If it hasn't been realized yet, I am a huge Chicago Bears fan, I am also a huge fan of our division especially now that for the most part we are an extremely talented division. So I started thinking, is there another division in the NFL that is as talented as ours?
Everybody talks about the AFC North with the Steelers, Ravens and Bengals but how good is that division really? Sure the Steelers have been to the Superbowl recently and the Ravens are always a threat up until the post-season however, the Bengals are not consistently good and crawled into the Wildcard game then got blown right out of it. Pittsburgh is getting old and Big Ben did not have a stellar end to this season, Baltimore looked great this post-season but once they lose the likes of Ray Lewis, Ed Reid and Terrell Suggs, what do they have left to maintain their strength at defense not to mention all of the criticism Joe Flacco gets when it comes to being a QB in this league. So while I agree that this division is a scary one and has dominated this league before, its going over the hill instead of just reaching the top.
The NFC North is one of those divisions that has spent years climbing to the top of this hill and now that they are close to reaching the top, they are the division to be reckoned with for years to come. Let's start with the teams in the North.
Green Bay Packers: There isn't better evidence than a Superbowl ring. The Packers have the MVP of the league, young talent and an amazing coaching staff. It's no wonder that they are as good as they are right now. The defense could use some work but it didn't stop them going 15-1 on the season (granted the loss to the Giants in the post-season was pretty ugly) or Aaron Rodgers putting up some gaudy numbers offensively so once the defense gets tweaked around, they are going to be a tough team to beat.
Chicago Bears: This team last year would have made it to the post-season if it wasn't for some serious key injuries to Jay Cutler and Matt Forte late in the year. But now that it is all said and done the Bears have done some serious homework and have put 95% of the pieces in place for this team to make it to the Championship game. Firing Jerry Angelo and hiring Phil Emery was a smart move by the front office because Emery was responsible for drafting some big names in the league like Matt Ryan, Roddy White and Brian Urlacher to name a few. The recent acquisition of Jeremy Bates, Cutler's old QB coach from his Denver years was another genius move by the Bears and a sign that this team is serious about their desire to put a ring on it. The Bates/Cutler tandem was responsible for a Denver team that was second in the league in total yards in 2008 so by getting these two back together and mixing in some Matt Forte and Earl Bennett (hopefully they will draft a good WR this year to add to the pot) will make Chi-town's offense high octane.
Chicago's defense is also doing extremely well. Now while the key players on the defense are slightly on the older side, I don't see any signs of them slowing down. Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Julius Peppers, Israel Idonije and Charles Tillman are not going anywhere any time soon, they look hungry to prove that they want to win and the young corners and safeties that the Bears have looked nothing short of spectacular last year once they worked out the kinks. If this team stays healthy, it's going to be a rough 60 minutes for whoever they play against.
Detroit Lions: This team has learned how to work on all cylinders and they are frightening when they put it all together. Matt Stafford proved this year that he can stay healthy, Calvin Johnson has earned the right to be called Megatron and this defense is intimidating. They do have some little things to work on such as their temper namely Ndamukong Suh's and the Lions also need to find a running back that can take a hit and not get hurt.
Detroit also has something that the two teams mentioned above don't and that is a renewed sense of pride. This team went from being 0-16 on the season to making a post-season appearance and it has revitalized the Lions fans, making Ford Field a deafening arena to play in. Fans are confident that this is the team that they have been waiting for and many experts agree. The amount of support that the fans have put into this team is helping the team itself play better because they want to be the team that Detroit is proud of. The love of football is back in this city and it's adding fuel to the fire.
Minnesota Vikings: Every division has a weak link and for the NFC North, the Vikings is that team but they are not as weak as many people think. Minnesota needs to let the young players get their feet wet and they are scared to do it for some reason. Starting Donovan McNabb was a horrible call and made it really hard for Christian Ponder to learn how to play the game. We all know Jared Allen is a phenomenal defensive player and he is the key to getting a strong team started. He is a motivator. Unfortunately for them, there is a depressing possibility that their superstar running back Adrian Peterson is done for not just the year but for his career. If he gets healthy, then they're fine but if not, Minnesota is going to have to open their wallets to find a veteran that can put up some numbers and teach the young ones how to be great at their position. The receiving corps is pretty good, and the coaching staff is green but definitely learned a lot this season. Minnesota lost some close games last year, went to the NFC Championship game 3 years ago and have potential to grow into something special if they allow the younger players to grow on the field.
There are good teams in every division in the NFL but this is the first time that somebody can talk about the majority of one division as legitimate post-season contenders. The teams in the NFC North are young, strong, smart and prepared. I wouldn't be surprised if the Lombardi trophy came to these cities frequently in the years to come.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Who else thinks it's 50-50 blame for Brady and Welker?
Let's face it, most of us spent our Monday after the Superbowl talking about Tom Brady, Wes Welker, Eli Manning, Mario Manningham, legacies, Hall of Fame worthiness, revenge and how much this game affected both teams coming into it but nobody thought Wes Welker should catch more heat than he's getting after missing his opportunity to seal in the game. We all thought he should be blamed but not as much as Brady should. Well I'm taking the opportunity to explain why Wes Welker and Tom Brady are EQUALLY responsible for the Patriots loss in the Superbowl.
First of all, the regular season "dynamic duo" regularly made this type of pass and catch before the Superbowl. It was all the rage to watch these two teammates tear the field apart. They were the bread to each others butter. However for some reason, Brady was criticized more for the throw in the Championship game than Welker was for having the ball in both his hands and then spitting it out. In fact, some even defended Welker's attempt at a back shoulder catch by explaining how difficult it is to spin in the air. Welker was wide open and he knew it, he had that ball in his hands and couldn't capitalize on it for whatever reason. Yes, Brady knew Welker was wide open too and that's why he should be blamed for not throwing it as well as he could have but he trusted Welker to make that catch similar to the times he had done before and Welker should get blamed for not making the grab.
Secondly, there have many of spectacular acrobatic catches this season. There have been one handed juggles, forward flips and finger tip grabs all of which were completed, raved about and then never heard of again with the exception of Jerome Simpson's end-zone flip which was ESPN's best of the best play for quite some time. This catch was none of those. Mario Manningham's catch was far more superior in execution and reception. Had Welker made that catch, it would have been the catch of the game even though it is expected for him to make such grabs on a regular basis. In fact, if it was any other game, it would have been a routine throw and catch between Brady and Welker. People talk about how reliable those two are and how dependable Welker is for Brady, what makes this catch any different? This is why he should be more responsible for the loss than he is.
Yea losing a Superbowl is rough enough and knowing that for the next week it is all people are going to talk about isn't making the wound any better . So why does it matter who gets blamed more? A loss is a loss in the Pats book. Forget that they said this game isn't being affected by the memories of SB 42 (which I argue is totally false) because whether or not they thought about the revenge factor, the Pats lost a game they could have easily sealed in with a catch that Tom Brady and Wes Welker made frequently before. Now while Tom Brady is the captain of the team, Welker is the most dependable player for Brady to throw to especially since the injured Rob Gronkowski was more productive on the bench than on the field. If Welker wants to be considered an elite receiver in this league he has to be able to step up and take some of the heat off Brady since it was his fault too that the Giants came back to beat the Patriots once again.
First of all, the regular season "dynamic duo" regularly made this type of pass and catch before the Superbowl. It was all the rage to watch these two teammates tear the field apart. They were the bread to each others butter. However for some reason, Brady was criticized more for the throw in the Championship game than Welker was for having the ball in both his hands and then spitting it out. In fact, some even defended Welker's attempt at a back shoulder catch by explaining how difficult it is to spin in the air. Welker was wide open and he knew it, he had that ball in his hands and couldn't capitalize on it for whatever reason. Yes, Brady knew Welker was wide open too and that's why he should be blamed for not throwing it as well as he could have but he trusted Welker to make that catch similar to the times he had done before and Welker should get blamed for not making the grab.
Secondly, there have many of spectacular acrobatic catches this season. There have been one handed juggles, forward flips and finger tip grabs all of which were completed, raved about and then never heard of again with the exception of Jerome Simpson's end-zone flip which was ESPN's best of the best play for quite some time. This catch was none of those. Mario Manningham's catch was far more superior in execution and reception. Had Welker made that catch, it would have been the catch of the game even though it is expected for him to make such grabs on a regular basis. In fact, if it was any other game, it would have been a routine throw and catch between Brady and Welker. People talk about how reliable those two are and how dependable Welker is for Brady, what makes this catch any different? This is why he should be more responsible for the loss than he is.
Yea losing a Superbowl is rough enough and knowing that for the next week it is all people are going to talk about isn't making the wound any better . So why does it matter who gets blamed more? A loss is a loss in the Pats book. Forget that they said this game isn't being affected by the memories of SB 42 (which I argue is totally false) because whether or not they thought about the revenge factor, the Pats lost a game they could have easily sealed in with a catch that Tom Brady and Wes Welker made frequently before. Now while Tom Brady is the captain of the team, Welker is the most dependable player for Brady to throw to especially since the injured Rob Gronkowski was more productive on the bench than on the field. If Welker wants to be considered an elite receiver in this league he has to be able to step up and take some of the heat off Brady since it was his fault too that the Giants came back to beat the Patriots once again.
Monday, January 23, 2012
The Heir to the Brian Urlacher Throne
For many Bears fans, Brian Urlacher is the face of the franchise, the beating heart of the defense and the player we will truly miss when he retires. Although right now, fans, Bears personnel and sports experts alike are bragging about his superior ability to perform at the highest standard every year he has been in the National Football League, there are a select few that I bet are worried about who will take his place once that dreaded year comes when we know that #54 is no more. In my opinion, the heir to the Urlacher throne must be selected within the next few years so as to learn from Urlacher before he's gone. Much like Brett Favre did with Aaron Rodgers up in Green Bay, being able to learn from such a respected player in the league will only help the young linebacker understand the tricks of the trade.
With that in mind, I have put together a list of specific characteristics that the next middle linebacker must possess in order to gain the respect of those who respect Mr. Urlacher so much.
#1: Passion: This is Brian Urlacher's fuel. His love for the game and the position drives him to be nothing less than the best he can be for 60 minutes on and off the field. Even non-Bears fans recognize that for Urlacher, playing in the NFL is not just his job but what he loves to do and nothing will stop him from it. The future middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears must have a passion that floods the stadium, a passion that makes the fans passionate about him.
#2: Athletic: Urlacher's biggest threat to the offense is his unbelievable athletic ability. It always takes more than one offensive lineman to stop him and its not easy to shake off the cobwebs once a running back or receiver is formally introduced to the amount of contact he puts into his tackles. Even his grip is dangerous enough that it has been known to bring down even the toughest of players. Whoever is going to take Urlacher's place in the defense has to be strong and threatening because it is those characteristics that make #54 so praised among many.
#3: Vision: Definitely one of Brian Urlacher's most important attributes is his vision; his eyes never leave the football. Even when the entire play is moving one way and the ball is going the other, Urlacher has the ability to recognize he is being tricked and to redirect himself in the path of the ball. This vision has allowed him to intercept, strip and or recover live footballs and return them for touchdowns or give his offense the opportunity to score one with out risking the opposition doing so first. The new middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears has to be able to see more than just the play, it will be his vision that allows the defense to remain stingy in allowing offenses to move past the line of scrimmage.
#4 Leadership: This should go without saying. Brian Urlacher is a team captain, a role model and a motivator, some of the most important characteristics of a leader. He is always on the sidelines talking to his teammates, learning what went wrong and helping his peers make changes. On the field he is the one person the other ten people watch and listen to in order to get their play right. Nobody is as animated as Urlacher is and nobody is missed more when he is injured. I keep going back to the '09-'10 season when he broke his arm in the season opener against Green Bay and was out for the rest of the season. We went 8-8 and our defense looked disorganized, unenthused and like it was missing something. Urlacher is respected amongst not just his team but the entire NFL and his leadership is the reason for it. Although this player will be the young one in the defense when he begins his starting role, being able to establish his leadership will assist him in the long run gain respect from his peers.
#5 Different: This one is hard for me to explain. There is an intangible in Brain Urlacher that I believe is what makes him #54. Maybe it is a combination of the above 4 attributes or it is something else but there is no other middle linebacker in the NFL right now that is talked about more or admired more for what he does with the position that Urlacher is. I can't quite but my finger on it but it is something that magnetizes us to him. Even if the Bears never win a Superbowl with him on their roster, he is a Hall of Fame player and one of the few non-Superbowl winning players that will be in Canton, Ohio. He truly is an amazing football player. While the intangible is for sure not going to be the same thing between Urlacher and his heir, there has to be something that separates him from the rest of the crowd because otherwise he is just going to be like the other 31 middle linebackers in the league.
As much as it pains me to write this blog, we have to face it, Urlacher will one day retire. Bears fans will be sad when that day comes but if management realizes how important he is to us, they will find someone soon so his essence will remain in that position with the new #54 arrives.
#2: Athletic: Urlacher's biggest threat to the offense is his unbelievable athletic ability. It always takes more than one offensive lineman to stop him and its not easy to shake off the cobwebs once a running back or receiver is formally introduced to the amount of contact he puts into his tackles. Even his grip is dangerous enough that it has been known to bring down even the toughest of players. Whoever is going to take Urlacher's place in the defense has to be strong and threatening because it is those characteristics that make #54 so praised among many.
#3: Vision: Definitely one of Brian Urlacher's most important attributes is his vision; his eyes never leave the football. Even when the entire play is moving one way and the ball is going the other, Urlacher has the ability to recognize he is being tricked and to redirect himself in the path of the ball. This vision has allowed him to intercept, strip and or recover live footballs and return them for touchdowns or give his offense the opportunity to score one with out risking the opposition doing so first. The new middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears has to be able to see more than just the play, it will be his vision that allows the defense to remain stingy in allowing offenses to move past the line of scrimmage.
#4 Leadership: This should go without saying. Brian Urlacher is a team captain, a role model and a motivator, some of the most important characteristics of a leader. He is always on the sidelines talking to his teammates, learning what went wrong and helping his peers make changes. On the field he is the one person the other ten people watch and listen to in order to get their play right. Nobody is as animated as Urlacher is and nobody is missed more when he is injured. I keep going back to the '09-'10 season when he broke his arm in the season opener against Green Bay and was out for the rest of the season. We went 8-8 and our defense looked disorganized, unenthused and like it was missing something. Urlacher is respected amongst not just his team but the entire NFL and his leadership is the reason for it. Although this player will be the young one in the defense when he begins his starting role, being able to establish his leadership will assist him in the long run gain respect from his peers.
#5 Different: This one is hard for me to explain. There is an intangible in Brain Urlacher that I believe is what makes him #54. Maybe it is a combination of the above 4 attributes or it is something else but there is no other middle linebacker in the NFL right now that is talked about more or admired more for what he does with the position that Urlacher is. I can't quite but my finger on it but it is something that magnetizes us to him. Even if the Bears never win a Superbowl with him on their roster, he is a Hall of Fame player and one of the few non-Superbowl winning players that will be in Canton, Ohio. He truly is an amazing football player. While the intangible is for sure not going to be the same thing between Urlacher and his heir, there has to be something that separates him from the rest of the crowd because otherwise he is just going to be like the other 31 middle linebackers in the league.
As much as it pains me to write this blog, we have to face it, Urlacher will one day retire. Bears fans will be sad when that day comes but if management realizes how important he is to us, they will find someone soon so his essence will remain in that position with the new #54 arrives.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Why #23 should retire from Chicago sports with Devin Hester
Let's face it Chicago, the number 23 means a lot to us. Even the younger generations know that the #23 is Michael Jordan's number (the best basketball player of all time) during his tenure as a Chicago Bull and they obviously are aware that #23 is now the number belonging to the NFL record setter Devin Hester for most returns for a TD (now at 18) and will most likely rise since he shows no sign of slowing down or retiring. So why not have 23 retire when Devin Hester does? It seems like the logical thing to do, doesn't it? The opposition may argue that the number is just that a number and taking 23 away from all Chicago jerseys is pointless because it holds no emotional value to us.
So now on to my argument. The #23 should retire with Devin Hester because there will arguably be nobody who can perform the way MJ and Hester have as a Chicago athlete for a long time to come. The case will most likely be that the future athletes who will wear the treasured number will not perform in the same way that these two #23's have and the importance of these records and the honor of wearing the number will fade. Now while there are a few who might disagree that the number is really that important, if you think long and hard are there any other player numbers we respect so much in Chicago sports? There might be a few but none that hold the same number in both basketball and football. So my question to the disbelievers is, why not? Why not retire a number that has been essentially a record setting jersey number from our future jerseys? 6 Championships and 18 returns for a TD, all at the hand of two talented athletes who have the honor of wearing the same number. Sure, Jordan didn't win all of those rings single-handedly but the premise is still the same. If it wasn't for Jordan's thrilling buzzer-beaters and slam dunks, the Bulls might not have had 6 rings to admire in the 90's and Phil Jackson would have had a less difficult decision to make when it came to retiring or wearing rings for good luck with the Lakers.
Devin Hester also has had help. He wouldn't hold the record if it wasn't for a well disciplined special teams group blocking and giving him room to run. But it is his speed and agility that have allowed him to slip past tackles that his teammates have missed not to mention his cunning ability to trick opposing forces into thinking he isn't running when he actually will that makes him so special and why opponents still (and quite possibly always will) view him as a threat when he is in the backfield waiting to make a fool out of whoever kicks directly to him.
Some might say its luck that Hester and Jordan ended up wearing the same number, but why can't it be fate that these two incredible professional athletes have the same number? Maybe Chicago and the number 23 are destined to be together forever, maybe the number represents more than just a form of identification of a player, maybe it is a sign that 23 and records go hand in hand in the Windy City. So again, why not? Why not have #23 rest as the number that has given Chicago sports the pride it has for the players that have worn it?
So now on to my argument. The #23 should retire with Devin Hester because there will arguably be nobody who can perform the way MJ and Hester have as a Chicago athlete for a long time to come. The case will most likely be that the future athletes who will wear the treasured number will not perform in the same way that these two #23's have and the importance of these records and the honor of wearing the number will fade. Now while there are a few who might disagree that the number is really that important, if you think long and hard are there any other player numbers we respect so much in Chicago sports? There might be a few but none that hold the same number in both basketball and football. So my question to the disbelievers is, why not? Why not retire a number that has been essentially a record setting jersey number from our future jerseys? 6 Championships and 18 returns for a TD, all at the hand of two talented athletes who have the honor of wearing the same number. Sure, Jordan didn't win all of those rings single-handedly but the premise is still the same. If it wasn't for Jordan's thrilling buzzer-beaters and slam dunks, the Bulls might not have had 6 rings to admire in the 90's and Phil Jackson would have had a less difficult decision to make when it came to retiring or wearing rings for good luck with the Lakers.
Devin Hester also has had help. He wouldn't hold the record if it wasn't for a well disciplined special teams group blocking and giving him room to run. But it is his speed and agility that have allowed him to slip past tackles that his teammates have missed not to mention his cunning ability to trick opposing forces into thinking he isn't running when he actually will that makes him so special and why opponents still (and quite possibly always will) view him as a threat when he is in the backfield waiting to make a fool out of whoever kicks directly to him.
Some might say its luck that Hester and Jordan ended up wearing the same number, but why can't it be fate that these two incredible professional athletes have the same number? Maybe Chicago and the number 23 are destined to be together forever, maybe the number represents more than just a form of identification of a player, maybe it is a sign that 23 and records go hand in hand in the Windy City. So again, why not? Why not have #23 rest as the number that has given Chicago sports the pride it has for the players that have worn it?
Teams that are more Chicago Bears than the Chicago Bears
I wrote this article after Week 8 of the NFL season after the Chicago Bears beat the Philadelphia Eagles in an incredible fashion. Of course now the Bears are watching the post-season from their couch but it is no thanks to the injuries that plagued them after their victory to the Chargers in Week 10. It's titled "Teams that are more 'Chicago Bears' than the Chicago Bears" because it was at this point in time where the experts still saw the Bears as the underdogs even though the teams experts praised were performing below the standard they had set.
“What teams are more ‘Chicago Bears’ than the Chicago Bears”.
As a Chicago Bears fan, I think I speak for all of the us as Chicago Bears loyalists when I say that all “sports experts” continue to underestimate our team before, during and after moments of pure glory, and it is beyond frustrating. For example, after two terrific wins against the Vikings and the Buccaneers (which, might I add was in London and they had been there for less than 72 hours before playing), the significant majority of sports analysts (minus Coach Ditka) picked the Eagles to win in a Monday night showdown, including all seven Chicago Tribune sports writers.
Forget the Bears vs. Eagles record over the last five years (Bears lead 5-1) and don’t even consider Michael Vick’s record against the Bears defense (0-5) because the Eagles had one great win against an ailing Cowboys team, and that should mean the Bears ought to quiver in the shadows of an Andy Reid coached group that had started off so poorly these same sports “experts” questioned whether or not Philly stood a chance making it to the post-season.
So in order to defend my team and to prove that even though I might not have my own sports show on ESPN or even my own article in the sports section of Sports Illustrated, I might have a little bit more knowledge of who is acting more like the Chicago Bears than the Chicago Bears.
Here are my top 5 “Bears” Teams:
1- San Diego Chargers: I mean have you seen the last 3 games San Diego has played?! Phillip Rivers has no protection, the offensive weapons are non-existent and the defense can’t stop a damn thing. The Charger’s offensive line has done so little to protect the quarterback that you could compare them to the line paid to protect Jay Cutler last season. How are they supposed to win football games if Rivers can’t do his job? While everybody is criticizing the Bear receivers (or in their opinion, a lack there of), San Diego’s veteran offensive play makers are injured, old and slow or just not performing up to the standards that they should be. The four games they have lost have been lost by a TD or less, and the Bears are on a three game win streak while forcing sacks, interceptions and enough three-and-outs to seal in victories. We also haven’t let the Packers score 45 points on us at home EVER although they were close twice (1952 and 1960 when they scored 41 points at both games) we hold the winning record against them in the most well known football rivalry.
2- Oakland Raiders: The only reason I placed this team out here is because their inconsistencies are what is killing them right now. The same inconsistencies that “plague” the Bears and what hinders their ability to move onto the post-season and a Superbowl ring. I’m sorry, I must have dreamt that they won the NFC North title last year and went on to the NFC Championship game (let’s not get into what happened in that game, I’ll save that for another article). There is also the fact that the Bears have had more winning seasons over the past 5 years than the Raiders have had, but I think that margin will thin with what changes have been made to the Raider’s personnel. Oh and also, Oakland lost to the Denver Broncos.
3- Dallas Cowboys: Romo throws too many picks, can’t produce in the clutch and is more recognized for his accomplishments off the field than on. Isn’t “America’s Team” supposed to win? Jerry Jones doesn’t have a Matt Forte, a Brian Urlacher-Lance Briggs tandem or a Devin Hester (although he is a hard find on most teams), just DeMarcus Ware, Jason Witten and if he ever gets healthy again Miles Austin, some games. Many argue that the Wide Receivers in Chicago are sub-par, however, they seem to be more reliable in clutch situations than Tony Romo. Bear’s fans would argue that adding Roy Williams, a veteran will help the young corps learn and grow better than Martz can coach, especially since Williams and Martz have a relationship and history has shown that the McCaskey’s won’t fire their Offensive Coordinator until after the Superbowl so there is room for growth and excellence within the young group.
4- New England Patriots: How many people just told me to “bite my tongue” for saying such a blasphemous thing? Let’s be honest, the New England defense allows more yards per game than the Bears can even imagine. Granted the early part of the season would have argued against that, Chicago has gone back to the way things were and out-perform New England even with those numbers included in the average. Tom Brady has been throwing an un-characteristic amount of interceptions, and Cutler has been thinking on his feet, getting out of trouble spots and just got his Vandy-buddy back from injury. Wes Welker is the only playmaker on the offense and after being well known for coming back in a fury, the Pats seem like a wilted bag of lettuce after the 2-minute warning.
5- Kansas City Chiefs: I think there is a problem with consistency somewhere when you have back to back loses against the then winless Dolphins and the Broncos.
So there you have it, take it for what you want but these teams have more Chicago Bear problems than the Chicago Bears themselves. While the real Monsters of the Midway have been showing impressive signs of progress towards a post-season, these teams listed above have been punching their ticket home after some forgettable games against some forgettable teams.
***I understand that since this article many things have changed so I would like the readers to keep in mind that this was written in Week 8 of the season and not today.
An Old Journal Entry About Lebron James
This is something I had written in June after Lebron James and the Miami Heat lost to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 6 of the NBA finals. I am hoping that starting this blog will help me find a job in the sports industry because it is my passion and I know I can be as good if not better than the other females in the industry today.
Did Lebron forget to pack his talent when moving to South Beach?
July 8th is not a day that many people see as a holiday or a highly anticipated day to yearn for through out the course of the year, except for the July 8th that happened last year. Because it was the July 8th of last year that every basketball fan in the world couldn’t wait to get through because later that evening, Lebron James would come out and tell the world what team he would sign with to start the 2010-2011 season, in an hour long special on ESPN that was dubbed “The Decision”.
And boy were we excited.
Shortly after 9:40 pm that night, Lebron James came out with it: “Next fall, I am going to take my talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat”. With that sentence, Heat fans rejoiced, Cavs fans rioted and fans of Lebron’s other courtiers sat in disappointment that he didn’t chose their team. But one thing was certain; the whole world would watch to see if Lebron made the right move.
And we did.
When the Heat won, experts couldn’t stop praising “The Big Three”, it was when they lost (and they had a pretty big losing streak at one point), when everybody couldn’t stop pointing the finger at the most talented player in the NBA today. Which begs the question: Lebron is in Miami, but is his talent?
Now, I am not an NBA expert, nor am I any other type of sports expert, I am just a sports fan that had a question and thought I would write down my thoughts on it. I am also not implying that James had a terrible maiden season in Miami however, there were a few times during this season when I questioned whether or not this was the same Lebron James of old, you know the one with the thrilling 4th quarter buzzer-beaters, nearly glass shattering dunks and that wild passion in his eyes that drove him to two regular season MVP titles. Of course when James moved to Miami to play for the Heat, he needed to make some serious adjustments, he wasn’t the only superstar on the team anymore. There were others that he needed to share the spotlight with, most notably Dwayne Wade who had already won a NBA title with the Heat in 2006 and Chris Bosh, who many fans of the game would argue was just the fine print in an otherwise bigger deal to keep Wade and pick up James. This post-season though, Bosh shined like the superstar he was presumed to be with some phenomenal games especially in the Conference Finals game against Chicago when he outscored not just Lebron but Wade as well. Wade also had his moments of utter brilliance but he’s comfortable with the Heat so his successes, although recognized were also not as important as the performance of Bosh and James.
But let’s get back to the real issue here. Although James and the Miami Heat had some highs, there were also some real lows including James scoring a career low 8 points during a crucial Game 4 in Dallas and a frequent “where am I?” look on his face that plagued the Heat to the worst losing streak they could have possibly had this season. The three game losing streak that cost them the title. And while many experts, Lebron fans, Heat fans and sports fans in general would chalk up this season as a transition period for the Heat, there are also some facts that need to be looked at. Lebron James has a record of 2 and 8 in the Finals and his performance in these Finals was not anywhere near what James is capable of, especially since he has a team now to back him up unlike in Cleveland where the burden of success rested entirely on his shoulders. Now he might just be finding his place on a team filled with superstars not to mention a new head coach, but these facts should give Lebron reason to shine even brighter because now he has the support to make the big, exciting plays. He should be making the slick plays knowing that he has teammates to support his slickness. You didn’t see that during the Finals, you saw a Lebron James that was just, there.
I’m not saying the Miami Heat is destined to be a second place team. To say such a thing is like Sarah Palin saying she can see Russia from her house: ridiculous and comedic. What I am saying is, for the Miami Heat to win Championships they need the Lebron James from the Cleveland Cavaliers to show up on their court, the cocky, talented, monstrous power forward that owned every square inch of that court for a full 48 minutes, even if he wasn’t on it. Or at least a Lebron James that is similar to what he was in Cleveland but now more relaxed knowing that now there are two more sets of shoulders to take the weight. Maybe all he needs to do is take a walk down South Beach to find whatever it is that he has so obviously lost.
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