Worst Ever?

Posted by BMWilson comments (0)

So, I successfully missed my one week window to discuss the Superbowl ads, which sort of sucks because I had my top 10, bottom 10, biggest winner, and biggest loser all chosen... but procrastination got in the way. So since that's old news by now, how about that NBA Dunk Contest?


I should let it be known that I'm a big NBA fan, not that it matters, because ANYONE could see how horrible that display was. Let's look at the facts, there was only ONE dunk that scored a 50 in the whole contest (and another dunk that was worthy of a 50) and there were TWO dunks that scored below 40 points that weren't misses... I don't believe I've ever seen a worse dunk contest, no I haven't seen a worse dunk contest. Looking at the players, it was clear that they didn't want to be there or that they were just happy to be there. You didn't see on anyones face that they WANTED to win, that this event was something that they dreamed of being in.. and that's a problem.

Should the dunk contest be scratched, then? I'm not sure that the NBA CAN scratch the event, its probably more iconic of All-Star weekend than even the All-Star game. Ask me who won the 2000 All-Star MVP award and I'd tell you who cares, now ask me who won the 2000 Dunk Contest and I could tell you that not only did Vince Carter win it, but that he had 3 dunks that were 50s. Hell, I could tell you the 3 dunks were the 360 windmill slam, the bounce pass by T-Mac that Carter caught in the air, put it between his legs to then slam it in, and of course his sticking his arm in the rim slam. So I don't think the dunk contest can nor should be scratched.

So then what needs to be done to fix the event? Well it's obvious, getting athletic freaks in the contest who WANT to be there and that will take it seriously. Paul Pierce campaigned for the NBA to include him in the 3 point contest and (even though I dislike anything Celtic) Pierce won the contest. He was pumped up the whole way. The season before last, Rudy Gay wanted to be in the dunk contest and to get the fans involved (even having fans send in their own youtube videos of them dunking of which he'd perform one of their dunks) and while he didn't have the athleticism, he at least WANTED to be there and was TRYING. The dunk contest used to be a forum where you'd see a highly talented player just as he was breaking through into the NBA ranks, a guy with something to prove and could be legitimized by the dunk contest. Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter, Steve Francis, T-Mac... the list is long. But now, not so much.

My solution? Why not bring in some of the All-Star snubs to the game? Josh Smith was a former competitor and winner in the dunk contest and getting snubbed would likely fire him up to take his anger out on the rim. Andre Igoudala is another player that while not quite on All-Star level is a highly athletic player that has proven creativity in his 2006 Dunk Contest challenge, he'd have another opportunity to beat Nate Robinson. Or how about bringing in a player who loves the limelight, like a Michael Beasley? Insert those three names, eliminate Gerald Wallace and Shanon Brown (even though as a Laker fan, it pains me to say that) and I think we have a dunk contest that the fans could properly enjoy. Not only does inserting such players make fans more happy, but it causes a young guy like DeMar DeRozan to get more excited and to step up his game also. So there you have it, that's my final fantasy... until next time.

In t-minus 15 hours, it will have arrived. Greater than any other known force to our television sets (and for that matter computers); yes, that once a year event that inlocks just over 2 of every 5 eyeballs in the US. The Superbowl (the 44th edition) is nearly here. We have two teams; the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints going head to head for all the marbles... but is this the battle that the vast majority of Americans are tuning in to watch is the question?

I have no doubt that America loves its football, but to what extent? Are there more people that watch the Superbowl for the commercials themselves (and in some cases the commercials only) as opposed to the drama entrapped within the actual game? I'm sure we all know (or are ourselves) people who watch the Superbowl only so that afterwards we can discuss the commercials that we enjoyed with friends at our leisure (or some while they're working, but hey, its not like anything bad ever happened when working a construction job and not paying complete attention, right?)

Finding an answer to the above question perhaps isn't the key however. The key, I suppose is the question itself. What does that mean for the Pinnacle of American football, has it become just like Christmas and Valentines Day, completely commercialized? Sure there is always the notion of Christ in Christmas, St. Valentine in Valentines Day, and American Football in the Superbowl... It's ALMOST sad to say (I'm an advertising major so I'm not too sad to say it...), but whether the Colts win (come on Peyton Manning!) or the Saints win (I dislike Reggie Bush), the big winner is in the Ads that spark word of mouth and bought products; that's my final fantasy... until next time.

As the dunk slammed into the hoop, it happened; the lights went out, the fireworks exploded, the confetti rained down onto the arena, the galaxy aligned, and our solar system illuminated under the greatness. Kobe Bryant scored point 25,208 and officially passed the logo and all other Lakers on the Lakers’ all time scoring list. For those not in the know, the logo is Jerry West aka Mr. Clutch, he has the distinction to be the only player in NBA history to ever be named the Finals MVP on the losing team because he was that great a scorer especially in the final moments. So to reiterate, Kobe "The Black Mamba" Bryant just surmounted all former greats atop the Lakers scoring list.



So now that Kobe is the top scorer in Laker history, where does he rank on the list of of one of the most successful franchises in all of sports? Kobe has numerous accomplishments to his resume; 4 championship rings, finals MVP, NBA MVP, youngest to reach 25,000 points scored, baptizing Dwight Howard (see video above), and his greatest individual achievement of 81 points (second most all time only to Wilt Chamberlain's 100 points) to name a few. So let's meet Kobe’s main competition shall we?


First up, we’ll start with Kobe’s long time partner in crime, Shaquille O’Neal. Surely Shaq was a beast and it’s a bit hard to say at this point that Kobe is the better player overall, but Shaq only donned the uniform for eight years as opposed to the 12 that Kobe currently checks in at. #24 (Kobe) also has made the all defensive team 7 times to Shaqs 0 times. Next we have Kareem Abdul Jabar, another big man. Kareem has many accomplishments on his resume; it definitely trumps that of Kobe’s. But as a Laker, their accomplishments are much more comparable and when looking at the higher level of competition that Kobe has had to face in this era along with his wider skill range and higher level of excitability, Kobe surpasses the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar… because let’s face it, L.A. is all about the flash and that’s just something that even the greatest of big men, can’t compare to the elite guards at displaying.

Our trip through Lakers’ greatness takes us back to Jerry West. I won’t beat around the bush here. Kobe is a better Laker than West. West hasn’t the career accomplishments nor the statistical success to beat Kobe in any argument. Furthermore just as Kobe has to take the blame for being a part of the reason for that Championship Lakers team disbanding, so should Jerry West take blame in his Lakers team losing 8 times in the NBA Finals.

The last and final contender to Kobe as the greatest Lakers ever is Magic, Earvin Johnson. Earvin came into the league as a beast, leading the Lakers to a finals win and attaining Finals MVP, as a rookie. Magic went onto win 4 more championships, 2 more Finals MVPs, and 3 NBA MVP awards. His stats are also pretty sick after averaging over 19 points, 11 assists and 7 rebounds for his career. So Magic is definitely highly formidable.

Surely a heavyweight battle between Kobe and Magic for the #1 spot on the Lakers all time list, but even my bias for Kobe allows me to realize that the answer is simple and my Final Fantasy FINALLY has reached its endgame. Magic Johnson revolutionized the way the NBA was played probably more than any other player and was the architect of Showtime. LA loves a show, they love their blockbusters… and no player, not even Kobe, has ever been able to give them more of that then Magic Johnson. And if that isn’t enough to convince the Kobe fangirls and fanboys bigger than I of this order then factor in the fact that Magic was essentially kicked out of the NBA by his peers while in his prime for fear of them contracting HIV from him, and what you realize is that what Magic could have accomplished likely would have been much more. Sorry Kobe you’re only #2 on my list and that’s my Final Fantasy… until next time.

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