Could McRoberts' Hard Playoff Foul on Lebron Finally Mark a Return To 1980's "Big Boy" Basketball?

The short answer is apparently... No.

Why? Because after in game referees reviewed the play and 3 officials saw it as nothing more than a common foul, the NBA has swept in and fined McRoberts $20K and raised the foul to a flagrant 2. The Charlotte Bobcats' McRoberts will not be suspended for Game 3 of the series.

One of many images that, even selected for effect, show McRoberts' elbow only grazed Lebron. 

When I first heard about the hard foul the Charlotte Bobcats' Josh McRoberts had committed on Lebron, I had to check it out.

When I watched footage, it didn't seem like much more that incidental contact with McRoberts' arm in a bad position to try to make a play on the ball, but of course, in this day and age, we all have gotten used to that kind of play being called a flagrant foul 2 because of the coddling of NBA superstars like Lebron James.

So, when the foul was ruled a common foul during the game, I thought, "Finally! New commissioner, Adam Silver, is returning the league to the man's game that was played during the 1980's and 1990's."

Well, that excitement lasted all of 48 hours, during which time, the league stepped in and upgraded the play from a common foul to a flagrant 2, and additionally, will assess Josh McRoberts with a $20K fine. Apparently, the flagrant 2 did not warrant a suspension for Saturday night's Game 3.

And despite the actions taken by the league, the Miami Heat stated that the disciplinary action parsed out by the league office don't go far enough. Not that they have a vested interest or would say anything to try to gain an even greater advantage over the scrappy Bobcats, who are gaining confidence with every close playoff game.

Worse yet, Lebron is now whining to the sports journalists about how frustrated he is with all the hard fouls, siting fouls like the "hard foul" by Serge Ibaka that broke his nose this season, which, everyone would agree, was unintentional and incidental contact.

Lebron writhing on the floor after Serge Ibaka looked at him funny, resulting in a broken nose.

If that was Lebron's idea of a "hard foul", Lebron has no idea what a "hard foul" is.

Next time someone tells you that Lebron is in the same league as Michael Jordan, look at what Jordan had to do to beat a defense more punishing than Lebron has ever seen in his life, and imagine how many Points Per Game Jordan would average if every basket he made was an And-1.

Lebron is the beneficiery of many favorable rules changes that has given him every advantage as a skilled and athletic offensive player in the NBA because the league seeks to promote their superstars.

Lebron is complaining about contact that was normal, routine, and expected during the playoffs in Michael Jordan's time. And what you also see is the Zen response that Jordan had for all that contact. He picked himself up, brushed himself off, and went to charity stripe and drained his free throws.

Lebron's response is just what the Bobcats want to see. When he cries about the physical fouls, his opponents now know that the hard fouls bother him, and you can sure as hell expect more plays like that because of his LeBiatching.

Rest assured, if this was the NBA of the past, the next game will be marked by a flurry of fouls called on the Charlotte Bobcats early on in order to limit their ability to play physical defense. The league of the past will do this because Lebron and the Heat have been crying all over the media.

Will any of this change under new leadership? Or will the Miami CHeat continue to get special treatment with officiating? One thing is for sure: "Earned, Not Given" is only a slogan, not the reality.

Happy New Year's From LeBiatch NBA Apparel, Inc.: Save 20.11% On All LeBiatch Custom T Shirt Orders!

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S To All Our SUPER FANS who have help to make 2010 special for our company. We want to thank you for the success we have enjoyed because of all your support.

2011 is going to be a phenomenal year.

At this very moment, we 13 jaw-dropping new designs that are currently being considered to make it to production, and we hope to have these available by NBA All-Star Weekend.

Here is a peek at what is going to put LeBiatch NBA Apparel, Inc. on the radar in 2011:

YOU'RE NOT JORDAN LEBIATCH LOGO Original LeBiatch Design T-Shirt
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YOU'RE NOT JORDAN RAGIN' BULL Original LeBiatch Design T-Shirt
(Coming January 2011). 

As always, production will be limited and come with a hand-numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

We at LeBiatch NBA Apparel, Inc. are looking forward to an incredible year of producing eye-popping designs for the greatest NBA SUPER FANS in the world. So, stay tuned because 2011 is going to be an unforgettable year!

Also, don't forget to register as a SUPER FAN, so that we can give you FREE stuff! 2011 is going to be a year of free giveaways!

Ultimately, only you can help us make 2011 the year that LeBiatch surpasses Lebron brand, so we will continue giving you the highest quality designs and products that you have come to expect from our brand.

To Visit Our Zazzle Store:  http://www.tinyurl.com/lebiatchzazzle
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Lebron's Legacy and New Last Name: Dwayne Wade's Sidekick

After the anti-climactic conclusion to the "Summer of Lebron", it is clear that at age 26 and a half (and at an emotuional age of 15), Lebron has considered his legacy in basketball and in the world about as much as he considered the consequences of announcing his "Decision" in an hour long special on ESPN.

In case you were cowering under a rock until the events of the "Summer of Lebron" would blow over (like Jeff Van Gundy, who then emerged, disoriented, and proclaimed that the Miami Heat would win more games than the 72 - 10 Chicago Bulls team), you would know that, despite compelling presentations from several NBA teams, including one that would have put Lebron literally playing in Michael Jordan's shoes and along side MVP candidate, Derrick Rose, Lebron made the cowardly "Decision" to join Dwayne Wade on HIS Miami Heat team.

A bold offer to a man who lacks enough "bolds"; Lebron can't fill MJ's shoes.

When Lebron could have plugged into a perfect win-now situation with a complete and talented team, with the franchise that Michael Jordan exploded, in the stadium that Michael Jordan built, in the city that Michael Jordan made into a basketball town and that had been starving for a basketball hero, Lebron could have built a legacy in Chicago that would have written itself. Lebron brand would have elevated itself to a worldwide brand, strengthened by its organic association with the iconic Jordan.

And although it would have been difficult to see at the time, it is clear now that the New York proposal was also a powerful one, with Amare Stoudemire's continued MVP-like efforts for the New York Knicks this season. Amare has New York squarely in the playoff picture and is making the case as a legitimate destination for next year's most coveted free agent, Carmelo Anthony.

And, of course, the Cleveland Cavaliers, though hampered by salary cap restrictions, would have found a way to make the necessary upgrades to stay the class of the NBA, if Lebron had stayed. And if he had won even one NBA title with the Cavs, the city of Cleveland would have rejoiced with the pent up energy of all the years of frustration that came before. Lebron's legacy would have been Cleveland's Greatest Champion.

Lebron should just change his name to "Lebron James Dwayne Wade's Sidekick"

However, whether it had been planned since the 2008 Olympics or even earlier, Lebron chose to join Dwayne Wade, a player who has already gotten it done in the NBA Finals and already has his own NBA Championship and NBA Finals MVP legacy. No matter how many championships they hope to win together, DWade will always have one more; one that he won after being the underdog and trailing the favored Dallas Mavericks two games to none in the series. Wade was the one man wrecking crew carrying his Miami Heat to victory in the series in Jordanesque fashion. And that is why, by joining DWade's Miami Heat, Lebron's legacy can only be one thing:  Dwayne Wade's Sidekick.

At best this would mean being "Scottie Pippen" to Wade's Jordan, but Lebron will still have to win multiple championships in Wade's shadow to even be considered as great as Pippen really was. Wade and his sidekick have yet to show that they can play together with the same kind of chemistry that Jordan and Pippen had in winning 6 NBA Championships.

In this day and age of NBA Superstar branding, it is amazing that Lebron's PR people would have allowed Lebron to make such a collosal PR mistake, as they have continued to allow him to do since "The Decision" show. Whether Lebron can change his legacy is mostly a question of whether he is willing to change the PR team that got him here, for this much is clear; Lebron has decided not to be responsible for his legacy, just as he has decided not to be responsible for the failures of his teams in past and future playoffs.

Heat Losses Causing Friction: The Shoulder Bump and The Making of a Scapegoat

With the losses piling up and the Miami Heat's inability to beat playoff caliber teams, it seems that everyone in the Miami Heat organization and ESPN have already begun to build the case for why the most overrated team in NBA history will not meet their own expectations of winning the NBA Championship this season. That case will star Coach Spoelstra in the role of scapegoat.

Erik Spoelstra's days as the head coach are numbered.

While greater NBA legends create moments , it may just be Lebron's legacy to be know more for moments like "The Decision", "The Vegas Weekend", "The Mental List Tweet", "The Song", and now, "The Shoulder Bump".

In yet another classic Lebron moment, during the loss against the Dallas Mavericks on November 27th, Coach Erik Spoelstra was frustrated by a breakdown by the Miami Heat on the defensive end, and he called a time out. With plenty of room to walk anywhere else, Lebron walks straight towards Spoelstra. Spoelstra is not really seeing Lebron, but despite seeing Spoelstra, Lebron leans his shoulder into own his coach. You will also see that Lebron also follows through afterwards, clearly indicating that he expected and initiated the contact.

"The Shoulder Bump" is just the latest example of Lebron's lack of maturity and leadership. After losing 3 of their last 4 games, Lebron and the Miami Heat have obviously had to explain why, after only 17 games, they already have nearly as many losses as Michael Jordan's 72-Win Chicago Bulls team and why they will have to go 63 wins and only 2 losses in order to match what the all-time winningest team was able to accomplish.

No, the 2010-11 Miami Heat are no where near the 72-Win Chicago Bulls team. Jordan did the dominating. Jordan did the leading. Jordan wanted the ball in his hands and the responsibility on his shoulders.

Lebron is the anti-hero for a new generation. Lebron wants loyalty, but he has already forgotten the fans that supported him for his first 7 years as a pro. Lebron has already had a game-winning shot busted in his face. Lebron joined a player who is a real, proven leader, Dwayne Wade. And he is grateful to give him the ball at the end of the game. As for the responsibility, Lebron is one of the best passers in the league.

More than a few people predicted that Erik Spoelstra's head coaching seat in Miami would be hot, but few imagined that Miami would struggle as much as they have in the first 17 games of the 82 game regular season. And with the way it seems that Wade, Bosh, and Lebron seem to talk to each other to the exclusion of the coach and the team, "The Shoulder Bump", the team meeting after the loss to Dallas, and the seemingly growing rift between team and coach, Erik Spoelstra is being painted and characterized as the scapegoat.

SHHH! Don't divulge my diabolical plan!

The most recent round of speculation of whether Pat Riley, who currently mans the Miami Heat front office, would dump Coach Spoelstra and return to coaching (as he did in 2005 after dumping then Head Coach Stan Van Gundy) began with a statement made by Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach Phil Jackson during an interview. Recent events and the on-court actions of Lebron and other Miami Heat players seem to support the insights of Jackson.

However, Pat Riley made a public statement defending Coach Spoelstra saying that he was not looking to fire his coach. The most logical reason is not that he specifically supports Coach Spoelstra, but that Riley knows that the Miami Heat, with the present set of players, is not complete enough to contend for an NBA Championship with the likes of Boston and Los Angeles. Erik Spoelstra will help him buy time to get the players the team needs, either at the trade deadline or during next off season, and then, Riles may suddenly find that his support for Coach Spoelstra was unwarranted.

YOU MAKE THE CALL! INTENTIONAL OR NOT?


Whether it really was intentional or not, it is yet another shining moment for Lebron James.
Lebron is a LeBiatch.

Dallas Mavericks' Starters Dominate Miami Heat Starters in Thorough Team Victory

Dallas, Texas.  Another game against a playoff caliber opponent resulted in a loss for the most overrated team in NBA history on Saturday night.

Dallas used a huge run to begin the second half, including a pivotal play where Dirk Nowitzki split the defense provided by Dwayne Wade and Lebron James. With all three All-Stars hanging in the air, Nowitzki completed the layup against both Miami Heat defenders. With the momentum, Dallas would stretch to a lead of 18 points which they would never relinquish.

Tyson Chandler looked like an All-Star against the Miami Heat.

Once again, Miami was beat on the glass as Tyson Chandler grabbed 17 rebounds to go with 14 points and 3 blocks, and the Mavs starting frontline outrebounded Miami 26 to 19. Chris Bosh, who has been criticized throughout his career for being soft, has done nothing to prove otherwise, and with the probable loss of Udonis Haslem for the entire season, the NBA playoff hopes of the Miami Heat rest on the slender shoulders and non-existent testicular fortitude of Bosh.

After falling to a season record of 9 wins and 8 losses, worse than last year's mark of 10 wins and 7 losses at this same point in the season, the Miami Heat players had a team-only meeting lasting approximately 45 minutes. None of the Heat players were willing to speak about anything specific that was said during the meeting.

The loss capped a disappointing week for the Miami Friends (I've dropped the "Super" for obvious reasons), who have lost four of their last 5 games. The team-only meeting was just another sign that the Miami three of Dwayne Wade, Lebron James, and Chris Bosh are fracturing under the pressure of public scrutiny of, in particular, Lebron's Decision to leave a talented team in Cleveland to form a supposed "super team" in Miami to pursue an NBA Championship. The results seem to support those who believe that Lebron took the easy way out and will not win a title this way.

This was a tough week for Lebron in particular. After Rudy Gay hit a game-winning shot in his face to lift the Memphis Grizzlies, an ad for Jordan brand in response to Lebron's "What Should I Do?" Nike ad went viral on the internet; in the ad, Michael Jordan asks if Lebron was just making excuses.

Michael Jordan Responds To Lebron's "What Should I Do?" Nike Ad In Jordan Brand Ad

Michael Jordan lived these words every day of his career. He rewrote the record books through his own hard work and exceeded every basketball player that came before him. His play won him individual accolades.

His leadership fueled team success and carried his Chicago Bulls teams to 6 NBA Championships, winning every NBA Finals Series that he ever played in, and an NBA record, 72 win season.

Lebron James was offered the chance to follow in Jordan's footsteps in the Chicago Bulls campaign to bring the coveted free agent to the Bulls last summer. Even Jordan himself felt that the best situation for Lebron would be Chicago.

Lebron proved that he was not the player or the man that even Jordan believed him to be when he chose to join Dwayne Wade's Miami Heat, and Derrick Rose has lived up to his word after saying that he wanted to be "The Man" in Chicago.

Lebron is not and will never be on the same level as Jordan. What more needs to be said?

Rudy Gay "LeBiatches" Lebron: Grizzlies Hand Heat Another Loss on Gay's Buzzer Beater

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE. Lebron finally was involved in a "Jordan-moment", however it was Rudy Gay that hit "The Shot" while Lebron played the role of Craig Ehlo.

In dramatic fashion, it was Rudy Gay, the Memphis Grizzlies' big signing of the "Summer of Lebron", who measured and connected on a fade away jumper over a fully extended Lebron James, to sink the Miami Heat as the clock ran out in regulation.

Rudy Gay had been shooting just 4 for 12 on the night and had just turned the ball over on the previous play, resulting in an easy dunk for Lebron James on the other end to tie the game. However, when it came time to draw up the final play, Gay wanted the ball in his hands.

And with the ball in his hand and 5.5 secs beginning to tick away, Gay was not going to defer the shot to anyone else. Even with Lebron picking him up as he turned the corner, Gay got just enough space over the fully outstretched arm of the most coveted free agent of the summer, Lebron James, and buried the shot.

Here is a video of the play: 



Following the shot, the hometown crowd at the FedEx Forum erupted. It was an emotional victory for a Memphis Grizzlies team that was expected to challenge in the Western Conference but has been struggling in the early going of this season. O.J. Mayo and Zach Randolph had been demoted to the bench in favor of Darrell Arthur and rookie Xavier Henry in hopes of sparking the team. It seems to have worked, at least on this night.

The list of teams handing a piece of humble pie to the Miami Heat has gotten one more team longer. Joining the Boston Celtics, Utah Jazz, and New Orleans Hornets was a 5 win and 9 loss underachieving Memphis Grizzlies team. After obtaining the top 3 free agents available during the "Summer of Lebron" and then bragging about forming a basketball dynasty, the Miami Heat have stumbled out of the gate, with a record of 8 wins and 5 losses in the first 13 games of the season. They are on pace to finish the season with a record of  51 - 31.

A special slice of humble pie is reserved for Lebron James, who was the most coveted free agent of the summer. With every team in the league dreaming about adding his talent and several solid, "win a championship now", choices available, such as staying with a Cleveland Cavaliers talent base that put together back to back 61 win seasons, Lebron continues to be haunted by the worst "Decision" ever made by a sports superstar. He questions "what to do now?" in his latest commercial for Nike.

Rudy Gay's Jordanesque Game-Winning Shot Over Lebron James.

The Rudy Gay shot over Lebron had the "Air" of "The Shot", Michael Jordan's incredible floating shot on Craig Ehlo to propel the Chicago Bulls to victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1989 NBA Playoffs. The way he floated just a little longer and jumped a little higher than the defender who, despite great defensive position and full extension to bother the shot, was helpless to stop him."The Shot" remains one of the defining moments of Michael Jordan's career because it illustrates the difference between Jordan and every other basketball player in the world; Jordan wanted to win more than any other player, and it fueled him to float a little longer, jump a little higher, practice a little harder, and make one more play.

The irony of the situation is that Lebron, this very summer, could have been the Air Apparent and the Chosen One to follow in Michael Jordan's footsteps in Chicago and as the icon of the NBA. Chicago was believed by the most knowledgeable basketball people, including Michael Jordan himself, to be the best destination for Lebron from the point of view of joining a team that would win multiple NBA Championships. The combination of Derrick Rose, Lebron James, Carlos Boozer, and Joakim Noah would have been amazing; Derrick Rose is currently 4th in the league in scoring, and Joakim Noah is currently 2nd in the league in rebounding. Lebron would have been an ideal complement to the two superstars, and with talented role players like Taj Gibson, the Bulls (currently 7 - 4 on the season) would have been one of the most talented, deep, and complete teams in the league.

Then came "The Decision". And the landscape of the NBA has been forever altered, but two things have not changed. Michael Jordan's legacy is still that of the greatest of all time, and Lebron James will not be winning an NBA Championship this year.

Miami Heat Fall For Loss Number Two To Chris Paul and the Undefeated New Orleans Hornets

New Orleans, LA. Lebron may not have been able to do it alone in his seven years with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but on this night, it was Chris Paul who played the role of a lonely David versus the Goliath of the Big Three of Miami.

Chris Paul finished the game with a modest 13 points, but made his teammates better to the tune of 19 assists.

CP3 keeps his Hornets undefeated against DWade, Lebron, and the Miami Heat.

Following a summer that was notable for an infamous Decision to go to South Beach, Chris Paul was very public about his discontent with the state of the New Orleans Hornets, fueling rumors of a potential "Big Three" scenario that might have landed himself, along with another disgruntled superstar, Carmelo Anthony, on the New York Knicks.

Following a fifth straight victory to start the season by New Orleans (a Hornets franchise-best record to start a season), trade talks have been silenced. The New Orleans Hornets front office has consistently gone on record saying that Chris Paul would not be traded; the franchise even traded talented back-up point guard Darren Collison, who played excellent during the significant minutes he played in Paul's absence, as a clear statement of commitment to Paul.

It seems that their clear commitment, along with other off-season moves, has paid off for the undefeated New Orleans Hornets.

On the other hand, Lebron's summer has been one of a lack of a clear commitment (other than to himself and his so-called advisory team), culminating in the self-aggrandizing and self-promoting, 1-hour Decision special on ESPN. We all know the subsequent backlash that has resulted from Lebron's decision to be Dwayne Wade's Miami Heat sidekick, along with Chris Bosh.

After much speculation and talk of breaking the 72 win record of Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls team, the Miami Heat lost their season opener to the Boston Celtics, and they now fall to a record of 4-2 after this loss to the New Orleans Hornets. This would put them on pace to win 66 to 69 games this season.

"Lebron Is A LeBiatch" Facebook Group Reaches 10,000 Likes; Lebron Trying To Shut Us Down Now?

First off, SUPER FANS, thank you to each and every one of you for your support. The Facebook Group launched on the 9th of July, and in the less than three months since then, we have seen our little group grow and grow! 10,000 Likes is not a common achievement among Facebook groups (especially when the name of that group does not include "Ville" or "World" or "War" in its name). However, we did it! On October 1st, our little community included 10,000 SUPER FANS, and is still continuing to grow!

MIGHT THIS BE OUR LAST FACEBOOK UPDATE? (AS POSTED TO OUR LINKED TWITTER ACCOUNT)

Not all of the news today is good though. It seems that after working hard to build this community, Facebook is now blocking our right to publish updates to all of you who have chosen to join and chosen to receive our updates. Do you suppose that LeBiatch and his people are also LeSnitch? Do you think that his people cried and whined and peeled off a couple grand to try to kill the backlash?

Well, do you know what that tells me? It tells me that we are on his mind. It tells me that what we are saying here about what he has done matters. It may not change Lebron's thoughts or actions, but we are going to constantly remind him of his bad Decision. It tells me that he is concerned that whatever he accomplishes this season, that if we constantly remind people of the way he disrespected his city and the way he is disrespecting the sport of basketball, his legacy will always be that of a failure, crawling to join someone else's team, someone who can lead.

However, there is nothing in the world that could change this fact. There is nothing he or his team can say. Each time Lebron or his team opens their mouth to try to justify his actions, the excuses are more lame and more weak. Now he and his PR manager are crying racism. Is Magic Johnson being racist when he criticizes Lebron's move? Is Charles Barkley being racist when he criticizes Lebron's move (like in the video below)? And is Michael Jordan being racist when he criticizes Lebron's move? Is Jason Whitlock being racist when he tells you to put the race card away and shut up?



So, now that they have no more lame excuses left and no race card left to play, their only option left is to try and stop us from speaking the truth. Do you think we should allow them to silence us?

NO! I don't think so either! Keep the LeBIATCH MOVEMENT alive!
Here's how you can help:

1. To get instant Facebook updates, be friends with Lebron Isabiatch by clicking the link HERE

2. If you are interested in LeBiatch Custom Design T-Shirts and Products, visit our website, www.LeBiatch.com, where you can find our latest products!

3. Register as a SUPER FAN via our website, www.LeBiatch.com, and receive an instant discount code for 20% OFF on any order! (Including our newest design officially commemorating that "I'M ON THE LIST"!)

4. Connect with us on twitter: http://twitter.com/LebronLeBiatch and join us and #TeamFuckLebron

THANK YOU AGAIN, and please continue to support the LEBIATCH MOVEMENT!

BEWARE: Lebron is Making a Mental List of His Enemies; Lebron is a LeBiatch

After much speculation that Lebron was an arrogant jerk who makes bad Decisions, Lebron proved it today.

Lebron is making a list and checking it twice, gonna find out who's naughty or nice...

In a poorly conceived follow up to "The Decision" show, Lebron chose the twitterverse to be the platform for his public coming out party. After a month to ponder his response to the disappointment felt by avid followers of basketball, and himself in particular, the best he could come up with was a reactionary verbal flipping of the bird to those that were not going to loyally and mindlessly continue to revere him. Loyalty, as in the quality he failed to show a city that he grew up in the shadow of and that he promised when he was drafted in 2003, "I will bring a championship to the city of Cleveland." It was surprising how quickly Lebron corrected himself; I grew up in Akron, and we hated Clevelanders. If it was hard to carry the team, it will be ever harder winning them a championship by playing for another team in the same conference.

Despite not being able to live up to his word and expecting loyalty when he doesn't feel the need to be loyal himself, some fans stood by him. Even when the greatest legends in basketball history questioned the arrogance and selfishness of the decision and how it would tarnish his legacy, this generation of spoiled brats was quick to defend one of their own. The self-proclaimed "king" had a right to "get paid" and to "chase a ring" they would say. Sure, "pursuit of happiness" is indeed a right, but where is his respect for the game and the legends that built the sport into one of the cornerstones of America. It is clear now, after "The Decision", Lebron doesn't intend to work for anything, he just wants to cash the checks that Magic, Bird, and Michael worked for.

And now, he has an audience of 1 million people, and he wants to tell them he is making a revenge list?

Any sentiment existing outside of South Beach that sympathized with Lebron was bashed over the head with a baseball bat.

My response: 

"After showing us all that he can't be The Man to lead a team to a Championship, now @kingjames is mouthing off on twitter. Shut up and win ONE ring before you whine about how people are disrespecting you. Lebron is a LeBiatch."

 

The vindictive tone of the tweet was seen by anyone with access to twitter.com, essentially any computer that was connected to the internet. All of Lebron's 1 million+ followers on the social media website would have seen the threatening tweet in their update list, and it could have been seen by anyone choosing to view those people's updates. Let's just say, it was the "Threat Heard Round The World".

Immediately, the tweet set off a series of defiant retorts (like mine) that echoed in the twitterverse through the power retweeting, and they carry with them the truth about Lebron's legacy. It has been damaged, and it can never be returned to where it stood just one month ago.

All I can say is that, at the end of the day, Lebron's mental ability to do anything does not scare me in the least. What about you?

Larry Bird Joins Legends in Denouncing Lebron's Decision

Larry Bird, or Larry Legend as he was known even during his playing days with the Boston Celtics during the 1980 and 1990's, is on record having voiced his disapproval of Lebron James' "Decision" to join Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, which is in line with the sentiment voiced recently by his Hall of Fame contemporaries, Michael Jordan and Earvin "Magic" Johnson.

Although a decade and a half of fierce competition has given way to a great friendship built on mutual admiration and respect, Bird had this to say about the idea of playing alongside Johnson:

"I remember back in my days, I'd rather play against Earvin Johnson than play with him. He's a guy I always compared myself to. I'd rather stay in Boston and let him stay in L.A. and just compete every year in the Finals. That's what made me a better player."

Bird's statement follows closely on the heels of Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson's statements criticizing Lebron James decision to join the Miami Heat. By doing so, James, the most coveted free-agent of the decade, joined with the next two most talented free-agents in arguably the greatest free-agent class ever in the NBA. Essentially, the joining of James, Wade, and Bosh, though not as epic as a Magic, Bird, and Jordan triumverate, is about the closest thing that has, in fact, come to pass.

The Legends (Bird, Magic, and Jordan), the first-ballot Hall of Famers who were responsible for the international explosion in popularity of the NBA and basketball, have voiced their displeasure with "The Decision" because of what it may mean to the future of NBA. The competition between Bird and Magic defined an era in the NBA, and the dominance of Jordan through the 1990's was a tribute to the will and perseverance of the greatest player of all time.

Old-school fans of the NBA were treated to epic battles between the fiercest competitors the game has ever seen, however the Lebron decision was an admission of surrender and an inexplicable act of submission to another star in Wade.

When asked about Lebron's decision following a celebrity golf tournament in Nevada, Michael Jordan's reply to NBC Sports was this:

"There's no way, with hindsight, I would've ever called up Larry, called up Magic and said, 'Hey, look, let's get together and play on one team, but that's ... things are different. I can't say that's a bad thing. It's an opportunity these kids have today. ... In all honesty, I was trying to beat those guys."

And in sports, it is that competitive fire that athletes are measured by, and that is why Bird, Magic, and Jordan have the legacy and legend that they do.

Magic Says That Lebron's Choice Was Not What His Generation Was About

Magic Johnson, NBA great and former point guard and leader of the Showtime Lakers of the 1980's, joined a growing number of fans and NBA legends in criticizing the Decision of Lebron James to join forces with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami.

The long awaited and anticipated NBA Free Agenct Class of 2010, which saw quite possibly the most talented free agent class of all time become available to NBA teams with adequate cap space to sign them, dragged on for a week passed the first day of signing and ended with a Shyamalanian-twist, some of the most questionable choices by "grown" men, and the worst examples of poor judgment seen in any sport, ever.

Mere days after the debacle that was the ESPN-produced "The Decision", NBA greats have been approached about their opinions about Lebron's Decision.

When asked, Magic Johnson, who won five NBA championships playing for the Lakers after he led Michigan State to an NCAA title victory over Larry Bird and Indiana State in 1979, said it was never a real possibility for him to play with Michael Jordan and Bird.

"We didn't think about it 'cause that's not what we were about," Johnson said at Baruch College in New York, according to Bloomberg News. "From college, I was trying to figure out how to beat Larry Bird."

"It was never a question in our mind because nobody has ever done that," Johnson said when looking back to his era.

Johnson's comments come only days after Michael Jordan told reporters at a weekend golf event that he'd rather beat Johnson and Bird than become their teammates.

"There's no way, with hindsight, I would've ever called up Larry, called up Magic and said, 'Hey, look, let's get together and play on one team', " said Jordan, the majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats who led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships.

"But that's ... things are different. I can't say that's a bad thing. It's an opportunity these kids have today. In all honesty, I was trying to beat those guys."

Of James, Johnson concluded, "I think he will be, one day, a great businessman. The first order of business for LeBron is to win championships. If you build your brand on the court, then that will take care of the off-the-court brand."

It doesn't seem that Johnson feels that James is a great businessman yet, and certainly not with his Decision.

ACHIEVE GREATNESS LeBiatch Design T-Shirt

GREATNESS... his name is synonymous with it.

He is the unquestioned Greatest of All Time, His Airness, Michael Jordan. Drafted by the Chicago Bulls third overall in the 1984 NBA Draft, and immediately put the League on notice with a first year campaign that included a selection as an NBA All-Star and culminated in the 1985 Rookie of the Year Award.

By the prime of his career, Jordan and his Chicago Bulls teams were a perennial fixture in the NBA Finals having overcome the challenge of the "Bad Boy" Detroit Pistons teams of 1989 and 1990. From 1991 to 1993, the Chicago Bulls established their dynasty by appearing in three consecutive NBA Finals, and Jordan powered the team to victory in all three.

During the summer of 1992, Michael Jordan was the star of the greatest basketball team ever assembled, the original Dream Team. Despite the marquis names of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, Jordan was the in his prime, and he was the unchallenged best player in the league. The Dream Team dominated the 1992 Olympics winning their games by an average of 42 points, and we caught a glimpse of the boom in the global popularity of basketball that Jordan had catalyzed.

The high of winning the Olympic Gold Medal in 1992 and the NBA Championship in 1993 was followed by the tragic murder of Michael Jordan's father leading to a nearly two year hiatus from basketball, during which Jordan applied his trademark focus, determination, and perseverance to the sport of baseball. Jordan's switch to the sport of baseball was in honor of his father, for it was the sport that his father envisioned him playing. Although he met with limited success in his short professional baseball career and eventually returned to basketball, basketball fans gained some insight into the greatness of Michael Jordan.

The world saw that despite being the greatest basketball player in the world, when it came to baseball, he worked hard to become better and he stayed late to put in extra batting practice, the same way he worked on his basketball skills after being cut from his high school basketball team when he was a Junior at Laney High. It was his incredible work ethic was what made Jordan a success.

"I'm back," was the simple statement that heralded his return to basketball in 1995. Upon his return, the doubters questioned what the effects would be of his hiatus from basketball. However, Jordan quickly silenced the doubters with an epic 55 point performance at the Mecca of Basketball, Madison Square Garden, against one of the Chicago Bulls most hated rivals. Jordan was certainly back.

Jordan lead the Chicago Bulls back to the NBA Finals in 1996, and again, he fueled his team to the NBA Championship. The Chicago Bulls dynasty was back on top, and following 1997 and 1998 campaigns that ended in two more Bulls Championships, Michael Jordan retired in his prime, from the game he loved, promoted, and dominated.

Michael Jordan not only dominated the sport of basketball, but the effects of his life and presence reverberate beyond the sport. He is still a hero to millions, and held up as a role model and example of success. And that is why his greatness will never be matched in the history of basketball.

ACHIEVE GREATNESS LeBiatch Design T-Shirt
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BECOME LEGENDARY Chicago Bulls LeBiatch Design T-Shirt

How do you become an NBA LEGEND? Follow in the footsteps of the ultimate NBA LEGEND.

He already blazed the trail. His story is legendary.

From his days as a Junior at Laney High, where he was initially cut from his high school basketball team, and the extra work and practice he put into his game to finally make the team. Since then, he has worked tirelessly on the road to becoming the Greatest of All Time.

He is His Airness, Michael Jordan. Drafted by the Chicago Bulls third overall in the 1984 NBA Draft, and immediately put the League on notice with a first year campaign that included a selection as an NBA All-Star and culminated in the 1985 Rookie of the Year Award.

By the prime of his career, Jordan and his Chicago Bulls teams were a perennial fixture in the NBA Finals having overcome the challenge of the "Bad Boy" Detroit Pistons teams of 1989 and 1990. From 1991 to 1993, the Chicago Bulls established their dynasty by appearing in three consecutive NBA Finals, and Jordan powered the team to victory in all three.

During the summer of 1992, Michael Jordan was the star of the greatest basketball team ever assembled, the original Dream Team. Despite the marquis names of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, Jordan was the in his prime, and he was the unchallenged best player in the league. The Dream Team dominated the 1992 Olympics winning their games by an average of 42 points, and we caught a glimpse of the boom in the global popularity of basketball that Jordan had catalyzed.

The high of winning the Olympic Gold Medal in 1992 and the NBA Championship in 1993 was followed by the tragic murder of Michael Jordan's father leading to a nearly two year hiatus from basketball, during which Jordan applied his trademark focus, determination, and perseverance to the sport of baseball. Jordan's switch to the sport of baseball was in honor of his father, for it was the sport that his father envisioned him playing. Although he met with limited success in his short professional baseball career and eventually returned to basketball, basketball fans gained some insight into the greatness of Michael Jordan.

The world saw that despite being the greatest basketball player in the world, when it came to baseball, he worked hard to become better and he stayed late to put in extra batting practice, the same way he worked on his basketball skills after being cut from his high school basketball team when he was a Junior at Laney High. It was his incredible work ethic was what made Jordan a success.

"I'm back," was the simple statement that heralded his return to basketball in 1995. Upon his return, the doubters questioned what the effects would be of his hiatus from basketball. However, Jordan quickly silenced the doubters with an epic 55 point performance at the Mecca of Basketball, Madison Square Garden, against one of the Chicago Bulls most hated rivals. Jordan was certainly back.

Jordan lead the Chicago Bulls back to the NBA Finals in 1996, and again, he fueled his team to the NBA Championship. The Chicago Bulls dynasty was back on top, and following 1997 and 1998 campaigns that ended in two more Bulls Championships, Michael Jordan retired in his prime, from the game he loved, promoted, and dominated.

Michael Jordan not only dominated the sport of basketball, but the effects of his life and presence reverberate beyond the sport. He is still a hero to millions, and held up as a role model and example of success. And that is why he is the greatest legend in the history of basketball.

BECOME LEGENDARY Chicago Bulls LeBiatch Design T-Shirt
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HANG BANNERS Boston Celtics LeBiatch Design T-Shirt

The long-awaited Banner 17 was raised at the home of the Boston Celtics only after a championship drought of 22 years and two blockbuster trades in the summer of 2007.

The Celtics first acquired Ray Allen and a draft pick from Seattle for Wally Szerbiak, Delonte West, and Boston's 5th Overall pick in the NBA Draft. Then on July 31, 2007, the Celtics acquired former MVP and perennial All-Star Kevin Garnett for Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, a 2009 first round draft pick (top three protected) and a return of Minnesota's conditional first round draft pick. Although the trades gutted the roster, Boston was able to assemble a "Big Three" in Garnett, Allen, and All-Star Paul Pierce.

The Boston Celtics would finish the 2007-08 season with the best record in the NBA, 66-16, and after a challenging first round series with the Atlanta Hawks, they advanced to the Eastern Conference crown and faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals.

Factoring in the Lakers strong playoff run to the Finals and the Celtics problems of even reaching the Finals with two 7-game series, the Lakers were favored to beat a seemingly tired Boston team, even with Boston holding homecourt advantage. The first games of the series started with the Celtics once again dominating at home. Game 1 saw Paul Pierce suffer a knee injury early in the game only to come back and make 70 percent of his attempted field goals, resulting in a 98–88 Celtics win. In Game 2, Boston nearly lost a 24-point lead only to win 108–102. The Lakers returned to Staples Center and won Game 3, 87–81. When Los Angeles took a 24-point lead in the second quarter of Game 4 the Celtics appeared to be losing control of the series. Led by a bench that outscored the Lakers bench by 20 points, the Celtics took over Game 4 with a victory, the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history.

Although the Los Angeles Lakers won Game 5, 103–98, the series went back to Boston for Game 6, and the Celtics finished off Los Angeles with a 131–92 victory, claiming the most lopsided win in a NBA Finals game since the Chicago Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz by 42 points in the 1998 NBA Finals, and the all-time largest margin of victory in a deciding game. Paul Pierce was named NBA Finals MVP.

The Celtics had won their record 17th NBA championship, a championship 22 years in the making. Banner 17 would be the first new NBA Championship banner to be raised to the rafters in the new TD Banknorth Garden.

HANG BANNERS Boston Celtics LeBiatch Design T-Shirt
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