LeBron James "the next Michael Jordan" was the title he was given.  Ha!  Not even close.  As I scrolled through my sports news this morning I got bombarded by the Orlando Magic's success at beating Cleveland to move on to the N.B.A. Finals.  I must let readers know the only basketball I follow anymore is my beloved Texas Longhorns and that is about it.  I grew up playing basketball as a hobby.  Got to play a little in high school while living in Illinois, but since I was looking at swimming in college I never really got into it.  When I moved I quit playing and concentrated on swimming, but still watched on t.v. and played pick up all summer long.  The park was a short walk and I would start shooting around by myself until everyone else showed up.  We would all play until exhausted.  Turning the car lights on when it got dark and rotating out when we lost.  At least 20 people hung around waiting for "next" and having a great time.  Once the great Alex English came by and that is a summer none of us forgot.  That was a time that the poor Nuggets, but still my favorite team didn't stand a prayer.  Why.  Look at what teams were playing against.  Jordan, Magic, Bird, Kareem, the list goes on and on.  One name defined a team.  Yes, they had tremendous players behind them, but you only had to say one thing.  We all envied Bird's shooting, Magic's magic with the ball period.  Kareem's skyhook, and of course "like Mike, if I could be like Mike".  Those of you that were kids on the court thought about those jams.  That song was playing in your head as you managed to get by one of the older guys and put in a lay-up.  And the blisters on your hands by grabbing the rim and trying to dunk like the pro's.  Ball handeling, passing, shooting the long jumper we all tried to excell at.  Those who missed a free throw were picked on continually, it could lead to sitting in the grass watching instead of playing.  But as I aged my love for basketball decreased dramatically.  I could not stomach the new rules, the attitudes of the players, and the seeming lost art of playing the game.

This morning reading my news reports the main article was how LeBron James was furious about losing, again.  He apparently was so upset he didn't shake hands, just left the court and off to the locker room.  He changed, not talking to the media, his mom, or anyone else and onto the bus.  Nice, hey dude we pay your salary and you play a game for us.  The hype around this player was enormous, even I heard about it.  The next Jordan, please he can't even hold his shoes.

And speaking of shoes, even Nike jumped on this bandwagon.  Well go figure that, the company named for victory is trying to do just that.  Win the shoe battle.  I don't currently own a pair of 'James', but I do have a pair of 'Jordans'.  Every effort imaginable was tried to turn Mr. James into M.J.  The attempts at copying those wonderful images of Jordan flying through the air.  Too bad they are no where near dramatic as the original air walker. 

While reading about this temper tantrum I tried to stay reasonable, who am I to judge him.  But then I started thinking, this is why I don't watch anymore.  The ego's, gang signs, stupid tattoo's that are mostly for show, (Thanks Rodman!) without any meaning behind them at all.  The lack of passing, the long jumper, the fade away, the 3, and of course the laughable freethrow percentage among the league.  These were required skills just to make a j.v. team when I was playing.  Why watch people throw the ball back and forth and stand under the goal, and what's even better, they miss the dang layup!  What's this 3 step rule or is it 3.5?  I watch pivot feet change and the refs don't call.  Am I the only one that remembers we would be called for carrying if we tried what these players are doing?  I haven't seen a game for awhile but is that still called.  Traveling?  I have been catching up on some clips to see the new great one play.  Actually I hate that phrase because the only great one is the GREAT Wayne Gretsky!  He pales in comparison to Jordan, who by the way won 6, (count them 6) titles.  LeBron the big goose egg.  The complaint about lack of team behind him, what does Kobe have?  I really don't know but it's not like Pippen and crew were all the time there for Jordan.  The talk of leaving to get a championship!  That's worked out well for so many players hasn't it?  Check out the N.Y. Yankees!  Maybe he should go join Kobe and gang in L.A.  Apparently the Denver Nuggets had a great season, try the high altitude.  Instead of a LeBron vs. Kobe match-up, that maybe could have been hyped like say Bird vs. Magic!  Now that was a Lakers/Boston match-up that everyone watched.  Will I be watching the Finals, probably not.  Those evil Russian Wings are playing another "next" in Crosby and the Penquins.  After that sports is over for me except for the Rangers and Cubs games, then waiting for my Broncos to have another pathetic season.  If only there was a next Elway for us, but oh well.  One thing is for certain, LeBron has neither the skill, apparently the work effort, nor the presence in the locker room or on the floor that Jordan did.  Would I have like to see Jordan in his prime vs. LeBron?  No, because it wouldn't have even been a game.  LeBron must pick up his game if he ever wants a photograph coping this scene.