Israel Gutierrez: These days hate can be measured by success

It's almost the best way to judge success in sports these days, by gauging the level of loathing directed at any particular player, team, program or organization.

It's no surprise, then, that Sports Illustrated's list of the 25 Most Hated Teams of All Time reads mostly like a who's who of team sports success.

If that same line of reasoning applies to sports-related lists, then this must be a wildly successful one. Because I hate it.

Not the list itself, actually, just certain elements of it. There's no way to truly measure something as subjective as dislike, so you can just as easily say there's absolutely nothing wrong with this list.

But if you're going to criticize it -- and isn't that what makes lists like these entertaining at all is providing your own perspective -- it essentially breaks down into three categories: 1) Problems with the order of the list.

2) Problems with a team that's included in the list at all.

3) Obvious omissions from the list.

It's fair to say Miami took something of a beating on this list, with the Hurricanes included not just at the top of the list but a second time, the current Heat showing up to round out the list, the eminently likable Dwyane Wade showing up a second time with the 2004 U.S. Olympic squad at No. 20 and a couple more Miami sports fixtures, Jimmy Johnson and Michael Irvin, showing up with the Cowboys at No. 3 on the list.

KID STUFF

So it's probably a natural reaction to be defensive about it as a South Floridian. But even taking that instinct out of the equation, the 1986 Hurricanes are hardly worthy of being the most despised team in the history of games.

No, sportsmanship was not their thing, to put it mildly, and rocking military fatigues before a national championship game against Penn State was not only an affront to niceness but it also inappropriately muddled the line between sports and actual combat.

But these were also kids. Kids with lenient coaches in this respect, sure, but kids nonetheless who aren't supposed to know how to act when they're thrust in the middle of the sports limelight for no other reason than they are great at their game of choice.

Bragging came naturally, and no one was there to stop them.

And yes, there may have been some legal issues with that team, but no more than any of the issues that most major college programs face when they're experiencing a similar level of success.

It's bad enough that a group of amateur college students tops the list of most hated, but to separate them as, by far, the most hated group of amateurs ever is a tad over the top. How different was the 1989-90 UNLV basketball team, a group that dominated the sport while essentially laughing at rules and even being photographed living it up with a convict known as ``Richie the Fixer'' Perry?

Apparently quite different because there were seven teams between them. No, the Hurricanes don't deserve the top ranking (they didn't even win the championship, for crying out loud!), and the Bad Boy Pistons don't deserve to be No. 2. Their worst crimes were playing physical basketball in an era when it was allowed, playing up to a cool nickname and delaying Michael Jordan's trip to the top of the basketball world.

There were any number of teams that could have topped that list other than those two, like the 2007 Patriots, arguably the most aggravating, pompous, disappointing band of cheaters football has ever seen.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/

Hornets GM confident Paul will remain with team

Hornets star guard Chris Paul did not request a trade Monday in his meeting with new coach Monty Williams and top team officials, general manager Dell Demps said.

Demps, essentially in his first day on the job since his hiring last week, added that he was confident Paul would still be with New Orleans when the coming season opens.

The meeting was held at an undisclosed downtown location before Demps made his way back to the Hornets' corporate offices to meet with reporters.

Although Paul did not speak with the media, the team released statement from him that indicated the three-time All-Star and Olympic gold medalist was encouraged by the Hornets' recent coaching and front-office overhaul.

"The meeting went well. It was great to get an opportunity to sit down with coach Williams, president Weber and our new general manager, Dell Demps," Paul's statement said. "I expressed my desire to win and I like what they said about the direction that they want to take the team. I have been a Hornet my entire career and I hope to represent the city of New Orleans and state of Louisiana for many years to come."

Paul has two years remaining before he can opt out of his current contract with the Hornets. However, he said at his charity golf outing earlier this month that he would welcome a trade if the Hornets did not demonstrate a willingness to give him a supporting cast that would make the club good enough to compete with any team in the NBA.

Only days after making that statement, Paul fired his agent and hired Leon Rose, who also represents LeBron James. Paul also agreed to work with James' LRMR marketing agency.

Soon after, Paul's representatives told the Hornets that Paul was interested in being traded, but the Hornets countered by scheduling a meeting in New Orleans that included Demps, Williams and team president Hugh Weber, Paul's brother, C.J. Paul, and Rose.

"It was a very productive meeting. I was encouraged," Demps said. "It was the first time I met Chris. It was a good opportunity for us to open the lines of communication. Chris had some very good points. ... He was energetic, he was open, he was honest. He showed that he wants to win, and that's what we want to do, as well."

Williams and Weber stood nearby but did not comment as Demps discussed the meeting with Paul, which Demps said lasted about an 90 minutes.

While Paul cannot force a trade, the Hornets opted to trade Baron Davis during the 2004-05 season when he had a falling out with the club. New Orleans then began a rebuilding process that essentially began with the drafting of Paul in the summer of 2005. Paul went on to become rookie of the year and quickly became the face of the franchise. In fact, a poster-size photo of Paul's smiling visage is the first thing that greets those who walk into the Hornets' corporate offices on the 19th floor of a downtown high rise near the New Orleans Arena.

Demps said he hoped Paul would not become disruptive as long as he remains in New Orleans.

"I don't anticipate that," Demps said.

Demps did not go into detail about the Hornets' presentation to Paul. He said for competitive reasons he needed to keep much of what they discussed private.

The Hornets' payroll is close to the NBA's luxury tax threshold, and team officials have said they do not want to pay the tax or take on new debt while a planned sale of the club from majority owner George Shinn to his partner, Gary Chouest, is pending.

Still, Demps asserted, "There's always ways to be creative."

"I'm an optimist. I think that we'll sit down and evaluate the roster and look at all our pieces and move forward and do what's in the best interests of the organization."

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/

Three trade scenarios involving Chris Paul

Ken Berger of CBS Sports has a source that says Paul has been far more aggressive in angling for a trade than we’ve been led to believe.

When Paul was quoted a few weeks ago as saying he’d be open to a trade if the Hornets aren’t committed to building a championship team, it was only a small hint as to the size of the chasm that exists between the franchise and its cornerstone player. Paul, in fact, has put into motion an aggressive exit strategy that will accelerate in the coming weeks, and his clear intention is to be traded before the start of the 2010-11 season, a person with direct knowledge of his plans told CBSSports.com Wednesday.

“He wants out,” said the person, who has been briefed on Paul’s strategy but spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss it publicly. “He wants to play with another superstar. He wants to follow LeBron’s model of teaming up with other great players.”

Paul’s list of preferred destinations consists of the Knicks, Magic and Lakers, and members of his inner circle already have sent word to the Hornets of his desire to be traded to one of those teams, sources say. If Paul has his way, he’s played his last game in a Hornets jersey.

Couple this with the changes at head coach and general manager and it’s clear that the Hornets are a franchise in flux. (This is also why it was so surprising that the Nets were considering Jeff Bower as their GM. He drafted well in New Orleans, but his trades for Peja Stojakovic and Emeka Okafor have put the team in its current predicament.)

So it sounds as if Paul has made his mind up, and is using the ‘committed to winning’ reasoning to get everyone ready for a possible trade. The three teams he reportedly wants to go to all have another star. The Lakers and Magic are established champions/contenders, while the Knicks are attractive due to the market and the presence of Amare Stoudemire.

The writing has been on the wall for some time now, and if the Hornets can’t convince Paul to stick around, their choice is clear. They need to package him with Okafor’s contract and rebuild around their promising young backcourt of Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton.

Here are a few possible trades that make some sense for both sides:

LAKERS

Of the three teams mentioned, the Lakers are able to offer the most attractive package. Perhaps L.A. would be willing to send Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom to the Hornets for Paul and Okafor. (See this deal inESPN’s NBA Trade Machine.) At first glance this seems to be a lot to give up for a disgruntled star, but we’re talking about the best or the second-best point guard in the league. L.A. has just won two titles — why fix something that isn’t broken? Well, an aging Celtics team just took them to seven games, so the new-look Miami Heat must have the Lakers’ brass a little worried. There’s a saying: If you’re not getting better, you’re falling behind.

For their part, this deal would allow the Hornets to save $5 million this season, and would give the team enough cap space next summer for a max free agent. In total, they would save around $20 million over the next few years, depending on how much of Lamar Odom’s final year is guaranteed. If Bynum can put his knee problems behind him, he’d be a nice addition to the Collison/Thornton core. If not, then the Hornets can get out of the deal in the summer of 2012.

The big downside for the Hornets would be trading Paul to an already strong team in the conference. They’d essentially be enabling the Lakers to control the West for the next several years.

MAGIC

Orlando would be a good landing spot for Paul as he’d form a scary one-two punch with Dwight Howard. Plus, the rivalry between the Heat and Magic would be a lot of fun. I just don’t know if the Magic have the pieces to pull off a trade.

There’s a big drop off in talent after Howard, especially when salaries are taken into consideration. Rashard Lewis is a nice player, but he’s overpaid, and the Hornets wouldn’t want to take the three years and $60+ million remaining on his deal. Jameer Nelson is a quality point guard at a good price, but the Hornets already have Collison, so that position isn’t an area of need. One player who should definitely be involved is Marcin Gortat, who has shown the ability to be a starting center in the NBA (and is also at a reasonable price).

How about this deal, which would send Paul/Okafor to Orlando for Nelson, Gortat, Mickael Pietrus and Brandon Bass? The Magic could include a first round pick or two to sweeten the deal. Perhaps the Hornets could get a third team involved to take Nelson off their hands and bring in some talent on the wing.

KNICKS

The Knicks could offer a big package of players that would give the Hornets some good young prospects as well as salary cap relief. How about a dealthat would send Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Anthony Randolph (along with the expiring contracts of Eddy Curry and Kelenna Azubuike) to New Orleans for Paul and Okafor?

The Knicks would get the superstar tandem they were searching for this summer and a decent center to keep Amare Stoudemire fresh. The Hornets could add Randolph, Gallinari and Chandler to their young core. A starting lineup of Collison, Thornton, Chandler/Gallinari, West and Randolph would be inexperienced but promising and fun to watch.

The point is — the Hornets have options. They will have no shortage of suitors and if the new GM (Dell Demps) doesn’t pull a Chris Wallace and trade away his best player without shopping him around, then the franchise will get a pretty good deal. The fan base isn’t going to be happy, but holding Paul hostage isn’t going to do anyone any good either.

From: http://network.yardbarker.com/

Does Chris Paul want out of New Orleans?

On July 9, 2008, Chris Paul(notes) signed a contract extension to play in New Orleans through at least the 2011-12 season.
On July 21, 2010, CBSSports.com's Ken Berger wrote a column detailing how LRMR "a person with direct knowledge of his plans" is certain Paul is going to request a trade to new Hornets personnel boss Dell Demps before the season starts. Paul can't issue a trade demand publicly because he'd be fined. And he also can't issue one publicly because he'd look like a mug.

Why?
Because this is what you get when you sign long contract extensions with teams that have already peaked.
CP3 signed his extension in 2008 soon after the New Orleans Hornets gave the defending champion San Antonio Spurs all they could handle before losing in the second round of the playoffs. With David West(notes) screening and Paul rolling, the team seemed poise to break through to the next level by anyone who wasn't really paying attention. But, really, this was the best the Hornets were ever going to get as presently constructed.

Why?
Because you have to look at this roster. All of the main components of the team's rotation played 76-plus games. Including Paul (who missed 18 games the year before that), Peja Stojakovic(notes) (who missed 69 games the season before) and the perpetually fragile Tyson Chandler(notes). The rest of the contributors, including Peja? Already sliding or about to hit the first downslide in the descent from their respective primes. Bonzi Wells(notes), Bobby Jackson(notes), Jannero Pargo(notes) — all men we'd already seen the absolute best from.
And, yet, Paul signed the contract extension.
Why?

Because the Hornets were a good team the year before, and because players like money. They talk themselves into believing their current situation is better than it is, because the money is better with an incumbent team than it would be with a squad you'd have to jump to. So they talk themselves into thinking that Peja Stojakovic (who had just turned 31) was a proper third wheel on a championship team. That things were going nowhere but up.
And you can't blame Paul for that. He's only human. But you can blame him if LRMR's rumored machinations are true, and if he attempts to weasel his way out of New Orleans.
Is it his fault that the team's ownership group is an absolute mess? That George Shinn might be one of the most loathsome people in sports? Of course not. You can't blame him for not being able to stand the head of this fish, but you can blame him for trying to get out.
Why?
Because George Shinn was just as loathsome back in 2008. Paul knew what he was getting into, and nobody forced him to go for a deal that would pay him until 2012.
Is it Paul's fault that the team was capped out, could only really upgrade through the lower portion of the draft, with the midlevel exception (signing James Posey(notes) a few weeks later, a deal that was being laughed at even before it went through) and trades with limited assets to dangle? Of course not. General manager Jeff Bower, despite the Posey signing, did a masterful job turning a broken-down Tyson Chandler into the serviceable Emeka Okafor(notes) and grabbing two starting quality guards in Darren Collison(notes) and Marcus Thornton(notes) last season.
But Paul saw the team's salary structure before he signed. Three teammates were making eight figures a year by then, and would until Stojakovic's contract expired in the summer of 2011. Paul would join their ranks a year after signing the extension, and he should have known that any team with four players making eight figures a year would be continually capped-out, and better be pretty pristine already or potential-laden.
The Hornets were neither. And Paul acted unaware.
Was it OK for Paul to go glass half-full with this roster back in 2008? Of course. Is it wrong for Chris to not enjoy where he's at now, clawing back into playoff contention? Of course not.
Is it OK for LRMR to goad him into making a trade demand? No way. Absolutely no way.
Because this is the contract that Paul signed, for a team that had probably done all it could do. And unlike football, where you cheer for players sticking it to a system that could cut them in an instant should players fail to perform, NBA contracts stipulate that you get your cash, no matter how poorly you play or no matter how many games you lose to injury.
That's a good system, mind you, but it should also preclude you from using the worst representation company in the history of bad PR to complain about having to play for a team that is well past its peak, when you signed a contract extension with that team after it hit its peak. Want to play with a superstar, CP3/LRMR? Sign with one after your rookie deal expires. Or sign for less money so that the Hornets could move some trees around and possibly trade or sign for one.
But don't do it this way. Even if just to stick it to an owner like Shinn, who deserves all the nastiness he can get. The time to think about one's own fortunes is before you sign a contract. You study the team, you ask around, you suss out your options, you move forward thinking of yourself first.
And that line of thinking has to end the minute you put pen to paper.
Why?
Because you've made a commitment to a team. You've made a decision that this is the best team to suit your services, for whatever reason, and unless they have no use for you and are just holding onto your services out of spite (which we have seen in this league), you need to see that commitment out.
And, goodness gracious sakes alive, certainly don't seek Maverick Carter out. The absence of leadership that has followed LeBron James(notes) over the last few months and years -- you think that's all LeBron? That he's screwing this up on his own?
Get wise, Chris. And get your team back in the playoffs.

From: http://sports.yahoo.com/

Among NBA's healthiest franchises, champs reign supreme

With two titles and three straight Finals appearances, the Lakers just keep on truckin'.

---

The Warriors sold for a record $450 million, and while money buys a lot of things, it doesn't always reflect health.

Make no mistake, the Warriors might become a sound investment over time. They're located in a populous and wealthy region of the country. They draw exceedingly well at the gate for a team that hasn't had an All-Star or decent playoff run for years. And Stephen Curry is awfully fun to watch.

But franchise health goes beyond mere dollars and purchase price and estimated worth on the open market. For example, the Pistons, who own their own building, are one of the league's most profitable franchises. But in wake of the death of owner Bill Davidson, a recession-wrecked Detroit, and mild results lately on the court, the club is searching for better overall health. It's about winning, stability, a manageable payroll, vibrant and loyal fan base, creative marketing, sound coaching, sharp management and solid ownership. Therefore, the Warriors, diamond in the rough, are still a work in progress.

Given those guidelines, here are the top 10 "healthiest" franchises on one man's ballot:

1. Lakers. Nobody in the NBA can touch the Laker brand, which, like the uniform color, is pure gold. There haven't been many valleys on Dr. Jerry Buss' watch, which must be a Rolex, given how the franchise value (now $600 million-plus) has quintupled. They've cashed in twice in three straight trips to the NBA Finals and are basketball's equivalent of the Yankees. Stability and continuity are trademarks for the franchise. They lose a star, get another: Kareem, Magic, Shaq, Kobe. Phil Jackson, greatest coach ever, keeps coming back despite health issues; he wouldn't do that for just any team. General manager Mitch Kupchak, under fire early, has settled in nicely as replacement to The Logo. Lakers charge a princely sum for ticket prices and the house stays packed, anyway. They are clearly the No. 1 sports attraction in a city lacking the NFL. Not all is perfect in Lakerwood, though. Finances are coming under greater scrutiny, and it remains to be seen if Jeannie Buss is a chip off the old block. Still, Lakers rule, on and off the court.

2. Spurs. Sure, they got lucky, getting David Robinson and then Tim Duncan in Draft lotteries. But the ownership-management-coach combination is as good as it gets. The Spurs are the best bang for the buck in basketball, keeping an amazingly reasonable payroll for a team with such success. Also, they always find players hidden under rocks, either late in the Draft (Parker, Ginobili) or free agency or trades. San Antonio is the best model for a small-(medium-?) market team in the NBA. The only glaring misstep was not doing everything possible to get an arena on the Riverwalk.

3. Heat. Micky Arison is the best under-the-radar owner in hoops. Very quietly, the heir to a cruise ship fortune has steered the Heat in the right direction, no easy feat in a football town. Most important step was getting Pat Riley, forming a formidable front office. And now, Riley has another Showtime on his hands, with the LeBron-Wade-Bosh circus. Even when winning, the Heat was a tough draw at home, but that could change beginning this season. If all goes well, the center of the NBA universe could stay in South Beach most of the decade.

4. Magic. Recession? Tell that to the thousands who've already signed up for season tickets in the new Amway Center next year. Tell that to the Magic, on the hook for roughly $30 million in luxury taxes, with the highest payroll in the NBA. The Magic will do whatever it takes, and have created a winning formula in Orlando, which admittedly isn't tough to do in a one-trick-pony town. Like the Spurs, the Magic are adept at finding a franchise big man in the lottery.

5. Jazz. For decades, the Jazz were known for being consistent winners and Jerry Sloan. Nothing much has changed, here in 2010. The club will be tested, though, after losing Carlos Boozer, Wes Matthews, Kyle Korver to free agency and selling off Ronnie Brewer and Eric Maynor last season. They'll have to hope the offseason additions of Al Jefferson and Raja Bell pay off big. Utah is never high on players' list for desired places to play, but that has no reflection on the organization itself, which gets steep marks for stability.

6. Mavericks. It's good to be Mark Cuban, who changed the Dallas basketball culture and also elevated his own profile after buying in. Mavericks' games are a see-and-be-seen event in Dallas, and while a second fiddle to the Cowboys, there's a big distance between the Mavericks and whoever's No. 3. Cuban is not shy about paying top dollar, but often gave to the wrong people (Erick Dampier, Michael Finley) while turning cheap with Steve Nash. Detractors note with glee that Cuban has spent millions on a team that hasn't won a title with him as owner.

7. Celtics. Might not be a stretch to say the organization was in chaos until Kevin Garnett arrived gift-wrapped. Still, Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers have restored luster to the proud franchise. Arguably they would be sitting on three straight titles right now if not for untimely postseason injuries to KG (2009) and Kendrick Perkins (2010). The Celtics managed to carve out a respectable audience amid the beloved Red Sox and dynastic Patriots in what could be the most competitive place in America for the sports entertainment dollar.

8. Thunder. Ordinarily would be a cinch to wear the black hat, after packing and leaving Seattle. But Memphis and New Orleans could learn a thing or two about relocation from the Thunder. The town is insane over the team and home games are hot dates on the calendar. Perhaps it was dumb luck landing Kevin Durant in the Draft, who has turned out better than Greg Oden (the No. 1 pick in Durant's Draft class). But the Thunder are clearly an up-and-comer with a solid GM in Sam Presti (still don't understand why he passed on Curry and Tyreke Evans in the 2009 Draft, but whatever) and coach Scott Brooks. Classy fans gave team a standing O after a spirited playoff tussle with eventual champion Lakers.

9. Bulls. Would be much higher if not for the failed experiment with coach Vinny Del Negro and subsequent ugly falling-out. But Jerry Reinsdorf is an excellent owner and the Bulls (worth roughly $475 million according to Forbes) print money at the United Center, filled to the nosebleed even when the team was down. Club could be on the upswing after signing Boozer, but much will depend on the continued development of Derrick Rose.

10. Rockets. They rarely make bad decisions that harm the franchise either on the floor or at the gate or in the community. The Tracy McGrady-Yao Ming era didn't produce massive results, but the Rockets didn't allow the bottom to fall out here in the transition period. Daryl Morey runs a solid team without much fat to trim, and the Rockets are one star away from making another run in the standings..

From: http://www.nba.com/

Jordan’s stand comes on pretty flimsy footing

Michael Jordan is the best player in NBA history, but to folks who were there and covered his entire career, it was a bit laughable to hear Jordan ridiculing LeBron James over the weekend for joining up with All-Stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to help him win a title in Miami rather than taking some stand by staying in Cleveland and trying to win one on his own. When it comes to taking stands, Jordan is not the NBA’s leader in the clubhouse. Not even close.

Jordan was notoriously hard on his Bulls teammates during his career, treating many of them as his inferiors (“my supporting cast”) or in one case, punching teammate Steve Kerr in the nose after some beef.

Here are five more things Jordan forgot to mention while bashing James:

1. After years of sitting out meaningful disputes that actually could have done some good for people, Jordan finally takes a stand on…this?The James fiasco? Way to stick your neck out. There have been countless occasions in Jordan’s career when Jordan could've used his power to affect some real good and he didn't, whether it was sitting out some race-baiting elections in his native North Carolina (infamously explaining “Republicans buy shoes too”) or his willingness to buckle under for Nike and cover the logo of another manufacturer on his USA basketball uniform when the Dream Team won the 1992 Olympic gold medal.

Thumping LeBron days after six zillion other people have already pilloried him doesn't qualify as taking a position either. It’s like being the last snowflake in a blizzard.

2. James’ fear of going it alone in Cleveland was reasonableIt had to be sobering for James when he personally tried to woo other stars, even his close friend Chris Bosh, to play in Cleveland, only to find that their affection for him and the charms of northeast Ohio – you know, the way the sun glimmers off the waters of Lake Erie when the light hits the shipping lanes just right — didn’t have the same pull. Imagine that.

That had to be a personal comeuppance for James. If even Bosh wouldn’t come to a Cleveland team that averaged over 60 wins the previous two seasons to play with him, would anyone who is any good ever have? James was right to wonder.

3. Did James already know Cavs owner Dan Gilbert like we’ve come to know Gilbert?It’s understandable that Gilbert was upset with James’ decision to leave the Cavs and the shabby way James did it. But Gilbert’s scathing and slightly unhinged letter – which earned Gilbert a $100,000 fine from NBA commissioner David Stern and a rebuke from Jesse Jackson comparing Gilbert to a slave owner – showed a different side of Gilbert than most of us knew.

Until James jilted him, the thumbnail on Gilbert went like this: successful business tycoon, committed owner, aggressively worked to keep James with the Cavs and benefited mightily from having James there. But as James free agency approached, Gilbert also pushed out Cavs’ general manager Danny Ferry and coach Mike Brown. He admittedly ran big decisions by James for his input, if not always his final approval. So if James developed into a monster, Gilbert has to recognize he deserves at least some of the blame. Jordan loathed Bulls GM Jerry Krause back in the day, too. But Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf refused to fire him or give Jordan carte blanche.

4. James was right
If he’d never won a ring in Cleveland, all that fairytale stuff about the importance of being The Man goes out the window: History would have said if James finishes his career title-less, it was his own damn fault — he should’ve gotten out of Cleveland while he could. What a sap.

James suffers in most comparisons to Jordan — starting with the fact James has never been a great end-game finisher. But one thing James has never been accused of — at least on the court — is being selfish. He never went through that young buck phase that Jordan and Kobe and countless other NBA stars did just to prove they could score in bunches before moving onto the business of winning championships. James has chased titles from Day One.

Somebody should remind Jordan that some of the Jordan’s most crushing defeats came when he didn’t trust his teammates enough to avoid hoisting 35 shots a game — something the Detroit Pistons exploited to great effect while beating him three straight times in the playoffs during his fourth, fifth, and sixth seasons. The Pistons’ name for it was The Jordan Rules. But the philosophy translated to is this: Nobody, no matter how good, wins an NBA title by himself. Nobody.

5. Neither Jordan nor the stars he says he’d never have tried to woo had to wait till Year 8 to win their first title, as James has
Jordan’s contention that he’d have never called Magic Johnson or Larry Bird about playing together to take a so-called shortcut to a title forgets that Bird and Magic won their first almost immediately. From Day One in the league, each played with future Hall of Famers. They were never going anywhere else. Ever. Jordan — the laggard among the three of them — didn't win a title until his seventh season. But by then Jordan was working with future Hall of Famers Scottie Pippen and Phil Jackson.

From: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/

NBA FINALS 2010 GAME 5 KOBE ON FIRE IN 3RD QUARTER !

 Let me start by saying that Im a huge Kobe and Laker fan. Kobe is great, in fact a top 5 player of all time IMO, however MJ is still considerably better. I am not saying this to knock Kobe, but the numbers don't lie. MJ went 6-0 in the finals, won 6 Finals MVPs, averaged over 30 ppg for his career in the finals, and shot over 50% from the field. I am old enough to have seen MJ in his prime and Kobe is the closest the league has seen to him, but MJ is the greatest and probably will be.