On the Eve of Game 7

Ah, Game 7’s. You gotta love ‘em. Game 7’s separate the men from the boys, the champions from the chumps, the contenders from the pretenders. But enough with the tired out clichés and unnecessary hype, how do game 7’s manifest in the first place?

Well, in the case of Kobe and the Lakers, they come from an inability to close out the Yao-less and McGrady-less Houston Rockets squad who in games 5 and 6 started nobody over 6’9". That towering 6-foot, 9-inch power forward? LUIS FREAKIN’ SCOLA!!! Never mind the fact two of the main six players in Houston’s rotation sport a fauxhawk, the Rockets are becoming the George Mason of the NBA playoffs.

Two of their best three players, out. A coach who Phil Jackson completely owns in the playoffs (Rick Adelman, see: Lakers-Kings) manning the Rockets sidelines. A center in Chuck Hayes, who … it’s CHUCK HAYES!!! You couldn’t ask for a better situation for the Lakers to inherit. Yet, with each eye-opening, double-digit win, comes an equally eye-opening, double-digit loss. Certainly not what the doctor ordered. Trust me, I’m a doctor.

I wrote a piece about the LeBron James era a few days ago and received a mixed response. An argument on whose decade it actually is enthusiastically ensued. Predictably, Kobe Bryant activists leaned on his three rings – from a prior generation and with Shaq, I might add – to defend the Kobe era. (I’ve seem to have misplaced Kobe’s 3 air ball game up in Utah, can anyone remind me where I put it?)

It goes without saying, Kobe is a great player, probably one of the 10 best to ever strap on a pair of sneakers, but his uncanny ability to hoist bad shots in the blink of an eye is problematic. His uncanny ability to alienate his teammates is unrivaled. Simply put, Kobe is probably the least liked superstar in the league, amongst his teammates.

(If you think about it, you hear stuff like this all the time, “older player X is past their prime and is willing to take less money to play with LeBron.” Need I mind you, LeBron James plays basketball in Cleveland? Cleveland, people! Who wants to go to a town with the Browns and the Indians as their beloved sports franchises and Drew Carey as their public representative? Yet, I continuously hear aging veterans want to go there to play alongside this Jordan like phenom known as LeBron James. I have yet to hear a story about someone taking a pay cut to play alongside Kobe Bryant in LA, besides Derek Fisher, who already had a tie to the organization from the 3-peat days in purple-and-gold. And it’s FREAKIN Los Angeles!!!)

Just by watching telecasts of Cavaliers games LeBron is either an excellent teammate, or an Academy Award worthy actor. There’s no denying the players on this Cavaliers team thoroughly enjoy playing alongside the King (even if it means less touches for them). The goofy picture-taking before games, the dancing around on the bench during games, the genuine affection LeBron shows these guys is awe-inspiring. And what’s even better is it doesn’t seem to be forced.

Think of all the starting/rotation guys on this current Cleveland squad. Ben Wallace, Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak (had to Google the spelling of that one), Joe Smith, Daniel Gibson, Zydrunas Ilgauskas (another Googling), Anderson Varejao. Not exactly the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls. Yet, LeBron has made these guys relevant and has transformed a team full of outcasts into contenders. I mean, who’s stopping Varejao from becoming just another Vlade Divic? Who’s stopping Wally from becoming another Eric Piatkowski (I actually spelled that right on the first try, believe it!)? Who’s stopping Ben Wallace from decomposing into an older Kwame Brown?

LeBron James, that’s who.

If you look at the box scores from the games these two superduperstars had in Madison Square Garden earlier this year you’ll see my point:

Kobe Bryant: 61 points, 3 assists, 0 rebounds
LeBron James: 52 points, 11 Assists, 9 rebounds

Sure, both teams came out victorious (they were playing the Knicks, need I remind you) but which box score (note, I said “box score” stands out more)? Sure, 61 points is one hell of an accomplishment, but basketball is a TEAM sport, it’s not tennis or golf. I’ll take the accumulative total of assists and rebounds over an excess amount of points any day. You think Kobe was looking to find Luke Walton in the corner for a wide-open 3? You think he was willing to kick it back out to Sasha Vujacic for a 13-footer from the baseline? You think Kobe applauded when Trevor Ariza pulled up from the free throw line and drained a 15-footer? Call me crazy but I think Kobe was more aware of Spike Lee in the front row than Lamar Odom or Derek Fisher on the court.

Live from Madison Square Garden, iiiiiiit’s Kobe Doin’ Work!

In the end, #24 has the better surrounding cast. He has a big, mobile and somewhat tough post player in Pau Gasol who he can dump it down to at any given time and two versatile, lengthy, athletic, somewhat agile swingmen in Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum. He has the highly-decorated Zen Master sitting on the bench calling – well, presumably – plays from the bench. And the X-Factor in all this? Jack Nicholson sitting courtside!

LeBron is trotting out there night in and night out with Wally, Wallace, Williams, Ilgauskas, Varejao and Joe Smith. If this is what the MVP is doing with this less-than-superb Cavaliers cast, just imagine what he’d be doing with the 2008-09 Lakers squad. Yet, despite the lack of talent on the court, he’s making them all better, not because he’s filming the new ESPN documentary “LeBron Doin’ Work” but because he genuinely wants them to have a ring just as much, if not more, than he does. He wants Cleveland to have a ring. He wants to put an end to the misery in C-Town. He’s made basketball relevant in Cleveland and you can tell he desperately wants to keep it that way. With each passing day the 2010 LeBron Sweepstakes looks more and more sealed and delivered.

On the other hand, you think Kobe wants to win a ring for Los Angeles? For the Lakers? Let me provide this stat: Kobe with Shaq in LA: 3 rings. Shaq without Kobe in Miami: 1. Kobe without Shaq in LA: 0. You don’t think that very stat wares on Kobe’s mind night in and night out? I can guarantee you Kobe’s not concerned about getting DJ Mbenga or Shannon Brown to call their own. Kobe Bryant wants a ring for Kobe Bryant and nobody else.

Which brings me to this upcoming do-or-die game 7. If the Lakers somehow lose tomorrow it’s going to be the biggest choke since, well, last summer when the Celtics erased a seemingly insurmountable lead (in LA) to take the series lead 3-1. My thing is, if you replaced 2009 Kobe with 2009 LeBron you think the Lakers would be heading back to LA for a game 7? You think LeBron lets his team lose to a Houston team with Chuck Hayes as their center and Luis Scola as their power forward regardless of where the game is played? For some reason I don’t think the King would let that happen.

You saw what he did to a worn-down and old Pistons squad as well as an under matched and injured Hawks team. He dismembered them. He didn’t give them a swinger’s chance to snatch a game from his team. He didn’t allow his team to lose on a fluke call or a lucky shot. He knew the other team was weak and he capitalized on it. Watching the first two rounds of the Cavs’ 2009 campaign was like watching Liam Neeson terrorize his way through Paris in “Taken.” It simply wasn’t fair.

Isn’t that what superstars are supposed to do against inferior talent? Aren’t they supposed to wipe them off the court and make them sorry for even stepping into the arena? That’s exactly what LeBron and Co. did. Eight games, eight wins. All by double-digits.

On the other hand, the Houston Rockets come into Staples with a swinger’s chance. They have the nobody-believes-in-us card on their side as well as the accomplishment of winning in that building not more than two weeks ago in their pocket – with Yao Ming, mind you.

LeBron James and Kobe Bryant are hungry. Actually, hungry doesn’t accurately describe their thirst for a title. They’re starving for a title. Yet, with a looming game 7 in Los Angeles, while #24 preps for this possibly legacy-changing game, LeBron James is sitting comfortably at home waiting for it all to unfold.

Who knows, maybe he’s even watching “Kobe Doin' Work.”

"Witness"ing History

I know this is going to sound like basketball blasphemy but ... ummm ... uhhh ... I don't really remember the Jordan Era. Well, besides his Academy Award worthy performance alongside Larry Bird, Larry Johnson, Charles Barkley, Muggsy Bogues, Shawn Bradley and Bugs Bunny in "Space Jam."

(Allowing time for the 'Boos' to die down and the tomatoes to whizz by my head. OK, I get it. No, really I get it.)

I guess that previous statement isn't completely true. I remember the infamous Salt Lake City Dagger over Bryon Russell, but that's about it. At age 20 going on 21, I feel like I was robbed of one of the purest, more exciting eras in sports history.

But hey, there's no use crying over spilled milk right? Especially when I'm currently knee-deep in the LeBron James Era.

Looking back, I don't think there was ever a cemented era in my lifetime. I don't think there was a Kobe Bryant Era, a Shaquille O'Neal Era, a Tim Duncan Era or even an Allen Iverson Era to bridge the gap between the Jordan Era and the current LeBron Era. I was old enough to remember the Lakers' reign on top back in the early 2000s and remember that Kobe and O'Neal were unworldly together. Like peanut butter and jelly. You couldn't have one without the other. And that's the reason why I don't think either claimed the era as their own. They were a two-headed monster destroying everything in sight (mainly, the Kings' window of opportunity), yet Shaq and Kobe will always be remembered for what they accomplished together. But is that necessarily a bad thing? Hardly.

We'll always remember that Lakers squad for the three-peat and the incredible dynamic between its two superstars. They carried the sport coming off one of the most exciting decades in NBA history. Their domination speaks in volumes to their unworldly skill and competitive fire. To this day, I still believe the Kobe-Shaq Alley-Oop vs. the Blazers is the single greatest sports highlight ever.

(Quick Tangent: Some of the other best sports highlights of my time: Tiger's improbable chip-in at The Masters in 2005 and ensuing fist pump. Tiger's slithery birdie putt on 18 to tie Rocco Mediate at Torrey Pines in the 2008 U.S. Open and ensuing DOUBLE-FISTED fist pump. Rocco Mediate's reaction to Tiger's birdie putt. Mark McGwire's record-breaking 62nd home run in 1998. Rafael Palmeiro pointing at congress vehemently denying ever using steroids in 2005. Baron Davis posterizing Andrea Kirilenko in the 2007 NBA playoffs. Kevin Garnett's "ANYTHING IS POSSIBLLLLLLLE" exclamation after winning the 2008 NBA Finals. Vince Carter's dunk over 7-footer, Frenchman Frederic Weis in the 2000 summer Olympics in Sydney ."The Helmet Catch." Brady Quinn sitting alone in the green room at the 2007 NFL Draft. Michael Crabtree's reaction when Darius Heyward-Bey was taken by the Oakland Raiders at number 7 in the 2008 Draft.)

Still, during the early 00's you couldn't separate the two, no matter how hard you tried. When you talked about the Lakers - or basketball in general - you talked about Shaq AND Kobe. It was never one or the other. In a sense, they were like Mary Kate and Ashley Olson. They were dynamo together yet their mystique vanished a little bit when they were mentioned apart. In La-La Land it got to a certain point where both names effortlessly meshed together to form one long alias, like Bennifer or Brangelina, as it became almost ludicrous to say one without the other.

(Quick Tangent 2: Other inseparable pairings during their respective primes: Spencer and Heidi. Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Carson Daly and TRL. Eminem and Dr. Dre. Will Smith and Carlton Banks. Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff. Eric Forman and Donna Pinciotti. Will Ferrel and John C. Reilly. Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino.)

Tim Duncan on the other hand is a different case. Tim Duncan is a sure shot Hall-of-Famer with the hardware (four rings) and accolades (Rookie of the Year 1998, 2-time NBA MVP, 3-time NBA Finals MVP, 11-time all-star) to prove it. He too came up during the post-Jordan Era and succeeded.

Paired with David Robinson in 1998 the Spurs had all the makings of an up-and-coming dynasty (which in hindsight proved to be true: four titles in eight years) and Duncan had all the makings of an era-defining superstar. However, as time passed Duncan adopted the Tiger Woods mentality towards the media, Just Answer The Question. Trying to get some personality out of Timmy was like pulling teeth. Timmy had the polished skills to go head-to-head with any superstar of his generation, yet he lacked a certain "it" factor that would've elevated him to a whole 'nother level. Superduperstardom. He didn't have Shaq's flamboyant personality or Kobe's youthful charisma or Iverson's outspoken opinions ("PRACTICE?!?!?").

(This is why this clip is such a trip and so fun to watch.)

There's no doubt, Tim Duncan will go down as one of the top 25 players ever to play in the game of basketball, but his era - much like his personality - will be remembered quietly.

Enter King James.

I still remember being on a family trip in Reno and watching one of his televised high school games (back when high school basketball games weren't normally televised). At the time I wasn't thinking much of it; a freakish athlete playing against high school scrubs, big cahoot. Looking back in hindsight LeBron James was much more than an up-and-coming superstar.

He, was the era defining superstar the NBA desperately needed. During and after the Shaq trade, the media religiously dubbed Kobe Bryant as the next Michael Jordan. The parallels between the two were rounding into shape but the comparison never seemed to stick. It goes without saying, Kobe Bryant was hell bent on being the first Kobe Bryant rather than the second Michael Jordan. Instead of assuming the role of Jordan 2.0 Kobe separated himself from the notion and the comparisons were kaput.

(Quick Tangent 3: With the hip-hop industry turning to a younger nucleus of fresh faces here are a few of "The Nexts": Charles Hamilton - The Next Kanye West. B.o.B. - The Next Andre 3000. Asher Roth - The Next Eminem. Drake - The Next Lil Wayne. Lupe Fiasco - The Next Jay-Z. Ne-Yo - The Next Brian McKnight. Keyshia Cole - The Next Mary J. Blige. Keri Hilson - The Next Toni Braxton.)

When LeBron entered the league in 2003 the expectations seemed insurmountable. Not even Michael Jordan faced this much limelight in his rookie campaign. The era was desperate for fresh face. In the 2003-2004 season Kobe had Shaq were playing for an unprecedented 4-peat, Kevin Garnett was finally getting his shot at a title, and we got our first glimpse of "The Next Jordan."

Over the last six years, we've already seen LeBron hit full Jordan mode (2007 Eastern Conference Playoffs vs. the Pistons) and something tells me, his best is yet to come. His physical presence can only be compared to that of an in-shape Shaq and his athleticism is off the charts. I remember watching his 48-point coming out party against the Pistons at a friend's house. We sat there in complete disbelief, instinctively realizing we was watching something special. I finally had my first real basketball memory. Something to tell my grandkids about.

Two seasons full of thousands of highlight dunks and dozes of awe-inspiring shots later, the NBA finally has an era to hang its hat on. The LeBron Era.

Seeing LeBron in these playoffs has only added to his ceiling. I remember predicting two things about King James about three years into his still-budding career: 1. he was going to average a triple-double over the course of one season and 2. he was going to be the best NBA player in history. Yep, history. Was that second predication premature? Of course. Was it considered basketball nonsense at the time? No doubt. But was I that far off? I don't think so.

Michael Jordan won his first title in his seventh year in the league, LeBron looks like he's going to win his first in his sixth. Jordan won his first MVP in his fourth year, LeBron just won his first in his sixth (becoming the youngest player to win the award in the process, by the way). All I'm saying is he's getting there. Quickly.

More important than all the accolades and praise, is the inner fire needed to compete at the highest level each and every game. LeBron is channeling his inner MJ with every playoff game. He senses it. He can taste it. His fire may not burn as fiercely as Jordan's did but it's pretty damn close. He makes the game look so easy. For instance, in game 2 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals, with the clock running down in the first half LeBron dribbled the ball across half-court, did a little step back and heaved the ball from 40-feet. Swoosh. Heaved is actually the wrong word. He didn't "heave" the ball, he shot it. Beautifully. Just like he was shooting it from 10 feet. In form. Elbow above the knee. 40-footer, nothing but net. I mean, Wow.

Though I may not have been around to see Jordan's 63 point explosion in the Boston Garden, or "The Shot," or his famous dunk on Patrick Ewing, who knows what highlights the King has in store for us Generation Y'ers. Stay tuned.

Who knows, we may even get a "Space Jam 2" out of it.

Fallen Angels

What's wrong with the Angels?

Currently sitting in a tie for 3rd place in the down American League West (10-13), trailing Seattle by 4.5 games, the blaring question in Anahe -- oops -- Los Angeles is, "What's wrong with the Halos?"

Ever since the Angels won their first World Series in 2002, rising expectations have rode this franchise like they were the Chicago Cubs or something.

The majestic, where-in-the-hell-did-this-come-from 2002 season featured an Angels squad full of no-name, home-grown, possibly-good-but-possibly-just-as-bad, up-and-coming players, tenured Angels who had gone through years of cellar-dwelling, and wily veterans who knew this was their only shot to win a World Series. (There we're obviously too many hyphens in that last sentence, let me take a moment to rest.)

Come to think of it, the 2002 Angels resembled Charlie Sheen's Cleveland Indians in "Major League." There wasn't one superstar in the bunch, yet the Halos were able to out duel the loaded - pun intended - San Francisco Barry Bonds' in seven games.

Though the Angels won the championship that year, Barry Bonds was the star of that World Series hitting tape-measure shot after tape-measure shot.

(In fact, a couple weeks ago my family and I tried to list all the players from that 2002 World Series roster. We we're only able to name about 15 out of a 40 man roster.)

Over the years, we've began to change our identity. With the additions of Vladimir Guerrero, Torii Hunter, and most recently Bobby Abreu, the Angels have shredded the no-name, built-from-the-ground-up cast. Unfortunately, it hasn't exactly led to playoff success on the diamond.

Sure we've won an average of 91 games over the last six years, but our playoff history goes as follows:
2003: missed playoffs.
2004: ALDS (lost to the Red Sox, 3-0)
2005: ALCS (beat the Yankees, 3-2; lost to the White Sox, 4-1)
2006: missed playoffs.
2007: ALDS (lost to the Red Sox, 3-0)
2008: ALDS (lost to the Red Sox, 3-1)

Granted making the playoffs for some teams is an accomplishment in itself, but for an Angels team that annually ranks in the top 10 in Major League Baseball in total team salary, a one-and-done season is an unfulfilled season.

And due to our recent inability to make it out of the ALDS these last two years (damn Red Sox) the Angels have tried to beef up their lineup and bullpen by making a splash in the free-agent market. Though the Angels have had some successful acquisitions over the years (See: Vladimir Guerrero, Torii Hunter, Orlando Cabrera, Mark Teixiera) the Halos have seen their fair share of free-agent busts (See: Bartolo Colon, Gary Matthews Jr., Juan Rivera)

The signings, sprinkled in with home-grown talent (See: Chone Figgins, Mike Napoli, John Lackey, Howie Kendrick) have continuously put the Angels in the running for the World Series each year. I can't count the number of times Sports Illustrated has picked us to win the World Series (SI jinx, anyone?).

What's intriguing about the Angels is their well-documented ability to play "small-ball." What's lost in all this admiration of "small-ball" is the popular saying "chicks dig the long ball." Throughout his seasons in Anaheim, Vladimir Guerrero has been the only serious Angels threat to hit the ball into the ozone layer with every swing of the bat.

There's something about a Guerrero at-bat that fills Angel Stadium with pure electricity. The anticipation of a 450-foot bomb is not only felt in the stands, it's felt on the field. This intimidation have worked in Vladdy's favor over the years as he's compiled 159 dingers over his six-year tenure in Anaheim and 393 longballs in his 14-year career.

So with all this said, what is wrong with the 2002 World Series Champs?

1. The Nick Adenhart Tragedy. If the Angels bounce back and end up winning the American League West it'll be a miracle to say the least. The emotional strength it takes to play through such a devastating, devastating tradegy is God-like. Had the Angels decided to mail it in for the year, I don't think anyone would've blamed them. This tragedy will resonate with the Angels' family forever.

2. The relief pitching is horrendous. Actually, horrendous doesn't accurately describe it. Godawful, appalling, nauseating, these words more accurately describe the current bullpen situation. What's even more dumbfounding is the fact the Angels have consistently had one of the best bullpens in the majors. This season is a completely different story. Our two most reliabe relievers have baffled me to no end:

Scot Shields - one of the three remaining 2002 World Series Champion players - has looked out of funk all season. Maybe the deal he made with the devil to develop a rubber arm expired this year (he once threw 262 pitches in defeat during a college game - the reason for his number 62) and now we're seeing the real Scot Shields. Known for having one of the deadliest curveballs in the big, the ol' 12-6 isn't looking too good so far. I mean, unless we're playing slow pitch softball now and I just didn't get the memo.

Jose Arrendondo - who I prematurely anointed as the next prolific Angels closer - isn't looking up-to-snub either with a 6.55 ERA in 11 innings pitched this year. I saw all the closer potential in the world in this kid last year. Head-turning stuff, an undeniable swagger and a puzzling mystique combined to remind me of the artist formerly known as Francisco Rodriquez.

During this time period I even went as far to say we didn't need to sign a closer this off-season because Arrendondo would slide right in to K-Rod's vacated spot. Silly me.

3. Effective money management. Are we sure Gary Matthews Jr. isn't a distant relative of Bernie Madoff? Can we get a DNA test to prove that he's not?

We signed "Sarge Jr." in 2007 and have been wishing Dr. Emmett Brown would show up in the Delorean ever since. We signed Matthews after he had a breakout (better known as a "contract") year - with the Texas Rangers in 2006. Like many ballclubs do, the Angels ignored Matthews' complete body of work (average season pre-2006: .260/8/33) and decided to sign him based off his inflated "contract" year numbers (2006: .313/19/79). If you become the owner of a major league baseball team: DON'T DO THAT!!!

In '07 Matthews followed up his breakout/"contract" year by hitting an abysmal .252 and just when you thought it couldn't get worse, he followed up that less-than-impressive year with an even worse .242 average. Since '07 the Angels have poured over $30 million into this guy and his contract still has TWO MORE YEARS AND MILLIONS MORE DOLLARS ON IT!!! Arrrrrrrgh!

I mean, you know your signing was a mistake when two years into your five-year, multi-million dollar contract the Angels acquire someone else who plays your exact position and they're willing to pay him and play him more.

The same goes for Juan Rivera too.

So you're telling me this summer we decided to invest our money into a mediocre outfielder who's never hit more than 23 homers in a year and has had a history of injuries instead of chasing one of the greatest right-handed batters of all time? Did we at least get some free balls in the deal?

You can't tell me signing Manny Ramirez wouldn't have re-energized the Angels faithful. And all this talk about Manny possibly not being happy in Anaheim ... we're right next to Disneyland for God's sake! The Happiest Place on Earth! How could Manram not enjoy living next to Disneyland for two to three years?

Instead, he's hitting dingers for our hated crosstown rival and we're left with Juan Rivera (a fourth outfield, at best) hitting .200 for three years. Grrrrrreat.

You wanna talk about wasted money, you got to mention Kelvim Escobar. His 101-90 career record and 4.15 career ERA is less than steller yet we're paying him like he's post-glasses Ricky Vaughn. Better yet, we payed him $9.5 million last year to ride the pine with a bum shoulder. His reward? Another $10 million this season to pitch against Single-A, Double-A and Triple-A kids all season. Gotta love this damn country!

Justin Speier. For all of you who don't know who Speier is, there's good reason. This guy is making $4.75 million this year to place the ball delicately on a tee for every batter he faces. Putting this guy in the game for relief is equivalent to waving the white flag in the battlefield. We've admitted defeat, just please try and keep the damage to a minimum.

So what's wrong with the Angels?

It could be the tragic events of April 9, 2009 or the continuous struggle of the usually-trustworthy bullpen or the vital miscalculations of money management. Whatever it is, it better get fixed - fast.

Or else, we're going to turn into Cubs fans. And we've only been waiting seven years.