Kevin Blackistone FanHouse

No Need for MJ Hyperbole, Magic

Kevin Blackistone — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: NBA

On the last weekend of June, a large white van pulled into the nation's capital and parked on 4th Street in a neighborhood in the city's tough Southeast quadrant. It was festooned with the words "Safe Easy Free" and a large photograph of Magic Johnson, smiling as always.

It was the Magic Johnson HIV Testing Van and it was making its last stop on what was a three-week long, 14-city tour through the South. By the time it stopped in Washington, D.C., its workers had provided more than 500 free HIV tests.

The work they were doing was the thrust of the Magic Johnson Foundation, which has awarded over $1 million to community based groups fighting the spread of HIV and AIDS since Magic Johnson revealed in 1991 that he was HIV positive.

That is how magnanimous Magic has become in retirement, as much if not more so than any other athlete. On Tuesday, he even went beyond the call of his conscience.

Whitley: Magic on MJ Theater of Absurd

"I truly believe," Magic told all of us watching the Michael Jackson Memorial as he stood on the Staples Center stage, "Michael made me a better point guard and basketball player."

That may have been a heartfelt sentiment, but Magic need not have gone so far.

There are a few among us -- Bill O'Reilly and Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) come to mind -- who have found a whole lot more than praise to pour on Michael's nonpareil singing and dancing abilities in the wake of Michael's just-ended half century of life. I said his dancing and singing abilities.

There are a few among us who've overstated Michael's life and glossed over parts of it too, like the Rev. Al Sharpton who took the stage after Magic and pronounced Michael wasn't "strange." (As I tweeted on my Twitter account , I hope everyone who now embraces Michael's eccentricities has learned to extend the same understanding to others who look or seem different.) Magic went a step beyond what he needed to as well.

It has been stunning to learn in the last week just how big of an influence Michael Jackson is around the world and what an indelible mark he leaves on so many people in so many different places. He's been said to change everything from how we dance to the way we wear our clothes. He's even being credited for bringing together the races, and a crowd of all hues that turned out at his memorial appeared to be evidence.

But Magic sold himself short by going so far as to credit Michael for his basketball ability, which is as unparalleled as Michael's talent as an entertainer. In a lot of ways, Magic was as an athlete what Michael was as singer-dancer-composer.

After all, we'd never seen anything like Magic, either, when he exploded on the scene. He was a six-foot-nine basketball player who wasn't playing exclusively in the frontcourt. Instead, he was, first and foremost, a point guard, a position reserved until then for the shortest of players.

We never saw a player so young play with all the poise Magic did immediately after departing Michigan State with a national title as a sophomore. It was the same sort of thing Motown founder Barry Gordy and Motown star Smokey Robinson observed Tuesday of Michael when they first saw him as a 10-year-old. Magic was the first rookie to start in an NBA All-Star Game in over a decade. He was the first rookie, and remains the only rookie, ever to be named Finals MVP when he played center for an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and led the Lakers to the title over the 76ers.

Michael made everyone who saw his moonwalk want to do it too. Magic made every basketball player who saw one of his no-look passes on a fast break want to thrill onlookers as distributors as much as finishers. "Nice look, man." You hear a passer thanked on the court all the time now. That's because of Magic.

Michael made himself the King of Pop. Magic made Showtime.

And as infectious as Michael's beats are everywhere, Magic's smile and personality are too. If there has been a better ambassador for the game of basketball, I am overlooking him.

Michael made himself the King of Pop. Magic made Showtime.Of the superstars who anchored the original, and really only, Dream Team at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, Magic was the most-beloved. Michael Jordan was the most-spectacular, but Magic, despite playing very little due to a bum knee, was the most-beloved, as the mere announcement of his name seemed always to draw standing ovations.

One comparison that cannot be made between Michael and Magic is how they managed their lives. Michael turned inwards because, he and those closest to him said, he was so popular he couldn't live his life normally among the rest of us. Too many people just wanted to see him or touch him. It was beyond the life of most others pursued by the paparazzi.

Magic wasn't that transcendent; no one has ever been. Michael was a once-in-a-lifetime figure.

But Magic never recused himself from life despite being as great and popular an athlete as any in recent memory. Magic has always appeared to crave what Michael appeared to fear.

Magic started a company that owns and manages franchises that is now worth upwards of $700 million. He interacts with people on the motivational speaking circuit. He is engaged in Democratic politics, where last year he made a transition from Hillary Clinton's campaign to Barack Obama's just as smoothly as he once moved from the defensive end of the court to the offensive end.

Magic has remained as approachable and as gracious as ever, just as he was Tuesday at the basketball arena where he memorialized Michael, a basketball arena that appropriately is fronted by a statue in Magic's likeness.

No Need for MJ Hyperbole, Magic originally appeared on Kevin Blackistone FanHouse on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Silver Screen Shows LeBron Is More Than A Superstar

Kevin Blackistone — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:42:00 EST

Filed under: NBA

"LeBron James, with no regard for human life!" - Kevin Harlan, NBA on TNT broadcaster, during the 2008 Eastern Conference semifinals

It wasn't just the most ridiculous hyperbolic description of a LeBron James dunk; it was also a gross mischaracterization of the Crown Prince of the NBA. (We'll call him by his preferred moniker of King when he has a ring.) For if there is one thing James possesses, which ought to make Cavaliers' fans sleep easier, it is consideration for others.

That is the overwhelming message from the premiering documentary More Than a Game about LeBron's basketball upbringing and that of his high school teammates. I caught the movie on Monday at opening night for the 2009 Silverdocs film festival in Silver Spring, Md., organized by The Discovery Channel and the American Film Institute and attended by the film's subjects, LeBron and his four best friends -- and ballahs -- from childhood. After all these years, after all those tens of millions of dollars, after all the awards and accolades, LeBron is still tightest with four guys with whom he grew up, not Jay-Z or Ice Cube or some other hip-hop-star-come-lately. How neat is that?

"We all a big family," documentarian Kristopher Belman captured LeBron as a senior at Akron, Ohio's St. Vincent-St. Mary High School saying of his senior teammates Dru Joyce III, Romeo Travis, Sian Cotton and Willie McGee.

Their appearance Monday night on stage at the AFI's flagship theater evidenced that they are still best of friends, short of being brothers only by blood. They poked fun at each as often as they showered one another with affection. It was so much that NPR anchor Michele Norris asked while moderating a post-film chitchat whether they were concerned of what some observers might whisper about five men who are so close that they hug and exchange birthday gifts and act more like sisters, as the burliest of the quintet, Romeo, said.

There isn't much more to take from this film, although brotherhood may be enough. Beyond that, it isn't what you haven't heard or seen before despite the title. It is heavily drenched in basketball -- playing it and winning at it -- even though a Silverdocs media representative cautioned me Monday night as she had me wait an eternity for admission that I might not be granted a seat because Lionsgate, the film studio promoting More Than a Game, didn't want any "sports guys" at the screening because the movie "wasn't about sports."

Let me tell you, More Than a Game has about as little to do with sports as W., which Lionsgate turned out last year, has to do with the last President. But often, people who work in "the industry" have their noses so far above the clouds they are blind to the reality they purport to be portraying. The most compelling parts of the film are of LeBron playing as a young teen, dropping dimes (perfect passes), draining three-pointers and dunking with one hand or with both.

LeBron James Photos

SILVER SPRING, MD - JUNE 15: Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James arrives at the U.S. premiere of the feature film "More Than A Game" at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Centeron June 15, 2009 in Silver Spring, Maryland. The film, which chronicles the rise of James and his high school basketball team, was shown as part of AFI Silver Theater's annual SilverDocs documentary film festival. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** LeBron James

Getty Images

** FILE ** This is a May 28, 2009 file photo showing Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James during Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals, in Cleveland. James had a benign growth removed from his right jaw during a five-hour procedure at the Cleveland Clinic on Tuesday June 2, 2009. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta, File)

ORLANDO, FL - MAY 30: Delonte West #13, LeBron James #23 and Mo Williams #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers sit on the sidelines preparing to take the court against the Orlando Magic in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2009 Playoffs at Amway Arena on May 30, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Delonte West;LeBron James;Mo Williams

Getty Images

ORLANDO, FL - MAY 30: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers sits on the court after being fouled by the Orlando Magic in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2009 Playoffs at Amway Arena on May 30, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** LeBron James

Getty Images

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James is defended by Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard (12) and Mickael Pietrus (20), from France, in te third quarter of Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals Saturday, May 30, 2009, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) shoots between Orlando Magic's Hedo Turkoglu, from Turkey,left, and Rashard Lewis (9) in the first quarter of Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals Saturday, May 30, 2009, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Orlando Magic's Rashard Lewis (L), reaches to block Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (C), as Magic's Anthony Johnson (background) and Michael Pietrus (R), look on in first half during Game 6 of their Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoff series in Orlando, Florida May 30, 2009. REUTERS/Scott Audette (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Reuters

In a lot of ways, More Than a Game is stereotypical even though it tries not to be. It is about black boys -- some from broken homes, several snared by the poverty web -- consumed by dreams of being NBA stars. LeBron takes us back to one of his bedrooms and points out which wall was a shrine to which basketball idol, like Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant. Willie's fifth-grade manifesto is uncovered in which he states he wants to be an NBA player when he grows up.

They call the basketball court their sanctuary. In class they talk not of homework but of winning the state title. Hoop Dreams, anyone? One day, someone is going to do a film or write a book about a black boy who dreams of growing up to be another Dr. Charles Drew, or entrepreneur Reginald Lewis, or, like the newspaper cartoon following last November's election portrayed, chief executive of the United States.

That's one of the ironies of More Than a Game. The eventual coach of LeBron's high school team is the father of LeBron's diminutive friend Dru. The elder Dru Joyce was also the group's youth basketball coach. The elder Joyce deserted what he said was a lucrative job as a business executive to become a high school basketball coach, first as an assistant at St. Vincent's and then as its head coach. So there is an adult black male chasing a basketball dream at the expense of something else he's already attained.

These dreams didn't totally turn into ether. Basketball got the coach's son and Romeo to the University of Akron and to Europe where both now play professionally. One of the boys, Sian Cotton, went to Ohio State on a football scholarship and didn't finish there, an Ohio State spokesman told me Tuesday, but the film mentions nothing of that.

LeBron, of course, went on to become the latest icon in the NBA, one so outstanding that it was discussed recently whether he would replace the league's actual icon, Jerry West. I guess Jordan's figure is too tied to a certain sneaker company's marketing effort.

LeBron acted Monday night, however, as if he was still just one of the guys, and the rest of his guys joshed with him as such. It was a display of genuine loyalty that was laced throughout the film, from the moment the kids decided to go to the same Catholic high school because little Dru wouldn't be able to make their public school team, to the quintet slapping a sign emblazoned with the word "unity" before they took the court as seniors.

It was enough to make me believe that LeBron James will never leave the Cavaliers, Cleveland and his home state of Ohio, because jilting those close to him is to him anathema.

Kevin B. Blackistone is a panelist on ESPN's Around the Horn, the Shirley Povich Chair in Sports Journalism at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, and a former award-winning sports columnist for The Dallas Morning News. He currently lives in Silver Spring, Md

Silver Screen Shows LeBron Is More Than A Superstar originally appeared on Kevin Blackistone FanHouse on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Superman Saves the Series for Magic

Kevin Blackistone — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:15:00 EST

Filed under: NBA

ORLANDO -- Dwight Howard entered his home arena here Tuesday evening, and departed it in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, sporting a pink v-neck sweater. In between, however, he donned the cape that he's adopted for his basketball persona as Superman.

The reason the Magic eked out a four-point win against the Lakers in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday night, to cut the Lakers' lead in the best-of-seven series to 2-1, was because its Superman, Howard, saved the day.

Much will be said in the aftermath of the Magic's 108-104 victory about their torrid record championship series' shooting in the first half that was recorded at 75 percent. But it staked them to just a five-point lead at the break.

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Much will be said about the Lakers' incomparable Kobe Bryant looking down the stretch more like Anita Bryant. (Historical, or hysterical, reference: She's the singer that most of you probably remember only from the movie Airplane!, when Leslie Nielsen's character, Dr. Rumack, sees a number of passengers become nauseated and suffer uncontrollable flatulence and says, "I haven't seen anything this bad since the Anita Bryant concert.")

But the difference in Game 3 came down to Howard finally on this stage living up to his moniker and the Defensive Player of the Year Award he won this season.

With about 30 seconds left and he and his Magic teammates nursing a two-point lead, Howard poked the basketball from Kobe's hands and forced the Lakers into unlucky turnover No. 13. Howard's sharpshooting sixth man, Mickael Pietrus, scored a couple of free throws shortly afterward to seal the game.

"Howard just made a great play with his hands," Kobe said. "Simple as that."

The night may have proved a little more complex, however, at least where Howard is concerned. After all, what Howard did Tuesday was show some maturity to his game that many of us saw him lacking in the first two games of this title set. He played within himself in the low post and didn't force shots that weren't there or that he isn't capable of making. He used his power when he could.

Latest NBA Finals Photos

Orlando Magic guard Courtney Lee (11) reacts after a dunk during the Magic's 104-108 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida, on Tuesday, June 9, 2009. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

MCT

Orlando Magic forward Rashard Lewis (9) fouls Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol (16) late in the fourth quarter of the Magic's 104-108 victory over the Lakers in Game 3 of the NBA FInals at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida, on Tuesday, June 9, 2009. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

MCT

Orlando Magic forward Mickael Pietrus tries to score over Los Angeles Lakers Derek Fisher in the fourth quarter of Game 3 of the NBA FInals at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida, on Tuesday, June 9, 2009. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

MCT

Orlando Magic forward Mickael Pietrus gets a hug from a teammate in Game 3 of the NBA FInals against the Los Angles Lakers at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida, on Tuesday, June 9, 2009. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

MCT

Los Angeles Lakers' guard Kobe Bryant reacts in the fourth quarter of Game 3 of the NBA FInals against the Orlando Magic at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida, on Tuesday, June 9, 2009. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

MCT

Orlando Magic's Rafer Alston (1) drives past Los Angeles Lakers' Derek Fisher in the second half of Game 3 of the NBA basketball finals Tuesday, June 9, 2009, in Orlando, Fla. Alston scored 20 points and the MAgic won 108-104. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Orlando Magic's Rashard Lewis (2nd L) grabs a rebound ahead of Los Angeles Lakers Lamar Odom (L) as Orlando's Dwight Howard (2nd R) and the Lakers Trevor Ariza look on during Game 3 of their NBA Finals basketball game in Orlando, Florida, June 9, 2009. REUTERS/Ronald Martinez/Pool (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

Reuters

Entertainers Chris Brown, left, and Ludicris watch Game 3 of the NBA basketball finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic Tuesday, June 9, 2009, in Orlando, Fla. The Magic won their first NBA finals game beating the Lakers 108-104. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant (24) shots against the Orlando Magic's Rafer Alston (1), Rashard Lewis (9) and Mickael Pietrus (20), from France, in the fourth quarter of Game 3 of the NBA basketball finals Tuesday, June 9, 2009, in Orlando, Fla. The Lakers lost to the Magic 108-104 but lead the series 2-1. (AP Photo/Ronald Martinez, Pool)

Los Angeles Lakers Pau Gasol of Spain (C) runs into the defense of Orlando Magic's Rashard Lewis (L) and Dwight Howard during Game 3 of their NBA Finals basketball game in Orlando, Florida, June 9, 2009. REUTERS/Pool/Ronald Martinez (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

Reuters

He showed more patience on the offensive end where he'd been ineffective in the first game and turnover-prone in the second. In Game 3, he missed but one of six shots en route to 21 points and recorded his first trademark ally-oop slam dunk, something Lakers coach Phil Jackson said earlier he was happy his team hadn't allowed.

"I give a lot of credit to Dwight," said Rashard Lewis, the towering three-point specialist who put the Magic up three with a long two-pointer with just over a minute left. "When you run a pick-and-roll, two guys have to pick him [Howard], they have to play close to him, and it's leaving me wide open to shoot some threes. When we pass low to him, he gets crowded, he gets double teamed and he's making good passes out of the double team."

And how about this: Howard was awarded 16 free-throws and made 11, a better percentage on the night than Kobe, who missed half of his 10 attempts from the line. Howard played the entire night as collected as a 10-year veteran. He showed none of the disappointment with referees' calls and missed shots that he had in Los Angeles, where this series was played for the first two games.

Amway Arena in Orlando turned out to be Dwight Howard's phone booth, like the one in which Clark Kent ducked.

"I felt good," Howard said after Tuesday night.

He should.

In all that he did, Howard also proved in Orlando, at least, to be nothing like the greatest center who played for this town. He proved to be no Shaquille O'Neal.

After all, Shaq never did for the Magic what Howard did Tuesday night. He never led his team to a Finals' win. His team with Penny Hardaway got swept in the '95 Finals against Houston. They never mustered the fortitude to rebound.

"The thing about our team is when we lost Game 2, I think we was upset in the locker room for a moment," Howard said. "We talked. We didn't allow us being down 0-2 to discourage us from winning."

The win didn't come easily for the Magic, as the margin of victory and last second heroics suggested. It was as if they were Villanova playing that near-perfect game against a Patrick Ewing-led Georgetown to win the NCAA Tournament. (Ewing witnessed this game, too, but from the winning side as Howard's mentor on the Magic bench.) It took a spectacular performance from the recently maligned Magic point guard Rafer Alston as well. He dropped 20, as much as Lakers point guard Derek Fisher and his backup Jordan Farmar combined. Alston even had more assists than they did.

"I told my teammates," Howard said, "you've got to continue to believe. We've had two tough losses, but things will turn around for us if we continue to believe, go out there every night, give 100 percent for 48 minutes, and the outcome should be in our favor."

After Tuesday, everybody in Orlando believes a super hero exists. The only question is whether he will appear three more times and, even if he does, if his teammates can put him in a position where singular heroics will be enough.

Superman Saves the Series for Magic originally appeared on Kevin Blackistone FanHouse on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Magic Proving They Don't Belong

Kevin Blackistone — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:30:00 EST

Filed under: NBA

LOS ANGELES -- Late Sunday night in a corner of the cramped visitor's locker room in the bowels of cavernous Staples Center, Magic big man Dwight Howard was slumped back on a stool slowly stroking his face with one hand. His point guard Jameer Nelson sat on a stool next to him looking like The Thinker, his left elbow on left and his chin in his left hand. Their pensive look permeated the room, and it was understandable.

"We had our chances to win," Howard said later.

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Indeed, what the Magic just pulled off in Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Lakers was a trick. They made a golden opportunity disappear. They lost a game that the Lakers shouldn't have won. As the Lakers' Kobe Bryant said afterward, "They [Magic] played extremely well, and we played well enough to win."

It was enough to remind us of what the Lakers are and what the Magic are not.

The Lakers were favorites to get to this stage from the West this year after having gotten so far just a season ago. The Magic, however, were a third fiddle from the East.

There were the defending champions from Boston, of course, but with Kevin Garnett unable to play due to injury the Magic were able to get by them. But they needed to go the seven-game distance.

Then came LeBron James' Cavaliers, which VitaminWater and Nike were certain would survive this far. But the Magic upset those marketing plans.

Now the Magic are playing true to form. They look like they don't belong. They look like they can't handle the heat of Hollywood's klieg lights, which was a concern, one Magic assistant coach confided in me before the game. That, he said, was what tripped them up out of the gates in the opener, more so than Kobe's 40 points.

In Game 2, they fell over their own feet. They were tagged with 20 turnovers. Howard, aka Superman, tied with Kobe for a game-high seven turnovers. The difference was Superman's faux pas came on fewer touches than Kobe's and his often resulted in more horrific results.

"I've just got to do a better job of finding my teammates and being aware of the guards coming in the paint for strips," Howard admitted after grabbing 16 rebounds and scoring 17 points. "That's how they got going on the defensive end, because of our turnovers, and it gave them the game tonight."

The Magic's turnovers accounted for 28 points, more than a quarter of the Lakers' scoring. That was nothing short of gifting.

When the Lakers are near their best, as they were in this championship series' blowout opener last Thursday, the Magic can't beat them. That isn't eye opening.

But when all but one of the Lakers are struggling to make shots, when they score just 15 first-quarter points, when Kobe has just six points at the half, when the Magic beat them to more rebounds, make more second-chance points, and hit twice as many three-pointers, the Lakers shouldn't win. But they did, 101-96 in overtime. That is eye-opening and, if you're aligned with the Magic, disturbing. Envision Howard and Nelson, again, sitting in the locker room with that what-the-hell-do-we-do-now look.

They can't do much, obviously.

The Magic's coach, the sometimes maligned Stan Van Gundy, even designed the perfect play for his team to win at the buzzer in regulation. On an inbounds play to end the fourth quarter, Stan Van had rookie guard Courtney Lee peel off a couple of picks near the top of the key. He found himself running unencumbered to the basket where Hedo Turkoglu found him with what looked like a perfect lob pass. But Lee was maybe a few inches too far underneath the basket and couldn't quite catch and lay the ball off the backboard in one motion.

"I tried to get it up there as quick as possible," Lee said, "and the ball rolled off the rim."

It turned out to be the death knell for the Magic in the game, if not in the series. They couldn't muster enough to hold off the Lakers in overtime and most teams staring at the deficit they now are don't come back to live for a championship parade. As a reminder, they are now exactly where the Lakers were a year ago, staring a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-seven title series headed home for the next three games, if they can win at least one.

Home won't make it any easier, though. It very well could make everything more difficult. Now they have to get tickets for family and friends. That will be a distraction on top of the pressure of trying to win a game, something Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway didn't accomplish in 1995 in the Magic's first and only Finals appearance.

And the Lakers will come in without any of that bearing on them. All they will have is the sour taste of having been in the Magic's position before and the knowledge of how the Celtics managed not to let the soles of their boots off the Lakers' collective necks.

"The job is not finished," Kobe said when someone asked him about his now famous snarl and his sudden lack of a smile. He scored 29 in a struggle that his coach Phil Jackson said was below his standards.

"We're about to kick it up," Kobe said. "You'd better believe it. We're close. You see what I'm saying? This is the Finals."

The Magic are learning the hard way.

Latest NBA Finals Photos

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates beating the Orlando Magic in overtime in Game 2 of their NBA Finals in Los Angeles June 7, 2009. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Reuters

Orlando guard Courtney Lee (11) shoots over Los Angeles center Pau Gasol (16) with .5 seconds left in regulation of Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Lee missed the shot, and the Lakers went on to defeat the Magic in overtime, 101-96, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, Sunday, June 7, 2009. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

MCT

Orlando Magic forward Rashard Lewis (9) laments in the fourth quarter after the Magic miss a shot with .06 left, as the Los Angeles Lakers' Derek Fisher looks on. The Lakers defeated the Magic, 101-96, in overtime of Game 2 of the NBA Finals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, Sunday, June 7, 2009. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

MCT

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 7: Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan and father Danny Kwan attend Game Two of the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic at Staples Center on June 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Michelle Kwan;Danny Kwan

Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 7: Producer Sean 'P.Diddy' Combs attends Game Two of the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic at Staples Center on June 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sean Combs

Getty Images

LOS ANGELES - JUNE 7: Jameer Nelson #14 of the Orlando Magic shoots against the Los Angeles Lakers during Game Two of the 2009 NBA Finals at Staples Center on June 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jameer Nelson

NBAE/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES - JUNE 7: Luke Walton #4 of the Los Angeles Lakers defends against Rashard Lewis #9 of the Orlando Magic during Game Two of the 2009 NBA Finals at Staples Center on June 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rashard Lewis;Luke Walton

NBAE/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES - JUNE 7: Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic #12 shoots against the Los Angeles Lakers during Game Two of the 2009 NBA Finals at Staples Center on June 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dwight Howard

NBAE/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES - JUNE 7: Kobe Bryant #24 and Lamar Odom #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers hug against the Orlando Magic during Game Two of the 2009 NBA Finals at Staples Center on June 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lamar Odom;Kobe Bryant

NBAE/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES - JUNE 7: Lamar Odom #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks during the post game press conference after Game Two of the 2009 NBA Finals between the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on June 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Jon Soohoo/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lamar Odom

NBAE/Getty Images

Kevin B. Blackistone is a panelist on ESPN's Around the Horn and the Shirley Povich Chair in Sports Journalism at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland. A former award-winning sports columnist for The Dallas Morning News, he lives in Silver Spring, Md.

Magic Proving They Don't Belong originally appeared on Kevin Blackistone FanHouse on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In This Blame Game, Superman Must Look in Mirror

Kevin Blackistone — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:34:00 EST

Filed under: NBA

LOS ANGELES - It was just a month ago when, after a playoff game like the one he just had - which resulted in a loss - Magic center Dwight Howard criticized his coach Stan Van Gundy's use of him. It is hard to win, Howard said, when a player as dominant as he is only gets no more than 10 shots in a game.

Thursday night in the Magic's blowout loss to the Lakers in the tip-off game of the NBA's championship series, Howard got off a grand total of six shots. He made one.

Howard didn't say the obvious after Game 1, but it needs to be pointed out, nonetheless: It will be impossible for the Magic to beat the Lakers with Howard, their most-celebrated player, getting so few shots and hardly making any. But Howard sang a new tune this time.

"I'm not really concerned about the offensive end," he said Friday.

That was the understatement of the day. He should be more than concerned. He should be near panic.

They don't call Howard "Superman" in Orlando for any reason. They call him that because he saves the day, like he did against LeBron James' Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals with a 40-point explosion to close it out.

And the good-natured guy who smiles easily doesn't shy from the moniker. He sported a Superman cape in the dunk contest and allowed the Magic to drape their home arena with a gigantic drape emblazoned with Superman's diamond-enclosed "S."

That was for fun. Now is for real. And the Lakers looked the other night to have found kryptonite for Howard, making him impotent if not invisible.

The Lakers double-teamed Howard, often with two seven-footers, All-Star center Pau Gasol and the prodigious Andrew Bynum. Sometimes they sent the more athletic but 6-10 Lamar Odom to help. Once in a while they employed 6-8 Trevor Ariza.

They all worked. Howard didn't even register one of his thunderous dunks.

"That's a big part of his game," Lakers' coach Phil Jackson said.

"We are going to have to find a way," Van Gundy said, "to get the ball inside more efficiently and be able to play out of that more efficiently."

That is easier said with the pressure the Lakers' perimeter defenders put on the Magic's guards. It was so much pressure that it caused another fissure in the Magic's house. Point guard Rafer Alston complained, not unlike Howard had a month ago, about how Van Gundy underutilized him on Thursday. Alston, who has been filling in much of the season for the injured starting point guard Jameer Nelson, all of a sudden was sharing major minutes with Nelson as he returned to action for the first time in months.

Van Gundy at first dismissed Alston's sniping as an excuse but later admitted that he gave a rusty Nelson too many minutes in such a big game.

Alston said the lost time didn't allow him to establish a rhythm. Neither he nor Nelson penetrated the lane to get the ball to Howard or wide-open shooters too often after the first quarter. That had as big an effect on Howard as the Lakers' double-teams because Howard doesn't score with polished post work. He scores cleaning up after others. He scores with will, something he showed none of in the opener.

Latest NBA Finals Photos

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard breaks into laughter during practice at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, Friday, June 5, 2009. The Magic play the L.A. Lakers in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

MCT

The Orlando Magic practice at the Staples Center in preparation for their Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the L.A. Lakers in Los Angeles, California, Friday, June 5, 2009. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

MCT

Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu talks about the changes they must make for Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the L.A. Lakers during practice at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, Friday, June 5, 2009. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

MCT

Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu relaxes before boarding the team bus following practice at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, Friday, June 5, 2009. The Magic play the L.A. Lakers in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

MCT

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard practices his free throws during practice at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, Friday, June 5, 2009. The Magic play the L.A. Lakers in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

MCT

Orlando Magic forward Rashard Lewis works on his three-point shot during practice at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, Friday, June 5, 2009. The Magic play the L.A. Lakers in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

MCT

L.A. Lakers Pau Gasol talks about their 25 point victory over the Magic in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, during practice at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, Friday, June 5, 2009. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

MCT

L.A. Lakers Lamar Odom, left, and Andrew Bynum, practice at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, Friday, June 5, 2009. The Lakers play the Orlando Magic in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

MCT

The L.A. Lakers' Lamar Odom practices at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, Friday, June 5, 2009. The Lakers play the Orlando Magic in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

MCT

L.A. Lakers Derek Fisher, left, and Andrew Bynum, share a laugh during practice at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, Friday, June 5, 2009. The Lakers play the Orlando Magic in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

MCT

Here is an irony that we were reminded of Thursday: defense may win championships, but NBA Defensive Players of the Year - like Howard was this season - rarely do.

Last season was an aberration when Kevin Garnett took home both titles in Boston. (The individual defensive award hadn't been born when Bill Russell's still nonpareil shot-blocking and defensive rebounding was sewing up championship after championship for the Celtics half a century ago.)

Before Garnett, Ben Wallace accomplished the double with the early-millennium Pistons. Hakeem Olajuwon pulled down both honors with the Rockets. Dennis Rodman accomplished the twofer with Chuck Daly's Pistons. And Michael Cooper did it with Magic Johnson's Lakers.

That's it.

That is the club Howard, this season's NBA Defensive Player of the Year, is trying to join. But its history is particularly ominous for him as he and his Magic teammates try to crawl out of this early 0-1 divot - or shallow grave, some of us believe - to the Lakers in this edition of The Finals.

The reason is that all of those defensive honorees who also shared the Larry O'Brien Trophy had something else going for them that Howard does not. All were either potent scorers in the post, or played with prolific scorers all around them.

Garnett is a career 20-point per game scorer with an outside shot and a plethora of post moves that sometimes remind of Olajuwon's patented Dream Shake. Olajuwon was averaging 27 points per game when he was leading the Rockets to consecutive titles.

Rodman played with an Isiah Thomas-Joe Dumars backcourt that scored upwards of 40 a night. Michael Cooper was part of Showtime.

Howard is neither a potent scorer nor surrounded by consistently prolific scorers. Hedo Turkoglu started out Thursday night looking like a nightmare matchup for Ariza, who was guarding him early. He scored nine points in the first quarter. He scored four the rest of the game.

Rashard Lewis, who was a thorn in the Cavaliers' side, couldn't stick a dart in a cork wall from 10 paces.

Mickael Pietrus, who is the so-called Michael Jordan of France, played as you would expect the Michael Jackson of Neverland to do.

Meanwhile, the Lakers cruised to the century mark on the scoreboard.

If Howard doesn't soon show he's taken offense to his team's lack of scoring, and particularly his own, it will be he who will be without defense for his play. Thursday was a time to point the finger at self.

Kevin B. Blackistone is a panelist on ESPN's Around the Horn and the Shirley Povich Chair in Sports Journalism at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland. A former award-winning sports columnist for The Dallas Morning News, he lives in Silver Spring, Md

In This Blame Game, Superman Must Look in Mirror originally appeared on Kevin Blackistone FanHouse on Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:34:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Magic No Match for Kobe, Lakers

Kevin Blackistone — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:14:00 EST

Filed under: NBA

LOS ANGELES -- With a little more than seven minutes remaining in the opening act Thursday of the Finals on the grand professional basketball stage near Hollywood called Staples Center, the main star came out for what was nothing more than a curtain call.

After all, the show was all but recorded for posterity with the score 89-64. There was no need for a closing act.

But Kobe Bryant shed the purple and gold towel that had been draped around his shoulders like velvet around royalty and strode back to center stage.

It was, however, a welcomed sight, even if your allegiance was with the protagonists who were visiting from Orlando. Kobe had already put on a show worth the price of a $5,900 courtside seat with 36 mostly breathtaking points. But in doing so, he left the audience wondering what else in this renewal of the NBA championship series would be worth watching.
Game 1 of the 2009 NBA title series evidenced why there was so much desire for the Cleveland Cavaliers to make it this far since the defending champions from Boston, anchored by three superstars, did not. Cleveland at least would've provided a supporting actor in LeBron James to counter Kobe's singular command of our senses. Orlando cannot.

"He had the smell," Lakers' coach Phil Jackson said of Kobe after Kobe posted 40 of the Lakers' 100 points in their 25-point victory over Orlando. "He found kind of ... what he wanted to do out there on the floor and carried that game into the second half, just carried the game his way. I thought we went [to Kobe] a little bit too often, but he said, 'Keep coming back; I'm OK,' so we did."

(Not that I would ever question a coach with two fists full of championship rings, but why would you worry about feeding the greatest offensive machine this game has seen since Michael Jordan?)

Game 1 was a contest for the first 15 minutes. Then Kobe returned to the floor with his team trailing by five. He hit a jump shot. Then another and another. He made a steal. He found Derek Fisher for a wide open three-pointer. He made a turnaround jump shot fading away. He made a running shot. He fed Lamar Odom for a dunk. He fed Pau Gasol for a jump shot. And he closed the first half with a layup in traffic.

New score at the break -- Lakers 53-43. The Magic never had a chance and won't.

The Magic talked a good game afterward. They pointed out it was just one game and it wasn't the first time the first game of the best-of-seven title tilt turned into a blowout. Dwight Howard, aka Superman, didn't even suggest his coach Stan Van Gundy didn't have a clue about what he was doing because Howard only got six shots in 34 minutes. He made one. The rest of his 12 points came from the free throw line.

Latest NBA Images

LOS ANGELES - JUNE 4: Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic speaks during the post game press conference after Game One of the 2009 NBA Finals at Staples Center on June 4, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Jon Soohoo/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dwight Howard

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LOS ANGELES - JUNE 4: Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks during the post game press conference after Game One of the 2009 NBA Finals at Staples Center on June 4, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Jon Soohoo/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kobe Bryant

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LOS ANGELES - JUNE 4: Lamar Odom of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks during the post game press conference after Game One of the 2009 NBA Finals at Staples Center on June 4, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Jon Soohoo/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lamar Odom

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LOS ANGELES - JUNE 4: Head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers Phil Jackson speaks during the post game press conference after Game One of the 2009 NBA Finals at Staples Center on June 4, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Jon Soohoo/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Phil Jackson

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LOS ANGELES - JUNE 4: Head coach of the Orlando Magic Stan Van Gundy speaks during the post game press conference after Game One of the 2009 NBA Finals at Staples Center on June 4, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Jon Soohoo/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Stan Van Gundy

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LOS ANGELES - JUNE 4: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots against Mickael Pietrus #20 and Dwight Howard #12 during Game One of the 2009 NBA Finals at Staples Center on June 4, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Juan O. Campo/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mickael Pietrus;Dwight Howard;Kobe Bryant

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LOS ANGELES - JUNE 4: Mickael Pietrus #20 of the Orlando Magic shoots against Andrew Bynum #17 and Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers during Game One of the 2009 NBA Finals at Staples Center on June 4, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Juan O. Campo/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Pau Gasol;Andrew Bynum;Mickael Pietrus

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LOS ANGELES - JUNE 4: Mickael Pietrus #20 of the Orlando Magic shoots against Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers during Game One of the 2009 NBA Finals at Staples Center on June 4, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Juan O. Campo/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mickael Pietrus;Pau Gasol

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LOS ANGELES - JUNE 4: Hedo Turkoglu #15 of the Orlando Magic shoots against Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers during Game One of the 2009 NBA Finals at Staples Center on June 4, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Juan O. Campo/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Pau Gasol;Hedo Turkoglu

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Meanwhile, the big men for the Lakers -- Gasol and Andrew Bynum -- combined for 25 points and 17 rebounds. They have post moves. Howard has one, a spin to the rim, and the Lakers didn't allow him to employ it. The only other way Howard impacts the scoreboard is by cleaning up missed shots or getting alley-oop passes from his penetrating points guards. The Lakers didn't allow Rafer Alston or Jameer Nelson, who returned from injury, to get into the paint. That turned Howard into little more than a prop.

It seemed to many observers, including me, that going into this game it was the Magic that created the most matchup problems. After Thursday, scratch that.

Howard can't guard Gasol and Bynum. Unless Rashard Lewis is hitting his shot, and he wasn't Thursday, he makes his team a man short. Mickael Pietrus, the Michael Jordan of France who comes off the bench, is one-dimensional compared to Lamar Odom, the Lakers' jack-of-all-trades.

And, of course, rookie guard Courtney Lee is no more a Kobe stopper -- my description based on his job order -- than anyone else who has tried.

"After the first quarter, we were totally dominated at both ends of the floor and on the boards," Van Gundy admitted. "So I think the biggest thing for us going forward in this series is, and it's incumbent on me to find this, we need to find a starting point, something we can hang our hat on."

If Stan Van finds it, he should tackle the economy next. The Lakers beat Stan Van's club every way but loose (whatever that cliché means).

The Lakers, not known for their defense, must have played some in keeping the Magic to less than 30 percent shooting. They didn't allow the Magic many second-chance points as they tallied 40 defensive rebounds and a total of 55, or 14 more total rebounds than the Magic. The Lakers shared the ball despite Kobe's one-man show with 18 assists to the Magic's 10. And they Lakers turned Howard into a free-throw shooter, which is the most-trying part of his game and not a place in which he can assert his star power.

This may sound like a knee-jerk reaction given that it is coming after one game, but the Magic don't look like they'll have any kind of answer for the Lakers. They look to be the team that is mismatched in this series. They look like the Cavaliers looked against them, sans a LeBron.

Worse news for the Magic: Kobe wasn't totally on his game Thursday. He missed a lot early and a few late and wound up shooting 34 times to score 40 points. He did add eight rebounds and as many assists, which, if he was much of my brethren's darling like LeBron, he would be subjected afterward to a shower of adulation about having nearly tallied a triple double.

But Kobe isn't LeBron. He's better. And his teammates aren't LeBron's. They're a better cast, too, all of which is about to turn this into a predictably boring show.

Magic No Match for Kobe, Lakers originally appeared on Kevin Blackistone FanHouse on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:14:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kobe's Opportunity to Recast Legacy

Kevin Blackistone — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:10:00 EST

Filed under: NBA

The girlfriend doesn't like Kobe Bryant. He committed adultery, she spat, and is forever tarnished. (Note to self: Not that you should have to be reminded, but stray at your own peril.)

Her sentiment is not among a small minority, like the fans of the Denver Nuggets in the state of Colorado where Kobe was infamously tried, but not convicted, half a decade ago for being a violent adulterer. In the wake of President Clinton's intern affair, a Time-CNN poll found that 35 percent of Americans are so put out by cheating that they think it should be a crime.

There is nothing Kobe can do to change those thoughts about him as a person, and maybe there shouldn't be anything. But he can still manage people's perception of him at what he does best, play basketball, and that opportunity has never been more defined for him in his 13 years in the NBA -- 13 seasons and he's still only 30! -- than it is now.

Kobe has a chance to go from being undeniably great to being arguably -- drum roll, please -- The Greatest.

After all, what Kobe has the opportunity to do over the next two weeks in the NBA Finals is something that's only been done twice in the NBA's greatest era, which was born 30 years ago with the arrival of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. And neither Magic nor Bird was the one to do it.

It is something that the prematurely lauded LeBron James -- whose no-show after his last game of this season proved him to be not so grown up beyond his years after all -- was threatening to do. Kobe is daring to win an NBA championship without another bona fide superstar at his side, pretty much carrying an entire starting five, roster and franchise on his own.

To be sure, look back at the NBA's list of its greatest players over its first half century. It includes Magic and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy, all of whom paired or combined to win all those NBA titles during the '80s. It includes Bird, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale, all of whom did the same for the Celtics over the same stretch.

It includes Dr. J and Moses Malone, who paired on the 76ers team that broke the Lakers-Celtics stronghold on NBA superiority in the '80s. It includes Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, who won Houston's second consecutive title in 1995.

And it includes Michael Jordan, of course, who has been voted the greatest athlete of the last century, and his sidekick Scottie Pippen, who brought Chicago six crowns sandwiched around Houston's pair when Jordan was on hiatus.

Latest NBA Playoff Photos

Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu, of Turkey, leaves the teams basketball practice facility after a team meeting in Orlando, Fla., Monday, June 1, 2009. The Magic will face the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday in the NBA Finals. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard thinks a moment before answering a reporter's question at the team basketball practice facility after a team meeting in Orlando, Fla., Monday, June 1, 2009. The Magic will face the Los Angeles Lakers starting Thursday in the NBA finals. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy answers questions after a team meeting at their practice facility in Orlando, Fla., Monday, June 1, 2009. The Magic will face the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday in the NBA Finals. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Orlando Magic guard Jameer Nelson, who has been injured most of the season and may be activated to play in the finals, walks down the stairs to attend a team meeting at their practice facility in Orlando, Fla., Monday, June 1, 2009. The Magic will face the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday in the NBA Finals. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Orlando Magic guard Rafer Alston leaves the team's basketball practice facility after a team meeting in Orlando, Fla., Monday, June 1, 2009. The Magic will face the Los Angeles Lakers starting Thursday in the NBA finals. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard talks with reporters at the teams basketball practice facility after a meeting in Orlando, Fla., Monday, June 1, 2009. The Magic will face the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday in the NBA Finals. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard leaves the team's basketball practice facility after a team meeting in Orlando, Fla., Monday, June 1, 2009. The Magic will face the Los Angeles Lakers starting Thursday in the NBA finals. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant talks to reporters after practice in El Segundo, Calif., Monday, June 1, 2009. The Lakers will face the Orlando Magic starting Thursday in the NBA basketball finals. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson talks to reporters in El Segundo, Calif., Monday, June 1, 2009. The Lakers will face the Orlando Magic Thursday in the NBA basketball finals. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Los Angeles Lakers' Trevor Ariza talks to reporters after basketball practice in El Segundo, Calif., Monday, June 1, 2009. The Lakers will face the Orlando Magic Thursday in the NBA basketball finals. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

The list was compiled before the '96 season tipped off and, as a result, does not include Tim Duncan -- who undoubtedly will go down as a Top 50 player -- who teamed with list honoree David Robinson to win two titles. It doesn't include Kobe or Dwyane Wade, both of whom joined list member Shaquille O'Neal to win titles in Los Angeles and Miami, respectively. It doesn't include Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen or Paul Pierce, who carried Boston back to the top last season. It doesn't include any of the superstars off the 2004 championship Pistons' team and never will because none of those players will ever go down among the league's best 50 ever.

The exceptions: the Pistons' teams led by maybe the finest point guard ever -- NBA 50 Greatest Players' honoree Isiah Thomas -- which won back-to-back titles as the 80s turned into the 90s. And the first Houston title team in 1994 led by Olajuwon before the arrival of Drexler.

Olajuwon played with no All-Stars in 1994. Isiah played with one All-Star during his Pistons' reign -- Joe Dumars. Kobe is playing with one All-Star this season -- Pau Gasol.

Not long after most of us came to believe that Kobe chased Shaq out of Los Angeles, we asked which of the estranged superstars would win a title without the other. Most of us guessed right in picking the Big Aristotle.

We then said Kobe would have to win a title on his own to make up for the sin of running off Shaq and prove he is as great as or greater than he appears. In one fell swoop over the next two weeks, Kobe can atone for it all. And I'll bet that he does.

Could Magic have run a Worthy-less or Abdul-Jabbar-less Lakers to the finish line first? We'll never know.

Could Bird have pushed a Parish-less and McHale-less Celtics to titles? We'll never know.

Could Jordan have dragged a Pippen-less Bulls to a title? We'll never know that, either.

But we did just learn, again, that it was too much to expect King James to lead his court to a championship without such a Sundance Kid or Robin at his side.

Neither Gasol nor Lamar Odom, who doesn't even start, is a yang to Kobe's yin, either. They are complements to whom Kobe is less likely to relegate his legacy as he approaches its potential apex. He tried that last year and it didn't work. He averaged 34 in the conference finals against Denver -- slightly more than Jordan's record playoff average.

We know how great Kobe is, having been the youngest All-Star at 19 in just his second season as a pro, and having won three All-Star MVPs, a league MVP (he's been shorted), multiple All-NBA First Team and Defensive Team honors, two scoring titles and all those rings -- with Shaq. We know how infamous he is after the trial.

What we're about to find out is how immortal Kobe is. He's already done some things Jordan never did, like drop 81 and put up at least half a hundred in four straight games. A crown with a team like this would be one more, and then some.

Kobe's Opportunity to Recast Legacy originally appeared on Kevin Blackistone FanHouse on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Magic Fan Should Be One Who's Sorry

Kevin Blackistone — Tue, 12 May 2009 18:19:00 EST

Filed under: NBA

As it turns out, Glen Davis is not a Big Baby. He is a Magnanimous Man. And he's more magnanimous than I could ever be under the circumstances.

To be sure, what the husky 6-9, 289-pound Boston Celtics' forward did early Tuesday, two days after hitting the buzzer-beating shot in Orlando to even his team's playoff series with the Magic at two wins apiece, was absolutely unnecessary. Davis apologized for running into a 12-year-old boy, ensconced in Magic gear and seated courtside, as Davis turned to run to his team's bench to celebrate the biggest shot of his career.

The boy's father, Ernest Provetti, demanded an apology from Davis on Monday.

The Boston Globe on Tuesday quoted Davis from a Celtics' shoot around before the tip-off of the series' Game 5 in Boston: "If I've hurt anybody or if I've done any harm to anybody, please forgive me because my intentions were harmless."

Davis said he never saw Ernest Provetti's son, Nicholas, who, by the way, barely budged after Davis bumped him. It was no more than a literal brush with greatness for the kid. Davis went beyond a call of duty that didn't even exist with his effusive apology.

"If I had seen him, I would have picked [him] up, rubbed his head and tried to make him feel better," Davis said. "I'm a big guy. I'm sorry if I hurt anyone."

He didn't. The only damage seemed to be as slight as it was temporary: Nicholas' Magic cap was knocked off his head.

Boston Celtics Photos

ORLANDO - MAY 10: Rajon Rondo #9 of the Boston Celtics rebounds against the Orlando Magic in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Amway Arena on May 10, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rajon Rondo

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ORLANDO - MAY 10: Ray Allen #20 of the Boston Celtics shoots against Dwight Howard #12 and Rashard Lewis #9 of the Orlando Magic in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Amway Arena on May 10, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ray Allen;Dwight Howard;Rashard Lewis

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ORLANDO - MAY 10: Kendrick Perkins #43 of the Boston Celtics shoots against Rashard Lewis #9 of the Orlando Magic in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Amway Arena on May 10, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kendrick Perkins;Rashard Lewis

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ORLANDO - MAY 10: Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic takes the ball to the basket against Kendrick Perkins #43 of the Boston Celtics in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Amway Arena on May 10, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dwight Howard;Kendrick Perkins

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ORLANDO - MAY 10: Rajon Rondo #9 of the Boston Celtics tracks a rebound against the Orlando Magic in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Amway Arena on May 10, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rajon Rondo

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ORLANDO - MAY 10: Glen Davis #11 of the Boston Celtics is defended on his drive to the basket by Tony Battie #4 of the Orlando Magic in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Amway Arena on May 10, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Glen Davis;Tony Battie

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ORLANDO - MAY 10: Rajon Rondo #9 of the Boston Celtics reaches for the ball after stripping Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Amway Arena on May 10, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rajon Rondo;Dwight Howard

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ORLANDO - MAY 10: Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic rebounds against the Boston Celtics in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Amway Arena on May 10, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dwight Howard

NBAE/Getty Images

If there was any damage in real need of repair it was that against civility created by Nicholas' father in what was a crazed rant he issued to the NBA via an email that was reported upon by The Orlando Sentinel's Shannon Owens. Owens wrote that Provetti told the NBA that Davis conducted himself like a "raging animal" with no regard for fans' personal safety.

I don't know if there is a more utterly disgusting characterization of another human being, or one more stereotypically racist for a white man, as is Provetti, to spit about a black man, as is Davis.

This is why media mogul Rupert Murdoch issued a public apology to President Obama earlier this year. Murdoch's New York tabloid, the Post, printed a cartoon lampooning the stimulus bill that had the audacity to compare President Obama, the first U.S. president with an African father, to a violent chimpanzee gunned down by New York police. This is why Howard Cosell and Billy Packer had to explain themselves for referring to black athletes they commented upon on television as monkeys.

This is something many of us have been fighting for centuries, and it is 2009 and it still rears its despicable head.

This is why the only apology in what should be a non-event at a basketball game is due from Provetti, who later Tuesday found it within himself only to dial back his complaint. His original words were an affront to decency.

It is all sad anecdotal evidence of a year-old series of six studies from Stanford and Penn State universities that demonstrated that one of the most-demeaning racial stereotypes ever lodged in the minds of white Americans still exists -- that black citizens are animal-like or ape-like. I'd wager that had, oh, a white player -- especially one for Provetti's Magic, like, say, J.J. Redick - bumped into Nicholas after hitting the game-winning shot, that Provetti wouldn't have sounded a peep, except to describe the player as being overcome with youthful exuberance.

This is not some psychobabble that should be casually dismissed because it has real consequences. Part of the study looked at the impact on the justice system.

"We looked at 183 cases over a 20-year span where a defendant was found guilty of a crime and was eligible for the death penalty," lead author Phillip Atiba Goff, an assistant professor of psychology at Penn State, told the Miller-McCune Center for Research, Media and Public Policy last year. "We looked at any article from the Philadelphia Inquirer that mentioned the incident, up until the sentencing. We coded them for words like 'ape,' 'beast,' 'brute' or 'jungle' -- ape-specific words. It turned out African Americans had significantly more ape-related images ascribed to them than did whites. And among African Americans, the more ape-related images you had in your press coverage, the more likely you were to be put to death."

That's the extreme, of course. But that's why the father's reaction to Davis is so maddening.

Furthermore, the reason he was seated with his son in the front row, the most-expensive seating, was ostensibly so he and his son could experience the NBA up close and personal. That's the danger. Players may run into you. A ball may bounce your way. You may be left with a spilled beverage or cap knocked crooked. Big deal. What a show-and-tell the video of the incident became for Mr. Provetti's boy back at school.

The great thing about sports for all of us is that over the years it has turned into a proving ground that has successfully broken down racial stereotypes in all arenas. I shudder to think what Nicholas is learning from his father's recent actions. I hope they're drowned out by the needless words from a Real Man in Boston.

Magic Fan Should Be One Who's Sorry originally appeared on Kevin Blackistone FanHouse on Tue, 12 May 2009 18:19:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Human Eraser': Era of Sweet Nicknames

Kevin Blackistone — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: NBA

King James. Big Papi. Ocho Cinco, a jersey number.

And those are our best sports' nicknames.

If that's not unimaginative and stale enough, try first initial plus first syllable of last name or first letter, like C-Webb and K-Dub.

Then there are the two-seconds-of-thought nicknames. They use the first and last initials, as in A.I. and T.O. I'll wake you when I'm done.

That is how boring our sports nicknames have become.

I was sadly reminded of that Wednesday evening upon the announcement that Marvin Webster, the 7-foot-1 center who anchored the Supersonics to the 1978 NBA Finals, was found dead in a Tulsa hotel bathtub at just 56 years old. Webster that season averaged just fewer than two blocked shots a game. His nickname: The Human Eraser. How cool was that?

Webster was not alone in pro basketball, particularly during the ABA and post-ABA era, when it came to having a memorable and original nom de guerre. George Gervin was The Iceman. Darryl Dawkins was Chocolate Thunder, which -- in his honor and my hometown's, Washington, D.C., aka Chocolate City -- I now call my brown Mini Cooper. Pete Maravich was Pistol Pete.

Football had a few. Walter Payton was Sweetness. William Perry was The Refrigerator. Kenny Stabler was The Snake. Christian Okoye was The Nigerian Nightmare.

Baseball had Pete Rose as Charlie Hustle. Dennis Boyd was, my favorite, Oil Can. The Big Unit (Randy Johnson) and The Big Hurt (Frank Thomas) are, fortunately, barely still around.

Those of us in the media who once conferred such names -- like an old mentor of mine, Luis Overby, who first tagged Earl Monroe as Black Jesus -- have lost our creativity, or given in to the corporatization of athletes by consumer product marketing. Sports haven't been the same since. As a result, our games have lost any whimsy.

Kevin B. Blackistone is a panelist on ESPN's Around the Horn and the Shirley Povich Chair in Sports Journalism at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland. A former award-winning sports columnist for The Dallas Morning News, he currently lives in Silver Spring, Md.

Deaths in Sports

Marvin Webster, April 6: "The Human Eraser" played nine seasons in the NBA. He was 56 years old. Click through the gallery to see other recent deaths in the sports world.

Rogers Photo Archive/Getty Images

Jobie Dajka, April 7: The former world champion was found dead in his home.

Michael Kienzler, APF / Getty Images

Lou Saban, March 29: The 87-year-old Saban coached the Patriots, Bills and Broncos in his NFL career. He also coached at Miami, Army, Northwestern and Maryland.

NFL / Getty Images

Gus Cifelli, March 26: The former offensive lineman, here in a handout photo from Notre Dame, helped win three national titles for the Irish. He died of natural causes.

Courtesy Notre Dame

Shane McConkey, March 26: The legendary big mountain skier and BASE jumper, pictured here in October 2007, died Thursday in a ski-BASE accident in the Italian Dolomites.

Alfredo Martinez, Red Bull Photo Files

Alysheba, March 27: The winner of the 1987 Kentucky Derby, seen here being ridden by jockey Chris McCarron, was euthanized following a fall in his stall.

Bob Daugherty, AP

George Kell, March 24: The Hall of Fame third baseman played 14 years in the AL with Philadelphia, Detroit, Boston, Chicago and Baltimore. He was a Detroit Tigers broadcaster from 1959 to 1996.

Walt Poddubny, March 21: Drafted 90th overall by Edmonton in 1980, Poddubny played 11 NHL seasons for the Oilers, Toronto, the New York Rangers, Quebec and New Jersey.

Clement Allard, The Canadian Press / AP

Whitey Lockman, March 17: Lockman, who doubled ahead of Bobby Thompson's "Shot Heard Round The World" that clinched the 1951 NL pennant, passed away after a fight with pulmonary fibrosis.

Diamond Images / Getty Images

Alex Simonka, March 14: The U.S. Coast Guard women's basketball coach died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

United States Coast Guard

'Human Eraser': Era of Sweet Nicknames originally appeared on Kevin Blackistone FanHouse on Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Parker's Pregnancy Gets Bad Rap

Kevin Blackistone — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 01:30:00 EST

Filed under: NBA

It is a good thing for Roger Federer that he isn't a woman. Or maybe it is too bad that Candace Parker is. After all, they are in the same boat, but in very different classes of travel. Federer is in first, while Parker appears to be in stowage.

The ship both are sailing on is the Love Boat. Federer announced happily on his Web site Thursday that he is about to become a father. Parker is pictured on the cover of ESPN the Magazine scheduled for release on Friday in full bloom - pregnant.

Federer is not married. Parker is -- now.

But Parker wasn't hitched to her basketball-playing boyfriend, Shelden Williams, until last November, when the pair made news by eloping. A month later, Parker announced she was with child. The baby is due in May, which means Parker was about three months pregnant when she and Williams ran away to get hitched.

The initial news of Parker's blessing wasn't warmly embraced by all, including, oddly enough, by Parker's female boss, L.A. Sparks' owner Kathy Goodman.

"My first reaction," Goodman told the Los Angeles Times, sounding like Phyllis Schlafly, "was to just shake my head. We're inured to this by now so I guess I thought, 'Oh, yeah, she's having a baby. Yeah, of course.' "

Goodman was recalling her disappointment years earlier when the first star of the Sparks, Lisa Leslie, announced her pregnancy during the offseason and missed the regular campaign.

Some other crickets, however, chirped their disappointment in Parker more specifically -- she got pregnant out of wedlock, at just 22 years old and selfishly knowing full well that her team, if not the WNBA, needed her, last year's Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year.

And you thought those fifties' family sitcoms, where men ruled and women knew their place, were relics of the past.

Top Couples in Sports

Tennis star Roger Federer and Mirka Vavrinec
Relationship Status: Dating, expecting first child this summer

Alexander Nikolayev, AFP/Getty Images

Tennis legend Boris Becker and Lilly Kerssenberg
Relationship Status: Will marry on June 12.

Florian Seefried, Getty Images

Supermodel Gisele Bundchen and NFL star Tom Brady
Relationship Status: Reportedly married

Marcel Thomas, FilmMagic

NBA star Marko Jaric and Victoria's Secret supermodel Adriana Lima
Relationship Status: Reportedly eloped on Valentine's Day.

Will Ragozzino, Getty Images

Tennis star Andy Roddick and fashion model Brooklyn Decker
Relationship Status: Currently engaged

Getty Images

Denver Nuggets star Nene and Lauren Prothe
Relationship Status: Reportedly married

Joshua Duplechian, Rocky Mountain News

Golf star Lorena Ochoa and airline executive Dr. Andres Conesa
Relationship Status: Reportedly engaged

New York Giants star Antonio Pierce and his wife Jocelyn
Relationship Status: Married.

Snapshots

Former NFL player Robert Griffith and his wife Amethyst
Relationship Status: Currently married

Albane Navizet

NBA player Mike James and his wife Angela
Relationship Status: Married for 10 years

Roy Abraham

Federer, in the immediate wake of his good fortune with girlfriend Mirka Vavrinec, is being celebrated and congratulated for being at the threshold of parenthood. "Federer to be a dad," most headlines heralded Thursday.

It wasn't unlike the reaction to the news that the Donny Osmond of the NFL, Tom Brady, was about to become a father with a former girlfriend after having found a new one. Or the blowback to the news late last year that Lance Armstrong, who has one son and twins with his ex-wife Kristin Richards, was about to become a father again with his latest squeeze, girlfriend Anna Hansen, who Armstrong found working at his charity.

Parker hasn't been so lucky. Only guys can have all this fun.

Los Angeles Times' columnist Diane Pucin reported Thursday:

Gary Belsky, [ESPN the Magazine] editor in chief, said the [Parker cover] story had been planned and photos shot just before Parker's pregnancy became public -- or noticeable.

"We don't do a lot of female athletes on the cover," Belsky said. "Candace has made it more interesting. She's got Adidas, McDonald's and Gatorade as sponsors; that's a pretty strong big three. But it's still tough to put a woman on the cover for us."

I wonder if a guy who, like Parker, in one year led his alma mater to a second consecutive national title, was national player of the year, an Academic All-America, the first pick of the pro draft, the rookie of the year and league MVP in the pros -- and, oh yeah, helped his team win an Olympic gold medal --- would have trouble getting on the cover of a national sports magazine? Would he have to be pregnant too? (Of course, that would be a story!)

Pucin's story continued with Belsky:

"But ESPN is participating in women's sports month in March, so we thought this would be a good way. But when we found out she was pregnant we had to call and say, 'We can't run these pictures in March.' "

So photo editor Catriona Ni Aolain reconceived the photo and spoke to Parker. "She was a little nervous," Ni Aolain said. "She wanted to know we wouldn't make fun of her in any way."

So ESPN the Magazine emblazoned a smiling Parker on its cover in a white dress cradling her tummy like a basketball next to this headline: "How Big Can Candace Parker Get?"

How crass are we still?

Baby Boom in Sports

Tiger Woods poses with daughter Sam, wife Elin and new son, Charlie. Click through to see photos of sports stars with their children.

Dom Furore, Woods Family

Tiger Woods kisses his son, Charlie Axel.

Dom Furore, Woods Family

After previously keeping it private, American champion ski racer Bode Miller reveals he has a 1-year-old daughter named Neesyn Dacey. "I was not trying to keep it a secret," Miller said.

Alessandro Trovati, AP

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and daughter Harlyn Quinn meet with President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Michelle Obama

Saul Loeb, AFP/Getty Images

NBA star Kobe Bryant with his wife Vanessa and daughters Natalie and Gianna

Andrew D. Bernstein, NBAE via Getty Images

Softball superstar Jennie Finch with her son Ace

Christian Petersen, Getty Images

Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward with his son Jaden

Jonathan Ferrey, Getty Images

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart with his son Cole Cameron

Victor Decolongon, Getty Images

Baseball star Alex Rodriguez with his ex-wife Cynthia and daughters Natasha and Ella

Chris Gordon, WireImage/Getty Images

NBA star Brandon Roy and his son Brandon

Sam Forencich, NBAE via Getty Images

Parker's Pregnancy Gets Bad Rap originally appeared on Kevin Blackistone FanHouse on Fri, 13 Mar 2009 01:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Believe It: NBA Really Does Care

Kevin Blackistone — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 01:30:00 EST

Filed under: NBA

Those NBA Cares public service announcements are so ubiquitous during game telecasts, and are so slick that they appear little more than staged, that they look to be little more than fiction. Then you see Emeka Okafor appear in a report on the nightly news in New York before the sports segment, and your faith is restored.

Charitable Athletes

Before the Bobcats played the Knicks, Emeka Okafor stopped by a public school to try to help a 6-year-old girl suffering from a rare form of acute leukemia. Okafor took a cheek swab test to see if he was a genetic match for the bone marrow she needs to survive. Click through to see other famous athletes' charitable works.

Chuck Burton, AP

Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade presented a South Florida woman with a new house and furnishings for Christmas. Wade's World foundation also vowed to make some payments on the home for the family.

Issac Baldizon, NBA / Getty Images

Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong gave $5 million to his foundation, which helps people affected by cancer. A cancer survivor himself, Armstrong recently announced a comeback to cycling.

J. Scott Applewhite, AP

Michael Jordan pledged $5 million to help upgrade Hales Franciscan High School, a historically African-American all-boys school in Chicago. Considered the greatest player ever, Jordan is a part owner of the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats.

Rick Havner, AP

The University of Arizona received $3.5 million from the Bucks' Richard Jefferson. The veteran forward entered the NBA in 2001 and helped the Nets to two Eastern Conference titles.

Al Bello, Getty Images

A $5 million gift from former NHL star Eric Lindros to support the London Health Sciences Centre is one of the largest one-time donations to the hospital. The 16-year veteran retired from hockey last season.

Ronald Martinez, Getty Images

World No. 1 golfer Tiger Woods gave over $1.3 million to his learning center to help with the education of children. Woods has won 14 major championships, including the 2008 U.S. Open.

Denis Poroy, AP

Through his foundation, tennis great Andre Agassi pledged $1.3 million to help at-risk children. The former No. 1 tennis player won eight Grand Slam titles.

Brad Barket, Getty Images

Former professional wrestler, and now Hollywood movie star, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, donated $1 million to the University of Miami's football facilities renovation fund.

Doug Benc, Getty Images

NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady, a strong voice for Stand up for Darfur, a program aimed at improving education for Sudanese refugees, gave $1 million to the project.

Stephen Dunn, Getty Images

Before the center dropped a dozen on the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night in a Bobcats victory, he dropped by a school in Greenwich Village to try to win something for a little New York girl. Her name is Jasmina Anema. She is six. She is suffering from a rare form of acute leukemia and some of her doctors have suggested she may have no more than two months left to live -- unless someone is found to be a genetic match for her and is willing to donate their bone marrow.

Okafor was one of at least 1,600 people who turned up at P.S. 41 to take a cheek swab test in an attempt to save the little girl's life.

Okafor isn't the only NBA star who has stepped forward for this stricken kindergartner. New Knicks forward Chris Wilcox recently visited Jasmina at the hospital she is in and gave her a Build-A-Bear.

"I have a sister who suffers from Lupus so, unfortunately, she is in and out of the hospital and has undergone chemotherapy," Wilcox told Newsday. "I just can't bear to see a 6-year-old who literally could die if we don't find her a match soon."

Jasmina has undergone daily rounds of radiation and chemotherapy to fight the potentially fatal sickness. Her mother, Theodora, told the New York Daily News that the treatments have caused her daughter's hair to fall out and filled her mouth with sores, sometimes making it impossible for her child to speak. Jasmina's immune system has dangerously weakened.

"The leukemia is growing faster than the chemo can kill it," Jasmina's mom said.

Jasmina, who is black, was just diagnosed with her deadly affliction in January after her mother took her to the doctor for what the mother suspected was a minor toe infection. Blood work tested positive for NK-cell leukemia. Organ donation in the black community has lagged behind that in the general public, despite the black community being in heightened need for donations due to some diseases it suffers from at a disproportionate rate.

Jasmina's particular situation isn't lost on another NBA star, either: Paul Pierce.

"As a father myself, it is awful to see such a little girl have to fight such a challenging disease like leukemia," Pierce said on his Web site, PaulPierce.net. "I encourage the African-American community to join the National Registry to help children like Jasmina."

These NBA guys really do care.

Believe It: NBA Really Does Care originally appeared on Kevin Blackistone FanHouse on Sun, 08 Mar 2009 01:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sir Charles Has 'Gotta Get Out'

Kevin Blackistone — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:40:00 EST

Filed under: NBA

In one of his best routines, the late, great comedian Robin Harris hilariously criticized discriminatory sentencing in our judicial system by pointing out that if a black legend was serving time then there should be no question about sending a white legend behind bars too for a similar offense.

"They pick out who they wanna go to jail," Harris scoffed. "Like they don't know if Pete Rose gotta go. Sheeeet. Sheeeet. James Brown in jail; Pete Rose gotta go. Gotta go, gotta go!"

Harris' stand-up routine jumped to mind after it was announced on Monday that Charles Barkley was being sent to jail for at least five days next month after pleading to charges of driving under the influence of alcohol as a first-time offender in Scottsdale, Ariz., back on New Year's Eve. He'll have to spend time under the watch of the irascible (and that's putting it mildly) Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who treats our laws like his own and has been under fire for years from organizations like Amnesty International, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Anti-Defamation League.

Barkley wound up upstanding. He 'fessed up after he sobered up.

He was suspended from TNT, where he was a popular NBA analyst with Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson on their Emmy Award winning show. He was returned to the airwaves last Thursday and publicly apologized for the incident with what sounded and appeared to me to be great contrition.

"Clearly, everybody knows I got a DUI," he said on the broadcast. "That is unacceptable, 100 percent my fault. I screwed up, I made a mistake. I'm sorry, I apologize.

"First of all, every person who is drunk thinks it is OK to drive. But seriously, if you have a drink, seriously think about it. If I have had a glass of wine or a beer, that is different. But if I had something to drink, I will seriously think and not get behind the wheel."

I'm not sure what he meant by saying "that is different," but I think he learned a lesson many of us have not and will not till we too are busted before, hopefully, we hurt anyone or worse.

I just wonder about the penalty against the backdrop, recalling Robin Harris's quip, of celebrities like Nicole Richie, who got out of a four-day sentence for driving under the influence of drugs in Los Angeles County after an hour behind bars, and Paris Hilton, who originally got out of a 45-day sentence for violating probation on alcohol-related and reckless-driving charges in L.A. County after less than four days. After public outrage about the appearance that Hilton received special treatment, she was scooped up at her manse and sent back to the hoosegow.

So, to borrow from Robin Harris, if Nicole and Paris didn't at first have to do all their time, Chuck better not. Gotta get out, gotta get out!

Kevin B. Blackistone is a panelist on ESPN's Around the Horn, the Shirley Povich Chair in Sports Journalism at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, and a frequent sports opinionist on other outlets. A former award-winning sports columnist for The Dallas Morning News, he currently lives in Silver Spring, Md.

Sir Charles Has 'Gotta Get Out' originally appeared on Kevin Blackistone FanHouse on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Baylor Deserved Better From Clips Owner

Kevin Blackistone — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:48:00 EST

Filed under: NBA

On the face of it, it would appear that Elgin Baylor doesn't have much reason to sue his former boss, Clippers' owner Donald T. Sterling, for racial and age discrimination.

After all, Baylor, who is black, worked for Sterling for 22 years as vice president of basketball operations -- a long way of saying general manager -- before resigning last October at 74 years old. And a three-toed sloth can count on one paw how many times the Clippers made the playoffs during Baylor's near-quarter-of-a-century reign.

But if there is one reason other than his infamously miserly ways -- which for so long deprived what fans the Clippers have of any hope -- that Sterling should have had his membership in the NBA owners' club revoked, it is his unseemly business practices outside of the basketball arena.

Sterling grew his fortune in real estate in the Los Angeles area. And in August 2006, the U.S. Department of Justice sued Sterling on charges of refusing to rent apartments to black families and families with children. The Feds said Sterling and his wife, Rochelle, and their family trust not only refused to rent to prospective tenants of color, but also treated those of color they did rent to poorly and misrepresented the availability of apartments to them in the city's Koreatown section. The Feds further alleged that Sterling and his family refused leases to prospective black tenants in Beverly Hills and to families with children looking to rent apartments the Sterlings owned or managed in Los Angeles County.

That came on the heels of a November 2005 order by a federal judge that ordered Sterling to pay nearly $5 million in fees to plaintiffs' attorneys who charged Sterling discriminated against black and Hispanic tenants. The attorneys represented the nonprofit Housing Rights Center and the $5 million judgment at the time was thought to be one of the largest housing discrimination awards in history.

On top of Sterling's distaste for people of color who can't dribble a basketball, shoot it or rebound it, there was Sterling's 2003 courtroom testimony that he regularly paid a Beverly Hills woman, Alexandra Castro, for sex. Sterling's misogyny shown through when he dismissed Castro as a $500-a-trick "freak" with whom he coupled "all over my building, in my bathroom, upstairs, in the corner, in the elevator."

Baylor alleged in his lawsuit that Sterling underpaid him relative to other league club officials with similar title and responsibility. A lot of NBA players unfortunate enough to have played for the Clippers probably could make a similar claim. Baylor charged that Sterling exercised a patronizing attitude toward black players.

It would have been nice, of course, if Baylor had raised these concerns so publicly during his time under Sterling's thumb. "One thing to remember about Elgin," explained Baylor's attorney, former Johnnie Cochran lieutenant Carl Douglas, at a press conference Thursday morning, "he's humble. He's poised. He's gracious. It's not in his nature to rock the boat."

Baylor, a proud and vain man, is hurt by the manner in which Sterling severed ties with him last year. Baylor thought he deserved better after coming to be viewed from afar as a basketball boob given his long tenure overseeing one of the NBA's least-successful franchises in history. Baylor long ago, after all, suffered one of the cruelest ends to a sports' playing career as there has been.

Baylor all but revolutionized the game with his athleticism -- a combination of size (6-foot-5, 225 pounds), strength, speed, quickness, jumping and shooting ability. Long before LeBron, Kobe and Michael, Dr. J and Connie Hawkins, Baylor was playing basketball like a trapeze artist, suspending himself in air and floating to the basket well above the heads of mere mortal hoopers. He could slash to the bucket in a blink and pull-up on that proverbial dime and drop a soft jump shot through the rim.

On Dec. 11, 1960, Baylor became the first player in NBA history to score more than 70 points when he dropped 71 on the Knicks. The 61 he scored in Game 5 of the 1962 NBA Finals is still a Finals record. Baylor was so unstoppable an offensive force that he was named to the All-NBA First Team an astonishing 10 times.

The only thing that could slow Baylor was injury. First he blew out his knee in 1965 and fought forever to regain the ability to score 30 per game with ease. Five years later he ripped an Achilles' tendon and nine games into the '70-71season decided he didn't want to play anymore as a shadow of himself.

The tragedy: the Lakers immediately went on a pro franchise-record 33-game winning streak and won the championship that Baylor never did.

Baylor long has been an aggrieved soul no matter his Hall of Fame induction over 30 years ago. The Sterling treatment must have stung. I can understand Baylor's biting back, and applaud it.

It's always been somewhat baffling how NBA commissioner David Stern, who has been so overtly concerned about his league's image, has let a guy like Sterling remain seated at his boardroom table. If there was one thing Major League Baseball did right under Bud Selig's lead it was to ban Marge Schott from its ranks as owner in the second half of the 1990s for her repeated racially insensitive statements and actions. Sterling should by now have suffered the same fate. Black players who make up three-quarters of NBA rosters should have demanded it.

Maybe Baylor will be Sterling's comeuppance in the NBA.

Kevin B. Blackistone is a panelist on ESPN's Around the Horn, the Shirley Povich Chair in Sports Journalism at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, and a frequent sports opinionist on other outlets. A former award-winning sports columnist for The Dallas Morning News, he currently lives in Silver Spring, Md.

Baylor Deserved Better From Clips Owner originally appeared on Kevin Blackistone FanHouse on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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