That Shit Cray

LeBron James has quite the documented history of rapping, so when I clicked this video of him mouthing "N*ggas In Paris" I thought I was in for another one of his typical lip syncing charades. WRONG. This is arguably the most bad ass basketball video I've ever seen. Apparently it was from one of James' lockout All-Star games last summer and the video starts with Bron singing his boy Hova's single while someone shoots a free throw.  Afterwards, the ball is in-bounded to James, who then takes two nonchalant dribbles before sinking a 50+ foot jump shot from behind the half court line that swishes at the buzzer. It wasn't a heave, it wasn't a chuck, it was a pull up J. FROM HALF COURT! Take that Skip Bayless. Clutch gene like a MF'er.

-fresh (@danye33)

It Took More Than The Big Three For LeBron To Get #1

The “A” story of the 2012 NBA Finals is obvious: Lebron James won his first NBA Championship. Today, billions of words will be written about things like exoneration, retribution, and legacy regarding King James. However, anyone with a macro-perspective on LBJ and the sports media as a whole knows it’s going to take more than one successful trip to the Promised Land for Lebron to cement his place in history and achieve his highest goals as a professional. After all, it was James himself who told us “…not 5, not 6, not 7….”, and understandably so for an individual who could be regarded as the most genetically gifted athlete in American sports history.

When I watched The Miami Heat dismantle the precocious Oklahoma City Thunder this past week, I was honestly bored by the idea that Lebron was winning his first title. In all honesty, did any person realistically think that he was going to finish his NBA career without a title? After the game, Lebron himself said it best: "It's about damn time." He was clearly the best player in the NBA this season, the best player in these NBA playoffs, and no one was surprised when he was named Finals MVP. Lebron finally played like Lebron, which is why everyone got on his case in the first place. People just want to see greatness when it matters, and Lebron finally gave the people what they wanted. 

The strongest and simultaneously most endearing narrative that jumped out to me was that The Miami Heat played like a championship team. Their dominance wasn't just a result of Lebron's greatness, his BFF D.Wade (the Scottie to Lebron's Michael), or the overlooked and often awkward Chris Bosh. It was about all of the things that Miami lacked a year ago: chemistry, camaraderie, confidence in each other, and unmatched will to win. For players like Mike Miller and Shane Battier, it was about compartmentalizing the pain of plaguing injuries and nearly two dozen combined seasons ending in disappointment, knocking down clutch 3 after clutch 3 (after clutch 3, after clutch 3....), and playing relentless defense against a group with twice their athletic ability. For younger players like Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole, it was about combining their youthful exuberance with the pervasive maturity they seemed to draw from their veteran teammates. Even the much-maligned Coach Spo carried himself with a certain patience and quiet distinction, something he acknowledged as being a result of the turbulent 2011 season.

There was no "Big 3". There weren't those tentative moments between James and Wade where they couldn't decide whose turn it was to make a play. It didn't matter which line-up was on the floor (Bosh played center basically the entire series), they played as a unit. It didn't matter who had the ball in their hands, they were all aggressive and fearless. It didn't matter who the open shooter was, they all caught and shot with confidence and weren't surprised when the 3's continued to fall. 

At one point, my roommate noted that this 2012 Miami Heat team was displaying the same will and desire to win that the 2011 Dallas Mavericks channeled just 12 months ago. I regarded it as "The Look Of A Team Whose Wives and Children Would Be Shot If They Lost This Game” (Ed. Note: I’m calling this the “Chris Benoit look”). An intense metaphor, but it's the most poignant way I could describe a group of men who would not let ANYTHING stand in the way of their common goal. It evoked the spirit of Rudy Tomjanovich's famous line "Never underestimate the heart of a champion." It no longer felt like The Team That Free Agency Built. Every guy on that roster earned their ring, and the right to be called an NBA champion. Except Eddy Curry. 

- J Fonts

The First Kevin

As humans, we have this strange, inherited obsession with comparing new things in life, to things that we already know and are familiar with.  We’re always looking for that next person, band or political leader to come along that reminds of us whatever various person, band or political leader we’ve attached ourselves to in the past. In no case has this been more clear than in the witch hunt to crown the next Michael Jordan.

Before Michael’s career was even over, America had already begun it’s crusade to crown an identical successor to His Airness. First there was Allen Iverson, than there was Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and most recently, LeBron James. And though all had moments (prolonged in some cases) of greatness, ultimately, all fell short of achieving MJ’s legacy. How do you emulate a transcendent man? You can’t.

With the bar set that high, failure is the only option. So when you start off comparing these young superstars to Michael Jordan right off the bat, it’s like playing a game of craps with a pair of loaded dice. You’re not going to win.

The latest player to get his name thrown into the ring of fire that is the MJ comparison is Kevin Durant, the 23 year old forward for the Oklahoma City Thunder.  The 6’10” “small forward” can cover opponents centers, or bring the ball up the court. There is no stopping him.  In just five years in the league, Durant has already won the Rookie of the Year award, led the league in scoring three times, made the first team All-NBA roster three times and has now led his franchise to their first Finals appearance in over fifteen years. Before that, he was the first player to win the Naismith Award, college basketball's highest honor, and was drafted second overall in the 2007 Draft. Jordan went third in ’84.

The Durantula has already solidified himself in the NBA circles as the poster child for everything that is right with the league. He announced his re-signing with the small market Thunder humbly via Twitter. He toured the country, dominating street ball games while the rest of his colleagues played videogames and moped about the lockout. He never criticizes teammates, officials or opponents. He takes, and makes, the last shot, then goes over to hug his mother. He’s the guy fathers want their daughters to date. In 2012, he is basketball.

To compare this young man to anyone is not only unnecessary, but it’s also unfair. The ink from the first chapter of Durant’s basketball story hasn't even dried yet, and when it’s all said and done, you can bet on it being a bestseller.

So would I say he’s the next Jordan? Not in a million years. He’s the first Kevin, and that’s exactly the way it should be.

-fresh (@danye33)