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"Standing 6'4" and weighing in at 190 pounds of twisted steel and sex appeal - AAAAADDDDAAAMMM AAAATTTTKKKKIIINNNNSSS"

Yes, I am back. And I will say that is back by popular demand. If you don't want to read it because it no longer will involve your fantasy team then don't - but if you are bored and you are looking for something outlandish to semi-entertain you for a little bit, this is the place for you.

Obviously, this blog will shift landscapes and will no longer feature fantasy football predictions - although we all know who was clearly the best at that one.

Now, this blog will be focusing solely on the rumblings that move around my mind. Possibly things that men argue about, or maybe some funny videos, or maybe some deep intellectual thoughts. For today - we will start with the classic: Jordan vs. Lebron.....

The game of basketball is a funny sport. If you are from a country that does not have a national team – you would be extremely confused. First, there is a good chance that your country is a big supporter of soccer, or football, if your country doesn’t have basketball. This means that the very fundamental rule of basketball is already going to confuse you – kicking is illegal and using your hands is essential to success. However, you would be very surprised to find that soccer (football) is not that different from basketball.

The main difference is the creation, or origin of each respected sport (and the whole hands and feet difference). Soccer was first recorded as a training exercise for Chinese soldiers in the Han Dynasty. The game was called Tsu-Chu and translates to “kicking the ball.” It was a possession based game that featured two teams trying to kick a small leather ball into a net. There are many other cultures that have some form of soccer played in their past; Australians played Marn Grook, Native Americans played Pahsaherman, and the Moari’s played Ki-o-rahi. Whichever culture you believe to be the beginning of the sport – there is always disagreements. In fact some scholars would even argue that soccer really started in Britain. Britian is traditionally thought to be the founding country of modern day soccer. There is rarely a concrete agreement on the origin of soccer.

The origin of basketball is simple and sweet – and never argued. Dr. James Naismith was asked to create a game that students could play indoors during the winter. In 1891 Naismith took a soccer ball and a peach basket and created the game of basketball. However, in this form of basketball there was no dribbling allowed. Naismith, being a physical education teacher, noticed that in most games injuries happen when a player with the ball runs around. Thus, in this form of basketball there was no running when you had possession of the ball.

On December 21, 1891 the first inaugural basketball was played. The game lasted 30 minutes, two 15 minutes halves – and the final score was 1-0. William R. Chase is credited with the first, and only basket, in the game. After a few years the local YMCA had really began to take to the game of basketball and soon the surrounding YMCA’s were playing as well. Eventually, the game became widespread with little adaptions made here and there. For example, instead of peach baskets – one local YMCA used iron circles with netting. In 1901, a tweak in the rules allowed the players to dribble the ball up the court. In 1904 boundary lines were created – originally the entire gymnasium was in bounds, except the walls. Slowly, but surely the game progressed from soccer balls and peach baskets to rims and orange basketballs.

Not only did the game of basketball progress – so did the scoring. In the first collegiate game, University of Iowa versus the University of Chicago, UofC defeated UofI by a score of 15-12. Soon, games consisted of scores in the high 50’s and 60’s. Yet, still nothing compared to the scores we see in today’s modern basketball game.

Soccer is just the opposite. Soccer scoring has not progressed in the least bit. In fact, it is extremely surprising to see many professional teams score more than a couple goals. Many scholars believe that soccer is defensive minded game – there are too many players on the pitch that solely focus on defense. Not to mention that in soccer, you have a goalie. This person is allowed to use their hands and their sole job is to protect the net/goal. This creates and very possession, or defensive, oriented game. In either sport – there are two teams that have one purpose in mind, to score more points than the opponent. In some cases, one team might win because they have better chemistry or they are more experienced. In some cases, one team might win because they have the best player. Which is always a tightly debated discussion.

It is not hard to decide who the greatest soccer player of all-time is: Pele. It is not hard to decide who the greatest baseball player of time is: Babe Ruth. In fact, in most sports there is little argument for the greatest ever. In hockey – there is Wayne Gretzky. In football – there is Tom Brady. In tennis – there is Roger Federer. In basketball – there is? Michael Jordan? Lebron James? Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? Magic Johnson? Wilt Chamberlain?

With such a complex game of different needs a team must fill in order to become successful – there is always an argument for who is the greatest basketball player of all-time. Let’s begin by narrowing down the argument, here are a few qualifications:
 
-     The player must have played in the NBA.
-     The player must have at least won the NBA championship.
-     The player must have a career longer than 10 years.
-     The player must be the best of his era.
-     The player must be the best at his respective position.

These are basic qualifications, but needed. This allows to focus on a group of men, instead of the entire world. There may be players in the world who have scored more points in a single game – but are clearly not good enough to compete in the NBA. The NBA is widely considered the greatest league for basketball. If you have not played against the best, then you cannot be considered one of the greatest.

Likewise, if you are the greatest player of all-time, you better have won. Sorry, Karl Malone and John Stockton – you are not in the argument. In fact, it should go to show that if you don’t win a championship – how could one even argue that they are the greatest person if they can’t even win a championship in their era.

There always need to be some restraints on the length someone has competed. As stated earlier, someone could score an obscene amount of points in one game – but the sample size is too small for it to actually matter. Jack Taylor scored 138 points on November 20, 2012. He played for Grinnell College – whose system involved no defense and quick shots. The theory was, the more shots they shoot the better chance they had to score points. Now, clearly Jack Taylor is not the greatest basketball player of all time – but he very well may have had the best game of all-time. All that being said, it is important to establish criteria for the duration of a career. I figure that the first three to four years in the NBA is time to reach the prime of one’s career. The next four to eight years is time in the prime, and anything beyond that is the downward spiral after their prime. Thus, a player must have a career longer than 10 years.

The last requirement sounds simple – and it should be simple. In order to be considered for the argument of the best to ever play the game of basketball, you need to be the best in your era of basketball. For example, Kevin Durant is an amazing player – MVP in 2014, NBA Finals MVP in 2017, 4x scoring champion, Rookie of the Year in 2008, and an 5x All-NBA first team member – however, he has never been the best player of his generation. Therefore, he does not belong in the argument of the greatest of all-time.

Many would argue that Kobe Bryant is the player is a player that was once in a lifetime for his generation. Kobe squeezed right in between Jordan and James and managed to dominate the league for at least six years. He is the reason why Tim Duncan is not on the list of the greatest ever – Bryant takes the top spot for that generation. However, with that being said – Bryant does not belong in the argument. Bryant is a hall of fame player, one that changed the game. Bryant won 5 NBA Championships, Finals MVP twice, MVP once, NBA Scoring Champion twice, and was an 11 All-NBA first team member. However, Bryant is often the most overlooked player when you are considering the greatest of all time. Mainly, because he came right after Michael Jordan (whom many consider to be the greatest) and he is right before Lebron James (freak athlete who is the most recent contender to the title). Call it unlucky due to the timing of his career. Call it karma due to his scandal with “extra-curricular” activities outside of his marriage. Call it, “Hey, you not the best shooting guard to play the game!” Call it whatever you like – Mamba Out!

With these criteria there are basically a handful of guys that you could possibly argue:
 
-     Wilt Chamberlain
-     Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
-     Magic Johnson
-     Michael Jordan
-     Lebron James

Hey, wait a second, Chamberlain and Jabbar both played center – you are breaking the last criteria. You, my newfound friend, are correct. Chamberlain has what could be argued as the greatest season ever – even better than Westbrook’s most recent escapade through the land of triple-doubles. In one season, Chamberlain averaged 50 points and 25 rebounds. In the first four seasons he was in the league, he led the league in scoring and rebounds. Essentially, anything Jabbar could do – Chamberlain did better. The only thing that Jabbar did better? Play longer. Jabbar has the most points ever scored in the NBA with 38,387 points scored. The main reason this was achieved? He played for 19 seasons. Jabbar did have four seasons where he averaged 30 or more points and right around 15 rebounds. Chamberlain had 8 seasons where he averaged 30 or more points and 12 seasons where he averaged more than 20 rebounds. Not only that, in the seasons that they played at the same time – Chamberlain averaged more rebounds and roughly 8 or so points less. However, Chamberlain was at the end of his career and Jabbar was just coming into the prime of his career.

Both men played in a time when being the biggest and tallest was extremely helpful. Chamberlain was 7’1” and weighed 250. Sure, he was enormous – but he was also extremely strong and had great stamina. In 1962, Wilt Chamberlain sat out 8 minutes…the entire season. He averaged over 46 minutes a game over the course of his career. He also had a known bench press of 500 pounds. Shaq – arguably the strongest player to play the game of basketball – was only ever able to bench 450. Wilt was an unstoppable force.

Jabbar, on the other hand, was more a skilled and finesse player. Jabbar was known for his offense skill set and shooter’s touch. He developed the unstoppable “Sky Hook,” that many have attempted to replicate. The most interesting part about the sky hook? There is very few 7’2” players that have developed the touch it takes to be efficient with that shot. Therefore, any type of replication is usually considered a “Baby Sky Hook.” Jabbar had an amazing shooter’s touch – never before seen in a 7’2” player before.

Many people would argue that Jabbar and Chamberlain would be able to play in today’s NBA, myself included, they still are probably not in the same realm as the other three gentlemen. Chamberlain was only ever to win two NBA Championships. Jabbar was able to win six NBA Championships, none with the Lakers and five of those came with the help of another all-time great.

Magic Johnson was drafted by the Lakers #1 overall in the 1979 draft. Johnson and Jabbar went on to lead the Lakers to the NBA Finals. In game 6, after Jabbar injured his ankle, Magic Johnson started at center - Johnson had started at point guard that season. During that game Johnson played center, guard, and forward and recorded 42 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists. Johnson is the only rookie to win the NBA Finals MVP – all while playing out of position.

Magic Johnson has been to the finals 9 times in his 12-year career – which was sadly cut short due HIV. In 75% of his career, his season ended with him having a chance to win the NBA Championship. Johnson also won the NBA Championship 5 times – nearly half the amount of seasons he played in the NBA. If there was ever a player that you want to run the point and you know would show-up and do whatever it takes to win, Magic Johnson belongs in that conversation.
However, Johnson did have a few knocks in his career. Johnson’s career was cut short due to his battle with HIV. The issue is not with him having HIV, however it is more closely related to the fact that he was only able to play for 12 seasons. When Johnson walked away from the game, he was still very clearly in his prime. He was selected for the 1992 Dream Team which was the first year he did not play in the NBA due to HIV. Still, very clearly – with the ability to win games and increase his statistics.

Also, and most notably, the biggest knock against Magic Johnson: his teammates were all hall of famers. Magic Johnson had played with Abdul-Jabbar, another player who belongs in the all-time great argument. Johnson also played with Michael Cooper and James Worthy. Michael Cooper was an 8-time all-defensive team member, as well the Defensive Player of the Year in 1986. James Worthy, another hall of fame player, was a 7-time all-star. So, Johnson was able to play with Abdul-Jabbar, Cooper, and Worthy – and yet somehow, he was still considered the best of the group. One could argue that many of these players would not have had the careers they did have, if not for Magic Johnson.

None the less, Magic Johnson did have many great players around – whether he made them great or not – and because of this many people do not consider him to be the greatest. Personally, he deserves to be in the argument – maybe the 2^nd greatest of all-time. The absurdity that follows is a part of every NBA fan’s argument, especially those that are 15 and under…..
 
The greatest ever: Lebron James or Michael Jordan
 
The argument between James and Jordan is ever prevalent in current NBA fan’s conversation. On one side, Michael Jordan, you have the widely thought of greatest of all-time. On the flip side, Lebron James, you have the current best in the game. The argument will always be: Michael Jordan or whomever is currently dominating the game. I am here to prove to you that this not really an argument that worth having, more rather an idealism that can be used to see who is a true fan of the NBA.

Michael Jordan changed the game of basketball. He is, and will continue to be, the player who made basketball a physical sport. Yes, you had “The Bad Boys” in Detroit and Larry Bird – who wanted to fight with anyone - in Boston. Not to mention, the Indiana Pacers and Ron Artest looking to actually fight anyone, even the fans. The argument here is not that Jordan was a bullying, in fact Jordan was probably bullied more than any other player. The argument is that Jordan made it “cool” to workout and push your body physically so you could overpower your opponent.

I understand the Chamberlain was physically dominating players and that there was no other Shaquille O’Neal in the league. These guys were the very definition of physical specimens – but did they have to work for it? Obviously not. They were just that much bigger than everyone else.
In the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary, “Bad Boys” the Detroit Pistons talk about how they developed the “Jordan Rules.” Essentially, anytime Michael Jordan had the ball or was in the paint was being physically pushed or knocked down. It wasn’t until the next season when Jordan came back and was physically ready for the Pistons. At that moment, everyone around the NBA became aware to the fact that if you want to win in the NBA – you have to work for it. Jordan was the pioneer for preparing your body for the physical demand that rears its ugly head in the NBA regular season. Without Jordan leading the way, James may never be the physical specimen he is now.

There is also no denying the fact that off the basketball court Jordan was the pioneer. Jordan was not the first guy to sign a deal for sneaker endorsements, that honor belongs to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Adidas. However, he was the player that started the feeding frenzy. In 1985 the “Air Jordan I” was released to the public. The shoe’s prototype, Nike Air Ship, was soon outlawed by David Stern, due to not enough white being in the design. This was then used as a promotional tool to “obtain a certain edginess, one must wear the shoe that was banned.”

As Jordan’s career began to balloon with success, so did his shoes. Until now, there was never a player that was so dominate in the league with his own personal shoe line. Is it fair to say that Michael Jordan completely changed the endorsement world? Yes, of course. Does that really have any effect on his all-time greatness? Not much, but I would argue that it does help continue to keep him prevalent in today’s game and in today’s youth. Those that never had a chance to actually witness, sorry LBJ, Jordan play can at least understand that he was good enough to earn his own shoe line – a shoe line that has catapulted Michael Jordan in to the billionaire’s club.

If you really want to discuss facts and statistics, Jordan has that portion of the game covered as well. Michael Jordan was an 10 time NBA scoring champion in his 13 year career with the Chicago Bulls. Not to mention, that he never averaged less than 28 points a game in the seasons that he played more than 18 games (there were two seasons cut short due to injury and retirement). Even after he retired from the NBA for a second time, he came back and played at the age of 38 and 39 and averaged more than 20 points a game for each season – not even the NBA all-time leading scorer could average that at the same age. Clearly, Michael Jordan knew how to score the basketball.

However, offense is only one part of the game. Michael Jordan should be in the argument for the greatest defender of all-time. Jordan was the Defensive Player of the Year in 1987 and was a nine-time member of the all-defensive team. He finished his career averaging 2.3 steals a game, which happens to be more than John Stockton – the all-time NBA leader in steals.

Many would argue that the shooting guard position is not traditionally thought of as a rebounding position. However, Jordan was able to average 6.2 rebounds a game. This may not sound like an astounding number, but do not let the fact that Dennis Rodman averaged 15 rebounds a game while in Chicago. In the NBA, at that time, a team would average 42 rebounds a game – which means after Rodman grabbed his wolf’s share of the boards, there were only 27 rebounds left to go around. Jordan was able to corral in 23% of those opportunities. That is an astounding number for a player who also scoring 30+ points and 6 assists a game.

Clearly, Michael Jordan has the stats to back-up the hype that is needed to become the greatest of all-time. Jordan’s prime, say his best six seasons, stack-up against anyone else’s prime – especially if you consider winning the championship an important aspect of the game. Before we go any further down this road, one must understand that winning the championship is the reason why professionals play the game of basketball. It is a team’s sole purpose in the NBA. Is it the only measurement for all-time greatest – but it is a big measurement.

Michael Jordan won the NBA Championship six times, all six times he was the NBA Finals MVP. Not only that, Jordan won the NBA Championship three times in a row and then retired to play baseball. After his two-year stint with baseball, he returned to the NBA and won three more championships. One could safely assume that had Jordan not left the NBA to try baseball, he could have very easily made it to the finals 8 consecutive seasons and possibly won 8 consecutive NBA Championships. Now, I do understand that anything could happen – injury, suspension, etc. However, the main point stands that during those eight years – Jordan played in six seasons and won six championships. Anyone in their right mind would not bet against Jordan had he played in the other two seasons.

Michael Jordan not only built his career around scoring and making it to the championship – he also dominated when the lights were the brightest. Jordan went to the finals six times and won the Finals MVP six times. The greatest players always shine brightest on the greatest stage. Now, don’t get me wrong – Lebron James – is a great player, but I personally am always going to pick the brightest light!

Of all the stats and achievements Michael Jordan has to his name – nothing holds a candle to Jordan’s mindset. Every players wants to win the game, otherwise why are they playing the game? I am not saying that all other players don’t care about the game of basketball, but there is something to be said about players who are willing to put everything on the line just win once game.

In 1997, the Chicago Bulls were playing the Utah Jazz in the NBA Finals. The series was tied 2-2 and Jordan had just suffered food poisoning and a severe virus. Jordan willed his way to 38 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. Phil Jackson, widely renowned as one of the greatest basketball coaches ever, said, “Just another heroic effort to add the collection of efforts that make up his legend.”

There are many others who would suggest that Jordan was not actually sick, but rather hung over. Some would say that if this were true, it would taint the effort and make it less amazing. However, you cannot disregard an effort of someone that “ill” because of the reasoning that they are ill. Whether he was hungover or sick or food poisoned – either way, his effort was amazing for someone who was playing in perfect conditions, let alone someone was suffering from some kind of illness.
Many basketball fans have heard of “The Dream Team” documentary that was originally broadcast on NBATV. The documentary is focused on the very first US Dream Team and the players that were on it. Essentially, it is focused on the best American basketball players at the time and how they beat every other country by an astounding 43.8 points (record in the Olympics for average margin of victory). Few would argue that this was the best group of basketball players ever assembled – especially in comparison to the competition.

There is one crucial scene in this documentary that showcases just how dominate Michael Jordan was. During the beginning of the documentary viewers are described a typical practice session from the eyes of players. Multiple players described the end of practice with a scrimmage. One team will be winning, and coach Chuck Daly will call timeout. He will then switch Michael Jordan to the losing team (which means the assumption is that he was on the winning team). In the second portion of the scrimmage Jordan would bring his team back and the game would be competitive.

Essentially, in a practice with the best players in the world – the only player that the coach feels is good enough to switch is Jordan. Coach Daly selects Jordan to switch to the losing team in order to make it fair again. Michael Jordan was clearly the guy on the Dream Team. Oh, and by the way, 10 of the 12 players to play for the 1992 Dream Team went on to be selected for the Hall of Fame.
Jordan has changed the game of basketball the way that no other player has: endorsements, scoring, defensively, will to win, rings, and the list could go on. No other player has the same combination of tangibles and intangibles that make up the basketball player that was Michael Jordan. Like it or not, there has only ever been one Space Jam – and the Looney Toons wanted Michael Jordan!

Mwah