Jordan Must Really Have A Plan

CLEVELAND - When word came down yesterday that Michael Jordan successfully outbid everyone to purchase controlling interest in the awful Charlotte Bobcats, I couldn't figure out why he'd want that headache.

So, he MUST have a trick up his sleeve.

Jordan, author of the most iconic and critically acclaimed pro basketball career in history is obsessed with competition, excelling and flat out getting his way. This has been fact for almost 30 years, so him wanting to own an NBA team fits right into his personality. But the Bobcats have been perennial losers since they joined the league six years ago and in spite of a few talented players, are still boring and unprofitable.

So Jordan MUST have a plan.

Bob Johnson, the founder of BET and the man who has owned the Bobcats so far, wanted to unload the team largely because it has proven to be unpopular and unsuccessful and is costing him tens of millions of dollars. They are seemingly light years from being truly competitive and no one really cares about them. It makes me wonder what MJ sees in this team that made him so desperately want to own it. Is it just a toy to him? Is it his ego that's driving him? Given his history of front office decision making, it seems like he will hurt the team with poor choices. On the other hand, winning is always his top mantra so this may be just what the team needs to ascend to respectability.

Of course, MJ will need to be more hands on than he has been in Charlotte and several years ago when he was VP of basketball operations in Washington. But if anyone can defy the odds or conventional wisdom, it is certainly Michael Jordan.

Never count him out.

The Importance of Kobe v.s. LeBron

CLEVELAND -  Forget for a moment what last night's 93-87 Cleveland Cavaliers victory over the L.A. Lakers means for the rest of this season. Instead, consider what it means to have Kobe Bryant and LeBron James on the same court facing off as the iconic leaders of their contending teams.

In other words, be awestruck.

I was mesmerized watching these two basketball giants inflict their massive talents upon the game, which took place here in Cleveland at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs built on their Christmas Day victory, in which they trounced the Hollywood boys on their homecourt. Last night, Cleveland was without their number two star Mo Williams, whose injury will keep him sidelined for over a month. In spite of all that, the game never became a rout in either direction.

As Kobe came out firing -- and hitting, I shook my head because it's what the man has been doing for many years. His footwork was impeccable, and his focus was clearly evident. In contrast, LeBron seemed detached from the game and stayed essentially on the perimeter as he failed to capture a shooting rhythm early. By halftime, both Bryant and James had risen to the challenge and tallied 20 and 18 points, respectively.

Bryant, who became the youngest person in league history to score 25,000 points after hitting a foul shot in the 2nd quarter, has been heavily compared to NBA legend Michael Jordan his entire career. James has been compared to both Jordan and Magic Johnson ever since he joined the NBA in the fall of 2003. In both cases, the comparisons are actually spot on, which is astonishing but also pays tribute to the level of brilliance these young men possess.

Bryant v.s. James is destined to be a historical fascination. With such superlative reputations on the court, the matchup demands sky high ticket prices, hordes of media attention and transfixed eyes. Imagine an early 1980's era Michael Jackson on stage with a mid-1950's era Elvis Presley facing off. Imagine Muhammad Ali in the ring with Mike Tyson with both men in top form. Bryant is 31. James is 25. Their proficiency and relentlessness are powered by their surreal drive and focus, so watching them do battle should be treated as a magical occurrence. No other superstar in the game has that level of magnetism and talent. So when Bryant took the challenge of defending the much bigger James last night, it was a moment filled with drama. When LeBron revved his engines into fifth gear in the 4th quarter, it became must-see TV.

Bryant has four NBA championships. James has none, but will almost certainly win at least one in the next year or two. LeBron finished with 37 points, 9 assists and 5 rebounds last night. Kobe ended with 31 points. Let's pray that this matchup isn't finished for the year.

Kobe v.s. LeBron in the 2010 NBA Finals? Have mercy!

LeBron at 25: The World In His Palm

CLEVELAND - He went from being a national unknown when the decade began in 2000 to being a national phenomenon in 2002. A year later, he was one of the most amazing NBA rookies ever. And now? Well, let's just say that LeBron James is a man with such an amazing present, that his future is a guaranteed success.

No joke.

Today is LeBron's 25th birthday and also serves as sort of a benchmark in his meteoric rise to global icon. In his 7 years in the national spotlight, he has defied all expectations placed upon him as a prep school wunderkind. Then, he redefined the small forward position in pro basketball and created another layer to what a hoops megastar could be capable of. He's the first player in history to combine brute strength and bulldozing power with dizzying balance, athleticism and scintillating speed. He's also the first NBA player to possess the skill of scoring 30 points per game effortlessly without scoring being his number one talent. Indeed, what truly makes James a maestro on the hardwood is his indigenous and pinpoint playmaking. His command of the entire court is stunning when taken in tandem with his unstoppable offense.

And he's just 25!

LeBron's legend may have begun on the basketball court, but it certainly doesn't end there. He's positioned himself as a revolutionary businessman with several risky-but-informed decisions that have ultimately worked like a charm. As a product endorser, he insists on forming partnerships with corporations that he can immerse himself in and not just be a face selling a product. He wants a significant stake in these companies because it's his image that will augment profits, so why shouldn't he be more entrenched?

Undoubtedly, LeBron's affiliation and friendship with hip-hop legend cum tycoon Jay-Z has helped his business acumen and decision making. So too has his "friendship" with financial expert and billionaire Warren Buffet. Under the tutelage of such esteemed and savvy power brokers, how can one go wrong?

Especially when your own name is worth at least a billion dollars.

LeBron shares a birthday with golf legend Tiger Woods. But even though Woods is said to be the first athlete to amass a billion dollar fortune, James still has an edge. Not only is his reputation untainted (unlike Woods, who has experienced an enormous plunge in popularity in the past month after a salacious sex scandal broke), but basketball is a far more universally adored sport than golf. That means that LeBron will resonate with more people globally and bring them into his capitalistic world, fan or no fan. Woods has brought legions of people to golf, but at the end of the day...golf remains more hobby than sport for everyday people.

LeBron's much discussed free agency next summer will be yet another pivotal time in his awesome career. But whether he chooses to remain with the Cleveland Cavaliers or bolt to another team, LeBron James Inc. will continue to flourish with an unprecedented ferocity.

Happy Birthday, Mr. James.

Bryant v.s. James: The Ultimate Christmas Gift

CLEVELAND - With today being Christmas, I felt it fitting to remind the world to be grateful for the gifts we've been given all year. Loved ones. Health. Strength. But there's another gift that today will bring; Kobe Bryant and LeBron James will go head-to-head in Hollywood.

Merry Christmas.

Most pro hoops fans are keenly aware of the famous rivalry between these two brilliant athletes. Bryant is in his 14th NBA season and has amassed an awesome career highlighted by 4 NBA titles. James has only been around for half as long, but has possessed the best combination of size, speed and skill of anyone in the game for years. So today might be a Cleveland Cavaliers-L.A Lakers matchup, but the delicious star quality of Bryant and James is what's actually gift wrapped inside of it. LeBron is the reigning league MVP. Kobe is the reigning Finals MVP. Both men possess the ethereal powers to bend a game, series or season in their favor.

And we get to see the awesome performance front and center on television without the hassle of trillion dollar tickets and endless lines of people. Forget the Cavs' record. Forget the Lakers' record. This is sure to be a treat and should only be appreciated for what it is.

The greatest show on Earth.