The images I remember most about the Olympics is the sportsmanship of it all.  Yes, you have some who use illegal substances to try and get ahead, but I’m talking about the competitions.  In 1980, when the United States beat the Soviet Union in hockey in one of the biggest upsets ever in the Olympics, I remember how the Soviet players looked on in disbelief and then got in line to shake the Americans’ hands, even though as countries, we did not like each other.  In 1988, I remember the same thing happening except this time, the sport was basketball and the winners were the Soviets, but there were the Americans to shake their hands.

Lebron James carries himself as well as one can expect a 24 year old to be able to handle himself, but he was dead wrong on this one.  What made it worse was him attempting to explain why he did not shake hands instead of apologizing for not doing so.  To me, the explanation was the worst offense of all because that was an opportunity to make him an even bigger figure in terms of helping children who do not know any better to know better.  Now they do not, with Lebron’s help.  Hopefully, someone will get to him and explain that those before him like Magic, Michael, Wilt, Kareem, Dr. J, and Jerry West, all who he has praised recently, were extremely proud competitors themselves and they all went to shake the hands of those who were victorious if it was not themselves.  It is all part of being a winner and a competitor in any sport and if Lebron wants to be known as either one, it is something he had better learn quickly or he will be known as the opposite of both.

The Lakers will be playing for the title starting Thursday and LeBron & company are free to make those reservations to Cancun or wherever their preferred vacation spot may be.  What makes this whole turn of events sweeter (to me at least) is the fact that the Cavaliers went into the Western Conference Finals undefeated in the playoffs and the Lakers beat the Nuggets who many believed were playing the best basketball in the playoffs.

Losing With Grace

When Detroit beat the Lakers for the championship I heard all kinds of people talking about Kobe on the bench crying because he was being denied his fourth ring.  I mean I really got the business and when you think about it Kobe was showing what sports should be about.  He still drove home in style to his mansion and his bank about was still ultra-fat, but that wasn’t enough.  He was hurt because of the game.  Isn’t that some unscripted emotion that we want or at least respect since it shows that a player was in it for more than the money.

Fast forward to tonight and how “King” James went out.  After the Cavaliers lost – by 13 which doesn’t really express how bad the Cavaliers lost – James bolted.  He did two things that showed a lack of class and sportsmanship: he didn’t shake the winning team’s hands and he didn’t meet with the media.  He showered, put on some headphones and went to the team bus.

This is the player who is supposed to be the new face of the NBA, partly because so many people do not care for the best player in the league: Kobe.  Is this how the NBA’s premiere star and MVP acts after being eliminated?  This is the type stuff that will prevent any kid from getting the post-game cookie and juicy!  But we are watching this from someone who is allegedly at the top of the best league in basketball.  Amazing.

I will hold off on final judgment where the media is concerned because they may prove me wrong.  But they should jump on this one with two feet.  James needs to be called out for what he did or should I say didn’t do.  He needs to seek out the media and apologize for his actions – the media doesn’t need to go to him.  If Kobe, TO or Barry Bonds did something like this they would be negatively criticized.  We will wait and see how the “King” is treated.

Orlando Is Tough

As a Lakers fan I have no problem saying the Orlando Magic worry me.  Their brand of offense has the potential to cause the Lakers all kinds of problems.  The formula is simple, give the ball to Howard or pass the ball effectively enough to have someone shoot open shots from the outside.  The Lakers could live with Howard playing well, but those threes start to add up and could cause all sorts of problems.  Hey, defense and focus are the only things keeping the Lakers from winning the championship because when they are focused and play D nobody will beat them.  But they don’t always stay focused and play good D so this series may be tough.

I just hope the loser is man, or “King”, enough to shake hands and talk to reporters after the series is over.

CNNSI (online) recently featured an article asking Kobe to calm down, criticizing his facial expressions and scowls as if the writer knew who they were/are directed at.  Kobe has done everything in his power to make himself an easy target, but how blatant can the media bias be?  By now hasn’t Kobe shown that he is willing to do what it takes to win a championship even if that means scoring less? 

Think back to the beginning of last season and try to remember if you thought the Lakers had a chance in the world to go to the finals against the Boston Celtics.  If you are honest with yourself, you didn’t think it possible.  But somewhere along the way, the team started to mesh and they made it back to the finals sooner than most people thought. I’m not going to lie, fleecing the Memphis Grizzlies to get Gasol didn’t hurt, but Kobe still had to adjust to a more team-oriented game.

But the man gets no credit.

LeBron isn’t supposed to be down 3-1 in the Western Conference Finals.  No, surely not the annointed one, not “King James!”  Say it isn’t so!  Before the thought of youth as an excuse even creeps into your mind, just stop it.  LeBron’s youth wasn’t an excuse for him winning the MVP, it isn’t an excuse for all the accolades as the ultimate team player to be thrown his way and it shouldn’t be an excuse for what has occured in this series.

Stan Van Gundy, the Orlando Magic head coach, has devised a game plan where James is allowed to score and score he has done.  He is averaging 43.75 points per game against the Magic and only has one win to show for it.  Hmm, when a certain player from LA was scoring a lot and winning a little he was bombarded with comments about not getting his teammates involved.  Isn’t it ironic that someone would still criticize Kobe for the same/similar, but he isn’t scoring as much as LeBron (32.7 points per game)?  Shouldn’t this critism be directed at LeBron right now?  It isn’t and I know why.

Pure hate.

It has nothing to do with age, Shaq or anything other than what it is: people don’t like Kobe.  It could be because of the incident in Colorado, the riff with Shaq or his swagger which at times is clearly mimicking Jordan.  But I don’t think he is getting a fair shake no matter the reason for it. 

Let’s look at something else: technical fouls in the playoffs.  Kobe has had one rescinded and so has Dwight Howard.  What does that mean and why is Dwight Howard’s name brought up?  Even though the technicals were rescinded, the one against Kobe hurt the Lakers and the one against Howard helped the Cavaliers.  Taking them away after the fact doesn’t change the impact they had on the game, it just means a “mistake” was made.

Let’s keep going and talk about the Caveliers coach, Mike Brown – the NBA coach of the year.  Uh, this guy is really getting exposed right now – his tics and blinking doesn’t help during interviews either.  He knows one play: give it to LeBron and get out of the way.  If something isn’t created off that one play, the Cavaliers are in trouble.

I have been telling people all year that the Cavaliers will show their true colors when things get tough and those words are turning prophetic.  See, they were riding a positive high for the regular season and most of the playoffs.  Most players in the NBA do not have the confidence of a Kobe Bryant, just like no other golfer has the mental focus of Tiger Woods.  When things are going good and you are receiving passes from a great player, confidence flies sky high and shots fall.  But when the going gets rough and that confidence isn’t there, those same players start getting tight and things don’t work out so well.  The Cavaliers have to take one game at a time now or their hopes of going to the championship are over.  For their sake, the home court needs to help them get through game 5.

I’ve said all of that and still, the supporting cast on the Lakers has been so up and down it doesn’t make any sense.  This is a team that went to the championship last year, with more ammunition this time around, and they are struggling.  Is it Kobe’s fault?  I know, he doesn’t instill confidence the way some people would like and maybe his teammates feel that.  But wait, what about the historic rants from a certain #23?  Jordan was notorious for berating his teammates, but since everyone loves him, I guess it wasn’t a problem when he did it.  Man, Kobe sure does have a lot of burdens to bear.  It isn’t enough that he is the best player in the galaxy (present tense) — he must also make people feel all warm and cuddly inside.  I’m sure there are a lot of those types of NBA players, but most of them are sitting at home right now, just like you and me.

Whew, it was really good getting all of that out!

This is an outlet to voice our (us men) opinion about various topics and even listen to what the women have to say.  But women, we will be heard, loud and clear!

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