In Adrien’s Wojnarowski’s Story “LeBron’s M.J. tribute is all about business” from Yahoo! Sports news, The logic of his argument that “LeBron’s tribute to M.J.’s basketball career is a purely fictional cover story” is flawed.
Where is the flaw in his logic? His logic is flawed in his comparison between Kobe’s switch between the Jersey No. 8 to No. 24, in that this is the same as the switch for LeBron between No. 23 to No. 6.
What creates a flaw in the comparison? Well the number that Kobe had, was not shared by Michael Jordan. Could it be that LeBron has a respect for M.J. that he wishes to demonstrate, in this switch, why does this Adrien have to come off with such a negative slant?
Around the time James started with his bit about retiring Jordan’s number, Jordan sat with Pat Riley in Miami for a Cavs-Heat game in November. It didn’t go unnoticed to those sitting around them how often James would peer over, searching for some kind of approval from Jordan. He’d make a play and glance over – and it was probably no accident that Jordan offered little to no response. After all, Jordan was there to promote Dwyane Wade(notes) as an endorser to his line of shoes, so James was treated as afterthought.
“He’s always looked for that approval from Michael,” one Jordan associate says, “and I don’t know that he’s ever really gotten it – or ever will.”
So James filed paperwork with the NBA prior to the Wednesday deadline, and should he stay with the Cavaliers he’ll wear his Olympic team No. 6 next season. Should he leave, he can wear whatever he wants. Between now and then, no one else will care much about how many jerseys he sells, about how far he surpasses Bryant on the NBA’s list in 2011.
For all his fascination with global branding, with empire building, peddling jerseys doesn’t move LeBron closer to Jordan and Bryant and Russell. Only championships do.
This time, the Cavs have delivered James the supporting cast to do it. No more excuses. James comes armed for the Lakers now. He comes with his legacy on the line, measured in one indisputable and defining way: Before he beats him in the NBA Store, LeBron James needs to beat Kobe Bryant in the NBA Finals.
This piece of writing comes from an individual whose only proof of this tirade comes from envy? Or perhaps a hardcore Laker’s/Kobe Bryant fan? I can only guess. I don’t claim to know, just draw certain conclusions from his slant. His slant isn’t at all neutral and leaves the reader in a sour mood especially if the reader is from North Eastern Ohio.
Back when LeBron was in High School at St. Vincent St. Mary High School, you would see on old video clips his number 23 on his Jersey. In his movie “More then a game” you would notice that he had an appreciation for Michael Jordan back when his HS team were going as far a team could go, as the “Fab 4″ and the “Fab 5″.
There is a clear admiration that has been documented through his movie, and his career, that indicates and practically shouts a desire to be “like Mike” or an appreciation for the great “Michael Jordan”. I think perhaps the lack of recognition that M.J. has given to LeBron could have been a deciding factor for LeBron to change to a different number. Retiring the number 23 probably seemed like a good idea to LeBron so as to step out from under M.J.’s shadow.
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