Popularity Contest



I feel that I'm seeing a lot of discussions centered on the NBA All-Star game recently. Every year, I gripe personally or rather loudly about who gets in and who doesn't. I understand that there are a limited amount of roster spots but the game should be a true reflection of the best players currently in the NBA. I know I don't want to see a broken down T-Mac or AI just because the fans still remember them from when. I also do not want to see a player voted in just because his country has an overwhelming amount of people supporting them IE Yao Ming. Don't get me wrong, I like that people can vote but it seems that people are voting predominantly based on recollection or limited knowledge rather than the truth. If a guy is busting his butt and destroying the competition, he should be in, regardless of his country of origin or the record of his current team. One player can make a tremendous difference to a franchise but you cannot punish them for the lack of overall talent around them or due to how green their supporting cast may be. Looking around the league, a few guys come to mind that deserve to be recognized and should get some burn in the All-Star game. Maybe the game isn't significant any longer but with the right people involved, it may start to evolve into the competitive clash that the game once was. Without further ado, here are some players that deserve your votes and their teams record simply should not matter.



I know the T-Wolves are 8-24 and stink it up on most nights but Kevin Love has blossomed into a bona fide stud. He doesn't captivate you above the rim or in transition but he gets it done the old school way. He fights and scratches and sees the game in a very cerebral way. He is a living example of a player that wasn't overtly blessed athletically but compensates with basketball IQ. He might not make you jump out of your seat or show up in the Top Ten plays on Sportscenter but his 15.5 boards per game are all the justification you need. Give Love some love!!



I used to hate on Monta all the time. I'm not too proud to admit that. I grew up on Steve Nash and John Stockton and I appreciate selfless players. Monta would just freeze everybody out in the past and only look for his. This year though, I feel that he is letting the game come to him. We all know his first step may be the quickest in the league and that he can score at will. The thing that impresses me is his increase in field goal percentages, assists and also the decline of his turnovers. He is finally understanding the game and that is a scary thought for the opposition. Yes, I know the Warriors are pretty bad but don't punish one of the most exciting players in the league because of this.



Hoss should be in the All-Star game. He is the very reason a game like this even exists. Also, I did just call Blake Hoss. I created that nickname and I am sticking to it. I haven't seen a combination of this reckless, powerful and graceful abandon since pre-microfracture Amare. The real difference is that Blake is not simply a dunker. He works his butt off and boards like a mad man and actually hands out quite a few assists. I know he is young, is not an elite defender and can't make a free throw to save his life but he should be in the game. This kid is the future if he stays healthy and I know I will be watching every second of it. Giddy up!

The Trade



Trades are always exciting in the NBA and it is even that much more exciting when it involves your own team. If you have ever read this blog before, you would know that I was born and raised in Phoenix and I grew up on the purple and orange. Last season was fantastic to watch and that was one of my favorite teams we ever put on the floor. That being said, I knew we weren't getting by the elite teams. Even with all of the hype about a suddenly "improved" defense, we were still small and some of our best players, Amare and Nash, are not good defenders. I sincerely hoped for the best after Amare walked and was somewhat perplexed by our moves like many of you.

We ended up with a team full of swings. There was so much redundancy and I applaud Alvin Gentry for just trying to figure out a way to make it work. We were still lacking in defense and we actually got smaller in the front court and worse on the boards. As we were hovering around .500, I knew something had to give. The rumor about Hedo being shopped was being circulated hard and I knew somebody would have to be tossed in to take on that contract. I hate to see J Rich go but with what we obtained, I'm actually pleasantly pleased.

I've seen many people out there, journalists I respect greatly, hammering this trade due to it not bringing in the pieces Nash needs to win now. My question to them is this, do you see an Amare or Pau sitting out there right now? Jason Thompson or Anderson Verejao would not take us to promise land. I knew we had to fix a gaping hole in our front court and continue to improve our perimeter defense. This trade actually does that two fold.

Mickael Pietrus gives us a very solid perimeter defender and a player that is great spotting up. He will be spoon fed by Nash as long as he is a Sun and he should flourish. There will not be pressure to do more than that and he has proven he can play that role. He is also pushing Josh Childress to improve and you can tell Josh is hearing footsteps after he great game against the Thunder last night. Now we only have one too many wings and it should be a dog fight to see who comes out on top. If Josh plays like he did last night, the only thing that Mickael does better on the floor is hit the three. It really depends on spacing and what Alvin feels we need. The 3 ball could be imperative with J Rich not being there now though.

The Polish Hammer is a Godsend. That isn't hyperbole either if you had been watching. If I had to watch one more team walk in for a layup or volleyball the offense boards around, I was going to jump off the Columbia Tower here in Seattle. Gortat can rebound and block shots and his fluidity will be great in transition and in the pick and roll. He has been one of the better back up centers in the league for some time and with Robin struggling on the court and with injuries, he is great insurance to have. Much like how Pietrus will push Chilly, Gortat will push Robin. It is amazing to actually have a gross of centers on the Suns.

Vinsanity is still the unknown quantity. He is not J Rich and I would not profess that he can completely fill those shoes. I will miss Richardson on our squad and he was a huge reason we had the run we did in the playoffs last season. Vince just needs to hit open looks and attack the rim from time to time. His contract is expiring and unless our staff and Steve transform him, I don't see him staying beyond this season. I am hopeful for the best but this deal was meant more for size and defense, not for Vince.

The other nice X factor with this trade is Orlando's first rounder. It might not be a high pick but we could package picks and move up or potentially use it in another trade, especially if it could help us get a pretty good PF. There are a lot of possibilities but I do feel we are better off now than we were. We were not going to win it all last year with our deficiencies in the front court and we were especially not going to with even less size this year. This pushes us in the right direction and I only hope more young assets are on the horizon. This is not a slap in the face to Steve. He is a professional and will do everything he can to help us win. He will always most likely be a Sun and he can push any squad to great limits. Before we all lash out, let's see how this works. I've seen Steve do more with less before.

Manu The Forgotten?




When you think about the San Antonio Spurs, what comes to mind? Tim Duncan? Tony Parker? The Tony Parker and Eva Longoria split? Their league leading record? So many things come to mind when you think about the Spurs but the last few nights have been a demonstration of the glue guy that keeps it all together, Manu Ginobili.

Manu has always kind of gotten a bad rap. He is known as a flopper, a complainer and also being reckless as his style of play always seems to leave him banged up. By skipping his national team duties and resting in the off season for once, Manu looks revitalized. He showed flashes of being a top ten player in the league again last year but injuries got in the way once again. This year, knock on wood, he looks to be feeling great and leading the Spurs at the age of 33. He has cashed a few game winners lately and this is another demonstration of his clutch play and importance to his team. He can be unstoppable with the ball in his hands but there are so many more intangibles to his game. He is a great passer, ball handler, is good in the passing lanes and can make buckets from all kinds of angles from anywhere on the court. His talent is undeniable but he has always been a shadow of sorts.

I think that avid fans appreciate Manu. People on the outside that have a casual interest probably only see him for the stereotypes that I listed previously. Duncan is the best power forward ever and Tony Parker has always been a damn good point guard but Manu's skill set has been integral to the success of the Spurs. As his health goes, the Spurs go. Every NBA team needs a guy that you can clear out with and let loose and any team could use a guy that is a virtual Swiss Army knife.

The last few nights and a couple game winners later further illustrate my point. In a league full of sudden parody and nobody really jumping out as the MVP front runner, Manu has to be in these initial conversations. Anything can happen over the duration of a season but as of right now, Manu is playing fantastic basketball and he deserves recognition for it. Timmy is fading into the sunset but Manu is still creating chaos on the court in a good way. You may not like the flopping of the crying but you cannot deny the talent.

The Beautiful Game is on Twitter

http://twitter.com/bonitagame

I have officially entered the world of Twitter. Swing on over and feel free to chime in with comments or questions and I will try to post as much as possible and will hopefully be somewhat entertaining to read y'all.

Carmelo a Knick??



I was looking around the Internets and noticed that Melo is telling the Nuggets that the only team he will sign with is the Knicks. I'm sure that a majority of Knicks fans are rejoicing about the idea of landing another max-contract player to put alongside Amare. On paper, you would think that getting another player like Melo just makes too much sense. Then again, people need to think about who the Knicks currently have, who they would give up and how their two alpha dogs will interact.

Chris Sheridan was speculating that the Knicks would have to give up Danilo Gallinari, Landry Fields, Eddy Curry's expiring contract and a number one pick. That is a boat load to give up for any player. I'm not saying that Danilo or Landry are as good as Carmelo but you can argue that they are young, have a lot of potential still and fit certain roles on a team that is playing well right now. Throw in an expiring contract and a draft pick, most likely from the Anthony Randolphy trade and you could be giving up a bit too much. I like Anthony's game but I have never loved it. He is a pure scorer and is rebounding a bit better but he isn't the type of player that makes his teammates better and he is never going to lock anybody down defensively. You have to think about all those pieces you would be giving up Knicks fans and also if Melo is worth it, especially when playing him with Amare.

You know how I feel about Amare in terms of rebounding and defense. He is also not a stellar passer. He is great on the run and spotting up on the hedge in the half court. Carmelo is great in the half court as well, spotting up in a very similar fashion. Who gets the ball on offensive sets? I think that Amare could coexist with a great player, he already has with Nash in Phoenix. Carmelo is not as selfless as Nash and I don't know if he could handle being second fiddle on some nights. It would be fun to watch but you could have a Lebron/Wade issue on the horizon.

Carmelo could help bring even more excitement back to the Garden. He could also cause a log jam in the half court on offense and the Knicks would still be lacking what they need most, somebody in the middle to cover up for Amare on the glass and on D. Carmelo certainly doesn't achieve either of these really and I honestly think money spent on somebody like Marc Gasol in the offseason may make more sense, especially if you have to give so much up. Buyer beware is all I say.

SAT for the NBA



With a lockout on the horizon, you seem to get a few more details about what is on the table in the negotiations on a daily basis. The other day, I read that the players are wanting to fight the age limit set in place. For those not in the know, the age limit stipulates that you need to be one year removed from high school before you can play in the L. This is such a polarizing subject. On one hand, you have people that point to the Lebron's and Amare's of the world and say, "You can play at 18! If you can do it, why should you have to wait a year?" On the other hand, you have those that say, "They are not mentally or physically prepared for the rigors of the NBA both on and off the court!" I can see both arguments in this situation. Most guys at 18 are not ready for that type of celebrity or that sudden influx of money. I could not imagine myself at 18 with millions of dollars. My house would have looked like Tom Hanks's pad in Big. Most people fresh out of high school are also physically not there yet. You have rare cases of people looking like they are 30 at 18 but most kids look like they are 18. I think of people like Brandon Wright that had a world of potential but did not allow themselves time on the court and in the weight room in college to develop properly. I go back-and-forth on this issue but I think there could be a happy medium here. Why not test the kids that want to go pro?

Anybody that wants to go pro can be put through a series of mental and physical examinations. This can drastically increase your draft stock if you perform well. If somebody fresh out of high school thinks they have it, why not test them and allow them entrance if they meet certain standards? The tests that normally showcase your draft position could also be the standard that allows a high school kid to enter the draft.

Any draft geek like myself knows about the combine. You have a series of tests that scouts and teams hold up as an example of your aptitude for the pro game. You are tested in vertical leaping ability, 3/4 court speed and standing reach for example. Draft sites and the NBA have been compiling these findings for years now. You can look back in time and find an average for each position within each physical test. So, if you're a power forward, you will have to be able to lift 185-pounds a certain number of times to illustrate that you can hit the average for most pros at that position at a similar age. If you cannot attain the totals, you have to go to college and continue to develop. You can do the same for players from a mental standpoint too.

People like Mark Cuban and Danny Ainge are notorious for putting players through mental examinations. This can help demonstrate correlations mentally between previous players and also help a team gain insight into a player that you could not achieve in a half-hour interview. If a player goes through these exams and is deemed not mentally fit for the tests ahead in the NBA, then they need to continue their basketball education in college and come out when they feel they are ready to pass these standards.

This may seem radical but it is a way to measure if a player is NBA worthy. There may be more tests and ideas that come over time but I would think that special players like Lebron would pass these easily and be placed in the NBA without any issues. This may also help players like Ndudi Ebi reexamine their path and potentially build themselves up in college and then go to the pros much later then they did. This could help the NBA get players that are better prepared for showtime and also allow kids to grow in college and enter the NBA at the proper time. Again, I know it is not the perfect idea but this is a bit of a wishy washy issue. Some players can play immediately and some players cannot. Why not utilize what is already available to teams in the draft and help separate the dreamers and the truly gifted? You should not stop the elite players from playing at a stage worthy of their skills. You should not also allow players that have "potential" to be drafted much too high again and begin to saturate the game once again.

Kyrie Irving Possibly Out for Year



I was shocked that I was actually saddened by an injury to a Duke player. I normally hate on Duke and all the mystique and elitism of the entire team. This year though, I really like their squad. It seems more like a team you would see at UNC with the athleticism and pushed tempo. Coming out of St. Patrick, I loved everything about his game. In an era of athletes redefining the point guard position, it is a breath of fresh air to see a true old school point guard. Kyrie is smooth and poised and can kill you at the rim, on the pull up, in transition or finding an open teammate. He may not be the best athlete at the top of the draft order but he is far from being unathletic and his intangibles are things you simply cannot teach. Any team in need of a true floor leader should not even have to think about their pick if Kyrie is on the board. But, with the chance of a lockout and a potential lost season due to a toe injury, he may be back to team up with Austin Rivers come next season. The rich continue to get richer and I only wish Kyrie a speedy recovery. He is a pleasure to watch for any fan of the pure game.

Knicks Talk Premature



Being a Suns fan, I always watch the Knicks out of the corner of my eye. I'm curious to see what D'Antoni can do without Nash and I'm also curious to see how Amare does without his point guard and with a new contract. The Knicks have been winning as of late and fans clamoring for success and media outlets that reside predominantly on the East coast are stating that the team is much improved. I guess it would not take much to improve over previous seasons but I have a hard time swallowing all the talks about Felton being a revelation and that Stoudemire is going to lead the Knicks to high seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. I think this is all smoke and mirrors and by the end of the season, you will hear more trash talk than praise when the Knicks get knocked out in the first round of the playoffs. I know Knicks fans are probably thinking, "The playoffs would be great!". You, Knicks fans, deserve better.

The first thing to take into consideration is Raymond Felton. Not surprinsingly, his stats have gotten a bit of a boost in the Knicks system. For his career, he averages 13.6 ppg and 6.6 apg. This season, he is averaging 18.1 ppg and 8.5 apg. I expect improvement in a more free-flowing offense but can you really rely upon somebody that could not get consistent burn in the Bobcats organization? Players can always improve as well but do you honestly believe that a career .413% shooter from the field is going to keep this up? I expect a better season as I noted just due to the system and some of his targets but it is still early and I expect the law of averages to come around again.

Speaking of the law of averages, let's talk about Amare. His averages look about the same as they usually do. He seems to be shooting the 3 a bit more and his turnovers and scoring are up with more of a focal role. He will always be a Sportscenter star. He is the type of guy that is you exclusively watch Sportscenter, he is one of the best players in the league. When you truly watch him, as I have his entire career, you know better. His stats are hollow and he will never rebound efficently and he will also never stop anybody on defense. Is it really a shock that Kevin Love grabbed 30 boards and it was on Stat? Bill Simmons always jokes that the Knicks will have odd stats like this put up on them all season due to their lack of size and defense. You can almost solely point that at Amare. He will make excuses for not ever being taught D or say that he will step his intensity up on D but these are his staple statements. Expect many points and highlight dunks but not the overall game that a 100 million dollar player needs Knicks fans. I know you are smart enough to know this and I'm sorry you have to yell at him for knucklehead plays over the next five-years.

The other thing to look at is schedule. Who have the Knicks beat that was relevant? They beat a Hornets team that is coming back to Earth and Sacramento, Golden State, the Clip Show, the Bobcats twice, Detroit, Jersey and the T-Wolves over this current winning streak. I know that good teams should beat teams like this but outside of beating Chicago sans Boozer, I can't point to one meaningful win all season. This upcoming stretch starting with Denver on the 12th should be very telling. I will eat crow if they beat up on the Nuggets, Celtics and Heat but I highly doubt it. I see them moving up in the power rankings on ESPN and I know this will shift dramatically in a few weeks when they feasibly only win three more games in December. Time will tell of course but a team relying on a star power forward that doesn't play D or rebound, a back-up point guard on most teams, a rookie that is shockingly playing out of his mind and a short bench that D'Antoni always goes to and wears his player out with, then I think that time will not be too kind.

P.S. For those of you wondering about Anthony Randolph, here is a word to the wise. Coach Mike doesn't develop young players well. He would rather play vets and let them succeed and bench young players and not give them any burn. I'm really surprised that Fields is getting any time at all. That is probably out of need more than anything being that he can rebound and this team needs every one they can get. The Suns young players like Dudley, Dragic and Lopez did not excel until he was gone and Gentry came in. Randolph will be a waste until he goes somewhere that gives him the time and confidence to succeed.

The Golden Age of the Point Guard



The current NBA is being driven by a bevy of talented, young point guards. Since hand-checking has been taken out of the league, quicker players have been given a clear path to create and attack. There has never been a time in the NBA where the point guard mattered more. The league has always been a place where giants roam and generally succeed. In many ways, this is still the case but teams are trying to take advantage of the leeway that has been given to perimeter players. I always recollect big men being the most coveted players in the draft but now, it seems that point guards have taken over. You have John Wall, Derrick Rose, Ricky Rubio, Russell Westbrook and many other quality guards being snatched up quickly at the top of the draft order. We're fortunate to have so many quality ones playing right now but the real question is, who is the best? This is a constant debate amongst my friends. It seems to change daily with each match up or new amazing highlight. Choosing the best point guard is a matter of substance really.

In a traditional sense, a point guard's main duty is to be the quarterback on the court. They set the offense and create the tone for the entire game. With more freedom for creativity, athletic guards who are more combo than creator have become the norm. Court vision seems like an afterthought and now teams want to know about vertical leap, 3/4 court speed and wingspan. Players like Westbrook and Rose are a highlight reel waiting to happen but I am old school in how I like my point guards. That being said, I present my top 5 point guards in the NBA currently. This will probably change by tomorrow but I'm sticking with this for the next fifteen minutes. My picks come with a caveat. I am more Magic and Stockton than I am Iverson and Billups. Watching a true point guard set the stage for his team is my favorite thing to watch in basketball. You need to be able to score when you have to but that should not be your primary focus, in my opinion. Feel free to disagree but this debate is maybe the most exciting one in the modern NBA.

5. Rajon Rondo: I love Rondo's game. As a Suns fan, I cringe when I see him play for Celtics. He would be amazing in the Suns system and I can't believe his lack of a jumper supposedly kept D'Antoni away from him. A guy can dream right? Rajon leads the league in assists with 14.1 per game. I LOVE his game. He is always pushing the tempo and creating for others. He is a joy to watch on the fast break and his creativity is breathtaking at times. He is great on the glass, fantastic in the passing lanes and is perpetually attacking. His lack of an outside shot is a bit of a turn off for me but the only true issue I have with Rondo is his attitude. I was not shocked to see him booted of Team USA. I have always heard that he is difficult and I don't want that in my leaders. It also doesn't hurt that a few of the guys listed ahead of him on this list outplayed him recently.

4. Derrick Rose: Rose is part of the new breed of point guards. He is a phenomenal athlete that is constantly in attach mode. He soars above the rim and explodes past defenders with an array of lightning quick dribble moves. He was solely living in the paint for his scoring initially but you can tell that he has been working on his 3-point shot. He is shooting .35% on the season thus far and this has helped boost his scoring avaerge to 25.7 ppg. He is distributing much better at 8.1 apg and that was the biggest knock on his game to me. As I have stated, I prefer a point guard that passes first and then looks to score second. I appreciate his improved vision but he will always be a score first kind of point guard. The thing that has risen him to this level is that he can take games over now. There are few players out there that make me fearful at the end of games and Rose is one of them. There have been several occasions this season that he put the team on his back and won games while Boozer was out. He is quite impressive and the Team USA glow seems to have rubbed off on him as well.

3. Deron Williams: I always feel badly for Deron Williams. He is a tremendous player that always has to be compared to Chris Paul. Deron was blessed with a perfect body for the point guard position. He is nearly unstoppable when he is on and his strength and size overwhelms most opposing guards. There is little that he can't do offensively and he displays an all-around game that is played inside/out and he can kill you with the pull up jumper or on the pick and roll. Deron just isn't extremely long or explosive and this limits him somewhat defensively. He will never lead the league in steals and while he is good laterally, most quick guards can beat him to the spot. Like I said, Deron is great but he will never have the all-around game that Paul has and we all need to stop comparing them when their games are very different.

2. Russell Westbrook: I never dreamed that Russell Westbrook would be in this place. We have all seen that Howland's system can hide some players with its conservatism, but Westbrook did not seem like he had the point guard gene in his blood. He seemed like the prototype new age point guard that attacked opponents and did nothing more than that. Westbrook has become a point guard that I have never seen before. He shows the abilities of a versatile small forward but has the ability to score and distribute like a point guard. His outside shot and confidence grew with team USA and he has stepped up and become the early season MVP on a team that includes the early favorite for MVP. His creativity, turnovers and outside shot still need to improve but he has become almost unstoppable and effects the game in so many different ways.

1. Chris Paul: It's amazing how quickly people forget about you when you are hurt. Paul was the best player in the league a few years ago but while he was injured, people questioned who the best point guard in the league truly was and even had the audacity to claim that the Hornets did not need him since Darren Collison was playing so well in his absence. As a floor general, the best comparison I can find to Paul is Nash. Paul may not be the shooter that Nash is but he is a MUCH better defender, is better at attacking the rim and turns the ball over much less. Nash plays the game almost perfectly but Paul is still superior to him. That is as high a compliment that I can think of for a point guard and remember, I'm a Suns fan. People also need to recognize how much Paul is getting out of a team that really doesn't have much to it. He is making everyone around him better and is leading his team and pushing them as far as they can go. They might not win it all or be in the same position by the end of the year, but I guarantee Paul will lead the league in PER and also get the most out of his team that any point guard truly could.

The Worm Deserves the Hall



Heading into the vote for the Hall of Fame this year, there was a debate centered around Dennis Rodman and his chances of entering the Hall. I can somewhat see a debate over the validity of his Hall of Fame credentials. There have been many players that were more competent offensively. We always hear accolades for the Big O and his season of averaging a triple-double or there is the constant discussion of the Big Dipper and his 100-point game against the Knicks. In reality, it seems that every player that is within our conscesnius was great offensively. I can recall the images of Jordan flying through the air for a forceful dunk or see Magic Johnson delivering a no-look pass to Worthy on the break. Offensive is glamerous and when players have special abilities, it is transcendent. On the other hand, basketball is not always pretty. In order to win and do it consistently, your team has to be able to rebound and play defense. I'm sure you've all heard the cliche saying of, "Defense wins championships". As a Suns fan, I can attest to this being true. If you can't get stops when it counts or keep the other team off the glass, you simply can't win. Every NBA team needs garbage men to be able to lock the other team down or control the backboards. Dennis Rodman was the best garbage man the league will ever see. That is a complement, I promise.

Let's take a little trip down memory lane. Rodman led the league in rebounding between 91-97. The highest total RPG he averaged over that period was 18.7. This is an unprecendented feat and deserves praise from everybody. Sportscenter lauds a player like Dwight Howard for pulling down 20-boards on occasion but imagine if he did that on a nightly basis. Rodman was to rebounding to what Jordan was to scoring. He was the best of his generation and the best rebounder ever. People can argue all they want about Wilt but he did not have the competition that Rodman faced nightly and Rodman was only 6'7 while doing all of this. He wasn't one dimensional as a rebounder either. He was also named to the all-defensive first team seven times as well. He wasn't a dominant shot blocker or ball thief but he knew how to lock somebody down. He was one of the best man defenders at his position ever. His Bulls and Pistons teams were dominant defensively as a whole but Worm was the best defender towards the tail-end of his Pistons career and was right up there with Jordan and Pippen on those Bulls teams as well. He was capable, in his prime, of covering one through five on the defensive end.

Rodman never had a sexy game but the credentials are there to make the Hall of Fame. He lacked offensive polish but the biggest hurdle for him may be himself. I mean that his odd behavior probably turns off many traditionalists. He was outrageous at times and did public stunts like wearing dresses to book signings or dyed his hair vibrant colors like hot pint or leopard print. In a modern NBA where entertainment is put at the forefront, I don't know why anybody would be turned off by this. You couldn't help but stare and wonder what odd thing he may do next. Deep inside, he was troubled and almost took his own life and it is a miracle that he was able to overcome those personal demons. I don't always agree with his actions but I also knew that he was going through his own struggles. I'm sure he wasn't the easiest teammate in the world to get along with but when the lights turned on, he was always prepared. That is all you can ask for from a teammate and you knew he was going to work hard and give it everything he had every single night.

When the time comes for the Hall of Fame voting next year, I hope that the voters can look beyond the obvious with Dennis Rodman. He was odd and difficult and his game was not conventional. What he was was the best rebounder ever and he was also one of the best defenders ever as well. Dunks and points get you on Sportscenter but the work in the trenches gets you rings. Is it a coincidence that the Worm has 5 rings? One can argue that he played on great teams that aided him to this but that would also discredit a player who had unique gifts. There will never be another Dennis Rodman and if you haven't seen him play, do yourself a favor and watch some old tapes. He was an artist on the glass and played as hard as anybody ever will. No matter how crazy he acted, he always gave a damn. It's about time somebody recognized this and gave him his rightfull place in the Hall of Fame.

Public Enemy Number 1


Lebron James used to be somebody that inspired me. It feels like just yesterday, he was playing St Vincent - St Mary High School and was a phenomenon. I recollect feeling that the hype had to be unwarranted. I had seen far too many Ndubi Ebi's and Jonathan Bender's to just accept praises like "He's the next MJ" or "He's the next Magic". I tracked his accolades online and I was more than excited when I found out one of his games would be on national television. I was apprehensive initially and then I saw him play. As a senior, he looked like a 30-year old man already. He was strong, powerful and quick; a young Karl Malone but more explosive. He barreled his way down the court but this wasn't simply a physical freak by any stretch of the imagination. I saw what the scouts and players were seeing. Certain elite players have an innate feel for the game that no others have. They know when to shoot, when to find the open man and when to lead. It was apparent within 15 minutes how great this kid already was but that he could be an elite level player in the NBA at 18. I had never seen anything like it and I loved the way he smiled and played and took joy in the game and his teammates. You couldn't help but pull for this kid a little bit.

Fast forward to 2010 and we have complete new beginnings. Lebron has inspired many players and fans and has taken over the title, in some people's eyes, as the best player in the game. His game has become more refined with age and he isn't just all athleticism and vision any longer. There is a better defensive game, a better outside shot and more of a desire to win. He had been on the cusp in Cleveland and was revered as the savior of the city by the Cavs fans. Going into "The Decision", I couldn't help but think about that kid I say years ago. While his ego had grown, I still felt he was a good guy. He seemed like a good teammate and he still remained loyal to all of those that stood by him. I remember thinking, "He has to come back to Cleveland for his pride and his love for the city and his team". I was truly shocked at the spectacle that "The Decision" became. The children, the references in the third person and the utter contempt for anything that was his past. I heard him say how Kobe inspired him with his drive but you know as well as I do that Kobe would never play second fiddle to anybody. Lebron walks into a stacked deck and smugly acts as if the last 7-years didn't matter. I felt for the fans of Cleveland who struggled for so long and I felt for his former team who will go down in flames this year, but I also felt for Lebron.

I was watching the Lebron James documentary the other day called "More Than a Game". I loved seeing Lebron, so talented and young and getting engrossed with the game. It was a pleasure to watch him rally around his teammates and friends and it was beautiful to watch his relationship with Dru, Willie, Romeo and coach Dru. You could see that they all reveled in playing together but they were all like brothers and enjoyed the time off the court almost more. It was inspiring to watch them ascend the ranks of high school basketball and eventually become the top ranked team in the land. Lebron had somewhat of an ego like most stars have but he was selfless. He wanted his teammates to shine just as much as himself and his constant giving was evident on and off the court. I loved seeing this side of Lebron and remembering how great a ball player he was but also how gracious he was to be blessed with such great friends and a father figure in coach Dru for the first time in his life.

The other day I read Lebron's comments in the media about racism being the reason behind the sudden hatred among the masses towards him. While I can't deny that racism still exists, this was a blatant attempt to deflect just criticism. Publicly humiliating your former team and coming across with a bit of a God complex can change perceptions rather quickly. I think back to his game in earlier years and how it progressed to more of a selfish style of play and that was a direct reflection of what he had become. This can be blamed on him in many ways but also on his coaches and his handlers that allowed this metamorphosis from being a giver to being a taker. He had become what the general consensus felt the NBA was, selfish kids with too much money and too much of "me" rather than "we". I hated to see somebody that I felt would be the next step in the game and a step in the right direction. I envisioned team play being the center of all this and Lebron leading the way with a smile while rejoicing in the game and the moments that he was fortunate enough and special enough to be a part of.

I don't hate Lebron or have strong feelings of disgust towards him for what he did. He had every right to go in whatever direction he chose. I don't agree with his actions or what he will ultimately do to his legacy. I know he will be booed and despised all season long and I can only hope that somehow, the kid I saw at 18 will come back to us. There is still time and I don't want him to become the stigma in which he is already knee deep in. It will be good for him as a person but it will help the NBA move forward, especially with somebody leading the way that has undeniable rare abilities. Then again, I might be naive and think that the money and the power aren't truly at the center of why people play in the modern era.