Whenever you have a sport that rolls into its playoffs, you will always hear the banter about individual players and their greatness. It seems that the only thing that seems to count is the number of championships they have won.
At last check when commissioners David Stern, Gary Bettman, Roger Goddell and Bud Selig award the champions of their leagues, it’s always given to the team. Yes, there is a Most Valuable Player award, but the rings and the parades are for the team.
I bring this up because it appears that unless Lebron James is on a championship team then is all his greatness just a mirage? Too many times you hear the statement from media types, “Yeah, but how many rings does he have?” Perhaps the most asinine statement ever made.
In most cases, players have very little say so in the construction of their teams and coaches. They just play and play hard; after all, that is what is expected of them. Sometimes they win as a team and sometimes they lose as a team. In the end, it is still a team. Coaching is a key factor as well.
I often wonder why the media and others always hang the ring thing on a player as confirmation to their greatness. Lebron’s not great? Try guarding him, and let me know how that works out. Ernie Banks was not great? Get a two ball, one strike count on him and see how far he can hit it out of any ball park.
Weather Report
The Thunder versus the Heat in the NBA Finals. That is some serious weather when it comes to what this championship is all about. The two premiere players in the league with their teams playing for the NBA championship. What more could you ask for if the Lakers are not in it?
Kevin Durant and Lebron James are the future faces of the league. They both represent well on and off the court, they are signed to long-term deals and they have given new life to league for what they stand for, on and off the court.
Must-watch TV, for sure.
But turn the sound down and try ESPN radio. No one is better than Dr. Jack Ramsey.
Fight fix?
For all the chumps who continue to support the boxing industry by buying pay per-view-events, when will you learn? Being had again by the Timothy Bradley vs. Manny Pacquiao fight should teach you a lesson. You are out of $69.95, some beer and that dish for the viewing party.
When one of the biggest culprits in promoter Bob Arum says someone should investigate, that should tell you all you need to know. Arum says the government should be involved. Sorry, Bob, but there are more pressing things the government should focus on.
Lesson learned? Probably not.
Spare me with the talk that this opens the door for MMA to move in. Fight fans will shy away from something they can see on any parking lot at various drinking establishments at closing time.
Legend lost
Olympic boxing champion Teofilo Stevenson passed this week. An international legend, Stevenson won four Gold medals as a heavyweight boxer. His chiseled look and devastating right hand was one that put many to sleep. Stevenson turned down offers to leave Cuba to fight as a professional as many thought he would be a great rival for Ali or Foreman. He chose life on the island and was hailed as an icon. Stevenson, according to reports, passed of a heart attack at the young age of 60.
Racism abroad
Racism is alive and well in the sport of soccer. You know, the sport that the rest of the world plays. Soccer hooligans make street gangs here look like Cub Scouts. Players, referees and fans not only fear for their safety but also their lives.
Players of color are regularly taunted by fans who do everything from throw bananas on the field to make the sounds of monkeys when a black player gets near the ball. Hard to believe in 2012.
Games have been suspended, fans have been ejected and teams have been fined – in many cases to no avail, as it now seems to incite other cities and countries to do it more.
I have found it surprising that with all of the passion that is shown for soccer in the U.S. and how some nearly genuflect at the greatness of European soccer, that lovers or experts ever utter a word about this travesty.
So the next time you see the ESPN highlights that show a great goal, ask yourself how many people of color on that play were insulted by the mental midgets we call racist?
