The best thing about this Heat-Mavericks NBA Finals matchup is that even if you’re not a fan of either team, you still have reason to be excited as a basketball fan. Although only one team will be honored, both squads feature players deserving of a championship.
In Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd have a chance to be fitted for much-deserved rings. The Mavericks, while consistently competitive, have been unable to make it out of the West to compete for a title in the conference the Lakers and Spurs dominate.
I know I doubted Nowitzki’s ability to maintain a high level of play a week ago, but there’s no denying his dominance in the Mavs’ three-straight wins to end Oklahoma City’s resilient run. He was a man possessed, taking advantage of every opportunity he could while the young Thunder tried to establish a rhythm.
But if greatness is only defined by championships, it would be a tragedy for Nowitzki to miss such honor and distinction in his impressive career. By the same token, Lebron James detractors can say what they will about his role with the Heat — but he qualifies by the same logic applied to Nowitzki.
James is a juggernaut, every bit as talented as advertised and exponential times better than his most verbose opponents will ever dare admit. We all laugh at the Bad Teacher trailer when Jason Segel yells, “It’s the only argument I need, Shawn!” at a student during a heated LeBron James-Michael Jordan debate. (Skip to 1:53). It’s time to put that argument to bed.
Kidd would also like to see Nowitzki mentioned in the same breath as Larry Bird. That comparison sparks argument predicated on the ever-elusive championship.
Miami Heat fitted above via CraniumFitteds.com.
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Tiki Barber should probably stop talking. Within the year of his NBC talk-show dismissal, Barber declared his desire for a return to pro football. But this week, in a move equally despicable to leaving his then-pregnant (with twins!) wife for a 23-year-old intern, Barber fought for more negative yards when he compared himself to Anne Frank.
What’s worse is that Barber made the analogy when describing the tumultuous aftermath of said-affair with the 23-year-old intern.
Barber described life at the bottom to Sports Illustrated‘s L. Jon Wertheim and discussed how his agent, Mark Lepselter, remained supportive through his tribulations. Wertheim writes, “Barber … went into hiding in the attic of Lepselter’s house in New Jersey.”
“Lep’s Jewish,” Barber told Sports Illustrated, “and it was like a reverse Anne Frank thing.”
Is that so? Wertheim credited Barber for his “alertness” following this Anne Frank simile; but, at the very core, it’s a terribly inappropriate analogy.
Things happen in all of our lives that really suck. Not every issue is deal with easily. But being pursued by gossip columnists for a story that will fade within a week is never the same as hiding from Nazi forces during the Holocaust. Never.
Not even close.
Shield your eyes from shame with the Mitchell & Ness Giants throwback fitted below from MyFitteds.com.
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Angel Navedo is a New York-based writer, specializing in sports, streetwear, frivolous spending, and various other subjects that bring shame to his family. You can learn more about him at thatsangel.com, or follow him on Twitter because that’s what people do now.
