Lebron vs Kobe

This topic has been on everyone's mind lately. Will Lebron James be better than Michael Jordan? This is a fair question that cannot be answered today. Michael Jordan is the GOAT plain and simple. He won 6 championships with 6 finals MVP's and more importantly never lost in the finals. When it is all said and done this will be Lebron's achilies heel as well as Kobe's. I don't think Kobe is as great as Lebron James is and i will explain that in here as well. But Lebron could win 9 titles with 9 finals MVP's and he will always be hit with the "had to leave to win" or the "didn't go undefeated" the only person who can say that in this conversation is Jordan. He changed the game of basketball the way Lebron is doing it right now. Jordan left you in awe... scratching your head as to how he was able to do that. Lebron has me giggling like a little school girl with the wonderful things he does on the court. But when all is said and done we really can't have this conversation until Lebron's career is over. But we can discuss Lebron vs Kobe.

Kobe is one of the greatest scorers and players of all time, but he shouldn't be in Jordan's category or ever mentioned in the same breath. All the Laker fans will argue "he has 5 rings" so what? Horry has 7 does that make him better than both Kobe and Jordan? nope! not by a long shot. Kobe only has 2 finals MVP's, which means the first three he won, he wasn't the best player on their team. And it is 100%  true. Shaq carried that team, because when he left they never made it out of the second round, until they traded for a few all stars and then it was Kobe's time to shine. He carved up the league after falling short to the celtics and made sure he left his stamp on the Lakers franchise by winning 2 more championships to put his ring to 5. Again i am not taking anything away from the black mamba or what he's done but Lebron his hitting his prime and doing things no else has seen in... well ever. He got the monkey off his back and doesn't seem to taking his foot off the gas pedal as he is well on his way to another MVP. If the Heat win a title this year and Lebron wins the finals MVP he will signify that he is better than Kobe. Meaning when they won he was the most dominate player on the team with still years to play ahead of him. Kobe is great one on one but he doesn't have what Jordan and Lebron have. Kobe doesn't make his teammates better, as you can see from the dismal .500 season the lakers are having with  arguably the best lineup in sports. Lebron makes everyone better and still gets his points boards and asists. Kobe has never done that. Lebron takes what is given to him in the game. He plays the game the right way, game on the line they bring a double team to Lebron he'll pass to the open man for the shot. People confuse this with shying away from the pressure and i will admit it would frustrate me to see him do this, but then he started demanding the ball, the way Kobe does the way Jordan does and he started getting to basket. He now takes games over late and punishes you inside and when you play off of him to take away the penetration he is having his best shooting year from beyond the arc. Lebron makes everyone around him better, Kobe is great one on one and can shoot over double teams and make em. But it doesn't make him the GOAT or even close. Lebron will never match Jordan but he will surpass Kobe and Laker fans don't want to hear it but it's the truth. Anyone who doubts this is simply in denial.

Adversity Doesn't Build Character It Reveals It

This is what everyone has wanted! From the start of the shortened NBA season there have been two stars that night in and night out have been at the top of the sport and they are going head to head in the NBA Finals. In one corner you have the younger more publicly like Kevin Durant who might very well go down as the purest scorer in NBA history. His road to the finals has been one of loyalty and respect to the game and is very well deserved. The other is one of the most hated athletes in the entire world. He is by far the best player on the planet and has gone through so much criticism about his game, him not being able to close, or him going to Miami to chase the elusive title so many great NBA players can't get. The difference between both Lebron and Kevin is Lebron has had this pressure since day one and is in the process of turning in one of the greatest postseasons in recent memory. The man can will a team to win as he did in Game 6 against the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. While his skill set may be getting better (if thats possible) he is maturing right before our eyes the once "look at me" attitude he carried has turned into anything I can do to help the team win. Lebron has had to overcome far more obstacles than Kevin Durant and I ultimately believe this is going to be the X factor and why the heat will win the finals this year. LBJ has set his sights at 16 wins he has 12 and need just 4 more to raise that gold trophy high and solidify his legacy as one of the greats to ever play the game. But he must get by a young man who is trying to prove you can win on any team and you don't need to leave for more money to be a winner. I don't care who wins I want Lebron to get his ring but it's going to be an amazing finals one that basketball so desperately needed.

Top 10 Greatest Sports Movies of All Time

My best friend and I were talking about some of the greatest sports movies of all time, and it was a big argument but after much debate we still haven't agreed on a top 10 mostly because he is wrong. Here is a list of my top 10 sports movies of all time.

10.

VARISTY BLUES

This is an easy number 10 pick for me. When this movie came out it was an action packed movie and showed how big football is in some parts of the country. There is a huge variety of young actors in this movie from Paul Walker, James VanDer Beek, Ali Larter the list is full of celebrities that got a break in this movie. The bad parts are obviously the acting by everyone in this movie but the football scenes are good and some what realistic besides the excessive celebrations in the end zone.

9.

THE SANDLOT



Now while this is by far an epic favorite by most kids who grew up in the 90's I have it this low because of the way baseball is portrayed in this game. The swings they take the way the throw the ball makes it a little less believable. There are some refreshing themes throughout this movie like pickling the beast, creating life long friend hot days at the pool things like that, but the way baseball was displayed took some points away from this movie and moved it down in my opinion. But the reason it's still here is because it's a classic. I wanted to wear a dodger jersey with skinny jeans and PF flyers. Oh well one can only dream.

8.

MIRACLE

I have never seen this movie but have heard nothing but great things about it. Any movie that is based on a true story gets moved up in my book and during this time it wasn't just USA vs USSR it was democracy vs communism, freedom vs dictorship. It united a nation that was divided because of war. You can't ask for anything better than that. I def need to see  this movie.

7.

THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED

I liked this movie a lot. Shia Lebouf comes into his own in this movie as he plays a young amateur golfer from a non wealthy family and breaks all the rules that went with golf in the 1920s. This is a older version of Tiger Woods without the skin color, but he faced the same hard ship and discrimination. It's the story of david vs goliath a young man who wasn't suppose to be there but triumphs to win the US open. The way golf was played in the movie was as good as any other movie that has been made about golf. The action that took place kept you entertained and kept you in suspense the whole time. Great movie in my eyes.

6.

A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN

By far one of the best all around movies I have ever seen. Tom Hanks in anything is a homerun but this is a great movie about baseball. The way they play is suspect at best but from established actors learning a new trade they do a good job. Way better than anyone in Angels in the Outfield. It's more of a comedy but anyone who has played the game of baseball passed the High School level knows a skipper who acts the way JimmyDugan (Tom Hanks) does. There is a scene at the end of the movie where sisters are pinned against each other and one pitching one hitting and that's what it's about. I've played against some friends and I wanted to hit the ball down their throat. That's the competitive drive that is sometimes lacking in movies. But all in all you won't be disappointed with this movie.

 

5.

HOOSIERS

This is one of the first basketball movies I have ever seen. Gene Hackman is a great coach in this movie who has a team of average players who he gets to buy into his philosophy and win! The movie is set in a small town but from a basketball stand point i think it is done very well. They overcome adversity deal with real life team issues fans parents teachers things of that nature and overcome all odds and win. Whenever I see Gene Hackman I can't help but think of him as a basketball coach.

4.

HE GOT GAME

This is an amazing movie! Not only does it star one of the best actors in the world (Denzel Washington) but it also stars the best 3 point shooter to ever play the game of basketball (Ray Allen) This movie does a great job of showing what a lot of 18 year old kids deal with when getting recruited to play at the next level. From agents who are sharks to universities who will do anything to land the top recruit. There is a scene where Jesus (Ray Allen) plays his dad (Denzel) in one on one and Jesus is frustrated with his dad because he was never there, something a lot of kids can sadly relate too. It is one of my favorite movies of all time not only in sports but in general. It's a must see movie.

3.

BULL DURHAM

Anytime you can get an actual baseball player to star in a movie then you are going in the right direction. Bull Durham is top 3 for me based on the way they show the game being played. There is a lot that goes into the mental part of the game and what players deal with when they play a game that has set you up to fail. It's a mental grind like most sports but the way the game is depicted in this movie is perfect. That has always been a concern when I watch sports movies, they may get a big named actor to star in the movie but if he looks awkward throwing and swinging then its going to be a terrible movie. Kevin Costner stars in this movie and you can see he has been around the game of baseball based on the way he speaks carries himself and hits and swings. It's a must see movie and one of my favorite baseball movies of all time.

2.

MAJOR LEAGUE

This is one of the funniest movies ever made. The one liners are amazing and having hall of fame announcer Bob Euker in this movie was classic. The baseball that is played in this movie is above average and you can tell they know what they are doing. Bob Euker keeps everyone interested with the losing ways of the Tribe as he provides one liner after one liner. The action is really good and Charlie Sheen and Wesley Snipes play great rookies who have a ton of talent but haven't quite learned how to use it yet. You have your premadonas on the team and your washed up has beens who have a great knack for the game mix  that with a manager who doesn't care who you think you are you get a damn good baseball movie.

1.

REMEMBER THE TITANS

This is hands down to me the best sports movie ever made. It deals with some real life issues and a segrated school that for the first time alows african american students to play. You hate most of the players in this movie but as the movie progresses you learn to be compassionate and watch how their attitudes and thinking changes. This is a great movie and no matter when it is on I have to sit and watch it. I can talk about this movie for hours but will leave with...IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS MOVIE GO BUY IT AND SIT DOWN AND ENJOY AN AMAZING TRUE STORY ABOUT LIFE, FOOTBALL, FRIENDSHIP AND ADVERSITY.

Time Is Running Out On Kobe

Kobe is playing in his 17th season in the NBA and he has been playing at an Elite level for most of those years. But is it coming to an end? In some way yes it is. Kobe isn't the young gun anymore and it is showing in the OKC series. He is pushing himself really hard to just keep his head above water. He is mentally drained at the end of every game (hence the two crucial turnovers in the final 2 minutes of Game 2) I still feel he will be the Kobe everyone has come to enjoy watching win impossible shots. I think it's going to be a lot less consistent though. He's a competitor and he will come out in game 3 and have one hell of a game. Do I think the Lakers have a chance to win this series abolutely. When you have Kobe on your team anything is possible. But from a realist stand point the Thunder are just far more athletic and have a deeper bench that will be crucial in games 5 and 6 and I see the Lakers losing this series in 6 games.