MJ Treating Campers Like They Are Byron Russel

Pippen Still Not A STAR

According to Darren Rovel at CNBC, former NBA star Scottie Pippen is finding creative ways to make money because he can't seem to hold on to it. "Pippen made about $110 million throughout his NBA career, but let us remind you why he needs this. He lost $27 million in bad investments and, as of February, he owed $5 million to a bank for a dispute with a private jet company. And he just sold a 2.28-acre property with 18,700-square foot mansion sitting on it for $2.95 million. He and his wife paid $4 million for it in 2000."

Pippen is now collecting government money for land he controls in Arkansas. I guess he is looking for anyway these days to make a buck, since that comeback attempt last year fell on deaf ears. I have mixed feelings about Pippen's playing career, cause on one hand he single handily took down Charles Barkley's last chance at a title while playing together in Houston, but on the other hand he really truly was one of the best players of his generation.

Pippen' career will always get compared to Jordan, cause of all the years they played together at the top of the NBA. However, we can put all those comparisons to rest, cause Pippen was never the player that Jordan was, but Jordan would also have never one those titles without him. They were a perfect match for each other on the court. Off the court, there were always rumors swirling that they did not get along, mainly because Pippen had a hard time playing second fiddle there as well.

Since I could not find any footage of Pippen's farming highlights, I thought I would include a highlight film of his NBA days.

WHAT ABOUT DWAYNE WADE

With all the talk about Lebron James being the greatest thing since sliced bread, I am left wondering why everyone has forgotten so quickly about Dwayne Wade's great playoff run last year. The guy averaged 28.4 ppg while shooting 50% from the floor. He was great every game unlike Lebron who disappeared in game 1,2,&6 against the Pistons. Wade also came back from injury in game 3 against those same Pistons and led his team to victory. NBA writers seem to have short term memory deficiency if they think Lebron put up the greatest performance since Jordan's last title run. I know their is a dying need to create an epic story any chance we can, but lets not do it at the expense of something really great, like Dwayne Wade's title run last season. Lets save the superlatives annointing the greatness of Lebron till he has actually won a title, and lets not even dare put him in same sentence as Magic, Bird, and Jordan, cause those guys did it year after year.

Cavs let one slip away.

Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers let one slip away last night, and all the fingers in the media were pointed in his direction. Fair or not, Lebron will always be praised when his team wins and blamed when his team blamed. The question today is should he have taken the last shot instead of kicking it out to Donyell Marshall for a wide open chance at a go ahead three pointer? Lebron had the path to the basket, and when you are the go to guy on the team you have to take the shot. He had only attempted 3 shots in the fourth quarter, which is uncalled for when you are player of his caliber. Yes, he had been setting up his teammates for shots, and yes he did on that last possession, but when you average 29 ppg on the season and you finish with 10 points, there is something wrong. The Cavs are not a good scoring team, and that is accentuated when their main guy is afraid to go to the hoop. Too often it looked like he wanted the ball out of his hands instead of taking on the responsibility of being 'the man'.

Michael Jordan's career was made not by just hitting the big shot, but by passing off for someone else to hit the big shot. However, this was after he poured in 30 or more points each time. Maybe this is our problem, for too long we have tried to compare Lebron to Jordan. This was the dream of the NBA, Nike, and Lebron himself, who opted to wear number 23, but their will never be another Michael Jordan. Jordan was a once in a lifetime player, and maybe someday Lebron will be as well, but it does not look like he has what it takes be the same style of clutch scorer as MJ was.

Wanting to take the big shot is a trait you are born with, not something you can learn. Just because Lebron does not have this trait, does not mean he is not a great player. He is one of those special players that can control a game without being a scorer. If Marshall hit that final three pointer last night, James would have finished the night with a triple double. The Cavs stayed in the game with James not being a scorer, but that was a result of great games played by his supporting cast. You can't count on this happening each game, so Lebron better figure out a way to put the ball in the hoop against this feisty Pistons D. Here's a tip Lebron, you need to take more than 3 shots in the fourth quarter.

Nothing But Net!

McDonalds has announced they are remaking this classic commercial with Dwayne Wade & Lebron James taking the place of Michael Jordan & Larry Bird. I just don't understand why you would remake a gem like this with 2 guys who have not accomplished much in their careers yet?