Perspective - 1992 Versus 2012 - All About Your Era



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For years now I have argued in vain with others about the greatest running back of all-time.  I grew up watching Jimmy Brown of the Cleveland Browns.  For those who grew up during those years, there is hardly a question that Jim Brown was the greatest.  Then, along came Gale Sayers, Walter Payton, OJ Simpson and Barry Sanders.  The argument ensues.

Similarly, Jack Nicklaus grabbed the mantle of greatest golfer for many of us.  Then came Tiger Woods.  I grew up watching the likes of Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Walt Frazier, John Havilcek, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell and Elgin Baylor.  Then came Julius Erving, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and finally Michael Jordan. 

The era in which you grow up defines how you see your heroes and their legend.I will always argue that Jimmy Brown was the greatest football player of all time.He ran the ball with power, grace and speed. I always felt the "Big O", Oscar Robertson, was the greatest until I saw Michael do what he did on both ends of the court.Jack will always be the greatest golfer to me but then I have watched Tiger utterly destroy his competition.

Today, the arguments are reaching a crescendo pitch regarding which team is better.The Dream Team of 1992 or the team representing the United States in the 2012 Olympics.It's a tough argument for either side.Twenty years separate the players of each team and there is no question that today's team has more speed and more athleticism.However, the players like Jordan, Johnson and Bird would have the same if they were playing today.So would Oscar Robertson, Jerry West and Bill Russell.These folks were all competitive in their time and there is no reason to believe that they would not possess the same skills at the higher level of speed and athleticism today.

The match-ups between the two teams are comparable. No question.The bench strength of the Dream Team definitely has the advantage. However, there are great players such as Dwayne Wade, Dwight Howard and others who are sitting out this Olympic year. Unfortunately, there is no way to compare players of the past with the players of today.We all do it but it is only for the sake of argument.My sons will be sharing a similar argument with their children twenty years from today when the new stars of the professional ranks are even quicker, faster and stronger.The cycle never ends.

Many will choose the statistical argument comparing the point spread of victories for the 2012 US team versus the point spread enjoyed by the Dream Team.My guess is that the 2012 team will handily destroy each of their opponents and will do so with convincing margins.They know how big a point difference they need to accomplish the very feat.

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For me, it comes down to the competitive nature of the players who play the game.No one can argue the competitiveness of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. All three were fierce, fierce competitors.They frequently willed themselves and their teammates to victory.All three could put their team on their back and win. All three wanted the ball when their team needed a basket or needed the last second shot.All three demonstrated this competitive desire and unwillingness to lose.

We saw this same type of competitive stance from LeBron James in the 2012 Championship series.He was determined to win.His determination and will to win was indeed the difference.One also would recognize that Kobe Bryant has that same competitive advantage.Yet, I still give the edge to Michael, Magic and Larry, three of the most competitive players to ever wear an NBA uniform.

The beauty of the argument is the argument itself. How great would it be to see all that assembled talent on the same floor.The question really is as simple as teamwork.Will the 2012 team play as a team as the Dream Team did?Will they play as a team or will they choose to play like an all-star team?All-star teams lack the cohesion of greatness.I suspect this 2012 team won't disappoint.The coaching of Coach K and the player leadership will form the team framework they will need to be incredibly successful.

Just Bring Home The Gold!

Time To Embrace LeBron James!

Sports fans and sports radio talks hosts hardly ever change their mind but look for some of them to finally embrace Lebron James as the NBA Finals finish up.  Miami's 3-1 advantage over the Thunder is too tall a task to overcome for Kevin Durant and the Thunder.   Either Thursday, Sunday or next Tuesday will see the crowning of the Miami Heat and LeBron James as NBA champions.   It hasn't been an easy road for King James. 

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Last year's championship run was filled with ridicule, criticism and the like for LeBron James.  Very few folks had anything nice to say about him and for the most part, it has followed him into this year's season and run for the championship.  Unwilling to take critical shots, always looking to pass and not clutch have all been hung around his neck by the sports pundits who need something to talk about on their shows.   

Very little of the criticism has been warranted and for the most part, greatly overstated.  Almost all of it resulted from his center stage announcement two years ago announcing to the world on ESPN that he was leaving Cleveland in hopes of winning a championship in Miami.  It is understandable that the good people of Cleveland would be upset given that his move left them without hope of winning.  The fans and commentators should have been far more upset with Cleveland ownership for not surrounding James with players capable of putting the team over the top. 

Lebron's performance throughout the playoffs and especially in The Finals has been extraordinary.  To find fault with his performance and his leadership of his team should be falling on deaf ears.  Last night's Game 4 was one more example of the type of player James is.  Drawing the double team throughout the game and dishing one pass after another to his hot-handed teammates was the recipe for victory and a sterling example of his leadership of this team.

James has averaged 42.6 minutes over these four games with the Thunder.  He has averaged 29.2 points per game along with six assists, almost 2 steals and 10 rebounds per outing.  On top of that he has guarded the NBA scoring champion of the last three years in the likes of Kevin Durant.  James will most certainly win the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award.  His performance should all but silence his critics.

It still will come down to the manner and fashion he left the Cavaliers.  The gaudy and less than mature announcement of his choice of leaving Cleveland and moving to Miami will always stick in the crawl of some guys.  Those who are most critical of James should remember back to their youth of 25 years old and reflect if they had the maturity level and experience to know better than to make such a circus out of the announcement.  Certainly ESPN did and LeBron's agent. 

It's time to embrace LeBron James as the good guy and not the guy in the black hat.  He has answered his critics and has done so in a professional and exemplary effort on the basketball court.  Congratulations King James.        



Finally, An NBA Season

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NBA Commissioner David Stern always knows what sells and NBA on Christmas Day has become one more staple of the Christmas season.  In danger for all of the summer and well into the Fall, the NBA opens up tomorrow, Christmas Day.  All along and throughout the labor negotiations, Stern's end game was for play to open up no matter what on Christmas Day.  Lose Christmas day and you might as well lose the season. 

Tomorrow's games are good as they get with the New York Knicks opening up against Boston, Chicago taking on the Lakers, Orlando playing Oklahoma City and finally, the Miami Heat trying to avenge their championship lost of last year to the Dallas Mavericks.  The Knicks, Celtics game opens up the television viewing with The Heat and Mavericks finishing up the day. 

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Like many folks, it's been years, or maybe since Michael Jordan's days, the NBA has held little interest for me.  That all changed last year as The Heat came together as a team and held my interest into the playoffs.  Although it was disappointing to watch Lebron James' performance in the championship series, it was a great playoff run and clearly set the stage for many exciting NBA seasons to come. 

One has to believe that all the money is on James and Dwayne Wade to capture all the marbles this year for Miami.  Apparently, James has developed a mid-range jumper to go along with every other part of his game.  The short season should also play to their advantage as long as everyone on The Heat stay healthy.  Clearly, the aging Celtics and Lakers will have something to say about that as will the defending champions, the Mavericks.

It just seems impossible to bet against The Heat in 2012.  So much talent and a whole year's experience to go with it, they will be remarkably difficult to beat.  It seems unlikely that Dallas will be able to repeat.  My guess is that Lebron has spent the entire off-season working exceptionally hard to improve his game focused on one thing, a championship season.  While other players were looking to play overseas and involve themselves in the labor negotiations, James was working on his game. 

I believe we will see a whole new level of play in 2012 from Lebron James.  This will be an MVP year with him winning the championship, the MVP and he might even throw in the All-Star MVP for good measure.  My best guess is that The Heat may only lose a handful of games in 2012 given the shorter season.  Even though it will be a short season, the NBA has some good story lines this season with Chris Paul going to the Clippers.  The Lakers may struggle having some competition from the sorry sister of the Los Angeles Clippers. 

Teams will be playing on back to back nights and even in some instances, three in a row.  Younger teams will have the advantage while the Lakers and Celtics with their seasoned rosters will be at a disadvantage.  Hang on to your hat, the NBA is back and it should be a fun ride.