Monday, July 19, 2010

If Michael Jordan Rips LeBron James, I'll Rip Jordan

It must be the latest backlash hearing all the crazy, shocking remarks from the legendary Michael Jordan, who directed the Chicago Bulls to six championships and orchestrated one of the most momentous dynasties of all time, recently ripping LeBron James for joining forces with two superstars on the Miami Heat.

It’s possible that James is not the royal King, but a former godlike savior of a depressed sports town, who hijacked television in a nationally televised spectacle and plotted a megalomaniacal stunt to announce that he was callously departing his hometown to form the superteam in Miami.

But perhaps he’s a villain, the meanest traitor, leaving behind an anguish town after he publicly humiliated Cleveland in “The Decision” infomercial.


It’s not easy to watch a superstar, who was utterly adored, walk out on a community after emphasizing the importance of loyalty, but it’s a business and James wants a championship.

You cannot blame a man for wanting to win, right?

The problem remains a national outrage, one week removed from the strangest frenzy in sports history when sports became one berserk reality show, bad enough to make the Kardashians and Terrell Owens gag.

Ever since he fled home, James has been scorned for leaving or either for the insane one-hour extravaganza, which disgusted critics as James' loyalty and likability dwindled hastily.

James is immensely talented and may be the best in the NBA, but still lacks the hardware and has become NBA's most hated athlete.

According to some, the two-time reigning most valuable player is worthless and even a selfish, egomaniacal demon.

Why? What has he done?

He isn’t a bad human.

If anything, he defined bravery and courageousness by taking on a risk, teaming up with two superstars and recklessly eluding Cleveland for the chance of winning multiple championships.

The peeving news is that, almost in one week, one of the uncommon and curious stories turned exhausting and publicized vexation, beginning with LeBron’s reality show, following the angry, disgruntled and teary-eyed fans burning his No. 23 jerseys in the streets of Cleveland when he announced the decision to “take his talents to South Beach.”

In the beginning, the ireful Cavs owner Dan Gilbert issued an implacable and juvenile letter, belittling James for his departure and narcissistic circus, adding tension to the inflamed publicity.


And now, the latest news is Jordan questioning LeBron’s move for joining the most dynamic trio in basketball history, triggering a further quarrel and tired debates. Jordan said in an interview with NBC Sports Sunday that in his prime he wouldn’t have joined a pair of star players of his era.

“There’s no way, in hindsight, I would’ve ever called up Larry (Bird), called up Magic (Johnson) and said, ‘Hey, look, let’s get together and play on one team,’” Jordan said after finishing the American Century Championship golf tournament in Stateline, Nev. “But that’s…things are different. I can’t say that’s a bad thing. It’s an opportunity these kids have today. In all honesty, I was trying to beat those guys.”

Any notion that James verbally announced he will play for the Miami Heat next season, could batter a powerful legacy, adoration and the likelihood of developing into the greatest player of all time.

This is what bravery and adventurous athletes decide, of course, the true athletes.

Either way, James is a true athlete for choosing to sacrifice an impeccable legacy, choosing to subjugate ego and competitive nature in order to win multiple titles.

Either way, he is a fearless superstar willing to relinquish the descriptions of being referred to as the next MJ. When he arrived from high school, James earned the comparisons of Jordan and brought his ambition to a despairing town.

By now, he clearly knows that his presence transforms the landscape in Miami, but also knows he gave up opportunities in Chicago and New York, two high-market teams in which he could have engraved all-time greatness and aimed for championships

So now, the preceding facet of Jordan intruding into the debate is pointless, especially when the world is trying to desperately put an exaggerated narrative to rest.


Yes, he’s entitled to state an opinion about something, but in reality shouldn’t dwell on a lingering, old issue. Never mind that Jordan is a six-time champion with the aid of Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Steve Kerr and Tony Kukoc.

Never mind that he had Phil Jackson, the winningest coach of all time on the sideline who schemed brilliantly and molded his players with a creative formula that guided the Bulls to victory.

Ready to embark on potentially a charming journey next season, the Heat are the most criticized and hated team because of James.

He is a gifted superstar with individual accolades, but has no championships.

After all, it’s more chatter and criticism circulating the Heat after Wade addressed that he made a wrongly comparison and used aimless analogy for Miami's losses and the collapse of the World Trade Center.

Although Wade apologized, the Heat are still catching heat with Jordan's arrogance and rashness from him criticizing James for his cleverest, venturous move in a prosperous seven-year career.

As for Jordan himself, perhaps some of us forget to take a closer glance in the mirror before judging someone else’s choices.

How fascinating it is for Jordan to forget about the other four starters on the Bulls, ridiculously offering no credit to the role players that buoyed arguably the greatest player of all time.

Was it amiss to harshly criticize LeBron?

Yes, because there was clear evidence that he wasn’t surrounded with a substantial supporting cast in Cleveland.

Did Jordan have a supporting cast? Yes.

But he wants us to believe that he attained fulfillment and governed the most intriguing dynasty in sports alone.

Wrong.

As of recently, the retired elders of old school basketball are disappointed in what is the Heat's unprecedented trio and the most captivating team in NBA history.

“Mike and I are in 100 percent agreement on this,” Charles Barkley told the Arizona Republic. “If you’re the two-time defending NBA MVP, you don’t leave anywhere. They come to you. That’s ridiculous. I like LeBron. He’s a great player. But I don’t think in the history of sports you can find a two-time defending MVP leaving to play with other people.”

Maybe he could be the championship MVP in the future with the Heat.

For ages, people garnered a dubious assumption that James wasn’t concerned with winning championships, but becoming the world’s greatest icon, the next billionaire celebrity and global megastar. Come now, he’s shown that he doesn't care about his effulgent legacy as he engulfed it in tremendous doubt and controversy.

More shamelessly and arrogantly, a well-respected legend sounds off frustrated, believing James is taking the easy way out and never will be the greatest of all time if he needs other stars to bolster the chances of winning titles.

So in other words, if he does win, it would be tainted. I don’t think so. But perhaps, someone does.

Out of all people, Jordan, who thrust into the NBA spotlight and became famous around the world, ripped James for making a wise decision in order to win.

In the end, he made a righteous move and must realize that in sports sometimes you hear the harsh and blatant words from former players. In this case, the shoe salesman and the man who stuck out his tongue and one of the greatest competitors in sports.

As for Barkley, he told a Miami radio station that James “will never be Jordan.”

Now, I assume he doesn’t want to follow the footsteps of Jordan.

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