“To be successful you have to be selfish, or else you never achieve.” Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan has had the greatest impact on the game of basketball since I began watching (1970s) - a remarkable talent and a legacy of championships. His sense of the basket and his knack for game winning shots has inspired the armchair and professional athletes like nobody else. Who, under the age of 40, has not wanted to be like Mike – at least a little?
But there are two Mikes. There is the incredibly talented “on court Mike” who managed six championships and completely dominated the sport at the end of his career. And there is the “off court Mike” – the commercial Mike - who smiled that insincere smile at every turn and demanded that the “Jordan rules” open every door and pick up every check.
Although us armchair athletes desperately covet his six championship rings and the glory that accompanies being “the man” on the court, the real athletes desire the off court Mike – the commercial Mike – the fake Mike – the rich and famous Mike. After all, it is much easier for them to achieve.
When Kobe entered the league I could not believe how much he was like Mike. The potential of his talent was obvious but what stunned me more was how much he seemed to be imitating the commercial Mike. Kobe took on Mike’s smile and mannerisms like a master mime. But he is not the only one. LeBron, Dwayne, Tracey, ‘Melo’ - and now Ron.
"Here I don't think I'm going to have a chance to maximize my opportunity for my potential," Ron said. "When I first got here, all I wanted to do was play defense. I never really cared about offense, but what I see is players like Kobe, Tracy, Arenas and Jermaine getting the opportunity to maximize their potential on the court and to get paid.”
With a perennial malcontent like Ron Artest it can be difficult to understand his moods and motives but this much is obvious – he just wants to be like Mike – the commercial Mike that is.
What Ron wants is a trade.............Ron doesn't like coach C...............The Bulls drafted Ron and didn't keep him also Elton Brand. The Knicks will take either or both if their current teams don't want them.
Last edited by Metswon on December 11th at 10:33 AM.
All that is missing from the picture is a cigar and a bad swing (golf club or baseball bat - take your pick) and he's got commercial mike's look down pat.
I'm with you on this. While I think a few of these players like Kobe and Artest play for the competition and respect, they seem to have no passion for the game itself. They have a passion to prove themselves and to earn respect, but where is the love of the game? It seems they are like a child prodigy that is trained from an early age to be the best, but not knowing why they play. Nice column. Keep the script coming!
I've been thinking about this piece, and I believe we as fans, teams, society, all of us, have created a system where athletes cannot possibly turn into good people. From the time they are little they are taught certain values and not taught certain responsibilities to others.
Even the "good guys" are not what I would consider good if he was a Joe Schmoe. We have such a different standard for stars, we really have created the monster here.
If you take the earlier post from BradyBlog about every superhero needing a sidekick and layer it on top of how it ties into the imminent Artest trade you can begin to imagine how he could completely transform so many teams.
Last edited by MBrady on December 15th at 12:06 AM.
Let me take you to school. A comparison is an illustration of similitude. Mike and Ron are not similar dudes. Not by any stretch. You would know this if you actually watched games.
Last edited by FredEx on December 16th at 9:48 AM.
FredEx, I think you gave this piece a pretty superficial reading. It doesn't compare their games or their personailities, or even their status. I am not sure why you even brought up the comparison issue because all MBrady talk about is Artest aspiring to have the commercial success that Mike did.
Hell, even my grandmama aspires to have the commercial success that Mike did.
I'm not sure what your issue is... but I can see you are very upset about something.
Stacey, you're probably a nice person, and after Brady's comment, I'm convinced that he is, but let's set the record straight, when you say something that is bolstered by a weak argument, it's not a crime to point that weakness out to others in the conversation. The crux (thesis, main idea, organizing principle) of Brady's post concerns a comparison. It's a very well-written post, but the logic hinges on a comparison that's so banal it's borderline stupid. Artest wants to be like Mike? What's Brady going to write about next: Water makes you wet? Fire is hot? I'm not upset, Stacey, I'm only asking that people say what they mean and mean what they say.
I have played baseball, basketball and football my whole life. I have suffered the tragedies of defeat and tasted sweet victory for me and my team. And it's these experiences that will come in handy as I compete with my eyes closed and my hands tied behind my back.
What do I mean?
I haven't watched sports for the last 5 years and I currently don't have a t.v. or cable. I will cover my beat from cyberspace. I will read the box scores and articles and "watch" some games refresh every 15 seconds - but that is it.
What else?
I will be suspended by my feet with my head hanging over a boiling pit full of crocodiles and snakes. All ending on February 8th - with a fiesta at my house (mariachis and margaritas for everyone) celebrating my new job at FoxSports.
