Sports Sense

Yes, LeBron James’ ESPN special Thursday night was overblown, self-indulgent and maybe even cruel. But I couldn’t help watching it. And I’m fairly certain that when the ratings come out, it will be clear that millions of others watched too.

What we learned during the hour-long prime time “Decision” is that Cleveland will never be the same again. But neither will LeBron. The city’s native son is finally leaving home. He is taking his basketball to Miami where he will join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to become the newest and perhaps best Big Three of all time. That’s the basketball and business part of this. The rest is personal.

The hurt and anger over LeBron’s “betrayal” may never subside in Cleveland. Even Cavaliers’ owner Dan Gilbert weighed in with some of the most classless, gutless and angry statements I’ve ever heard about a player. But like the onion that makes you cry, there are a lot of layers to this melodrama.

Cleveland is easily the most disrespected, misunderstood and luckless city in team sports. But for seven glorious years Cavaliers’ fans had hope and the eyes of the world on their town because basketball’s most talented and athletically gifted player was on their team and was actually one of them. LeBron made Cleveland matter. But LeBron leaving means the party is over. It is now midnight in northeast Ohio.

But the other side of this are the enormous expectations placed on a prodigy. Not many athletes have ever been under the pressure and microscope that LeBron has. Because of his precocious talent he has been expected to be the best, to win championships and save a city all while becoming the games most legendary player. It is indeed a heavy burden.

Did LeBron really betray Cleveland or was he just looking out for himself? Its a matter of how you look at it. Does he have the right to do what he feels is best for himself? Absolutely. Should he have stayed? Well the fairy tale certainly would have read a lot better if he had. But LeBron’s story requires a championship. And it became increasingly clear that it might not happen in Cleveland.

And that was the problem – a huge problem and an on-going burden for a guy we all expect to be one of the greatest players of all time. Sorry Cleveland.

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Finally the right job for Michael Jordan!

Jordan was formally approved the other day as the majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. Jordan bought controlling interest in the Bobcats from Bob Johnson for nearly $300 million.

Jordan now becomes the first former NBA player to own an NBA team. Let that sink in.

Jordan has been the president and general manager of two NBA teams, most recently, the Bobcats, and before that an unpleasant stint with the Washington Wizards. But those jobs didn’t really fit Jordan.

The fact is he is not into the details and day-to-day administration of a team like presidents and general managers should be. And Jordan is often not around the team or the office. No, Michael Jordan is not the guy who should manage the daily operations of a pro basketball team… But he is the icon who should Own one.

Being an owner is a completely different role. It can be very complex with an important civic component tacked on to it. Owners are taking in millions of the public’s dollars to field what will hopefully be an entertaining and competitive team. They also have the responsibility to provide a positive diversion for the community that supports the team.

So while Jordan’s basketball knowledge can be valuable to the Bobcats, his longtime image as the face of a sport and his understanding of corporate business deals will be even more important as he tries to build interest and economic support for a team that has never really been embraced in Charlotte – and is losing lots of money.

Team owners can and do impact a community for the good. Dallas has two such owners in Jerry Jones of the Cowboys and Mark Cuban of the NBA Mavericks. Both men have been extremely successful in making money and improving the image of their teams and sports locally and nationally.

Dan Snyder, owner of the Washington Redskins, might be the best example of how not to relate to a community or his sport. While Snyder has made millions from Redskins supporters in his decade of ownership, his tactics have often alienated the team’s huge fan base.

That said, I have very high expectations for Michael Jordan in this new role. Anything less than a total transformation of the Charlotte Bobcats should be considered an enormous failure. Jordan is an international icon. There is no bigger name in basketball outside of a couple of well-known active players than Jordan. On the business side, Jordan’s image literally transformed a fledgling company (Nike) into a worldwide sports powerhouse.

As an owner this level of power is what Jordan ought to bring to the Bobcats and to basketball. His elevation to team owner is symbolic, significant and needed. If Michael Jordan does not and cannot leverage his name, image and impact for the good in Charlotte, a city not far from where he grew up, then Jordan cannot do it anywhere.

Owning the Bobcats should be the perfect move for this one of a kind basketball legend. I hope it actually will be.

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It would be easy to say that the Washington Wizards’ Gilbert Arenas is an idiot, a manchild who has not come close to growing up. But that overlooks troubling issues and many unanswered questions.

Understandably the hammer had to come down on Arenas, who was suspended indefinitely without pay by NBA commissioner David Stern on Wednesday, ironically on his 28th birthday. Arenas was suspended for admittedly bringing several handguns into the team’s locker room, storing them there, and perhaps according to some accounts, pointing one of them at a teammate.

Now, according to a report in the Washington Post, that teammate, Javaris Crittenton, also brought a gun into the locker room and actually loaded it in front of several other Wizards players.

Some questions: Why did it take so long for Wizards’ management, coaching staff and players to acknowledge the incident that happened last month in front of numerous witnesses? Where was the coach and general manager in all of this? Why did the NBA only suspend Arenas and not Crittenton? What about the thousands of dollars in gambling on the team plane that apparently precipitated this?

That said, Gilbert Arenas showed his immaturity in numerous statements, tweets, and ill-advised actions on the basketball court over the last week. Arenas initially made jokes about the incident. Only when the authorities got involved did Arenas, team and league officials appear to take what happened seriously.

But before we get all crazy about this, the fact is no one was hurt – thank God for that. So let’s not lose perspective about what’s really at stake and the much larger issue of players feeling that they must be armed wherever they go, apparently not understanding the consequences of their actions.

This is not just a Washington Wizards issue and it is not just a sports issue either. This is also about a society that often cherishes the right to keep and bear arms without proper controls in place. And it is about foolish young men who despite wealth and fame feel empowered to do whatever they want, when they want, without concern for decorum and decency.

And yet – we fans often cheer these guys on if they play for our team, but vilify them when they play for the opposition. The hypocrisy is appalling.

The Reverend Al Sharpton was harshly critical of the NBA, African-American leaders and others who he believes have tolerated the behavior of boorish, foolish athletes for far too long. He called for a harsh penalty to be levied against Arenas. While I do agree with Sharpton that more has to be done to police players, all of us need to take some responsibility for this too.

The athletes we cheer on one moment and revile the next, take most of their cues from us – the fans.

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For many other players it would have simply been a happy homecoming. Another feel good end of a career story. But we’re talking about Allen Iverson. Iverson is one of the greatest one-on-one talents to have ever played the game of basketball. If there was a pound-for-pound, inch-for-inch crown, the 6 foot tall 175 pound Iverson would wear it as the undisputed champion of basketball.

But the light is dimming on his career. And sadly on his reputation. Coming home is one last chance to change minds. To regain his pride. To get back into the starting lineup.

Maybe that’s why Allen Iverson cried so emotionally when he announced his return to the Philadelphia 76ers. The tears were real. Iverson’s pain remains deep.

Allen Iverson is the original hip-hop basketball superstar.

He became a man in an era when you were deemed soft if you smiled too much. Allen had the tats, the cornrows, the attitude, and the skills, but most importantly he was a hero who never left the hood. He was still hard. That was the upside for Iverson for a lot of years as he often led the league in scoring and spectacular plays.

But when he was traded to Detroit from Denver last season something changed. Yes, he got hurt, but there were other pains as well. For the first time he seemed irrelevant. A high scoring loser playing out the last days of a forgettable career. He deserved better. But he has mostly himself to blame. And he knows it.

Allen Iverson is struggling. At 34 years of age he is grappling with who he is as an athlete, and ultimately who he is as a man.

This season playing for Memphis, he wasn’t willing to come off the bench. So he quit. For a minute it appeared he had retired. But mostly he was mad. Of course he can still play. He was the best player on the Grizzlies as he would be on most teams. But for Iverson, his reputation as a me-first, shoot-first player, had lost it’s appeal.

Right now Iverson is feeling every possible emotion.

You can’ t always shake the image that people have of you. But you can change the image you have of yourself.

It’s up to Allen now. He’s home.

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The other day NBA superstar LeBron James said that starting next year he would no longer wear number 23. Further he says all NBA players should relinquish wearing number 23 – out of respect to the greatest number 23, Michael Jordan. Actually I have no problem with that.

But young Mr. James, don’t go around saying that you will likely wear number 6 instead. That, young Mr. James is an insult to history, and an insult to a man who I think can never get enough credit for what he accomplished in the NBA.

LeBron James and too many other history addled people seem to forget that the NBA’s all-time greatest winner and perhaps greatest player wore number 6 – his name is Bill Russell.

So if LeBron wants to honor Michael Jordan and number 23 he damned sure ought to respect number 6 and the great Bill Russell too by picking another number to wear! Bill Russell will always be the greatest number 6.

I do understand the need to recognize Michael Jordan, but there should be no recognition like that for Jordan unless Bill Russell’s number 6 is also permanently retired. At his best Jordan was beauty in motion. And a winner. But even with six titles to his credit Jordan can never be the winner that the original number 6 – Bill Russell was. Russell won 11 NBA titles. Many people also forget that Russell made history as the first modern-era African-American head coach in a major sport in 1966.

More importantly, as a player-coach, Bill Russell led the Boston Celtics to two NBA titles.

Perhaps LeBron is just too young to realize that in recognizing Jordan he “forgot” about Bill Russell.

I haven’t forgotten.

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The other day Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban suggested that some sports need to embrace a clinical approach to the use of steroids.

But even as he made that statement Cuban predicted that he would be widely criticized for his belief that athletes should be allowed to use steroids under a doctors care as a way to recover from injuries.

But I won’t be one of the naysayers. I believe he’s right on this.

I applaud Cuban for having the courage to raise this subject publicly and without apology. I hope this begins a responsible, rather than hysterical, dialogue about all kinds of recuperative drugs including steroids. The reality is that these drugs are not always used for performance enhancement.

In the real world we have real people using steroids, human growth hormone and other specialized drugs under a doctors care all the time. These drugs are beneficial in “enhancing” the lives of the people who need them. So shouldn’t athletes have the same options that are available to everyone else.

Of course I am not saying these drugs should be abused. But what is wrong with using them to regenerate tired and sometimes torn bodies so that the athlete can compete again.

Of course all athletes are looking for an “edge” to help them win. But seeking an edge doesn’t always mean cheating. The reality is that while most successful players are driven to be better than their opponents and to win, they also are quite aware that in order to play and to beat the opposition they must be able to quickly recover from injuries.

Just as importantly its not unreasonable for them to want a comfortable and relatively pain-free life in retirement too. Which is why some athletes ought to be allowed to use certain drugs to not just extend their careers but extend their lives.

But the misinformed clamor about performance enhancing drugs, particularly in Major League Baseball has distorted and warped a discussion that all of us should welcome.

The best example might be pro football. NFL football is arguably the most brutal contact sport in the world. The physical toll on NFL players cannot remotely be measured. Some of the injuries incurred by players last a lifetime or cause their deaths.

So why shouldn’t a football player or any other athlete have a pharmaceutical means to manage the pain he feels, heal his injuries and minimize the potential long-term damage to his health?

These athletes play not only for their own wealth and glory, but even more importantly they play for our entertainment. But unfortunately as fans I don’t think we place enough value on the extreme physical sacrifice that athletes often make for us.

Common sense ought to prevail here in dealing with this issue.

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The Los Angeles Lakers have just won their 15th NBA title.  And because of his obvious importance,  a lot of people believe the Lakers are Kobe Bryant’s team.  After all he is their best player, and he did win the Bill Russell Most Valuable Player Award.  But does that actually mean the Lakers are in fact – Kobe’s team?

With 13 successful and often spectacular seasons in the NBA, Kobe just might be one of the greatest players in basketball history.  That’s a fact.  But when you really ponder the implication behind the question: “Whose team is it?” , the more absurd and ridiculous the concept gets.  Why is this important anyway?

Much was made during the Lakers – Magic NBA Finals about how crucial it was for Kobe to win a fourth championship in order to prove he could do it without Shaquille O’Neal.   I wonder why.  Looking at the statistics from the Lakers last three championships, the numbers tell us that Kobe Bryant averaged roughly 30 points per game during those three series in 2000, 2001, 2002.   Which says that in actuality, Shaq needed Kobe every bit as much as Kobe needed Shaq.

So whose team were Laker squads that won the championship three years in a row?  Was its Shaq’s team or Kobe’s team?   Did it really matter?  And I know this is rhetorical; but weren’t there other players on those Laker teams?

Just asking the question – Whose Team…? – seems to render the other less prominent players irrelevant.  That’s why this Whose Team thing must stop and must stop now.

Back to this season.   Let me make this point and stay with me as I say this – the Lakers could not have won the title without Pau Gasol.   Take Gasol – the closest player in style and play to Boston Celtics great, Kevin McHale – out of the lineup and the Lakers simply can’t beat the Magic.

Further, if you take Derek Fisher, and his crucial three-point shooting out of the Finals, the Lakers would still be playing the Magic.

Let me go on.  Lamar Odom, the versatile 6’10“ Lakers power forward who can do just about anything with the basketball when he puts his mind to it, created a tremendous match-up problem for the Magic.   Orlando simply had no answer for him.   They would have certainly lost the series without Lamar Odom’s contributions.  The same can be said for Lakers small forward, Trevor Ariza.  Ariza just kept hitting important shot after important shot during the series and played great defense.  The Magic couldn’t handle him either.

Again I ask: Is Kobe Bryant the Lakers best player?  Yes he is.   But could he have won the title this year on his own?  The clear answer is No, he could not.

So let me ponder once more: Are the Lakers Kobe’s team?  Well, actually they are.   But they are Derek Fisher’s team too!  The Lakers also belong to Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza.   Take away any one of those players and the guys on the bench and rusty starting center, Andrew Bynum and the Orlando Magic are in position to win an NBA championship.

Frankly, this Whose Team stuff is old and tired.   I’m beyond sick of hearing about it.   But this concept is not just one that harms the values of team play in basketball.  Every team sport has some version of this issue.   And the more I read about it, the more I listen to the debates, the more stupid I find it all.

Team sports are won by teams, not individuals.   Certainly great individual performances matter, and we marvel at them, but take away any of the component parts – the teammates – that surround that great player and all you have is a great player, you don’t have a champion.   I especially hope the folks in Cleveland understand this.

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I had just about written him off as another playground punk but I’m glad that at least for one game, the man known on asphalt courts as Skip to My Lou, was the main catalyst for his team.   It was good to see Rafer Alston turn things around.

Alston played an outstanding game Tuesday night in the Orlando Magic’s game three win against the Los Angeles Lakers when his team absolutely needed him most.   Alston’s success – 20 points and 4 assists – will go a long way toward rebuilding a rapidly fading reputation that had suffered greatly from his actions and his play during the first two games of the series.

Like many people who are following the NBA Finals, and cheering for Orlando, I was down big-time on Rafer Alston.  Alston seemed to pout like a child when he sat the bench, while the previously injured starter and All Star, Jameer Nelson returned to the lineup for long stretches of game one.   Game two wasn’t much better either.  Alston didn’t appear to have his head in the game, playing inconsistently and badly missing shots.   It could be that he was selfishly thinking about playing time rather than helping the team.

Rafer Alston has never been someone teams depended on, or trusted.  He has bounced around a lot during his ten years in the NBA.  This year he moved on to Orlando at mid-season in a trade with the Houston Rockets.

Honestly, I never thought much of Alston or his game.  Quite frankly, I’m biased against playground-style players.   Many of them seem to be “me-first” guys who don’t care about team play and in some cases don’t even care whether they actually win the game.

Alston’s apparent attitude – I say apparent – because its based solely on the interviews I watched, and his body language on the bench, and on the court, suggested that he was exactly like the stereotype that I described.  But something seemed to change for Alston Tuesday night.  Maybe it was playing in familiar surroundings at home.  Maybe it was the frustration from all the criticism he’s gotten lately.  But Tuesday night the light clicked on for Alston.   His inspired play early in the game, his leadership and shot-making, set just the right tempo and tone for the Magic, who would go on to set an NBA Finals record for field goal shooting percentage.   Alston, also, thank goodness, said all the right things when he was interviewed during and after the game.

The thing about watching championship series, particularly the NBA, is that if you are lucky, you get to watch the team you follow evolve, grow, get better and hopefully win.    And other times you get to witness miraculous and sometimes game changing plays.   But if you are really fortunate you literally witness a player grow into maturity.   From all appearances, Tuesday was Rafer Alston’s night to finally grow up.

And it looks like he has finally skipped into NBA relevance at just the right time.

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Even without the expected showdown of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James in the finals, the NBA is as healthy as its been since the end of the Michael Jordan era.  

The NBA Finals which tip-off on Thursday in Los Angeles are being aided by growing public interest in the NBA, which saw each of the television networks covering the playoffs, experience standout ratings.

While LeBron’s Cleveland Cavaliers failed to make a second trip to the finals, the conquering Orlando Magic are more than just a replacement team against the Los Angeles Lakers.   It must be noted that during the regular season the Magic won both games against the Lakers.

Orlando has its own star in center Dwight Howard, who finished up the series against Cleveland with 40 points and 14 rebounds.   And believe it or not, Howard, the league’s defensive player of the year, and first team All-NBA center, is actually getting even better – right before our eyes, during the playoffs.

The Lakers which finished with the second best record in the league during the regular season are of course led by the incomparable Kobe Bryant  and are in the finals for a second consecutive year.  Kobe has Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom to back him up.

My sense is that the Lakers – Magic finals will prove to be the best possible match up.   Cleveland, despite this season’s best record, proved at least for now that they don’t yet have an adequate supporting cast for LeBron.

But Orlando, with tall, athletic scorers in Hedo Turkoglo, and Rashard Lewis and slick shooting super sub Mickael Pietrus, backing up Howard, the Magic have more than enough firepower to disarm the Lakers.   The big question is do they have the will?  We know on the other side, the man who is arguably the league’s best player, Kobe Bryant, does have the will.  Kobe wants to prove once and for all that not only is he the best player, but that he doesn’t have to have Shaquille O’Neal on his team to win a championship.

The other variable that I’m excited about is the coaching match-up.   The Lakers’ Phil Jackson is looking to win his 10th NBA title as coach.   10 would be a record, finally surpassing the great Red Auerbach who coached the Boston Celtics to 9 championships.   Jackson, the master manipulator, is known for getting inside the heads of his players and pushing them to do better.  Of course it didn’t hurt his reputation as a pysch-master that he had Michael Jordan to help him win 6 of his titles.

On the other bench is the much-maligned Stan Van Gundy, who never seems to get the proper respect.  But the way I see it, Van Gundy is playing with house-money now.   The Magic were not expected to get this far, and Van Gundy was supposed to be the guy who “panics’,  as Shaq suggested earlier this year, when the going gets tough for his team.   Van Gundy even faced the criticism of his star Dwight Howard during the Boston series, when Howard publicly complained that he wasn’t getting the ball enough.   But through it all Van Gundy just keeps coaching and winning.  As a result I’m rooting for Van Gundy to prove his critics wrong.

So yes, I’m picking the Magic, because I think they are vastly under-rated, more athletic, better shooters, have the best defender  - and simply, its Orlando’s time.

But no matter who wins, the real winners will be the fans and the NBA.   Because even without LeBron and Kobe on the court together, the two best teams will once again play.  There is no need for contrived media or league hype.  Which leaves the fans with quite a finals to watch and enjoy, and the NBA with an unexpected, yet best possible series, to promote.

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He just helped lead his team to a national championship.  He is a four-time All-American.  He was once the national college player of the year.   But really, seriously, honestly, just how good is Tyler Hansbrough?  Why is he yet another lightening rod for debate about an NBA future when we’ve barely had time to take in his recent accomplishments?  

The Hansbrough debate is similar to the discussion about the professional merits of Duke shooting sensation J.J. Reddick a couple of years ago.  As it turned out the critics were right about Reddick.  While Reddick has not been a total NBA bust, he’s made virtually no impression at all as a pro.

But should potential NBA greatness be the key measure of a player’s worth?  Must that player have the ideal physical dimensions to be properly evaluated for a chance to succeed in the NBA?  Does he need long arms?  Or a 40-inch vertical jump?

Just what does make a player great?   How should he be judged?  Today, less than 24 hours after Hansbrough cut down the nets in Detroit, the critics, on radio, TV and the Internet are already forecasting a less than rosy future for  the North Carolina star.  So much so that I almost feel sorry for Hansbrough.   Hansbrough has done as much or more than anyone in recent memory to promote the virtues of college basketball and the value of the near mythical “student-athlete.”   Should that be enough?

I just want to know what is actually wrong with Hansbrough?  Is he too short to be an NBA power forward?   Is he too slow to be a small forward or shooting guard?  Does he lack the range on his jump shots that might make him valuable to teams at the next level? Is Hansbrough the proverbial “tweener” who just doesn’t fit into any known position category?   Someone please tell me what this kid needs to do to get respect today and at least the acknowledgement that he may have a future tomorrow.

When I was a kid, one of my college basketball heroes was not projected for NBA or ABA greatness.  He was considered a step too slow, and without the ability to create his own shot.   But it did not stop me from cheering him on or appreciating him many years later for the joy he gave me when I was too young to “know better”.

The player from my youth who captured my imagination was Purdue’s Rick Mount.   He remains in my memory the best long distance shooter I’ve ever seen.  That includes all players I’ve seen in high school, college or pro.  Mount would shoot a a rainbow fadeaway jumper from NBA 3-point range from any point on the court that would invariably shoot Purdue back into the game or increase the Boilermaker’s lead.  Mount averaged more than 30 points per game for his three-year All-American career at Purdue and led them to an NCAA championship game appearance against mighty UCLA and Lew Alcindor, now known as Kareem Abdul Jabbar.

The point is, Rick Mount, who went on to play for the home state Indiana Pacers and later the Kentucky Colonels in the ABA, never came close to stardom, but I will always remember him and how good he was at Purdue.  The fact is Purdue has had a number of players go on to the NBA including Glen “Big Dog”  Robinson, but they never had a player like Rick Mount.

Tyler Hansbrough could be today’s Rick Mount, and go from college greatness to NBA non-star.  Or he could prove everyone wrong and maybe even help lead a team to an NBA title.  But maybe he won’t.  Maybe it shouldn’t matter.  Hansbrough has already done a lot so far.  Perhaps we should properly appreciate that.

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We have entered the home stretch of another long NBA season.  Actually it has been one of the league’s best seasons.  But with the season winding down it is now time to start casting votes.  And my vote for 2009 NBA MVP goes to – drum roll please – the Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade.  For me this vote is not even close.

Wade is the league’s top scorer, and has been all year.  He is his team’s most important player and has been all year.  The Miami Heat would barely win 10 games this year without Wade. With him they will win more than 40.  This to me is an open and shut case for MVP.   Well its open and shut unless you are from the school of thought that believes that there are only two choices this year and Wade is not one of them.

It has become popular, even cliche, these days when discussing the next MVP to mention Kobe Bryant and LeBron James and stop there. This is to take nothing away from either Kobe or LeBron, both of whom have had fabulous seasons and have led their teams to the league’s two best records.  But how can most commentators and fans not even place Dwyane Wade in the discussion?  How is that possible?  I don’t know the answer to the question.  But one way to stop the lunacy is to re-define what constitutes an MVP.  There are some who suggest that the MVP must come from a team with one of the best records.  Or come from a team leading its division or conference.  Okay fine.  But what about the player who singlehandedly turns a team around, even if the team does not win its division or conference?  What about the player who is responsible for taking a team that won less than 20 games one season to more than 40 wins the next?

Well that player is Dwyane Wade.  Further, Wade does not have the same kind of supporting cast that Kobe and LeBron have.  And more importantly – and this is the clincher – he doesn’t have a cute first name.  In fact his first name is misspelled. Maybe that’s the real problem.  Perhaps if he had a quotable, catchy, easy to spell first name, one that simple-minded voters could use and play with other than his stale nickname D-Wade, or the more ridiculous nom de plum, Flash, given him by former teammate Shaq, he would stand more of a chance.  But no – his name is Dwayne – I’m sorry – Dwyane.  Damn his family.

Speaking of Shaq, let’s clear something up.  When Miami won the NBA title a couple of years ago, it was Wade and Wade alone who lead them to a championship, not his overweight supporting cast mate, Shaquille O’Neal.  Wade had what was arguably the greatest overall performance in NBA finals history. Someone please debate me on that point – I’m waiting.

Unfortunately, despite the fact that Wade is averaging nearly 35 points per game since the All Star game, I think the votes are already in.  Media members who vote for MVP will select either Kobe or LeBron.  Yes, media acclamation will decide the outcome.  Not common sense.   I’m wondering will someone in Wade’s situation ever be eligible for MVP?  What more does he have to do?   Is he too short?  Is he too nice?  Does he play in the wrong city?  Does he have the wrong endorsements?  Or is it simply that Miami didn’t win enough games?  Or didn’t win them entertainingly enough?

My closing argument is that this year’s case for MVP should be decided by imagining how many games would the Lakers win if Kobe were injured like Wade was last year?If you think the number is greater than 15 you must vote for Wade.  The same goes for LeBron James.  How many games would Cleveland win if LeBron was hurt?  If the number is greater than 15 then you must vote also for Wade.   Finally how many games would Miami win this year if Dwyane Wade were hurt again?  If the number is greater than 15 then vote for whoever you want.   I say the guy carrying the greatest load with the least talent hands down is Wade.   That should close the book on this – but it won’t.

That’s my case to the MVP voters, most of whom have already decided, like me, who they believe should be MVP.  Knowing what I know about human nature and the screwy ill-defined voting criteria, I don’t think Mr. Wade has much of a chance this year.  As a consolation prize I predict he will come in third.  Still, he is an absolutely magnificent player, who should be getting MVP votes just for coming back even better than he was before he was injured.  That’s my definition of an MVP.

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Just about all of us would like to get a second chance at something.  If life was fair do-overs would be a mandatory part of it.   But the reality is some of us get a another chance to fix a mistake, but most of us don’t, forcing us to live with the consequences.   Which brings me to a guy who is getting a second chance to redeem his reputation, re-connect with a long lost teammate and win a championship.  

Stephon Marbury, last of the New York Knicks, was finally released the other day.  He quickly signed with the NBA champion Boston Celtics.  Marbury now gets another chance to play with the Big Ticket aka Kevin Garnett.   More than a decade ago, both players were young, almost certain to be superstars, in Minnesota.   But Marbury who seemingly never played for a team he didn’t try to tear down, apparently felt that two superstars in the Twin Cities was one two many.   Never mind that a guy as talented as he was then, paired up with a phenom like Garnett, could have played for an NBA title years ago, and may have won it.

Marbury got his wish and left the Timberwolves, taking with him lots of talent but a burdensome me-first attitude.  And his reputation for selfishness has stuck with him over the years.   Meanwhile, Kevin Garnett, who stayed in Minnesota for for what seemed like way too long, only once advanced past the first round of the playoffs.  Nonetheless Garnett became a hard luck NBA icon, who won an MVP award once, but nothing else.  Known for unselfish play, great defense, leadership and losing in the playoffs, Garnett was mercifully allowed to leave the Timberwolves, traded last season to the Boston Celtics.   He was a hit right away.  And the rest as they say – is a championship.  Kevin Garnett, the great lovable loser, at long last was finally rewarded.

Now, Garnett is paired again with Marbury, who was forced to sit out the entire season in New York in a nasty contract dispute.  Marbury refused to settle for a buyout of his $21 million contract, and the Knicks in turn refused to play him.  Three quarters of the way into the season the two sides finally reach a settlement and Marbury becomes a Celtic.  In his debut with the Celtics against the Pacers last night, literally hours after joining the team, Marbury scored 13 points in a Celtics victory.

Marbury’s reunion with Garnett for now is only symbolic.   Garnett is out for a few more games with an injury.  He’s expected back soon, which will formally reunite the once star-crossed tandem.   Second chances are precious and Boston players and fans can only hope that an older, wiser and perhaps more charitable, Marbury buys into the team-first chemistry which was inspired by Garnett.   But if Marbury continues to play like he did last night in his return, no worries, his second chance will be good for everyone.

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David Burnett Basketball, NBA Celtics, Marbury, Marbury returns, NBA, second chance

Its hard to dislike Charles Barkley.  He is refreshingly different from any other celebrity.  What makes him unique is that he never seems to be afraid to speak his mind.  He will say just about anything.  And say it usually without the typical PR/BS filter that most sports stars and entertainers employ.  Often what the man sometimes called Sir Charles says is powerfully insightful, with no worries about who he might offend or what endorsements he might lose.  Other times what he says can be foolish and stupid.  But I’ll take the occasional stupid stuff, because I’ve never gotten the impression that he was maliciously trying to hurt the targets of his barbs.  Most times Charles is funny and charming while speaking his truth.  Which is also unlike most celebrities. 

But not so funny is the fact that Charles will soon be serving time.  News outlets are reporting that Charles has now pleaded guilty to drunk-driving charges in Scottsdale, Arizona and will spend five days in jail, sometime next month.  Charles was driving drunk last December and had a blood alcohol level nearly double the legal limit.   Look, a DUI is no laughing matter.  The consequences of getting behind the wheel intoxicated can be deadly.  And while there was no accident and no one was injured, a man of Charles Barkley’s stature had to be taken down a peg, if only for the message that it sends.  The thing about Barkley is, he understands that.  When he was arrested and charged he immediately took responsibility for his mistake and agreed to a six week leave of absence from his TV job at TNT.   

Upon his return to the air the other day Barkley apologized by saying, “I think that a DUI is unacceptable.  That can’t happen and I’ve got to challenge other people, not just celebrities or jocks. You have to really think before getting behind the wheel after you’ve been drinking.”  That is the straight, no chaser, Charles Barkley.  Right now you can believe, that he believes, he is telling the truth. 

So yes, even with a DUI now on his record, along with all the other ”mistakes“ he’s admitted to, like multi-million dollar gambling losses, I am going to cut Chuck yet another break.  I will not judge Charles Barkley because I like him and I feel like I know him.  No, I’ve never met him.  But he’s nonetheless been part of my life for a long time.  Which in fact he has for more than 20 years.  He was the one-time fat-boy who overcame his weight to become one of the greatest basketball players in history.  I root for a guy like that.  A guy once known as the Round Mound of Rebound. I feel that way because Charles has never employed a filter, which allows us to see Him – even if we are uncomfortable with what we see.

I know some of you may call Charles Barkley a fool.  A fool who doesn’t deserve second, third and fourth chances.  And you may be right.  And yes, I know he is 45 years old and should know better.  But the way I see it Charles is like a lot of folks we actually know and care about in our own lives who’ve slipped up. Slipped up big time.  People who have disappointed us terribly.  People we know who are trying but could slip up again any minute.  Still you root for them anyway and pray for them to finally get it together.  Because when they are okay, when they are on their game, as Charles Barkley often is, they are capable of saying and doing some really remarkable things.  That’s why I will continue to root for Charles Barkley, pinstripes and all.

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David Burnett Basketball, Charles Barkley, NBA Barkley, Barkley DUI, Barkley going to jail, NBA, TNT

After a couple of weeks of debating the athletic value of steroids and marijuana, I was reminded last night that in the end, sports are just games. And games are supposed to be fun.

What did it for me was another edition of the NBA Slam Dunk contest. Actually it was another edition of the irrepressible Dwight Howard. The defending slam dunk champion, is all youthful exuberance, winning personality, and from every appearance an absolutely decent young man. Each time I see him speak and watch him play, he is eloquent about his respect for the game and his enjoyment of it.

Howard is one superstar who seems to really understand his role as both athlete and entertainer. He also appears to understand sportsmanship and that he is truly blessed to be so well-compensated for playing a game. Sure he is human and may have some missteps along the way that will disappoint some of us. But so far so good.

My appreciation of Howard’s sportsmanship was cemented when near the end of the slam dunk contest he graciously agreed to help his final round opponent – Nate Robinson – all 5’9″ tall execute a creative over the top dunk. The 6’11″ Howard stood near the basket and allowed Robinson to jump completely over the top of him and dunk the basketball into the hoop. Robinson’s sensational dunk won over the audience of voting judges at home allowing the little man to take home the trophy.

To me the real winner was the happy sportsman Dwight Howard who seemed just as pleased for Nate Robinson as he would have been for himself. He joyfully helped remind us that he was playing a game and was having fun doing it.

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David Burnett NBA, Slam Dunk Dwight Howard, Nate Robinson, NBA All Star Game, slam dunk contest

ESPN.com – NBA – Tim Hardaway says ‘I hate gay people’: “‘You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known,’ Hardaway said. ‘I don’t like gay people and I don’t like to be around gay people. I am homophobic. I don’t like it. It shouldn’t be in the world or in the United States.’”

With those hateful words during a radio interview the other day, retired former NBA All Star, Tim Hardaway may have ended his post-basketball career. Hardaway was responding to questions about former NBA player John Amaechi’s recent declaration that he is gay. Last week Amaechi became the first former NBA player to admit that he is homosexual. Homophobia may well be the last barrier to overcome in team sports. This may be why no former NBA player until Amaechi and no current player has ever “come out of the closet”.

Tim Hardaway was slated to take part in several NBA All Star events this weekend in Las Vegas and has been making public appearances on behalf of the league this season. But those appearances for now will come to an end as NBA Commissioner David Stern said yesterday that Hardaway’s “views are not consistent with ours” and has barred Hardaway from making future appearances for the league. “It is inappropriate for him to be representing us given the disparity between his views and ours,” Stern added.

It should be noted that after the commissioner took action against him, Hardaway apologized for his words of hate against gays.

“As an African-American, I know all too well the negative thoughts and feelings hatred and bigotry cause. I regret and apologize for the statements that I made that have certainly caused the same kinds of feelings and reactions. I especially apologize to my fans, friends and family in Miami and Chicago. I am committed to examining my feelings and will recognize, appreciate and respect the differences among people in our society. I regret any embarrassment I have caused the league on the eve of one of their greatest annual events.”

But clearly it was too little too late. There is simply no room for that kind of intolerance in sports or society in general. As such a public relations inspired apology from Hardaway will not do at this time.

While John Amaechi has written a book about his life and experiences as a gay player and has finally come out, it is extremely unlikely that Amaechi is the NBA’s only gay player past or present. And it is quite possible that Tim Hardaway played with and showered with gay teammates whether he knew it or not. Which makes Hardaway’s statements about his hatred of gays all the more intolerant and ignorant.

Is Tim Hardaway the only person or athlete who feels this way about gays? Certainly he is not. Thousands if not millions of people stupidly hate for personal and sometimes religious reasons. For years gay men and women have paid a terrible price for that hatred and continue to. Ironically it is probably good that Hardaway was “honest” about his feelings. Out in the open this kind of prejudice and stupidity can be dealt with, discussed and perhaps eventually overcome.

I agree with the censure of Hardaway – for now. I hope that in time he will understand just how harmful his anti-gay words were and just how hollow his so-called apology was. I also hope that eventually he will see gay players and gay people as full-fledged human beings. When he does perhaps he can come back to the NBA in some capacity to help teach others that hatred and intolerence have no place in our society and that he learned – albeit the hard way – that hateful words and hateful hearts are indeed harmful and do have consequences.

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David Burnett Gays, Intolerance, NBA Amaechi, Gays, Hardaway, hate, Intolerance