25 Years Later: Jordan's Re-Defining Moment

CLEVELAND - In 2009, Michael Jordan, at age 46 stood at a podium on a stage at his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Speaking with a cocksure wit, he revealed the lifelong forces that drove him to become the greatest basketball player in history as well as a beloved cultural icon.

In 1999, a 36-year MJ sat at his 2nd retirement press conference and reflected on not only the championship winning shot that he hit just 7 months prior, but also his amazing 13-year NBA career that re-defined sports and the business of sports thanks to his pioneering presence.

But it was a full decade before that press conference that Jordan went from being known as a super high-flying scoring machine, to a game-changing champion-in-the-making.

The Shot.

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the moment that catapulted Jordan to a new level of greatness and re-defined his career. It also put him on an entirely new path, which would ultimately lead to a treasure trove of NBA championships and a lofty status as the gold standard of basketball excellence.

That famous shot took place in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round series between Jordan's Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The series was tied 2-2 heading into the fateful deciding game. MJ, at age 26 was in the midst of his 5th NBA season and had led the league in scoring for the 3rd consecutive campaign. Going into the series with the Cavs, the Bulls were heavy underdogs thanks in large part to an 0-6 record against their division rivals during the regular season. Jordan, however was undaunted and continually claimed that Chicago would win the series.

MJ's unpopular prediction seemed like a genius move when the Bulls found themselves up by 20 points in Game 1. Going into Game 4 in Chicago, the Bulls held a 2-1 series lead and the team got a gigantic performance from Michael, as he scored a sizzling 50 points. Ironically, this effort seemed to play right into Cleveland's hands and before they knew it, they had won the game in overtime heading back to their home-court to decide who would move on to Round 2.

Sunday, May 7, 1989 was the date. Richfield Coliseum was the location and Jordan was seething with fury after he missed a couple key free throws in the closing moments of the previous game. He could care less about his 50 points. He felt as though he let his team down.

He couldn't wait for the chance to be in that position again.

The game was as highly competitive as one would expect a deciding playoff game to be. The lead changed hands 9 times in the final three minutes and with every Cavs basket, Jordan answered. He beat Cavs guard Craig Ehlo off the dribble and drilled a 10-foot pull up jumper with 6 seconds left to give the Bulls a 99-98 lead. After a Cleveland timeout, Ehlo inbounded the ball, then took a return pass from forward Larry Nance and scored on a driving layup to the basket with 3 seconds left to put the Cavs up, 100-99. The arena went wild and started celebrating the apparent victory.

But MJ still had 3 seconds to work with.

Bulls forward Brad Sellers went to inbound to Jordan, who was heavily guarded by a Nance-Ehlo double-team. MJ broke free and cut to an open area to receive the pass, then went hard left with a couple dribbles and raised up for the shot inside the foul circle. He was met by Ehlo who got a hand up and would have blocked the shot if it were not for Jordan hanging a split second longer in the air to double clutch the ball before releasing it.

The ball dropped through the hoop just as the horn sounded giving the Bulls a stunning 101-100 victory. Jordan jumped high into the air and fist pumped several times before being mobbed by teammates and coach Doug Collins in an absolutely shell shocked arena. His final tally: 44 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists.

The legacy of Jordan's classic moment is two-fold. It sent both franchises in opposite directions. The Cavs had been contenders for the NBA crown that season and had an outstanding core of young star players in Mark Price, Brad Daugherty, Nance and Ron Harper. They also had key players beyond the stars such as John "Hot Rod" Williams and Ehlo. But after just a few games at the start of the '89-'90 season, they surprisingly traded star Harper to the L.A. Clippers for the rights to college star Danny Ferry.

Also, during the next four seasons, the team was hit hard with major injuries, especially to Price. Along with Harper's exit, Daugherty missed half of the '89-'90 season and Price missed 66 games in '90-'91. They were back on a roll for the '91-'92 season, but lost in the Eastern Conference Finals. In '92-'93, they lost in the semifinals. Both times, the Bulls knocked them out while en route to their second and third NBA championships.

MJ's historic shot infused the Bulls with tons of confidence and momentum and they enjoyed a much longer than expected playoff ride in '89. They got past the New York Knicks in Round 2, then took the eventual defending champion Detroit Pistons to 6 games before losing in the East finals.

With new coach Phil Jackson's guidance for the '89-'90 season, the Bulls gained a new dedication to defense and Jordan grew leaps and bounds as a leader. They took defending champion Detroit to Game 7 in the East finals before losing. They bounced back in a huge way in 1991 as Jordan led them to their first ever NBA championship in a 4-1 series victory over Magic Johnson's L.A. Lakers.

Fast forward back to Jordan's 1999 retirement press conference. By then, he had been long revered as the greatest ever and had amassed an unbelievable 10 NBA scoring titles, 6 NBA titles, 6 NBA finals MVPs, 5 NBA MVPs and innumerable heroic moments in several championship series. He capped his Bulls career in 1998 with a dramatic title clinching shot with 5.2 seconds left.

The decade between Jordan's shot over Ehlo and his retirement just after the '98-'99 lockout was a period filled with great success for him and the Bulls, but the Cavs became a perennial laughing stock. After Jordan eliminated them AGAIN with a buzzer jumper in the 1993 semifinals, coach Lenny Wilkens left the organization and nothing was ever the same. Daugherty was forced into an early retirement after a horrible back injury shelved him in 1994. Price was sent away to Orlando in 1995 and Danny Ferry remained a constant and untradeable disappointment with a huge contract year after year.

It wasn't until 2003 that the Cavs finally gained some real hope of turning their long path of bad luck and non-contending teams around. That was when their miserable, 17-65 record earned them the number 1 pick in the draft, which they used to draft LeBron James, who held enormous potential to become one of the all-time great NBA players. Ironically, '03 was also the year that Jordan left the NBA as a player for good. He had returned for the '01-'02 season to play at a very advanced age for Washington, then retired for the 3rd time about a month and a half before James was drafted.

What a coincidence!

In my final estimation, I look back on Michael Jordan's legendary shot, 25 years later with continued awe and humility. For a man as driven and competitive as him, that moment now seems like it was destined to take place. But greatness has a lot of points of despair which is usually needed to propel us beyond what we were originally capable of doing.

That is a big part of Jordan's iconography.

15 Years Later: Remembering Jordan's Final Flight Out of Chicago

CLEVELAND - With a face filled with tears, I watched on television as the greatest basketball player in history walked away from the game that made him an international icon. This same exact event had also taken place nearly five and a half years before (he returned to pro hoops 17 months later) and both times, it was simply too much to bear.

Michael Jordan was retiring.

Today marks the 15th anniversary of Jordan's historic press conference which announced this horrible decision. At the time, the NBA had just resolved a contentious lockout which wiped out the first two months of the 1998-99 season. What resulted was a truncated, laughable 50-game schedule that featured a heavily dismantled Chicago Bulls team, who were the three-time defending champions for the second time in the decade, with MJ leading the way every time.

The lockout was finally lifted on Jan. 7, and tons of rumors had been swirling about the fate of Jordan as a player, since he had repeatedly mentioned the season before that he was strongly considering retirement. Then, on January 13, 1999, MJ showed up in a black suit with his wife to the United Center in Chicago to declare that, just one month from his 36th birthday, he was done with NBA hoops as its pre-eminent star.

This shook me to my core, and it sent the league into a tailspin of unparalleled parity. Almost immediately, the Bulls' two other star players, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman were gone too. This left the team with Toni Kukoc as its best player and they stumbled to a putrid 13-37 record.

Yuck.

After having witnessed Jordan, just 7 months prior dominate the final minute of the 1998 NBA Finals, hit the championship winning jumper with 5.2 seconds left and walk off with his 6th NBA title and 6th NBA Finals MVP award, it was especially difficult seeing him leave all of that greatness on the floor once again -- the same way that he had done in the autumn of 1993, just three and a half months after Chicago's first 3-peat.

Jordan stayed retired for a little over two and a half years, then decided to come out of retirement just 5 months before his 39th birthday to play with the horrible Washington Wizards. He had become VP of basketball operations in January 2000, but by October 2001, he was back on the court as a much older version of himself.

But to many people, Jordan's two-year Wizards "experiment" was a mere footnote to a dazzling career that re-defined sports and marketing and made Michael Jordan a filthy rich cultural icon.

I will never forget that sad day in early 1999. Jordan's words felt even colder than they did in his '93 farewell speech, yet somehow...even though I had long known it was a strong possibility he would leave again, I was still shattered by the reality of it.

Looking back with the huge perspective of 15 years, I can appreciate Michael even more than I did then...and that is saying a whole lot because my appreciation for him was always enormous.

I am just happy that I got to witness the great Michael Jordan during his legendary career!

15 Years Ago Today: Jordan's Golden Moment

CLEVELAND - It remains one of the most seminal moments in the history of the NBA Finals; Michael Jordan punctuating another virtuoso performance with a cold blooded jump shot with 5.2 seconds remaining on the game clock to propel his Chicago Bulls to their sixth NBA championship title in eight years.

Call him "the ultimate legend."

Crazy how time flies, but that event took place 15 years ago today as the then-two-time defending NBA champion Bulls played Game 6 of the finals at the Delta Center, the home court of their opponent, the Utah Jazz. Jordan was forced to carry a larger-than-normal load for his team after his superstar teammate Scottie Pippen strained his back in the opening moments of the game. Even though he managed to play 26 minutes, Pippen was greatly reduced in his effectiveness, meaning MJ had to find another gear.

Boy did he ever.

With Jordan being in the twilight of a truly historic, spectacular career at age 35, his athleticism and stamina were far below what they had been in his glorious prime. Even still, he remained a transcendent player capable of anything when the stakes were highest. This is why he was able to score 16 huge points in the fourth quarter of a very tight game and deliver three breathtaking and game-changing plays in the game's final 42 seconds.

After Jazz star John Stockton drilled a three-pointer with 41.9 seconds remaining, Utah led, 86-83. After a Bulls timeout, Jordan, running on fumes during an exhaustive fourth period took the ball and drove hard to the right baseline and scored majestically over Antoine Carr to pull his team to within one with 37.1 seconds left.

Back in possession, the Jazz went to their bread and butter play; their superstar Karl Malone with the ball in the post. Malone began to make his move on Dennis Rodman as Jordan came out of nowhere and stripped the ball from Malone before he could ever get a shot off. The steal happened with around 18 seconds left in the game. Instead of calling a timeout to set up a play, Jordan brought the ball upcourt as he faced Jazz swingman Bryon Russell. Even though Russell and Jordan were now matched up one-on-one, it was actually Jordan matched up one-on-one with history and the legacy of indelible greatness.

He won.

Jordan drove to his right with Russell defending, then (with a very surreptitious nudge) crossed over to his left and rose up for a cocky jumper from 18 feet out with an unobstructed view of the hoop.

All net.

Jordan, as the Jazz called a timeout while the entire building of thousands of fans sat in stunned disbelief, held his follow through pose for a shot worthy of such theatrics.

Moments later, it was all over. Jordan scored 45 points, the Bulls won the game 87-86 along with championship number 6 and MJ's status as the greatest basketball player in history was locked in place.

Just like that great moment.

As Michael Jordan Turns 50, I Reflect On What He Has Meant to Me

CLEVELAND - With today marking the 50th birthday of the great Michael Jordan, I could not help but reflect on the stunning excellence of his historic sports career and how watching him for many years forever affected my life. I also marvel at his continuing popularity, enormous, looming presence in today's NBA and the audacity of fans and media members, who seem over-eager to place LeBron James and Kobe Bryant anywhere near MJ's orbit of achievement and impact.

Wow!

For a decade, I allowed Chicago Bulls basketball games to become a sacred event for me, all because of Jordan. Whenever the Bulls played, I either watched on television or went to extensive lengths to try and pick up WMAQ on my radio. That was the Chicago radio station that aired Bulls games, and the quality of the radio reception was mostly awful, given the fact that it was a local broadcast and I lived some 350 miles from the Windy City. It didn't matter, though. Any faint sound I could hear of the action on the court was heaven for me. Neil Funk, who called the games, was always a delight to listen to as he described Jordan on offense.

"Michael with the dribble...wheels into the lane, dumps off to Scottie...Pip, throws back into Michael. MJ with three on the shot clock...hangs, falls, fires....SCORES!" Oh my! Michael with 40!"

Watching Jordan perform his artistry on television was even more breathtaking. I would always pump my fist whenever he made a basket, whether it be a 20-foot jumper, a post-up fadeaway J, or a spectacular, reverse layup in traffic. Jordan was not only the premier entertainment draw in the game, he was also a vicious assassin with a relentless level of focus, drive and killer instinct. His poetic style of play ran contrary to what the man was actually made of, which actually carried him to the stunning heights that he reached.

I remember vividly just how nervous I was whenever a Bulls game would get close in the final minutes, or if they were far behind their opponent. I would feel sick to my stomach because I always wanted Jordan to succeed and win. Thankfully, I didn't become aware of him until 1990, just a year prior to when he and the Bulls began their championship dominance. When he won his first title in 1991, I cried along with him and even got sick from the high emotional I felt for his most coveted accomplishment.

When he retired (for the first of three times) that awful day in October 1993, I was absolutely miserable. People came up to my locker at school and offered their support because they knew how strongly I felt for him. I avoided phone calls for days from my best friend because the moment was too painful. But when he suddenly returned to the game in March 1995, I was king of happy smiles! Let's be honest, everyone was a Jordan fan, but I was the one that went above and beyond and became obsessive about him.

I figured out a way to make small Air Jordan shoes out of paper and wore them as a necklace!

I will never forget the 1997-98 NBA season; Jordan's final one in Chicago. I was blessed with the opportunity to see him play in person for the first and only time ever. It was November 11, 1997 and the Bulls came to Gund Arena to play the Cleveland Cavs. I was totally blown away when I saw Jordan run onto the court from the locker room with his teammates right before game time. At the time, MJ was 34 years of age and was almost the only thing keeping the Bulls afloat in the early season. Scottie Pippen would be out injured until January '98 and Chicago struggled mightily in his absence.

They wound up losing this game in a rout, 101-80 with Michael getting a pedestrian 19 points in defeat. It was fascinating watching him in real life, real time without the sound of television announcers. On one play, Jordan caught a quick pass from Bulls center Luc Longley, drove down the lane and layed the ball in the basket dramatically. On another play, he went down the lane and dunked, and the entire arena oooh and ahhed.

As MJ neared the end of his reign in Chicago, I began developing a stronger appreciation for the man and what he ultimately stood for. People can say anything they want about him; call him arrogant, an asshole, egotistical, petty, cheap...compulsive. Whatever. All I know is, he is a sterling example of astounding determination and will, and those are the attributes that got him to where he is now. A man without action (and ego) will never fail enough to succeed repeatedly.

Salute Jordan.

I will also never forget how Michael ended his Bulls career, June 14, 1998 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals vs Utah. I was watching the nail biter game with my best friend at a sports bar and when MJ's legendary, final moment began to unfold (Jordan had just stolen the ball from Jazz star Karl Malone with Chicago down by a point), my friend lowered his head and said, "I KNOW [he's going to] make this shot."

Sure enough, MJ knocked in the championship winning basket with 5.2 seconds left and posed for posterity after the ball went through the net to give the Bulls a one point lead that held up. I could not have been more ecstatic than I was at that moment, arguably his crowning achievement on the court.

When Michael retired a second time in 1999, I was once again covered in tears and couldn't contain my constant sobbing. It may seem crazy, but I truly had an emotional connection to this man for a number of years. I was invested in him and his successes, which always made my days better. I was on the fence about him coming back in late 2001 to play for the horrific Washington Wizards. On the one hand, I was overjoyed at getting to see him play again after over 3 years away. On the flip side, I knew he was close to 39 years old and that is an age in pro hoops that may as well be 80 in the regular world. During his frustrating, two season stint as a member of the Wizards, MJ exhibited many moments of marvel, especially for a man inching towards and beyond 40 years of age. Mostly, his tenure in Washington was critically panned as Jordan faltered on things that he used to dominate in. Nonetheless, I knew that Michael showed something amazing in coming to such a lowly team; a willingness to put himself in a possible path of failure because effort is its own reward.

To me, he succeeded even as the Wizards failed.

When he retired for the final time, April 16, 2003, I was more at peace with his exit, though I still cried and cried. It was a depressing moment, but I was so grateful for having witnessed this remarkable man perform his special brand of magic night in and night out.

In the decade since Jordan's last NBA game, an entirely new crop of basketball megastars have evolved and made the league their own. From Bryant and James, to Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony, today's stars are awesome in their own right. But none of them will ever measure up to the seismic impact, cultural significance and unbelievable drive that was authored by and defined Michael Jordan.

Happy birthday, MJ, and many more to come. God bless you!

20 Years Ago Today: Jordan Clears 'Final' Challenge

CLEVELAND - Funny to see LeBron James in a position to win the first ever NBA title of his career, provided his Miami Heat win the final two games over the Dallas Mavericks (they better not). It's funny because the greatest basketball player in history won his very first championship 20 years ago today.

The one and only Michael Jordan.

Hard to believe but the young Chicago Bulls put the heavily experienced L.A. Lakers to rest on the Lakers' home court with a stirring 108-101 victory in Game 5 of the 1991 NBA Finals. Jordan, just 28 years of age at the time dominated the series in the most amazing of ways. He averaged his usual unstoppable high number of points; 31.2 ppg in the series, but his astounding 11.4 assists per game was unreal. For good measure, he also chipped in huge with 6.6 rebounds, 2.8 steals and shot a searing 55% from the floor.

Easy choice for his first ever Finals MVP award.

The game will forever be remembered for sharpshooting role player John Paxson's dead-eye shooting in the closing minutes of the game. But what I delightfully remember is how Jordan, the ultimate crunch time player and finisher continually drove into the lane, drew heavy defensive attention and kicked the ball out to Paxson for those huge 4th quarter baskets. MJ finished with 30 points, 10 assists and 5 steals.

Equally memorable was Jordan's post-game showing in the locker room. Flanked by his father and wife, the iconic hoopster was overcome with the emotion of his greatest professional moment. Through persistent tears, he remarked that it had been a "seven year struggle" and was very happy to be over the "stigma of not winning a title." What many forget now is that Michael had been a stupefyingly brilliant basketball maestro his entire career to that point. Illustrious accomplishments abounded, but he could never manage to lead his Bulls to a league title. He seemed destined to end his career someday with gigantic stats and breathtaking highlights, but no titles.

That never happened.

Instead, Jordan's immense mastery of the '91 NBA Finals became a springboard for a total of six NBA titles he would lead Chicago to by the summer of 1998. Though Earvin "Magic" Johnson submitted an awesome series performance (16 points, 20 assists in the final loss), Jordan proved that he was not only heads and shoulders above the rest of the game's stars, but he was also a winner.

20 years later, LeBron has yet to prove that.

20 Years Ago Today: Jordan Finally Defeats Pistons

CLEVELAND - The Chicago Bulls were eliminated last night by the Miami Heat, denying them their first trip to the NBA Finals in 13 years. But there was a time when the Bulls couldn't be kept out of the championship series no matter who they were playing.

That was when Michael Jordan roamed the skies.

It was 20 years ago today that Jordan, at age 28 led his Bulls to a 115-94 victory, and a 4-0 Eastern Conference Finals series sweep over the Detroit Pistons (on Detroit's home court), who were the two-time defending NBA champions. The Pistons had eliminated the Bulls in each of the previous three seasons, but were no match for the upstart Windy City boys in this series. Jordan, who had a smooth 29 points in the clincher was particularly overjoyed because he was headed to his first ever championship series after years of dominating the league with his offense and defense. Now, he was headed to the one place where his singular brilliance could be validated as being among the best hoopsters in history.

The league finals.

The Pistons displayed defiance, immaturity and cowardice in the closing minute of the rout. Led by Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer, the team walked off the court in anger, unwilling to congratulate the new Conference champions. It was behavior that seemed in-line with their own unsportsmanlike reputation across the league. For the past few years, they used a litany of cheap shot tactics to defend teams and star players, Jordan in particular and thusly, were given the moniker The Bad Boys.

In this series, the Bulls were badder.

The victory served as a coming of age for Chicago and MJ, as they were finally playing phenomenal basketball on both ends of the floor. I remember vividly watching every game in this series, knowing full well that Detroit served as the Bulls' Achilles' Heel, and praying that Chicago could finally rise up and oust the Motor City knuckleheads. Towards the end of Game 3 in Detroit, I remember seeing Jordan at the foul line, knocking down a free throw with a huge look of gratification and satisfaction at the realization that his team was headed for a virtually insurmountable 3-0 series stranglehold. Some folks predicted the Bulls would beat the Pistons, but no one ever dreamed it would be done in a dominating sweep.

Within days, Chicago was back on their home court playing the vaunted L.A. Lakers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. It was a dream matchup of Jordan and Magic Johnson and was heavily hyped. But that historic series became possible because of the Detroit demon that Michael and the guys slayed so thoroughly.

Great memories, even 20 years later.

The Complicated Legacies Of Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson

CLEVELAND - After the supposedly mighty L.A. Lakers went down in embarrassing fashion yesterday to the suddenly amazing Dallas Mavericks, a pressing but unspoken question begged to be answered. What now are the legacies of Kobe Bryant and retiring coach Phil Jackson?

The short answer: they're both quite complicated.

Yes, the Mavs swept away the 2-time defending NBA champions, 4-0 in the Western Conference Semifinals. It goes without saying that no one expected a sweep and most people expected the boys from Hollywood to at least advance to the championship series. Instead, the uber successful Jackson ends a 20 season coaching career in the most unexpected of ways; indeed, his teams have never before been swept. For a man coaching since 1989 (except for two seasons), that is an astonishing accomplishment. In Bryant's case, he ends his 15th NBA season in the worst of ways; a humiliating and uninspired end to a chase for the sixth league title of his career while scoring just 34 points combined in the final two games of the Dallas series. Given his historical stature in the game, those are damning realities that need to be considered when the inevitable (and annual) comparisons to Michael Jordan are made.

But, this is not an epitaph or condemnation. Instead, it is an appraisal of both men.

For Jackson, he has often been accused of being the beneficiary of superior talent on the teams he has coached to numerous championships. From 1991 to 1998, he coached Jordan and Scottie Pippen to six NBA titles. Then, he took a year off and returned to coach Shaquille O'Neal and Bryant to a trifecta of titles from 2000 to 2002. A long drought followed before Jackson again coached Bryant (as the team's top star) to two more titles in 2009 and 2010. Each of those superstars were either the best player in the league at the time or in the top 5. In Jordan's case, he was (and still is) considered to be the best in history. So Jackson's unbelievable 11 coaching championship rings have been said to be the result of a sizable talent advantage on his teams. There's a lot of truth to that, but he also deserves extensive credit for his esoteric coaching philosophies and knack for turning clashing and sometimes difficult stars into a cohesive, flourishing unit.

Everyone knows about the complex "triangle offense" that he used with the Bulls and then Lakers. But it was also his insistence on elite and dedicated defense that produced such endless amounts of success. As much as the 1995-96 Bulls dominated because of Jordan's killer ability and drive, Pippen's stunning versatility and Dennis Rodman's mammoth rebounding, they also marched to a league record 72-10 mark because of Jackson's intricate system and guiding hand.

For Bryant, he has long been regarded as the heir to Jordan's status as the most gifted, competitive megastar in the game. With eerily similar skill sets and demeanor, he has come closer than anyone ever has of embodying MJ in both style and substance. What has dogged him in the comparisons is the fact that he played as the second star to a still-in-his-prime O'Neal for eight NBA seasons and won three of his five titles with the 7'1 giant leading the way. The story has always been that Jordan may have had Pippen, but never a low post force of nature like Shaq to rely on like Kobe had.

It's a fair caveat.

Even still, Kobe's legacy is impressive and sizable without being equal to MJ's. He's been a great offensive and defensive player for a decade and is, at least since his game matured after the '05-'06 season, a dependable leader. He also has a long standing reputation as a crunch time master, though in the Mavs series that proved not to be the case. Now at an advanced pro sports age, Bryant isn't the same high-flying, boundless energy player he was even three seasons ago, let alone seven. But, much like Jordan, he has a lot of details in his game and is intelligent and savvy as a player. Those attributes continue to make him a still-elite player in spite of his obvious fade.

Let's acknowledge Jackson's good fortune of having the best players in the league to coach while also crediting him with simply being a brilliant and legendary coach as well. After all, the man managed to make talented misfits Rodman and Ron Artest submerge their menacing ways in favor of delivering their special talents to title winning teams. Also, let's acknowledge Bryant's deficiencies when evaluated against the epic career of Jordan while also commending him on evolving tremendously from a talented high school project to become one of the top 10 players in basketball history.

Even as the Lakers lost, Jackson and Bryant reign forever victorious.

25 Years Later, Jordan's Playoff Feat Still A Marvel

CLEVELAND - Michael Jordan went down in NBA history as the greatest basketball star ever. Fueled by an iconic career of stunning milestones and groundbreaking impact, Jordan's status in the pantheon of great hoopsters remains mythological.

And his epic display of brilliance 25 years ago today truly began his legend.

That's right. A quarter century ago today, Jordan put on the most searing exhibition of indomitable will mixed with unmatched talent and athleticism the game had ever known. He scored a still unsurpassed postseason record of 63 points in Game 2 of the Chicago Bulls' first round match-up with the Boston Celtics.

What was truly special about MJ's effort were three key facts; one, he was just a 23-year old 2nd year player. Two, he'd missed 64 games that regular season due to a stress fracture in his foot and three, he laid this dominant offensive assault on the vaunted 1985-86 Boston Celtics. That team not only finished 37 games better than Chicago, but they also notched a record 40-1 mark on their homecourt. The location of this Sunday afternoon game?

Boston Garden.

Jordan played as if he were possessed by some weird hyperactive basketball potion. He whirled and spun for spectacular drives and layups. He threw down emphatic slam dunks in traffic. He hit feathery jumpers and crunchtime free throws and almost always scored in, through and around a crowd of defenders. This would've been impressive against any pro team, but against these Celtics (the eventual league champions), it was tantamount to an earth shattering flash point in sports history. And with the legendary status that Celtics team has attained to this day, MJ's feat stands as even more unbelievable.

Of course, the Celtics won the game in double OT and swept the series 3-0. But Jordan's burgeoning legacy was immeasurably augmented with this superlative performance, which also happened to be broadcast on national TV. He had been a superstar player in his rookie season, but with this showing in the '86 NBA Playoffs, he had the look of an icon in the making.

Which he became.

I'll always be fascinated by that young man's dominance that afternoon. No NBA player since then has managed to be so stupefyingly brilliant and determined against a more gigantic foe as those Larry Bird-in-his-prime Celtics. It's just one of many Michael masterpieces that he (and we) can forever look back on and say "Wow...I (he) did that!"

Happy anniversary, MJ.

15 Years Ago Today: Bulls Win 70

CLEVELAND - The Chicago Bulls enter today's NBA Playoffs as major contenders for the title for the first time in 13 years. That fact was more than enough to remind me of the days when they truly were the most unstoppable force in sports.

That is, when Michael Jordan roamed the skies in a red uniform.

Today marks the 15th anniversary of the Bulls' record breaking 70th victory. The grind-it-out ugly win came in Milwaukee at the expense of the Bucks with megastar Jordan knocking in a sub-par 22 points on a horrid 9-of-27 shooting. That was an example of just how unassailable the team was during the 1995-96 NBA season; MJ could struggle, but the team could still emerge victorious.

Mostly.

The Bulls went on to finish with a stunning 72-10 record and capture the 4th of their 6 NBA titles in a match-up with the Seattle Supersonics. Michael, at age 33 earned his 4th league MVP award not just because he was once again incandescent (30.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg and his record 8th scoring title). But the man had also successfully returned to the legendary form that was his trademark prior to his 17 month retirement.

Today's Bulls team is led by a fantastic guard named Derrick Rose. But as wonderful as he is and as impressive as the 2010-11 Bulls may be, they will always have a gigantic mountain to climb to even approach those Bulls of the 1990s.

After all, Jordan doesn't wear red uniforms anymore.

20 Years Ago Today: Jordan Learns Hard Lesson From Pistons

CLEVELAND - In a seminal career of breathtaking excellence, Michael Jordan authored one historic moment after another. His genius was so expansive and his drive so tenacious, that he became the best basketball player in history by the time he reached age 30. But before he led the Chicago Bulls to a half-dozen NBA championships in less than a decade, he served a hard knocks apprenticeship that reinforced his ruthlessness.

Thank the Detroit Pistons.

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Detroit Pistons' Game 7 trouncing of Jordan's Bulls in the 1990 Eastern Conference Finals. It was the third consecutive season that saw Detroit end Chicago's season. Jordan, then 27 years of age and in his 6th NBA season had been beyond brilliant all season and series. With the Pistons' ultra physical play and defensive focus on MJ, the Bulls as a team struggled mightily in spurts and went down 0-2 in the series. Then, ferocious as ever, Jordan responded with back to back 47 and 42 point games to tie the series at 2-2. The final game, played at The Palace of Auburn Hills, saw Chicago lose handily, 93-74. This was the infamous "Scottie Pippen migraine game" which rendered the 3rd year upstart ineffective and left Michael alone to fight against Detroit's suffocating defense. Jordan miraculously managed 31 points in the game, but no one else did anything of note.

It was with this Game 7 loss that Jordan broke down in tears at the reality of losing yet again. Each season, he  was the ultimate megastar standout, yet he was hearing growing criticisms that he would never lead his team to a championship. His career was so phenomenal up to that point, yet he would never be thought of as an all-time great without a league title. Naturally, he went into the summer with an even higher level of focus than normal. The result?

Chicago won three consecutive NBA titles twice during the remainder of the decade!

It may have been the sharpest, cruelest pain at the time. But that Game 7 loss was the exact fuel that Michael Jordan needed to power his space shuttle of excellence into the stratosphere.

Remembering Jordan's Historic Cavs Killer

CLEVELAND -  Michael Jordan used a crossover dribble to get open for a most critical inbounds pass, then deftly split two eager defenders as he dribbled urgently to his left. He stopped at the foul circle, jumped and aimed the basketball at the hoop. He hung, double pumped and shot the ball over the valiant, yet futile defense of Craig Ehlo.

Buzzer sounds. All net.

It was a hard-to-believe 21 years ago today that the aforementioned events took place in the space of just a few seconds on a basketball court 30 miles south of Downtown Cleveland. Jordan, a 26-year old basketball juggernaut famously authored what is still succinctly known as "The Shot," and the impact of that game and that moment had been felt for many years afterwards. It changed the fortunes of the two franchises involved; Cleveland's Cavaliers and Chicago's Bulls. For the Bulls, it infused a great surge of confidence and catapulted them to a second round ouster of the New York Knicks and a very courageous stand against the eventual champion Detroit Pistons. Within two years, Chicago evolved into NBA champions themselves and dominated the 1990's with six titles in eight years.

The Cavs, meanwhile were never as imposing or outstanding as they were during the 1988-89 NBA season. Jordan's demoralizing shot seemed to deflate their air of excellence. Cleveland had a couple good seasons in the early part of the '90's, but mostly, they fell apart and became bland and very beatable. Their fortunes seemed to be looking up in 1997 when they acquired all-star Shawn Kemp, but his one good season was followed by more team mediocrity.

It all hit bottom in 2002-03 when the Cavs finished with a horrible 17-65 record. That season's awful showing had a silver lining, though. Highly coveted prep star LeBron James was the top prize in the 2003 NBA draft and the Cavs, through pure luck earned the first pick. Of course, they drafted James and four years later, they advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time ever. They wound up losing to the Spurs in a 4-0 sweep, but they are currently among the favorites to capture the 2010 NBA title.

Even though a generation has passed since MJ's heroics, the after effects still amaze me. It was the first, truly clutch moment of his career, and it can be argued that it set the table for the path to LeBron.

I know that thinking is out of this world, but so was The Shot.

Day Of Killers: Air Jordan and Columbine

CLEVELAND - Today is one of the most historical days in American history. As far as I'm concerned, one horrible tragedy and one incredible triumph will forever define this day of winners and losers, victims and assailants.

It is a day of killers.

It was 24 years ago today that a young NBA hotshot named Michael Jordan took the floor with his woefully overmatched Chicago Bulls to compete against the imposing Boston Celtics at their very best and put on a seminal, groundbreaking performance worthy of an Academy Award. Also, it was 11 years ago that two twisted teens went on a shooting spree at their own high school in Littleton, Colorado and killed more than a dozen people including themselves.

Jordan murdered the Celtics with a playoff record 63 points. Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, the Columbine High School whack jobs, murdered innocent students and one teacher. Though the Bulls lost that Sunday afternoon classic in double OT, 135-131, it was clear that MJ was the assailant. Despite missing a whopping 64 games with a broken foot in his 2nd pro season, Jordan dazzled, slithered, soared and scored with impunity against the seemingly invincible Celtics in their nearly impervious building, who were 40-1 at home and boasted the iconic Larry Bird in his prime along with superstars Kevin McHale and Robert Parish.

For the Columbine killers, they were assailants as well...just far more ominous and sinister. They were cast as social mis-fits after the fact and information came to light about just how calculated the April 20, 1999 shootings really were. Going back to 1997 and 1998, Klebold and Harris (pictured at right) had studied how to make bombs at home and also acquired themselves an extensive collection of rifles and other high powered weaponry. Apparently upset with the way they were ridiculed and outcast in school, they ignored their otherwise privileged lives and masterminded an evil crime that still stings.

I joke when I put Michael Jordan into the same category as Klebold and Harris. But the sad part is, Jordan simply played a phenomenal game. The Columbine boys considered their heinous actions to be a game as well.

What did the rest of us learn?

20 Years Ago Today: Jordan Was 'Star 69' Against Cavs

CLEVELAND - For all of his wondrous scoring feats over the years, Michael Jordan seemed to always save his best for the Cleveland Cavs. 20 years ago today, he unleashed his very best on them.

And it was no surprise.

Jordan was "in the zone" that night at the now-defunct Richfield Coliseum in Ohio. Just 27 years old at the time, his ethereal basketball talents were on full display as he registered career-highs with 69 points and 18 rebounds. His brilliance was second to none as he repeatedly hit pull-up jumpers and attacked the basket with searing impunity. For good measure, he dished off 6 assists and had 4 steals.

And his Chicago Bulls won, 117-113 in overtime.

MJ's ire had been drawn after he was fouled hard by the Cavs' John "Hot Rod" Williams in the first quarter. That is when Cleveland fans cheered the nasty takedown of Jordan, to which he took exception because he could have been seriously hurt. He responded by netting 31 points by halftime and continued to dominate all over the court as the game progressed. With the Cavs and Bulls being not only Eastern Conference rivals, but also Central Division ones, the game had added significance.

The phenomenal outburst was anything but a surprise given the fact that Jordan was always extra special when facing the Cavs. He led the Bulls to playoff series victories over them in both 1988 and 1989 and the '89 defeat featured the legendary "The Shot" game, which took place just 10 months prior to the 69-point game. Furthermore, Michael laid a giant 54-point statement on the Cavs to open the 1989-90 season and had several more high-scoring games against them leading up to 69. Add all that up, and it was anything but surprising that he did what he did on March 28, 1990.

He was in his prime, but still in his pre-championship days that season. But Jordan was always a marvel to behold and that game will forever stand as perhaps his grandest statement as an individual juggernaut.

Long live Air Jordan.

15 Years Ago Today: Jordan's Historical Decision

CLEVELAND - Michael Jordan held a press conference yesterday to formally announce his new ownership of the Charlotte Bobcats. 15 years ago today, he eschewed such a public appearance and simply issued a fax to the media and the world with two indelible words.

"I'm back."

After a questionable and highly criticized stint in minor league baseball, Jordan decided to return suddenly to the NBA after a 17-month hiatus. It had been 21 months since he last played a pro game, and that was the finale to the 1993 NBA Finals in which MJ's Chicago Bulls won their 3rd straight championship. He stunningly retired 3 1/2 months later saying he had "nothing else to prove" on the basketball court. As a result, the sports world mourned heavily and his former opponents salivated at the prospects of an NBA without his unassailable dominance.

Predictably, the three-time defending champion Bulls went from being favorites to capture a 4th straight title to heavy underdogs. But unpredictably, they played very well led by Scottie Pippen's all-around brilliance and actually finished with only two fewer losses than they had the previous season with Michael. They lost in seven games to Eastern conference rival New York in round two, then went into the following season with far more uncertainty than before. As the 1994-95 season played out, the Bulls floundered more and more and it seemed as though the team would implode.

Enter Jordan.

With Major League Baseball on strike since the summer of '94, it eventually affected the minor leagues as well. Jordan wanted no part of being in the middle of that and made the very wise decision to un-retire and rejoin the Bulls. He'd been seen practicing for weeks, but on March 19, 1995, he stepped onto the court at Market Square Arena wearing his familiar red and black Bulls warm-up and ready to do battle with the Indiana Pacers. He kept his popular #23 retired and now wore #45 which sent parents all over the world into a frenzy to buy the new attire for their children.

Jordan was incredibly out of sync and struggled his way to a 7-of-28 shooting performance, which produced 19 points. He did add six rebounds, six assists and three steals in 43 grueling minutes. The Pacers won in overtime led by Reggie Miller's 28 points but it seemed that Chicago had won in the long run.

Michael was back.

MJ would struggle for the rest of the season, but had two stand out gems along the way. He had 18 of his 32 points in the 3rd quarter of a game in Atlanta that ended with him drilling a game-winning jumper at the buzzer. On March 28, he authored his famous "double-nickel" game in Madison Square Garden against the Knicks. In addition to his 55 points, he delivered the game winning assist to Bill Wennington.

The Bulls went 13-4 in the 17 games Jordan played, but got bounced from the playoffs in round 2 by upstart Orlando. Once the season had ended for the Bulls, the media began questioning if MJ was washed up at age 32. Fans also had their doubts. Jordan, full of pride but very humbled by the litany of mistakes and bad plays he'd made during his return vowed to show up the following season back to his old dominant self.

Boy did he ever.

Beginning on opening night of the 1995-96 season, Michael Jordan went overboard in bolstering his already superlative legend in hoops. He'd returned to his accustomed heights and dominated the NBA like he'd never left. When the dust settled, the Bulls had marched to the most successful season in the history of the game; a 72-10 record and a 4th NBA title in June. Jordan led the NBA in scoring for a record 8th time at 30.4 points per game and earned his 4th NBA MVP.

The Bulls continued their mastery of the entire league for two more seasons as did Michael, who'd returned to wearing #23 during the Orlando playoff series in '95. By the time he knocked down that controversial jumper to conclude the 1998 NBA Finals in Utah, he'd grown his legend ten-fold, which previously seemed impossible. In his three full seasons back, he earned two more MVP awards, three more Finals MVP's, three more scoring titles and of course, three more NBA championships!

Coming back was without a doubt his best decision.

The Air Jordan Legacy: Epic and Unprecedented

CLEVELAND - With the 25th anniversary edition of the Air Jordan basketball shoe hitting store shelves yesterday, I figured this is the perfect time to reflect on its legacy. The peerless footwear have emphatically and dramatically carved out a gigantic place in pop culture history, thanks in no small part to its namesake.

Michael Jordan.

I continue to marvel at the mega sensational popularity that the sneakers have enjoyed for decades. In their prime, the Air Jordan was a major force of fashion that its potential owners just had to have. They debuted in the Spring of 1985, just months into Jordan's rookie season in the NBA and days prior to his 22nd birthday. From the start, the red and black kicks created a commotion. Due to their color scheme, the NBA banned them for not having enough white in them. Jordan, who was garnering constant headlines of praise for his brilliant and stylish play on the basketball court defiantly continued wearing the shoes in games. The NBA fined him, and Nike Inc. gladly paid the $5000 per game fine since the controversy gave the epochal footwear oodles of priceless publicity that resulted in a huge spark in public interest and sales.

The Air Jordan was the first sneaker to successfully become a major fashion accessory. Until the release of the first shoe, sneakers were regarded as an afterthought; something worn leisurely or to perform chores in. The look of the shoe didn't matter as much as its comfort. Even as NBA superstars Larry Bird, Dr. J and Magic Johnson starred in ads for Converse in the early 1980's, athletic shoes continued having a low profile. By 1990, the Air Jordan was a certified icon which matched Michael himself, who by then had been the most dominant and dazzling hoopster in the game for six seasons.

This is when I became fascinated by the shoes.

In 1988, 25-year old Michael Jordan won his 2nd straight NBA Slam Dunk title. His quickness, creativity and phenomenal skills gave him an even higher profile and popularity than he already had. This resulted in higher sales of the high-priced sneakers and augmented their reputation. The Air Jordan III introduced visible air, colloquially known to urban America as "air pockets." The shoes also featured a new Jordan logo to replace the initial basketball-sprouting-wings insignia. The new design was simple yet dramatic; a silhouette of MJ jumping into the air, legs spread and his left arm extended with a basketball in his hand.

The golden age of Air Jordan was 1988 to 1998. During that time, Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to 6 NBA championships and he personally won NBA Finals MVP all six times. He also won 9 of his record 10 NBA scoring championships and became an international icon. The Air Jordan IV was famously given a scene in the 1989 Spike Lee film, Do the Right Thing and the design of the Air Jordan V was inspired by the "bat boot" in Batman.

It remains an indelible memory of mine watching dozens of guys (and girls) discuss the "new Jordans" back in junior high-school and high-school. Guys used to deal drugs just to be able to afford the controversial and outlandish price tag of the shoes. They'd cut school or come late just to be at the mall to drop $125 for the "new J's" as they were popularly called. I wanted a pair so bad, but my mother couldn't afford them. Even still, I found ways to get a few pair...legally, and I always felt awesome wearing them which remains true to this day. That was an interesting quality of the shoes: they had the power to boost a person's morale or self confidence...and they were always gawked at and fawned over. People wanted to know what the bottom of the shoes looked like! That's mostly because of the 1990 edition, which featured a clear rubber outsole with the ubiquitous Air Jordan logo encased inside, which acted as sort of a window. Will Smith famously wore that edition in the opening credits of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and throughout the series' first season. He also wore ensuing editions of Jordans as the show progressed.

Nike revolutionized the athletic footwear industry in a way that its rivals could not. Because of their ingenious advertising strategies coupled with Michael's stunning accomplishments in pro basketball, the Air Jordan possessed an awesome aura. The shoes had style and personality. They were brash and intimidating. They were mythical and elite. Since Michael wore them all the time, they became co-stars in all of his historic sports moments. "The Shot" in 1989 over the Cavs' Craig Ehlo featured Jordan knocking in a double-pump jumper at the buzzer, but on his feet are the black and gray Air Jordan IV. He's wearing the Air Jordan V 10 months later in the same building against the same team when he flew for a career best 69 points and 18 rebounds.

It's the Air Jordan VI that MJ rocked while leading the Bulls to their 1st NBA title in 1991. In the 1992 U.S. Summer Olympics, Jordan sported a special edition, white, red, blue and gold version of the Air Jordan VII. It was during his comeback from a brief retirement in 1995 that Michael first unveiled the instantly fawned over Air Jordan XI six months before their official release. That model was a simple, white sneaker trimmed in black patent leather. Nearly 15 years later, that edition is considered to be the best ever installment. When the Bulls capped off their historic 72-10 season with their 4th NBA title of the decade in 1996, Jordan collapsed to the floor of the United Center in unbridled jubilation, mobbed by teammate Randy Brown and clutching the historic basketball. Very prominent in the scene is the snazzy black with polished black patent leather Air Jordan XI's with a clean white and red midsole on his feet.

They look...beautiful!

The Air Jordan XII was on Michael's feet a year later during the famous "flu game" on June 11, 1997. A year after that, Michael sported a pair of J's from the future when he knocked down the title winning jumper over Utah's Byron Russell. From the future in this case means he was wearing the Air Jordan XIV a year early, possibly because he knew he'd never get to wear them in an actual game due to his expected retirement. Indeed, Michael hit the winning shot in those 1999 edition shoes, then retired before the start of the lockout-shortened '98-'99 season.

Jordan's immense popularity and the financial windfall it created for both he and Nike was enough to convince the athletic footwear company to give MJ his own division. In 1997, the Jordan Brand debuted and made its presence even more prominent in the NBA and other sports. Its signature sneaker remained the Air Jordan and admittedly, the designed and popularity of them waned as the 2000's commenced. I attribute much of that to Jordan's absence from the court and mostly to a major drop off in "sexy design." Early on, the Jordan's had a very edgy and stylish aesthetic. In the past decade, they have flopped consistently in the design department even as their inner technology has become more sophisticated.

Even when Michael returned to the league in the autumn of 2001, the shoes appeared uninspired and washed up. The Air Jordan XVII debuted in February 2002 in all white and trimmed in blue and black. They were based on the team colors of the lowly Washington Wizards, whom MJ returned to play for. They also came in an aluminum brief case and retailed for an astounding $200. The 20th edition, released in 2005 seemed to "try too hard" and it ended up being a laugher. I actually liked the XXI's and XXII's and I even own a pair of each. They both amaze me at the ambitious and intricate craftsmanship that they possess. I wanted a pair of the XX3's, but I never got them. They wound up being the final, numbered pair of Air Jordan's since "23" was his uniform number. Beginning with the 24th edition in 2009, the iconic sneakers would be identified by year. The '09's were by far the worst edition in history and looked nothing like an Air Jordan shoe.

Now the 2010 model.

From the beginning, I loved the look of the 2010 Air Jordan. I even had to drive 100 miles round trip to get mine yesterday because nowhere local had any in stock. Michael and his team have decided to use a current NBA star to wear the shoe in games just as Michael himself would do if he were still playing. Currently, Miami Heat star guard Dwyane Wade is the designated "wearer." Jordan, who turns 47 this week remains closely involved with the shoe's design and development and continues to embody greatness, even a dozen years removed from his last championship.

Over 25 amazing years, the Air Jordan has personified elegance and ambition in the subtlest of ways. They long ago became a cultural phenomenon, which is just one more touchstone of Michael Jordan's legend that will never go away as long as people continue to have feet.

And I'll always treasure them.

Jordan Expanded Popular Legend With 1988 All-Star Weekend

CLEVELAND - It was 22 years ago today that Michael Jordan capped off a whirlwind weekend of basketball brilliance with his first All-Star MVP. After that weekend, he became the number one most glamorized, popularized figure in basketball.

And it was just the beginning.

MJ, less than two weeks prior to his 25th birthday stood head and shoulders above the litany of superstars and legends-in-the-making during the 38th annual event. Not surprisingly, the weekend of exhibitions were held in Chicago Stadium which was of course the home arena of the 4th year megastar shooting guard. The evening prior to the game saw Jordan successfully defend his slam dunk title with a stunning series of acrobatic flourishes and throwdowns at the basket.

This was the contest that ended in controversy as Michael faced off with star forward Dominique Wilkins, who defeated Jordan during MJ's rookie season three years before. Many felt that Wilkins should have won the '88 contest based on his equally amazing dunks, but as it were, Michael Jordan dribbled full court just as he'd done the year before in Seattle and jumped from the foul line. As he sailed towards the basket with the basketball in his right hand, he assumed an aerodynamic pose that would become one of the most iconic images in sports. When he completed the dunk, the arena went crazy and the judges gave him a perfect score of 50, which narrowly edged out Wilkins for the title.

Maybe it was home court bias, maybe it wasn't. But Jordan was awesome either way.

As amazing as the battle was, the true treat was the following day when the actual game took place. The East marched to a 138-133 victory behind a mega-sensational performance from both Jordan and Wilkins. MJ missed only six shots and scored 40 points in just 29 minutes, including 16 in an offensive flurry during the final six minutes anchored by teammate Isiah Thomas, who finished with 15 assists. Wilkins poured in 29 points to support Michael.

While being presented with the foregone conclusion of All-Star MVP, Jordan stood at center court with Commissioner David Stern. "In a league of stars, in a game of stars, you were the star of stars," said Stern as he handed the trophy to Jordan. It was a fitting moment not just because of his performance in that game or during that weekend. It signaled something far greater -- it was the beginning of Michael's uber popularity with young kids, teens and adults everywhere. Nike and Gatorade (who sponsored the dunk contest) were aligned with MJ and his expensive, namesake sneakers became enormous must-haves for urban youths all across America.

It was also a sign that the great Larry Bird and Magic Johnson would soon take a back seat to the young and blazingly talented Michael, who wound up leading the NBA in scoring, steals and minutes played while also winning the Defensive Player of the Year award and his first ever league MVP.

After his historic showing during the Slam Dunk contest, MJ was known more prominently as Air Jordan and with his high-wire, super acrobatic style of play, it was a very fitting moniker. Jordan had already been a super popular and endlessly gifted basketball player. But this weekend heightened America's awareness even more and launched his tenure as "the NBA's signature player."

If only the world knew what Michael would do over the next decade. Oh my.

Jordan Deserves LeBron's NBA Proposal

CLEVELAND - LeBron James, basketball prodigy extraordinaire, mentioned last week that he will switch from uniform number 23 and start wearing his Olympic number 6 next season and hopes that the NBA will follow his lead and retire the number league wide in honor of Michael Jordan.

Many have scoffed at this idea.

James, 25 next month is in his 7th NBA season. During his still ascending career, he has both met and exceeded the sky high expectations placed on him after a stunning and highly publicized high school career. Jordan, the recently enshrined basketball Hall of Famer has been widely considered the greatest NBA player in history for at least the past 12 to 15 years. With a pro career that was both legendary and globally pioneering, Jordan achieved an ethereal status that no one ever has in the history of the sport. It is because of that fact, not to mention MJ's omnipotence even in today's game and the way he changed the way business is conducted and pro athletes are marketed that makes LeBron's idea a no-brainer.

No one deserves it more than Michael Jordan.

Naturally, the idea has been met with a lot of criticism and resistance. Many in disagreement readily acknowledge Jordan's epic accomplishments but feel that the greats that came before him are either just as deserving or even more so to have their uniform numbers retired. An NBA player has never had his number retired, but Major League Baseball's Jackie Robinson, an exceptional player and the first African-American to play in the majors during the modern era had his retired more than 40 years after he played his last game.

Jordan retired for the third and final time six years ago.

Here's my take: the NBA's logo is a silhouette of former L.A. Lakers great Jerry West. Without question, West was an awesome player and was known as Mr. Clutch for his penchant for late-game heroics during his 14-year career. However, West was far from being the most prominent member of even his own era. He won just one NBA title and no MVP's, while Bill Russell racked up 11 NBA titles and 5 MVP awards. Wilt Chamberlain won 11 rebounding titles, 7 scoring titles and 2 NBA titles. Oscar Robertson was the only man in history to average a triple double over an entire season and cumulatively, he averaged one for his first five seasons combined.

Wow.

The point is, each one of those guys were far better choices to be bestowed the honor of being the logo. If it were a racial issue (those days were very uneven racially), Bob Cousy or George Mikan were more accomplished than West. Hell...Celtics coach Red Auerbach would've been an awesome choice given his mystique and iconic presence in leading Boston to 9 league titles.

For people to say Jordan is undeserving because of others like Chamberlain and Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Dr. J and Larry Bird completely ignores the merits of the guys that should've been the logo over West. Plus, MJ popularized the game to such a degree that folks became fans of him that didn't even like or care about sports...and then they became basketball fans (that's how I became a hoops fan). In today's game, LeBron and Kobe Bryant are the two most obvious spawns of Michael's awesome trailblazing. From his demeanor and fire on the court to his perfectly crafted image off it, these guys were heavily influenced.

Watch an NBA game today and look at Jordan's mannerisms, iconic Jumpman logo and often references to him all over the place. To paraphrase LeBron, when one thinks of fly kicks, game winning shots and high scoring performances, you think of Jordan. Plus, the man was a winner and a money player in the crunch on both sides of the ball.

This is a debate and it shouldn't be. Commissioner Stern; retire Jordan's number 23 all across the NBA. Even if it means setting a team-by-team mandate to do so.

Considering what MJ continues to do for your league, you owe him at least that much.

Jordan's Pro Debut Disguised True Greatness

CLEVELAND - Michael Jordan became an ethereal giant in the game of basketball. From glittering statistics, spectacular flourishes to the hoop and a mountain of awards, MJ was the most stunning mix of ambition and accomplishment in NBA history.

You would have never known it from his first game.

Today marks the 25th anniversary of Jordan's debut with the Chicago Bulls. On October 26, 1984, the 21-year old mega athlete played his first-ever regular season game, an ironic match-up with the Washington Bullets (he played two seasons for that franchise 17 years later). Playing in Chicago Stadium, he appeared a bit nervous, hyper and very competitive. Sporting the Bulls' home white uniform with red numbering and lettering, Michael looked every bit the sleek and high-octane athlete that he was, however the poise and polish of his game wasn't yet apparent.

Even his shoes were just basic white and red Nikes.

He finished with a poor shooting, 5-of-16 performance from the floor, though nailed 6-of-7 free throws for 16 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. With the exception of his shooting and scoring, his overall game was on the money, though it would only get better in the coming games.

And years.

The Bulls won, 109-93 which was the most important stat to the obsessed-with-winning Jordan. Even though the game offered tantalizing glimpses of his future brilliance, it concealed the true scope of what the man was destined to become. He became the best player in history with a colossal portfolio of legendary and heroic moments on the court. Given the incredible nature of his legend, it's understandable that it wasn't obvious at such an early date.

When Jordan was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame last month, he repeatedly spoke of how every naysayer and doubter real or perceived fueled his relentless will and drive. It was an amazing and riveting speech that left some angered, but left others like myself in deeper admiration for the man and all of his achievements. That first game wasn't step one of his evolution.

But it was America's first glimpse of what became a love affair with an indelible genius.

What If Jordan Didn't Retire In 1993?

CLEVELAND - Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to their 3rd straight NBA championship by averaging a record 41 points per game in the 1993 NBA Finals. Four months later, he was retired.

My oh my. What could have been?

Today marks the 16th anniversary of Jordan's shocking decision. He turned the basketball world upside down by stepping away from the game that turned him into a global icon worth hundreds of millions of dollars. What's more, he did it at just thirty years of age and was still the most dominant player in the league.

The Bulls entered the 1993-94 season a bit shell shocked. Training camp commenced a day after MJ's announcement and new addition Toni Kukoc shed tears at the reality before him; no playing beside his hero whom he idolized for years in his native Croatia. Jordan may have had a very successful season in '92-'93, but the summer was horrific. His father James was murdered while he slept on the side of a road. Many speculated that this event took the joy out of playing ball for Michael and led to his early retirement. During the season, the Bulls fought valiantly to maintain their dominance over the league, minus the most seminal player in the game's history.

They nearly pulled it off.

All-Star Scottie Pippen stepped up to a higher level and led the defending champs on both offense and defense. Kukoc was surprisingly sharp in the clutch, winning several games for the team at the buzzer and Horace Grant had his best season; 15 points and 11 rebounds per game. Add to all that the precision marksmanship of B.J. Armstrong and Steve Kerr and you have the makings of an even better team than the one that won the title in '93.

If Jordan had been a part of it, that is.

MJ meanwhile, was busy taking up minor league baseball. With the roster that Chicago had, they were able to summon a remarkable resolve and turn out a very fine regular season, finishing at 55-27, just two games behind their previous season's effort. They swept the Cavs in round one, then lost a slugfest to the Knicks in 7 games. The Knicks went on to win a classic series over the Pacers, which featured a classic Reggie Miller performance in Game 5, then met the Rockets in the '94 Finals.

Thanks largely to an all-world Hakeem Olajuwon, the Rockets squeaked past the Knicks in 7 games to capture the NBA title. The Rockets were a very balanced squad, boasting an awesome inside-out game with Olajuwon and Otis Thorpe in the paint and a litany of shooters around them such as Vernon Maxwell, Kenny Smith, Robert Horry and rookie Sam Cassell.

Jordan had been on such a roll through the first few seasons of the 1990's that there's no doubt he would have continued his stunning brilliance in '93-'94 had he not retired. Olajuwon won his first ever MVP award, but MJ would have been just 31 that season and the odds on favorite to win his 4th MVP and 8th scoring title. He was still young and brazen enough to do all the things he'd always done, even though he later opined that he may not have had the correct motivation.

Malarkey.

Even if Jordan would've been worn out from two years of nearly non-stop basketball (including the '92 Olympics), he would have manufactured motivation any way he could. Plug Michael into the '94 Bulls and worst case scenario, Kukoc doesn't flourish as much offensively and Pippen doesn't evolve as much as he did. Even in that scenario, both of those players were still mega-talented and would have still been outstanding. Pippen was a superstar before MJ left, and Kukoc may have been even better with Michael. Overall, they would have been even better as a team because they had the same talent but much of it had improved, plus they added the 6'11" multi-faceted Kukoc to the mix.

Imagine how driven Jordan would have been to win a 4th title in a row!

The Bulls barely lost to New York in the playoffs without Jordan, so they definitely would have beat them with him. Regarding the Pacers, Miller became Mr. Crunchtime in that series. MJ wouldn't have allowed that, not just because of his skill...but his pride would have eaten Reggie alive. Of course, this is all assuming that the Bulls would have met the same teams in the playoffs had Jordan stayed, which is highly unlikely. More to the reality, they would have had a higher seed and still pushed aside any team.

Let's not forget; they were the three-time defending champs!

In the Finals, the Rockets would have been problematic. Olajuwon was totally unguardable that season, but the Bulls always handled those dilemmas by giving the superstar big men they faced different looks on defense. Rotating several big bodies on Hakeem and playing him straight up would have given him free reign to dominate the interior, but it would have greatly compromised their potent outside attack. MJ and Pippen were lockdown defenders and would have minimized their shooters like they so often did to many teams.

I believe Chicago would have won in six or seven games over the Rockets.

Of course, Jordan really did return at the tail end of the following season, 1994-95 but was very out of sync and rusty to say the least. There was very little chemistry on the team and they had begun to be affected by a very mediocre showing in their first 65 games, going just 34-31. By now, the class of the East was the upstart Orlando Magic. The way that the season ended for the Bulls was a six game loss to the Magic in the semifinals. The biggest problem for Chicago in that series wasn't their lack of rebounding (Grant defected to Orlando over the summer of '94), it was Michael's inability to finish on his drives to the hoop. Incorrect timing and a very flat jumper weren't indicative of lost skill, but rather uncoordinated muscle reaction.

That happens when a finely tuned athlete like Michael Jordan doesn't play pro basketball for a year and a half.

The Magic went on to face defending champion Houston in the '95 Finals and were swept. Olajuwon, at age 32 masterfully dominated the 23-year old Shaq O'Neal and won his 2nd straight Finals MVP. The Rockets had acquired Clyde Drexler at mid-season, but somehow weren't as sharp as they were the previous season. Their postseason success was predicated more on heart and stubborn resolve than anything. If the Bulls would have faced the Rockets of 1995 with a full-seasoned MJ, it would have been a meeting of heart and soul versus heart and soul.

With a full speed MJ, the Bulls win that matchup everytime.

The Bulls trounced Orlando the following season, 1995-96 with Dennis Rodman in tow and a re-precisioned Jordan. They swept them emphatically in the '96 East Finals, and their key to success was playing O'Neal straight up and bottling up their shooters. With O'Neal and superstar Penny Hardaway scoring at will, the Magic figured to be well served but they weren't. That's because shooters like Nick Anderson and Dennis Scott were marginalized just as I mentioned earlier. Of course, Rodman was a major factor off the glass but whatever the case was, the Magic had no chance.

Chicago marched to an historic 72-10 season and captured their 4th title. MJ earned all of the usual accolades and added another iconic level to his legend. At the end of the day, the trifecta of titles that the Bulls won from 1996 to 1998 were just three of the five that they would've won.

If only Michael would've stayed put in October 1993.

Bryant's Great Decade Pales Next To Jordan's

CLEVELAND - Kobe Bryant will report to training camp this coming week for what will be his 14th NBA season. This past week, the Sporting News voted him the NBA player of the decade.

Interesting choice.

Bryant, 31 is a legendary hoopster. What he has done in the NBA for the L.A. Lakers has been stunning, especially since he came directly from high school in 1996 without the benefit of college and averaged just 7 points per game in his rookie season. Now, he is arguably the best in the game and has compiled a glittering resume that has included 4 NBA championships.

But I'm not so sure he was the preeminent player of the 2000's.

First off, Kobe bested former teammate Shaquille O'Neal and San Antonio's Tim Duncan for the honor and initially, I felt that his selection was well merited. However, upon closer inspection, I realized that the choice of Bryant was anything but a forgone conclusion once his entire decade is taken into consideration. First off, in the five seasons from 2000 to 2004, no one regarded him as being the best in the league. That's because O'Neal and Duncan were the big-time leaders of the NBA; Shaq had dominated the three NBA titles that the Lakers won from '00 to '02 and Duncan led the Spurs to the dethroning of L.A. in '03 en route to another San Antonio championship (they won their first in the abbreviated 1999 season).

During that first half of the decade, the Lakers won three titles, with Bryant as the secondary star and O'Neal in his prime of imposing, physical dominance. True, Kobe was always the harder, more tenacious worker, but O'Neal was still the biggest reason L.A. won. The two seasons that the Lakers didn't win, 2003 and 2004 were seen as evidence of Bryant's defiance and notoriously selfish style of play. Indeed, he grew more petulant and insolent as his prodigious offensive talents blossomed further. For the first time in his career, he averaged more shot attempts and points than Shaq; 30.0 ppg in '03, thanks largely to a 13-game tear in mid-season in which he routinely dropped 40 or more points several times. At the time, O'Neal was still a prime force and should have still been the focal point of the offense.

In 2004, his frequent ill-advised shots and go-it-alone mentality cost the revamped Lakers in the Finals and though heavily favored, they lost to the Pistons. Trust me, if anyone had asked who the top player of the first five years of the 2000's was, Bryant would have been on few, if any lists as the number one. It's not that he wasn't awesome, because he was brilliant. But O'Neal and Duncan were the cornerstones and impact players of these years. Kobe was simply the best of the rest; better than Iverson, McGrady, Carter, Pierce and the like.

The second half of the decade was even less impressive for Kobe. During the five seasons since the '04-'05 season, the Lakers lost in the 1st round of the playoffs twice to Phoenix ('06 and '07), lost to the Celtics in the Finals once ('08) and missed the postseason altogether in '05. It was only during the final season of the decade (last season) that they finally won an NBA title, the first one minus O'Neal, who'd left L.A. after the '04 Finals loss. One thing did increase for Kobe during the last half of the decade; his scoring exploits. The '05-'06 season was his playground. In December 2005, he scored an unreal 62 points in just three quarters in a game vs Dallas. In January 2006, he knocked in an historic 81 points against Toronto. By season's end, he'd amassed a career high 35.4 ppg average, the highest in the NBA in nearly 20 years.

But again, the Lakers lost in round one of the playoffs.

Bryant returned the following season and dominated on offense again, posting numerous 50 and 60 point games but in spite of it all, L.A. got bounced in round one of the '07 playoffs. The past two seasons have seen a different, more sedate Bryant on offense. He has become a far more willing facilitator and thus, a better teammate. As a result, the Lakers have made the Finals both years, getting trounced in '08 and winning in '09.

In 10 seasons of the 2000's, Kobe Bryant averaged 28.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.2 assists. He won one MVP award, 2 scoring titles and 4 NBA titles with one Finals MVP. He shot 46% from the floor, 84% from the foul line and 34% from the 3-point line. His teams made the Finals six times, and their record was 4-2. What's troubling is this: there were four seasons that his teams didn't make the Finals and there was an unreal seven years between NBA titles. O'Neal's teams made the Finals 5 times, Duncan's team made it three. So even if we accept Kobe's choice as player of the decade, there are so many holes in his "great" decade. He's only been considered the consensus best player in the league for maybe half of the ten years.

Which brings me to the next point in this topic; Michael Jordan.

Jordan, the recently Hall of Fame inducted icon of basketball is the man that Bryant has been repeatedly compared to since his rookie season. Though Jordan joined the NBA's Chicago Bulls in the mid-1980's, his decade of dominance was unquestionably the 1990's and trust me, no one will debate whether he was the NBA player of that decade. Jordan's decade comes with an asterisk, though. He played just seven of the ten seasons, due to two retirements and still far out shined Bryant.

Jordan's teams, in the seasons he played, went 6-0 in the NBA Finals. Jordan himself won 7 scoring titles, 4 MVP's and all 6 Finals MVP's. He also won 2 steals titles and authored several of the most historic moments in NBA playoff history. Bryant had the highest single regular season average in nearly 20 years in '06. Jordan's 41.0 ppg in the '93 Finals was the highest scoring average in Finals history.

Gigantic difference.

The only season in the '90's that the Bulls didn't win the title with MJ was the first season; 1990. That was when Jordan's postseason performance was nothing short of genius, yet the upstart team came within one victory of making the championship series. After that, Jordan steered the Bulls to a trifecta of titles in '91, '92 and '93, then retired at the apex of his career less than four months later. During the 1994 season, Chicago performed above expectations without MJ, but lost in the playoffs to New York, who went on to lose in the Finals to the eventual champion Houston Rockets. The following season was far more tempestuous for the Bulls and was wrought with dissension, especially from secondary star Scottie Pippen. Shockingly, Jordan returned to the team with just a month left, but never regained his legendary form. The Bulls lost in round 2 to Orlando, mostly because of a lack of the in shape edition of MJ for the entire season.

The Rockets repeated as champs in the '95 Finals.

The 1996 season saw the return of Jordan from Day one. As a result, he dominated the league as did his team and they rolled to an unreal 72-10 record. The Bulls won their 4th championship and MJ reclaimed his status as the league's top player.

Jordan wowed the league yet again during the 1997 season as he amassed another iconic campaign. As his age escalated, so too did his drive. Chicago was virtually unbeatable again and that resulted in NBA crown number 5, led of course by the excellence of Michael.

There was an air of finality to the 1998 season for the Bulls and Jordan, and the entire campaign was dubbed "The Last Dance." Jordan, an increasingly mythical figure by that time was revered in arenas all over the country. It was rather surreal that his basketball artistry had persisted for as long as it had, he was a ripe 35 years of age at the time and still managed to loom largest over an entire league of young stars.

It was indescribable how giant his impact had become.

After a very adversity-filled season, the Bulls traipsed through the playoffs and onto the Finals against Utah. For the second straight season, the reality of facing off against Jordan in the championship series proved to be too much for the Jazz and they lost the series as Chicago celebrated the 6th NBA title of the decade. Jordan's final jumpshot sent his ethereal legacy into an unreachable universe.

Jordan retired prior to the 10th season of the decade, and a number of the other key players went their separate ways. All in all, Jordan stamped the '90's as his personal proving ground for his stupefying greatness. His raw numbers; 30.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists nearly reflect Bryant's, except for the nearly three points per game scoring difference. Jordan shot better too. He hit 50% of his shots, 83% of his free throws and 36% of his 3-pointers.

The things that stick out to me most in the comparisons are as follows. Jordan was the top player steering his teams to championships the entire decade. When he was in the lineup all season, the Bulls were practically invincible. His dominance spanned the entire decade, without huge gaps of futility. There also was no other player even remotely close to being as accomplished as MJ during the decade. For Bryant, he starred behind the gigantic dominance of O'Neal early in his decade, then endured several long years of mediocrity and losing. When his team finally won with him as the head honcho, it came after a string of other teams winning the title.

In the end, I say this: congratulations to Kobe Bryant for being voted the top player of the 2000's, but there is no way that he's anywhere close to Michael Jordan is the history of the NBA.

But then again, no one is.