The MJ controversy

With Michael Jordan's recent comments that he could put up 100 points in todays NBA, I just had to chime in. This isn't the first time that an old guard player has gone off about the quality of play in the modern NBA; I've heard Oscar Robertson rip the league too. I think it is ridiculous for MJ to say he could score 100 points. I kind of hope Kobe does it just to shut him up. The talent pool for the NBA is WAY bigger now then in Jordan's time. Basketball is truly a world sport now, ironically enough thanks in part to the dream team. Look at the Lakers, their second best player is Pau Gasol. The second best team in the world now is probably the Spanish National team. When MJ played, the depth of international talent was much lower. MJ was on a whole different level than everyone else when it came to conditioning. Now I think it is a different story with many more athletes getting in better condition. Just look at Lebron, man. Don't let MJ fool you, there is still plenty of physical defense in the NBA (ahem, Ron Artest). I mean, did you watch the Finals last year? It was a slugfest!

Slim's Sneaker History

It's been a while since I've written about kicks, as nothing new has really caught my eye enough to inspire a post. So I've decided to take a moment to let you in on how my sneaker obsession began. I'm sure you're just dying to know. I trace the obsession back to my days in the first grade, when my good friend Ryan, of Half Court Heave fame, moved in next door to the Mayfields on good ole Shuman Lane in Finneytown.

Up until this point, I had never owned a pair of Nike Airs and it wasn't until I saw Ryan and his older brother rocking them that I began to covet them more than anything else in the world. My desire to own a pair grew so strong that one time, while eating at a restaurant with my family, I noticed a waitress wearing some and loudly exclaimed, "She's wearing Nike Airs!"

One morning after a sleepover at Ryan's house, I noticed a pair of black and white Nike Air trainers sitting in the basement. They were an old pair of Ryan's brother's shoes and they fit me perfectly. I asked if I could buy them, despite being pretty worn in, and before long a deal was struck for $5-10. It should also be noted that after Alonzo Mourning was traded to Miami, I bought my second Starter jacket from his brother which was a Miami Heat pullover.

I remember walking around in my used kicks and looking at the Nike Air logo on the back of my heel to soak in the glory of wearing a true pair of Nike Airs. Yeah, I was a dweeb. From this point on, an obsession was born. The obsession wouldn't be fully realized until after graduating college, but the seed had been planted nonetheless.

If I still have your attention, take a moment to marvel at some of the freshest sneakers I rocked during my formative years.

Throwback Posterization: MJ Throws Down on Tree Rollins

I neglected to post a Throwback Posterization yesterday, so I'm doing one on a Friday this week to get you pumped for the weekend. This week's throw down is courtesy of the greatest of all time, Michael Jordan. I'm not entirely sure what season this is from but judging by his teammates and what appears to be Jordan 3's on his feet, I'm pretty sure it's from the '86-87 season.

Jordan catches a pass on the perimeter and does his patent palm-the-ball pass fake to Charles Oakley on the baseline, which breaks the ankles of the Hawks' Cliff Levingston. With his defender falling to the floor, Jordan takes it to the hoop as 7-footer Tree Rollins mans the paint. Taking just one dribble before taking off, MJ skies over Rollins for a textbook Jordan dunk. Rollins has good position to contest the dunk, but Jordan's teammate Earl Cureton cuts to the basket right before Jordan gets to the rim which distracts Tree. After the dunk, Jordan runs down the court with some serious swagger that foreshadows the superstar he would become.

I also want to point out that Tree Rollins became a running joke in my neighborhood when I was growing up because he had a funny name. Kiki Vandeweigh was another player whose name we ragged on. My brother and I even made up a song/story about him in which he was the narrator's best friend and ultimately died. I'm serious. I can still remember the melody which was likely ripped off from some other song.

Throwback Posterization: Kukoc Takes It To Zo

For those who don't know, Alonzo Mourning was my favorite player growing up. When he was traded there in 1995, I became a Miami Heat fan. Zo was regarded as one of the best shot blockers throughout the 90s, but as with any shot blocker, he got dunked on quite a bit too. For this week's Throwback Posterization, I present you Toni "The Croatian Sensation" Kukoc dunking on Mourning. Yeah, that really wasn't his nickname. This dunk is from the first round of the 1995 NBA Playoffs. The Bulls would go on to beat the Hornets three games to one, but would lose to the Orlando Magic in the following round. This was Jordan's first trip back to the playoffs since his infamous attempt at a baseball career.

Mourning hits a nice hook shot and as he's getting back on defense, he notices that Kukoc has an open lane to the basket. Larry "Grandmama" Johnson is in Zo's way as he's trying to defend Kukoc, so he shoves his own teammate out of the way. This moment is very likely indicative of the tension that grew between Mourning and Johnson. Mourning closes out too much on Kukoc, which opens up a small path to the rim. Kukoc makes a slight change of direction to get a step on Mourning and then takes it strong to the basket to dunk it over Zo's outstretched arm.

Thursday Throwback Posterization: Barkley Dunked On by 3 Bulls

This week, we have Charles Barkley during his 76ers days getting dunked on by three different players on the Bulls. I'm not entirely sure if this is all in the same game, but all three dunks are at the Chicago Stadium, so it is possible.

For the first dunk, Scottie Pippen rebounds a missed shot by Barkley, takes it coast to coast, and runs right through two 76ers to deliver the jam over Sir Charles. This sequence makes it pretty clear why Barkley got fed up playing for Philly back then. His teammates basically watch Pippen go in for the dunk, while Barkley actually makes an attempt to get the block. Scottie gets some serious air on that one.

The second Bull to victimize Barkley is none other than Michael Jordan. MJ gets the pass down low, spins around the defender, and serves it up so hard that Barkley falls straight on his ass. I love how Jordan hangs on the rim for a moment looking down at Barkley as if to say, "Don't even try to block me, son."

Lastly, Jordan initiates the fast break off of a Sixers' turnover and finds Horace Grant running the floor with a perfect bounce pass. Grant, who unfortunately isn't wearing his famed Rec Specs, takes it up strong over Barkley. Because the video quality looks different on this dunk, it makes me question if it's from the same game as the first two. But Barkley's defeated body language after the dunk makes me suspect that it could be from the same game.

Don't worry, Charles. There's brighter days ahead playing alongside Kevin Johnson and Dan Majerle in Phoenix. I hate to break it to you though, but in the end, the Bulls get the best of you once again. Sorry, Chuck.

All Good Things Come to an End

One by one, the Thunder's streaks have both been stopped. On Tuesday, their 9-game winning streak was brought to an end at the hands of the Suns (without Steve Nash) after a last second floater by Jason Richardson. Jeff Green nearly hit a desparation three with under a second remaining, but it just missed.

And last night, Kevin Durant's streak of scoring at least 25 points or more was ended at 29 games in a 95-87 loss to the Spurs. Durant appeared to be on track to keep his streak alive as he finished the half with 17 points, but in the second half the Spurs held him to just 4 points.

Despite not reaching 30 games of 25 points or more, KD's streak puts him in good company. Allen Iverson (ok, maybe A.I.'s not the best of company) had a streak of 27 games with 25 points or more, while Jordan managed two 40 game streaks in his career.

I have a feeling KD's name will end up near the top of that list again.

To add insult to injury, with just under three minutes left and the Spurs up by one, Manu Ginobli somehow managed to do this:

Jordan Ballin' on Kenny Rogers

Yes, I'm serious. Thanks to J.E. Skeets of Ball Don't Lie and the Basketball Jones, I present to you footage from Kenny Roger's "Classic Weekend" in 1988. The video features NBA legends Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Dominique Wilkins, as well as country music legend Kenny Rogers. There are several pretty amazing moments in the game and some hilarious lines from the late Lakers play-by-play legend, Chick Hearn. That sure is a lot of legends in one video.

Air Stoner

Jordan Exhibit at the Basketball Hall of Fame a Corporate Affair?

I just came across this article from the New York Times lamenting that the new Jordan exhibit at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA was put together with Nike/Jordan Brand having complete control. The exhibit is to honor Jordan's induction, which will take place on September 11. I'm not quite as disillusioned by the whole thing. I'm even considering making a trip to go check it out. Sure, it'd be nice to have some artifacts like his rings or game worn shoes and jerseys, but judging by the few pictures I've seen, it looks to be pretty sweet. And besides, there was no other athlete before Jordan to turn his image into a business like he did with Nike, so it feels somewhat appropriate. I can see where they're coming from in the article, but I'm still interested to see it.

On the subject of corporations honoring Jordan's induction into the hall of fame, here's Gatorade's contribution, created with 19,000 Gatorade bottles in the south side of Chicago.


Photo of exhibit courtesy of the New York Times