn't as high, and the tempo's a little slower than normal. People are still trying to loosen up get into the flow of the game. In this situation, the Elite will not force the issue offensively. Rather, he will sit back and attempt to get his teammates involved and into the game. This usually applies to perimeter, isolation-type players as opposed to big men. Post players always need a pass, but even they can decide to look opposite and dish out of double teams, or do this to set the tone. Now, the Elite's initial deferment does not mean he's isn't aggressive. It just means that he won't take those impossible shots that mere mortals wouldn't dare try, at home or otherwise. The Elite will remain in the Observational State as long as he feels his team doesn't need his heroics just yet. Then, he makes his progression to the next mental state...

Assimilation State. In the Assimilation State, the Elite will begin to assert himself offensively. He knows that his team will need his amazing abilities, regardless of whether the team is ahead or behind. He'll start breaking sets and looking for more isolation opportunities. He won't shoot every possession, but he will try to get himself in a rhythm on offense for the latter parts of the game/series. He will see how and where the extra defenders are, which way they play him off the pick-and-roll, and how much space the initial defender gives him on various parts of the floor. He gathers all this information he has collected and analyzes it at halftime/when the series' scene shifts. He then reaches the next mental state...

Weapon State. Every team makes adjustments at halftime/when the series changes arenas. The Elite will see if these changes will greatly deter the plan of attack he has created. If not, then thre's a smooth transition to the fourth mental state. But if the Elite is forced to somewhat rethink his plan, he then briefly retreats back and combines both the Assimilation and Observation states and just plays a "regular game." There may be some scoring, there may be some assisting. but he will be more aggressive and look to begin bending the game to his will. On to the fourth mental state.

Destruction State. At some point, the Elite will have enough of the opposition believing it has a chance of victory, and he will begin to go all Super Saiyan. It's at this point that all jokes will cease; and the elite will show why he his vastly better than the billions of people that have ever picked up a basketball. The second half of Kobe's "81" game, Wade in 2006, and Lebron in Game 7 last year are all examples of the Elites of the game unleashing their full fury. This can lead to some gaudy stats at the end of the game, as well as the overstanding of why they are who we thought they were...word to Dennis Green. And even while the Destruction State will usually result in victory for the Elite, there is yet another, more devastating region in the Elite's psyche that only surfaces during the Destruction State.

Oblivion. While in the Destruction State, the Elite has come to the conclusion that he will not be defeated without using all of his powers to prevent it. But the moment, the Steve Buckhantz "dagger" that is the final blow, is what Oblivion is. The Elite, like all great assassins, recognize that a killing blow must always be delivered. It doesn't necessarily have to be a game-winning shot or a dunk; but it's always a play that only the Elite can make. It's a play that is a microcosm entitled, "I'm Than You: You Know It, I Know It." If you need a visual example, it's all of the plays in the "Where Will Amazing Happen?" ads that ran throughout the playoffs. Those are the moments that leave the opposition in a state of head-scratching shock, followed by deflated acceptance.

So there you have it. That's the journey through the mind of an Elite player. Bear in mind that in some instances, the Elite will go immediately into the Destruction State; but the path to it usually follows the aforementioned methods. Remember that as you watch those players throughout their careers.


Peace.

Who Got The Vibe? It's The Tribe, Yall

(Note: Another title for my hip-hop heads, based on ESPN's John Anderson calling the Knicks, "The Quest." For more, go here. Shout out to Q-Tip, Phife, and Ali Shaheed. To the post...)

The playoffs are set to begin this weekend; so that means my Knicks' season is over. I had refrained on writing at length about them all year, but I feel I must do at the end. If you've been reading for awhile, you know this won't be one of those typical season wrap-up posts; with topics like, "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly." Also, I won't do the typical Knicks fan-type thing and just find creative ways to say, "Wait 'til 2010!" in 500+ words. But, I may say something about this season that may shock you. It has nothing to do with Chris Duhon's success in the SSOL system; or how I'm begging they keep Al Harrington. It's that Mike D'Antoni is a genius, and it extends beyond the fastbreak offense.

More than bringing a bit of credibility to a once-proud franchise, he brought hope. Yes, hope. Whenever a new coach (I'm looking at you, Terry Porter), gets hired, the fanbase is all over him if the team doesn't produce immediate results. Yet, you don't hear too many Knicks fans detracting the Knicks team. Maybe that has a lot to do with where the team was; but this year's bunch is so much more aesthetically pleasing. They're not the 05-06 Suns, but they picked up their choreography by looking through the window. If anything, he proved that SSOL can work with pretty much anyone, as long as there are "point guards" that can get to the basket, about seven people that shoot threes, and David Lee. Like my man "Money" Mike Benjamin would say, SSOL is, "so easy a Blue Devil can do it."

But let's jump back to that "hope" aspect. Few people talk about just how horrific an experience it was to watch the Knicks of the previous three seasons. You won't find too many people talking about the past, word to Mark McGwire. Instead, you get those 16 or 17 thousand people that look to the Free Agent Spec-tac-u-lar next offseason, knowing that the D'Antoni/Walsh tandem will bring forth riches, notably a chalk-clapping titan. D'Antoni's ragtag Knicks have even made folks forget about Danilo, who most had given up for as a lost cause the day he was drafted. They figured he wasn't built for MSG, and the Big Apple would take a bite out of him. Can he play? I guess. But the consensus is that selecting Gallinari was a favor Mike D did for "El Gallo's" dad.

So, what Mike D did at MSG was a mini-miracle. He made New York fans forget about "Coney Island's Finest" and be able to make jokes about Zeke instead of taking the brunt of them. He also made these hardcore fans okay with waiting through rough times and actually wait for long-term results. Kudos, to you, sir. Kudos. Can't wait 'til 2010.

Peace.

Call Each Other 'Cuz 'Cause Of How We Relate

(If you're wondering where I've been, peep my posts—one about AI and my contributions to March's Madness—over at Money Mike's "Points Off Turnovers." Many kudos to Jeff Scott for the 'Melo post. To my latest...)

I'm starting this post the FreeDarko way with a random picture first for a reason; so I guess the picture isn't so random after all. As I'm sure you know, that is the latest pregame ritual that Lebron and his teammates partake in. Now the Knicks fan in me would deduce that he's taking pictures to preserve memories in Cleveland before he bolts for Gotham. But obviously, that isn't the case. Bluntly put, it's because he's a funny guy. He is genuinely a friend to every person on that roster—even Lorenzen Wright. So why is that important? Well...
Everyone, including me, talks about how Kobe alienates his teammates and somewhat thinks of them as lower than he. But while cruising the YouTube, I found the interview he and Lebron did for ESPN/ABC. In it, you see Bryant chuckling it up with his fellow Team USA peers; and he looks really happy. Kobe has a personality and sense of humor; but only displays it to those that share the same exalted Basketball stratosphere. Basically, if you're great, you're cool. If you ain't, you ain't.

As usual, I examined the why behind this, and as with many Kobe juxtapositions, I can trace it back to Jordan. While cruising YouTube, I found the Top 13 all-access moments in Team USA Basketball from Dream Team to Redeem Team. I don't want to spoil it, but the moment with MJ in it has him kidding with Sir Charles over his "Be Like Mike" Gatorade commercial. Briefly searching my memory banks has led me to believe that the only time I've seen Jordan's smile with that much wattage is when he was hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy. Like MJ before him, Kobe finds true kinship with the other elite players in the Association. To me, he has to truly respect your superstar abilities in order for you to receive the privilege of sharing a smile with him. I believe it's due to his concentrated work ethic. It's a bit bourgeois, but when he was born the son of a pro athlete and bred himself to be Basketball Hokage, all lesser beings are treated as such.

Even though I believe Lebron ranks numero uno in "World's Best Basketball Player," this isn't a detraction against Kobe. Some people choose to lead in different ways. Lebron, Paul, and Wade find joy in leading others, and will take their flawed men and sprinkle a bit of their aura on them to elevate their play. They want to find out about their teammates off the court so they can have true synergy on it. It also helps that they are natural jokesters. Kobe uses the emotion of awe to get the best out of his fellow Lakers. The Jordan Farmars of the team have visions of Kobe's wrath if they don't live up to what he expects them to be. A glare from the Mamba and it's enough to force any Luke Walton to properly run the Triangle. I guarantee Kobe won't be taking pictures of Josh Powell and Chris Mihm.

Peace.

Fear Not of Man

I find myself in more awe watching the current Lebron James than watching Michael Jordan at his best.
OK. I recognize the outrageous blasphemy in that statement, and I hesitated before typing it. I even thought about hiding it in a paragraph like a cryptic message so it wouldn't be easily discovered. But no, it needs to be alone, because of its loneliness, hence the doubling up of random pictures between that statement and this paragraph. This isn't to say that the current Lebron is better than MJ; that is sacrilege of the highest Basketball degree. But I get a different emotion when watching The King. While I'm amazed with Jordan, I'm scared of Lebron. My attempt at substantiating this absurd thesis lies after the next random picture…

Before I get flooded with requests to revoke my sports opinion, allow me to explain. I acknowledge that said explanation may still be an eloquently veiled excuse, but I'll try anyway. In order to lay some sort of plausible foundation, I think I should start with AI. Allen Iverson is my favorite all-time player—yes, ahead of Jordan in his tongue-wagging prime. I feel like I have to keep stressing that I know Jordan is Basketball Supreme. He is The Best, and every time Kobe makes an offensive move, Jordan's greatness is more reaffirmed in my mind. (Oddly enough, the same happens whenever I watch Vince Carter play.) The reason Iverson resonated so deeply with me is because there was no one like him to grace the floor since I had started watching the game. Whether he was the best player in the game that night or not, no one could copy his style. Seeing Iverson was the first time I had noticed a transcendent talent. He was someone that not even MJ could figure out initially—nothing about Iverson came from any of Jordan's derivatives. I relished in his rebelliousness. His defiant step over Tyronn Lue in the Finals was a landmark moment in Hoops for me. It permanently cemented him as my favorite basketball player.

At first, I thought that me being more gravitated to AI and Lebron than Jordan was due to the fact that when Jordan was actively ruling the Basketball Realm, I was too young to really appreciate the finer things of Basketball—and that these two players are the most unique of the post-Jordan era. But even as I analyze Prime Jordan with a keener Basketball mind, and revel in His Airness-ness, I still don't have quite the same feeling I do when observing Iverson and Lebron. Watching Prime Jordan (and Prime Kobe, for that matter) is like watching a man alone set out to take vengeance on those that know he's mortal. His divinity comes through unceasing enhancement of strengths and development of faults to near-flawlessness. He's the living proof that perfect practice makes perfect. Add that to his free-flowing, spontaneous-yet-simultaneously-planned Basketball operations; and you have Zeus in outstanding tennis shoes.

So why does Lebron frighten me if there's already someone atop Mount Olympus? You may be thinking that current Lebron doesn't have many postseason moments; even if they're compared to Jordan or Kobe's first six years. He only has two, with one of them being in a Conference Finals victory and one being in defeat and bested by another man's dawning of the superhero cape. However, with Current Lebron, I don't have that same reassurance that Jordan will forever remain The Best. Lebron slowly erodes that thinking with each move, each pass, and each annoying powder clap. It's not that he's so advanced in the game without having college education. It's not even each of his thunderous one-man stampedes to the rim. I think the reason why I'm scared of Lebron is because he is the only player that can assume Basketball perfection without perfecting every aspect of his game.

The one "flaw" in Lebron's game is a consistent perimeter jump shot. He has a hitch in it, which means that he doesn't shoot the same shot twice. The way defenses are designed today, a perimeter player almost has to have some semblance of an outside game. This is where the fear comes in when I look at Lebron. I feel that he doesn't have to be as good a shooter as, say, Dwyane Wade because of how physically superior he is to…everyone. And when he does lose that proverbial step, he becomes, at worst, as quick as Ron Artest or Paul Pierce off the dribble. Then there's the underutilized post game that may reveal itself once he moves to New York and doesn't have a true center clogging the lane. His version of MJ/Kobe's turnaround fadeaway would then be a four-foot baby hook—a more boring but more efficient tool; and unstoppable considering who would be defending him.

Or, he could do what we all expect but still can't conceive. He could refine that jumper and be deadly in all dimensions for the next dozen years. Is that scarier than the scenario in the previous paragraph? I can't really say. But the fact that it's legitimately conversed about is a testament to what Lebron could be. I understand that perimeter defenders could get away with a lot more in Jordan's heyday than now, but the tradeoff with that is the athletes are far more, well, athletic than in previous eras; with more of said physical phenoms in the Association. There wasn't such a thing as Josh Smith twenty years ago. As Jordan/Kobe is the lonesome Samurai achieving Basketball balance from elemental sharpening, Lebron is Hercules—causing tremors as he harnesses his wrath in the name of Basketball.

The "Fear" Order goes:

• '01 Iverson
  
• Current Lebron
  
• Prime Jordan
  
• Future Kevin Durant
  
• '85 Magic
  

I hope I fully explained myself in this post. If I didn't, feel free to let me know so in the comments. I'll answer any questions that you may have, and will stand by my initial sentence.

Peace.

Mystique Through Avoidance

I'm taking a break from my yin/yang series. It's not because I'm stuck, because I have at least seven more parts to it, but rather so Money Mike and his form/function series can catch up. But before I get into my latest brainstorm, I must pay respect where respect is due. Alexander Ovechkin is, pound for pound, the most fake athlete in sports. But is it less fake or more fake when he has two similarly impossible goals? You be the judge. Anyway, to the post...

Before the chaos of the summer of 2010 gets underway, Basketball fans are anticipating next year's dunk contest; in which The Royal King James has apparently decided to descend from his throne and showcase his otherworldly athleticism in the spirit of fun. For those of you that are believing that fallacy, then allow me to save you some heartbreak. The odds of Lebron participating in a dunk contest are slim, if none. There are many reasons why, and you guessed it, they're outlined after the random pic...

Allow me to preface this with MJ. Those that believe Lebron's declaration cite that, "Jordan was in the dunk contest, and he was the G.O.A.T." True and true, but not even MJ had the same path towards stardom that Lebron enjoys. When Jordan entered the Association, he wasn't anointed as The One—primarily because Bird and Magic were at the peak of their titan-like rivalry and the League didn't need another torch-bearer just yet. Through uncanny work ethic and sheer will to be The Best, he bullied his way into the highest of Hoops echelons. Yes, he was blessed with natural gifts, but he had to snatch his crown.

Conversely, Lebron was anointed from his St. Vincent, St. Mary days. He forced the invocation of having high school games on national TV to justify broadcasting his games on Pay-Per-View. His nickname of The Chosen One was bluntly literal, and ever since 2003, he's been the face of the NBA for the new millennium—whether he was amazing or not. Of course he's amazing. And while until this season, Kobe has been the premier perimeter player and still leads in global jersey sales, it's obvious that James has been selected to be the definition of NBA.

So what does this have to do with the 2010 All-Star Weekend? Observe The Lebrons commericial in which they hold a backyard dunk contest. Athlete Lebron says, "He doesn't really do dunk contests," but it's Business who provides the true insight into how Lebron really feels about spontaneous displays of awesome. "Dunk contests are bourgeois." Lebron is building a genuine Baskeball empire, and anything that could hinder it—even slightly—is merely a distraction from his ultimate goal: global icon status. What's even more frustrating to fans is that in pre-game warm-ups, he puts on performances that leave us wondering, "Why not in February?"

The reason why I believe it won't happen is because he already has mystique. As I said, with MJ, he sort of had to create his greatness aura. Yes, he had accolades on his college resume, but he wasn't treasured as the rare gem until "The Layup." Lebron's mystique partly lies in the fact that he hasn't been in a dunk contest. As I heard on TV once, "He has the lure of being the greatest dunk contest dunker...without ever dunking." Does he feel that even he couldn't compete with those acrobatic free-spirits that love to spread their wings? Maybe.
Back on the Vince post, I stated that Carter's dunks are his exertion of dominance...in dunking. I feel that when Lebron takes flight, it's a physical declaration that his might is untouched—that he is a god among immortals. While Kobe and MJ are Almighty tacticians through repetition and acquiring of more skill, Lebron is a sculpted supreme being, crafted from the Heavens with the powers of every aspect of the Basketball Realm within arm's reach. Winning a dunk contest wouldn't add to his legacy because he's created a portion of his legacy through not competing. And that may be a little more gratifying. I'll believe it when they announce his name in Dallas.


Peace.

Political Inactivism: No More Ali's In Sports...Ever

Muhammad Ali is my favorite person in the history of people. As a young champion, he was brash, arrogant, and eloquent. At the same time, he was passionate about real human rights issues, and not something as lame as not having enough millions to provide for his family. Back on the Lebron yin/yang post, I made a mention that he and Wade aren't exactly outspoken when it comes to today's crises. I believe the main reason is they have a new driving force that they cherish more than what some would view as doing the right thing. More after the random pic...

I'll use Lebron for this example because he is the most visible face of the most globalized sport this side of soccer. He's already stated his goal of being, "a global icon," and in order to achieve that he needs a certain characteristic that even eluded Ali during his prime: crossover appeal. People of all cultures and races love Lebron. Don't think for a second that his "powder" thing he borrowed from KG and Jordan was spontaneous. He recognized that he needed more than just on-the-court ability that will allow him to be exalted in the minds of the fans. It's his MJ tongue-wag. If he ever switches logos on his merchandise, I guarantee that the silhouette will be of him with his arms outstretched.

What also comes with crossover appeal is an exponential increase in financial stability (read: Mo' Money). As His Airness himself once famously (or infamously) said, "Republicans buy shoes, too." This set the precedence for all superstar athletes post-Jordan to not be forced to take sides and stir any extra controversy from any one group—more importantly, any one potential sales demographic. Today's athlete is more concerned with endorsement deals than making a difference outside of mandated community service projects. This isn't to say that there aren't athletes that don't care about situations like Darfur or Katrina, but rather this is to say that you won't dare catch them saying anything that isn't politically correct. Etan Thomas is politically active; but with respect to him, most people wouldn't Etan Thomas if they saw him in NBA gear; and he's 6'9". It even took me a couple seconds when I met him a few years back at The Run 'N' Shoot Capital Sports Complex in the DC Area.

That's why Ali is my favorite person and the Greatest Of All Time. Not only was he the best at his craft, but he still managed to keep his true self without converting through the pressures of celebrity. Now, he's the most celebrated living Black athlete, if not overall athlete, in the world. I'm not bashing the modern pro athlete for it because they are not champions of our struggles. Yes, someone like Lebron or Tiger could use that mass appeal to bring light to those troubles that certain media outlets choose to ignore. And yes, "regular" people have virtually no chance of influencing a newspaper or TV network to give their cares some real air time, regardless of need or sincerity. But in an age where every second of celebrities' and athletes' lives are invaded, we have to respect them if those with a bit of fame don't want to create any added backlash. Ali was a special human being in a different time period. No superstar has to endure any of the harshness that he did during his rise to prominence. And there will never be an athlete with that combination of superstar aura and a desire to be vocal about injustice again.

Peace.

In Search of Yang...or Yin

In sports, there is a yin to every yang. The Yankees and Red Sox, Chamberlain and Russell, Bird and Magic; there are always two opposing entities that need each other to be at their best. It's not just that the two are the best at what they do; but rather their souls are contrasting and complimentary. It can never be established by outsiders, but always forms as if it was preordained.
Since the dawn the realm of Basketball, there have been three individual yin/yang pairs among the players. There's the point guard, the swingman, and the big man. For example, Chris Paul and Deron Williams will be forever linked, regardless of whatever Rose or Harris do in their careers. Tim Duncan and Shaq are polar personality opposites—Shaq, the bold showman and Timmy being the epitome of quiet strength. But there lies a mystery regarding the perimeter player: who is the yin to Lebron's yang?

One would venture to the obvious answer of Kobe, but Kobe's six years Lebron's senior. They have been on the same plane for no more than three seasons, with this one being the third. If one figures that Kobe has five more years of Mamba-ness, then that places Lebron—at 29—with no one as his rival for another six to eight years. And besides, Kobe's rival has been the Ghost of Jordan Past since his inception anyway. Moving on...

Is it Wade? He certainly has the game, and will most likely see Lebron in some playoff series over the next few years. However, Wade and Lebron's personalities are too similar, despite The Flash not being so flashy. Both are sort of clean-cut, minus Bron-Bron's tattoos, and aren't exactly Muhammad Ali when it comes to taking any sort of political stand (more about that soon). It works a little, but doesn't quite capture that Bird/Magic feel. Keep on searching...

Maybe it really is Carmelo Anthony, as Draft experts had claimed after their selections in 2003; and really, since their high school days. Their games are diametrically opposed; with Lebron as Max Payne at light speed and Melo as Sam Fisher from the free throw line extended. Throw in Melo's Iverson-like street cred and inner city popularity; and there may be something stirring in the chemistry pot. Yet I feel that Melo, while mathematically, well, mellow and sublime from the paint, doesn't quite beam with the same regal aura as Lebron. While there is King James, I feel like Anthony would be more like Knight Melo instead of having his own empire among the Association. To me, Carmelo serves as Lebron's sparring partner; not necessarily for James to flat-out dominate, but to let The King know that he can't take too many days off from his celestial duties, yet still can't challenge the throne himself.

Who knows? Maybe Mayo, Granger, Roy or someone else will arise and be that converse for Lebron. Though that player won't be able to wrestle the crown from Lebron's head for awhile, he can at least claim some territory for The King to have battles to reaffirm him place atop the Realm.

Peace.